The loser's bracket small final has begun, with IG facing up against Empire. Check in here for live updates on the game!

The loser's bracket small final between Empire and EG sees both teams making a resurgence after uncharacteristically shaky showings in the group stage. Empire are looking forward to continue their run in the loser's bracket, having started in there, but taking the scalps of both RoX.KiS and Alliance in two convincing best of 1s. On the flipside, Invictus Gaming are definitely looking to avenge their loss against DK, and look to be in resurgence after methodically dismantling Na`Vi in their match yesterday. 

GAME 1

Game 1 saw Empire drafting to target the current pillar of iG by taking out two of his signature heroes: Ember Spirit and Invoker. Empire continued to draft their signature Dazzle and Luna combo, which has a perfect 10-0 record together in this patch. Empire ended up with a Dark Seer mid and a Clockwerk offlane, which countered the pickoff potential of iG's safelane trilane of Centaur, Mirana and Shadow demon, as well as Ion Shell disrupting Templar Assassin's refraction. The draft by iG was reminiscent of the draft run by DK against them in game 2 of the Winner's Bracket first round matches, with Shadow Demon, Mirana and Centaur providing good burst potential with their skills. 

iG found the first blood on Reso1ution's Dark Seer with a long range arrow from ChuaN, and another arrow found a pickoff on Sand King as he was farming the jungle with Sand Storm. The game was quiet until a failed gank by iG saw them lose two cores while attempting to pick off Sand King again, failing to get a kill and losing both Templar Assassin and Centaur. The game continued to settle into a farming game with pickoffs here and there between the teams. The only teamfight that occurred saw Empire taking a tower, but neither team lost anyone.

The game accelerated after the 21st minute, when both Dark Seer and Sand King picked up their blinks. This allowed Empire to push by finding pickoffs and transitioning into towers. Empire started to snowball extremely hard, taking most of iG's outer towers. A snowball push by Empire saw them sieging iG's top tier 3, but an amazing Blink - Vaccuum - Epicentre - Burrow Strike combination from Empire saw iG losing three cores and their top and mid barracks in the process. By then, the game was more or less over and despite a valiant last stand, they were unable to kill the Luna with aegis, losing the bot barracks and calling the GG thereafter at 35:20. 

Draft

Empire open with two targeted bans against Ferrari_430 - Ember Spirit and Invoker, while IG bans out Batrider and Lycan. Empire picks up Dazzle, IG responds with Centaur and Mirana. Empire picks up Luna to end first picking phase.
Empire bans out Enchantress and Dragon Knight while IG bans out Outworld Devourer and Abaddon. IG picks Shadow Demon, Empire picks Sand King, IG picks up Ferrari's Templar Assassin, and Empire takes Mag's DarkSeer.
Last bans: IG bans out Puck while Empire bans out Chen. IG finalises their draft with a Doom, while Empire finalises their pick with a Clockwerk. 

Final Lineups:
Invictus Gaming: Shadow Demon (Faith), Templar Assassin (Ferrari_430), Doom (Luo), Centaur (YYF), Mirana (ChuaN)
Team Empire: Clockwerk (Mag), Dazzle (VANSKOR), Luna (Silent), Sand King (ALWAYSWANNAFLY), Dark Seer (Reso1ution)

Match Text

00:00 - Match begins, nothing happens before the horn - both teams are running defensive trilanes, with Dark Seer in mid against Templar Assassin. Centaur is on the safelane, while Doom is on the offlane for IG. 

01:30 - First Blood! A long range arrow from a rotating ChuaN on Resolution allows TA to draw first blood on Dark Seer. 

06:00 - Game has settled into a farming contest in the early game, with the cores on both teams getting free farm and almost equivalent creep scores. 

7:53 - YYF's Centaur picks up a blink dagger. A ward from ChuaN allows IG to find a pickoff with a good on Sand King with Centaur and Doom. 

