Dota Pro Circuit China Division 1 Prediction, Picks, Odds for Jan 5-6

• PSG LGD are heavy favorites against Dawn Gaming
• Team Aster should be able to get over the line against Knights
• Xtreme Gaming will be expected to get the better of Aster Aries

PSG LGD vs Dawn Gaming Pick

 PSG LGD

PSG LGD vs Dawn Gaming Prediction

No contest covered in this piece is as heavily skewed in favor of one team as this one. PSG LGD are massive favorites heading into this tie. Dawn Gaming aren’t likely to win this match even if they put in the very top of their game. For them to win, it will have to be one of the biggest upsets in DPC China Division I history.  

PSG LGD Will Be Looking To Start The New Year On A High

PSG LGD are one of the strongest Dota 2 sides in the world. They had a pretty consistent season but will be a bit disappointed by their performance at The International, where they finished in the 5th-6th place bracket. For one of the best Dota 2 sides in the world, this is an underachievement. 

More was expected of them this season after finishing in second place at last year’s International and this year’s PGL Arlington Major. The aim was to win it this year. They also won the Riyad Masters - they’re a team with great pedigree and should have no trouble dealing with Dawn Gaming. They also can’t afford to let complacency set in. This is the sort of game where they can make a statement and set the pace for the rest of the season. The manner of their performance will be more instructive than the result. 

Dawn Gaming Have Nothing To Lose 

No one’s expecting Dawn Gaming to perform miracles, but they shouldn’t take this match lightly. They could learn a lot from facing one of the top Dota 2 sides in the world. PSG LGD aren’t likely to go into this match with all guns blazing. It’s a great chance for Dawn Gaming to build some confidence with little wins and get an idea of what the level at the very top is like. To get to this level is an achievement in itself but they can’t stop here if they wish to improve. 

Team Aster vs Knights Pick

Team Aster

Team Aster vs Knights Prediction

This match isn’t as one-sided as PSG LGD vs Dawn Gaming, but Team Aster will also go into this tie as massive favorites. Team Aster are one of the best Dota 2 sides in the world, and are another safe bet for this round.  

Team Aster Were One Of The Most Improved Teams In 2022

Team Aster had a fantastic 2022. In 2021, they finished in 13th-16th place in The International and didn’t play the PGL Arlington Major. In 2022, they finished in fourth place at The International and third in the PGL Arlington Major 2022. 

That just goes to show the strides they made this year. They also finished first in the ESL One Malaysia and started the year by winning the Intel World Open in Beijing. The start to 2022 was the foundation for everything, and they’ll be aware that they need to do the same next year to achieve the same feats or more. A good start goes a long way. 

In fact, they’ll now believe that they’re a few steps away from winning the biggest prizes and not just coming close. They’ll be highly motivated to do even better in 2023, and a win against Knights will be a great way to send out a statement. 

Knights Should Look At Team Aster As Inspiration 

Knights, like many of the other teams taking part in DPC China, will be aware of the strides made by Team Aster in the last year. Making an inroad into elite Dota 2 esports is one thing, but to climb up the ranks, teams like Knights have to take everything they can from this experience. 

Like Dawn Gaming, Knights won’t be expected to win this match. The result is going to be secondary. Knights have to put on a performance and figure out what they must do to get to Team Aster’s level. Team Aster are a highly-motivated team at the moment. Knights might not be able to match Team Aster in terms of quality, but they should match them in terms of motivation. 

Aster Aries vs Xtreme Gaming Pick

Aster Aries

Aster Aries vs Xtreme Gaming Prediction

Xtreme Gaming should comfortably win their match against Xtreme Gaming. Matches at the start of the year aren’t as valuable as those towards the end of the season when it comes to points, which is why many of the strong sides will have little trouble against such opposition. 

Aster Aries Need To Make A Strong Start 

Aster Aries are still attempting to break into the elite playing field, and the new year is a great way for them to do that. In 2022, they made some improvements, but they’ll be hoping for a lot more in 2023. They finished in 5th-6th place at The International: China qualifier, 7th-8th in the Intel World Open Beijing, 4th in the ESL One Malaysia 2022 China: Closed Qualifier, and 1st-4th in the ESL One Malaysia 2022 China: Open Qualifier.

There has clearly been progress. The next step is to qualify for the major tournaments. Even a low finish in these tournaments will be a step in the right direction. To make that possible, they’ll need to prove themselves against the opponent they’ll be facing on Friday. Xtreme Gaming are a strong side, it’ll not be easy for Aster Aries to win this match, but they have to cut the gap if they can’t win. 

Xtreme Gaming Will Be Disappointed With The Way Their Year Ended

Xtreme Gaming are the favorites heading into this match, but the odds aren’t as overwhelming as some of the matches covered earlier. Xtreme Gaming’s season ended in disappointment with a 5th-6th place finish in The International 2022: Last Chance Qualifier. 

This was a great opportunity for them to play against the best of the best, but there is no room to dwell on results that have gone by. They’ll have a motivated Aster Aries side to face on Friday. Xtreme Gaming have to look at what worked for them in the Intel World Open Beijing, where they finished in second place, and look to recreate that form against Aster Aries. They finished in the top three spots in many of the events they participated in. They’ll believe that they have bigger fish than Aster Aries to fry in 2023, but can’t go too ahead of themselves. 

How To Watch Dota Pro Circuit China Division 1

• Teams: PSG LGD vs Dawn Gaming, Team Aster vs Knight, and Aster Aries vs Xtreme Gaming 
• Location: China
• Time: Thursday, January 5 at 6am ET onwards
• How to watch: Official Twitch stream