With its shiny $20.7 million prize pool, this weekends Dota 2 The International 6 was the largest professional esports events ever. Glory was on the line for the winning team, as well as $9.1 million and a legacy as one of the best Dota teams of all time. But the upside may have its downside, as many of the competitors have been outspoken about the immense pressure such a large prize pool focuses on players.Earlier in the week, ESPN spoke with Evil Geniuses Saahil UNiVeRsE Arora, who said that the prize pool difference between The International and the three Dota 2 Majors -- Frankfurt, Shanghai, and Manila -- has a telling impact on the competitive field (prize pools for the Majors were $3 million each). According to UNiVeRsE, teams change much more before TI than during the rest of the year, which negatively affects the stability of the scene.Speaking with Fnatics Adam 343 Erwann Shah, he echoed UNiVeRsEs sentiment:I do agree with [UNiVeRsE on] the prize pool; theres so much pressure on the teams, and you try not to think about it, but youre really just playing with that burden on your shoulders, he said during TI6. Its really bad for everyone.The pressure hurts some more than others. We asked if it gets to him and the Fnatic squad, but he reassures us that it doesnt affect them.For us, Fnatic, I dont think we really get affected by it anymore, he says. We dont really care if we lose. If we lose, we lose. I think thats the best mindset to have going into it; its what relieves you of all the pressure. Theres no pressure that exists anymore; play to win, and if you dont win, whatever.On the plus side, he says that TI-sized prize pools do facilitate interest in the game. While statistics for The International 6s viewer and engagement numbers have yet to be released, the grand finals for The International 5 attracted several million concurrent viewers.Competition-wise, by having such a big prize pool, no matter what youll attract media, attention, [and] players. People will always want to come and be a part of something like this and participate in such a tournament, he explains. More viewership will come with the prize pool growth. Its kind of a cycle. I think Dota 2 will last quite long.Although the team exited the tournament earlier than it would have liked, taking fourth place, the squad conquered some giants that stood in its way. On Thursday, the team took down Team Liquid, who had stood victorious over them at both the Manila Major and ESL One Frankfurt in the past few months. Then, on Friday, the team defeated MVP Phoenix, who earlier on in the tournament looked like a dominant force and often faces Fnatic in their qualifiers in Southeast Asia.Beating Liquid, who have been a bane to Fnatics success, came after 343 says his team decided to just YOLO it. He says the squad didnt overthink the series too much and picked heroes they felt confident and comfortable with and felt would play best versus Team Liquid.But as 18,000 gathered to watch The International in Seattle, a similar -- albeit larger -- event was taking place in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Just as the Olympics are a celebration of international diversity in sporting events, teams and players from the United States, Germany, Ukraine, China, Korea, Malaysia, and more gathered to represent their country at The International. Fnatic, a mainly Malaysian team, represented their country proudly.It means a lot [to represent Southeast Asia], especially since a lot of the fans back home are rooting for us; the support is immense, 343 says. Everyone in Southeast Asia is behind us and behind MVP Phoenix and while it feels good, its a lot of pressure to be a representative for something. Were just playing, trying to win and trying to do our best. What happens, happens.When asked to compare The International to the Olympics, 343s message was clear-cut and simple:I guess Id say [its like the Olympics], but if I was playing for a gold medal or for $9 million, Id probably have more pressure playing for the $9 million. Cheap KD Shoes Online . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. 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LOUIS -- The long national nightmare is over, at least for a few hours.When the St. Louis Cardinals polished off a 7-1 victory Friday night over the Milwaukee Brewers, it snapped a seven-game losing streak at Busch Stadium -- their longest skid at home in 33 years.Weve won at home before and well win a lot more at home, St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said when asked about ending the streak. Hopefully, well cool that talk off for a few more days and piece together some more wins.Weather permitting, the Cardinals (41-38) get that opportunity Saturday when they resume their series with Milwaukee. There is an 80 percent chance of rain Saturday and a 100 percent chance of rain for Sundays series finale, with some forecasts predicting between 3-to-5 inches of rain for the weekends remainder.If the rain holds off, St. Louis will try to build on Friday nights game while continuing its recent trend of success against the Brewers. It is 5-2 against Milwaukee this year, outscoring it 45-14.In the previous three years, the Cardinals have won 39 of 57 games against the Brewers, including 13 of 19 last year.We havent played well against this team, Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. I dont have any explanation for it ... we just havent played well.The matchup of starting pitchers suggests the Brewers might be in for another tough time. St. Louis is going with Adam Wainwright (6-5, 5.04 ERA), who faces Milwaukee for the first time since rupturing his Achilles tendon April 25, 2015 at Miller Park.Waiinwright is coming off a 6-2 loss Monday night in Kansas City, but is 12-8 with a 2.dddddddddddd32 ERA in 32 career appearances (25 starts) against the Brewers. Four of his last nine starts against them have resulted in complete games.On the other hand, Milwaukee starter Jimmy Nelson is 0-5 with a 9.51 ERA in six games (five starts) against the Cardinals. Nelson (5-6, 3.60) fired five shutout innings Sunday but was no-decisioned in the Brewers 3-2 loss to Washington.Nelson will have to deal with a St. Louis lineup that profited from the return of rookie shortstop Aledmys Diaz on Friday night. Diaz, who missed the last three games after fouling a pitch off his right eye Monday night in Kansas City, bagged two hits and an RBI while fielding 11 chances flawlessly.He played pretty good defense behind me with one eye, joked Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia, who picked up the win with eight innings of work.St. Louis could also welcome back right fielder Stephen Piscotty to the lineup. Hes missed the last two games since injuring his ankle in the 12th inning of a 3-2 loss Wednesday night to Kansas City as he slid toward Alcides Escobars eventual game-winning double.Piscotty was held out of the lineup Friday night, although he reported the range of motion had returned to his ankle. Hes been the teams cleanup hitter most of the year, batting .288 with nine homers and 40 RBI. ' ' '