9:45 - A blink initiation on Sand King by Centaur gets turned around by an impeccable Hook Shot and Cogs from Mag, and allows Reso1ution to get a double kill on both Templar Assassin and Centaur without losing any of their own heroes. 

12:15 - A smoke gank from IG allows them to pickoff Sand King, but Empire gets the trade by taking IG's bot tier 1. 

13:50 - Empire groups up in mid with Reso1ution's Mekansm pickup, but are unable to push down the tower. 

15:10 - Huge teamfight breaks out at IG's mid tier 1. No one dies, thanks to Mekansms on both sides, but Empire manage to get the tier 1. 

17:00 - Smoke gank from Empire succeeds on Luo's Doom in iG's jungle. 

18:00 - Both teams group out outside IG's top tier 1, forcing rotations but no engagement occurs. 

19:30 - Smoke gank from IG evaporates Vanskor, but two blinks on Dark Seer and Sand King deter iG's push. 

21:00 - Hardly anything separates the two teams, with iG leading by 1k gold and experience despite being two towers down.

21:40 - A smoke gank from Empire allows them to pick off both Centaur and Shadow Demon with their two blinks. Luo's doom is wasted on a Dark Seer who had used every spell. Empire takes the bottom tier 2.

22:40 - Although Ferrari's TA picks up blink, Luna picks up her BKB. Another blink initiation finds a pickoff on Mirana. Empire take iG's mid tier 2 as well. 

24:30 - A huge teamfight breaks out at iG's middle tier 2. Luna dies to Doom, and Doom falls to an Urn Charge. After retreating Empire turn around on iG, allowing them to bring down Shadow Demon, but end up losing two heroes in the process. iG win the fight 3-2. 

27:10 - Another smoke gank allows Empire to find a pickoff on Chuan, and Empire immediately transition to Roshan, but do not end up taking it. 

28:50 - After denying their mid tier 1, Empire forces out Doom's BKB and finds yet another pickoff on ChuaN's Mirana. 

29:45 - Huge teamfight breaks out at Dire ancients, with iG losing all three cores despite a Doom on Luna. Empire ends up taking Roshan and Aegis for Luna. 

31:10 - Top tier 1 finally goes down for Empire. 

32:00 - Empire takes out IG's top tier 2 and starts sieging the tier 3. 

32:40 - Flawlessly executed teamfight by Empire: Sand King channels an epicenter in the trees, and Reso1ution blinks in for an immediate Blink Vaccum into a Burrow Strike. iG lose all three cores, and their top and middle barracks in the process. 

33:30 - iG makes their last stand at their bottom barracks, losiing four heroes but managing to bring down most of Empire as well. 

35:10 - iG lose their bottom barracks, forcing them to call the GG. 

GAME 2

iG manage to pick up Batrider for YYF with their first pick, although they end up giving Invoker away to Empire. With Shadow Demon picked by Empire, iG decide to ban out the Mirana, and Empire targets Ferrari_430 by banning out both his Dragon Knight and Storm Spirit. Empire return to their comfort zone with Luna for Silent and Clockwerk for Mag, and iG decide to pull out Shadow Fiend for Ferrari, and an unorthodox Slardar for Luo instead. 

The match started out with a quick bloodbath between the two teams at the 3rd minute mark, with rotations from each team's supports seeing kills flying both ways. At the end of it, Empire are in the slight lead, having taken both the first blood and a 5-4 kill advantage. 7 minutes in, Empire find another two quick pickoffs on iG heroes who are out of position, but no teamfight breaks out until the 11th minute.

YYF with his new Blink Dagger manages to find a good lasso on Silent's Luna, with iG finding a 3-1 trade. Another teamfight in middle goes iG's way, but their progress falters at the first Roshan fight, where the initiating Slardar only hits one Empire hero with Slithereen Crush and Batrider is unable to get his lasso off. This allows Empire a lot of breathing room having Aegis and an ultra kill on Luna. 

However, Empire seem to get complacent as Luna inexplicably gets caught out pushing iG's tier 2 alone, losing her life and Aegis, and allowing iG to mount a comeback with another good teamfight after. However, while iG gets good teamfights, they are also losing a lot of map control thanks to Empire almost always being able to kill the tower before iG's initiations. YYF's initiations continue to do work, winning iG another teamfight after they catch Luna alone farming ancients, but their lack of commitment to Roshan sees Empire taking it, although iG manage to get a good fight in the pit with Requiem of Souls.

Mistakes by Luo on Slardar sees them nearly throwing a fight when he fails to BKB in an initiation, with a fairly favourable trade going the way of Empire in the 31st minute. Five minutes later, when Empire sieged the iG tier 2, a disastruous teamfight for iG saw them lose four for Luna and Vengeful Spirit, with Empire claiming the third Roshan of the game, and beginning to threaten the high ground. 

The last teamfight occurs when Vanskor initiates with a Nether Swap of Shadow Fiend into his team. Without the initiation advantage, iG crumble, losing four heroes and Batrider again after his buyback. With only two heroes on the field, Empire proceed to take out all the barracks, forcing iG to call the GG after a back-and-forth 42 minutes. 

DRAFT 

iG open with a Naga and Centaur ban, while Empire ban out Ember Spirit and Lycan. iG pick up Batrider, and Empire picks up Shadow Demon and Invoker, with iG picking up Enchantress to conclude the first phase.
Empire ban out both Dragon Knight and Storm Spirit, while iG ban out Mirana and Morphling. Empire pick Luna and Clockwerk again, while iG pick up both Dazzle and Shadow Fiend. 
Empire finalise their bans with Wraith King, and iG ban out Sand King. Empire finalises their draft with Vengeful Spirit, and iG pick up Slardar. 

Final Lineups:
Invictus Gaming: Shadow Fiend (Ferrari_430), Enchantress (ChuaN), Batrider (YYF), Slardar (Luo), Dazzle (Faith)
Team Empire: Invoker (Reso1ution), Luna (Silent), Clockwerk (Mag), Vengeful Spirit (Vanskor), Shadow Demon (ALWAYSWANNAFLY)

Live Match Text:

00:00 - Empire ward out iG's jungle, but nothing happens before the horn. iG use both their sentries trying to deward, but don't manage to find it. Both teams are running defensive trilanes, and zoning out both team's offlanes.

2:45 - iG dive the tier 1 to kill Mag, but a well placed cogs and teleport in by Vengeful Spirit sees Mag getting the First Blood on Luo, with Faith picking up the return kill. However, Vengeful stuns Dazzle under the tier 1, leading it to be a 2-1 exchange. 

3:10 - Empire dive the mid tier 1, killing Ferrari's Shadow Fiend. A teleport in from Luo's Slardar and a rotation from ChuaN sees both Invoker and Shadow Demon losing their lives in return.

3:20 - YYF's Batrider finds a solo kill on Luna at top. 

3:40 - 6 heroes are in mid, with a flurry of fighting, seeing Empire lose both Enchantress and Slardar without taking any kills  against Empire. 

7:10 - YYF gets picked off with a Vengeful Stun + Disruption into Sunstrike. 

7:30 - Mag's first rotation is successful, finding a pickoff on Enchantress. Current score: iG 4 - 7 Empire.

10:25 - Smoke from Shadow Demon and Clockwerk into iG's jungle, and finds a pickoff onto Shadow Fiend. They lose Shadow Demon in return, while Empire take the top iG top tier 1. 

11:30 - YYF's first Blink - Lasso gank succeeds, with iG finding a teamfight where Luna, Clockwerk and Vengeful Spirit fall in return for Enchantress. 

12:20 - Invoker's Forge Spirits take down iG's tier 1. 

13:10 - A Clockwerk initiation on Dazzle is thwarted by a good Shallow Grave, and Luo turns the fight around with his Blink Dagger, taking out Clockwerk, Vengeful and Shadow Demon. iG transition the pickoffs into Empire's mid tier 1. 

14:50 - Empire attempt Roshan and iG goes in with a smoke, but  Luo chooses to Slithereen Crush Vengeful instead of going into the pit, and Batrider is unable to find a Lasso. Empire wipes iG for just Clockwerk. Luna gets an ultra kill and Aegis immediately after. 

17:10 - iG take the tier 1 top, while they lose their bottom tier 1 and YYF in the process. Rotations from Empire see them managing to save Shadow Demon, and lose Faith while retreating.

18:20 - However, Luna loses both her Aegis and her life after being caught out alone at bottom in the meantime. 

19:50 - Smoke bait from Empire with Silent in front sees iG lose their tier 2, but iG's counter-counter-initiation after a failed Batrider Lasso sees them taking a 4 for 1 trade, losing Sladar and with Vengeful the only survivor for Empire. 

22:00 - A Batrider + Slardar gank on Luna sees both an extremely well timed Swap and Hookshot saving her life, and iG loses both heroes. However, Shadow Fiend walks in from the side to get the last hit, making it a 2 for 1 trade. iG retreat out safely. 

24:00 iG are 3k exp and 10k gold behind, and the tower score is iG losing 4, while Empire has only lost 2. 

24:45 - A huge pickoff by Batrider on Luna sees Silent dying in the river, and although the tier 1 is denied, iG gets the bottom tier 2 as well. 

25:30 - iG find another pickoff on Shadow Demon and head into the Roshan pit, but end up retreating. They smoke into the Dire jungle, while the smoked Empire skirts around the Dire ancients into the Radiant jungle. 

27:30 - Empire walk into the pit and claim Roshan and the Aegis on Invoker, but a well placed Requiem from Shadow Fiend sees the fight going in iG's favour, losing the Aegis, Luna and Vengeful for none in return. 

31:30 - Slardar initiates into the entire Empire team without using his BKB and ends up dying immediately. However, iG end up somewhat salvaging the fight, killing both the Luna and Shadow Demon, although they end up losing both Shadow Fiend and Dazzle. 

34:30 - The entire Team Empire is huddled at their middle tier 3, and moving together to farm the Dire Ancients. iG is the same, farming their ancients together as 5. 

36:20 - The grouped up Empire decide to push the iG tier 2, and despite an amazing initiation by Batrider, a well-timed swap, and juking by Luna allows Empire to take the fight instead. iG end up losing four for just Vengeful Spirit and Luna, with Batrider the only survivor. Empire take the tier 2 and push to take out Roshan, giving Invoker the Aegis and Luna the Cheese. 

39:30 - Empire group up and take iG's last tier 2, and start sieging the tier 3 with Forge Spirits, Necronomicons, and Disruption and Manta Style illusions. 

41:00 A swap initiation by Vengeful Spirit sees Empire taking the tier 3, killing Shadow Fiend, Batrider, Dazzle and Slardar without any losses on their side. Batrider dies again after his buyback, and Empire proceed to clear up the Radiant base. 

42:05 - GG is called by iG. iG are knocked out, and end up fourth. 

11:00 CEST/05:00 EDT/17:00 SGT:  Empire vs  Invictus Gaming (BO3)
15:00 CEST/09:00 EDT/21:00 SGT:  Evil Geniuses vs  TBD [Winner of Empire vs iG] (BO3)
19:00 CEST/13:00 EDT/01:00 SGT:  DK (+1) vs  TBD (BO5)

Starladder StarSeries Season IX Final Standings
1st: $75,000~
2nd: $35,500~
3rd: $24,000~
4th: $13,800~
5th/6th:  Alliance - $6,900~
5th/6th:  Natus Vincere - $6,900~
7th/8th:  RoX.KiS - $3,400~
7th/8th:  MVP.Phoenix - $3,400~

Headline picture from SLTV Facebook