eSports Star Series Season 3 Finals - Day 5

[r_Damn_Slow0 12,476]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTLEF0yuYRg

 

First round started in Barda.  Just two minutes after the start PSYCHOS were about to capture ARCADE's flag, but ARCADE manages to return the flag.  In the last minute ARCADE captures a flag, which was going to be the only flag captured. In the next round PSYCHOS captured two flags, while ARCADE managed to capture three.  The third round started in Forest, where the teams captured two flags each resulting in a tie. The fourth round was won by PSYCHOS, making the match score 2:1.  The fifth round, which started in Kungur, was tied, meaning PSYCHOS had one more chance.  And PSYCHOS DID use the chance! The 6th round was won by PSYCHOS, sending both of the teams to play a penalty round for the first time ever in Tanki SLTV history!  The penalty round was won by ARCADE.

 

PSYCHOS leaves with the Bronze Paint and a 3^rd place Prize of $5000

 

Final Score:-       ARCADE  2 : 2  PSYCHOS

Penalty Round:-  ARCADE  5 : 0  PSYCHOS

 

 

Match Log : [Time in UTC]

 

 

 

[17:12] Start of round 1 in Barda.

[17:15] Psychos bring the first flag to their base and lose it as soon as ARCADE counter-attacks. 

[17:19] Both flags are taken.

[17:22] ARCADE uses PSYCHOS' mistake and does not hesitate to return its flag.  PSYCHOS' flag is captured.

[17:22] End of round 1.

Match score: ARCADE 1:0 PSYCHOS

 

[17:25] Start of round 2. 

[17:30] PSYCHOS capture the first flag of the round.

[17:31] ARCADE captures a flag as well - 1:1.

[17:32] Both flags are taken. 

[17:34] PSYCHOS return their flag and capture ARCADE's one.

[17:35] ARCADE manages to capture two more flags till the end of the round.

[17:35] End of round 2.

Match score: ARCADE 2:0 PSYCHOS

 

[17:44] Start of round 3 in Forest.

[17:45] PSYCHOS capture the first flag of the round.

[17:48] ARCADE captures a flag and closes the gap in score. 

[17:50] Both flags are taken.

[17:53] PSYCHOS successfully return their flag and capture the enemy one.

[17:54] PSYCHOS' flag is captured for the second time - 2:2.

[17:54] End of round 3.

Match score: ARCADE 2:0 PSYCHOS

 

[17:57] Start of round 4. 

[17:59] PSYCHOS capture a flag. Both flags get taken.

[18:01] ARCADE returns the flag and captures the enemy one. 

[18:07] PSYCHOS capture three more flags.

[18:07] End of round 4.

Match score: ARCADE 2:1 PSYCHOS

 

[18:15] Start of round 5 in Kungur.

[18:20] Both teams manage to capture their opponent's flag - 1:1.

[18:23] ARCADE captures its second flag in the round. 

[18:25] PSYCHOS manage to capture the enemy flag, resulting in a tie in the round.

[18:25] End of round 5

Match score: ARCADE 2:1 PSYCHOS

 

[18:27] Start of round 6. 

[18:28] PSYCHOS had already managed to capture ARCADE's flag twice.

[18:29] ARCADE answered with a capture.

[18:37] PSYCHOS broke down ARCADE's defense and captured three more flags in the round. 

[18:37] End of round 6

Match score: ARCADE 2:2 PSYCHOS

 

 

[18:47] Start of Penalty round in Sandbox. ARCADE soon captures a flag.

[18:48] Two more captures by ARCADE - 3:0.

[18:51] The fourth and fifth captures by ARCADE.

[18:51] End of the penalty round. 

Match score: ARCADE 2(3):2 PSYCHOS.

[r_Damn_Slow0 12,476]

Match breakdown  :   @Lankbouv's  analysis

 

 

Round 1 was rather a dull round in general, and was played in Barda.  Both teams seemed to be testing each other out, trying to see how the other would react to minor advances on their bases.  For roughly the first 4 minutes nothing at all happened, both sides picked up and subsequently wasted several drop boxes in futile efforts to gain some ground.  The first real action occurred around 6:00 when I.Shomaa could well have captured should he have possessed the skill of driving around a corpse instead of trying to push his way past.  Merely a minute later, I.Shomaa took the flag again, having more success this time, but by the time he had returned to his base, PSYCHOS had nipped ARCADE's flag away, hence resulting in a stand-off which lasted a huge 4 and a half minutes.  During this time, both ARCADE and PSYCHOS survived withering assaults on their flag bearers, until, with a minute to go advokatee's persistence allowed him to return and ARCADE made it 1-0, which ended up being the final score of a rather strange round.

 

The second round started with both Clap_Per and S_E_N_T_E_X picking up DA's and nitro's.  Not surprisingly, though, they were ineffective in allowing PSYCHOS to breach ARCADE's defence.  Despite this, PSYCHOS kept up heavy pressure on ARCADE for the first 4 minutes and were rewarded with a capture making it 1-0.  However, this lead did not last long, as ARCADE inevitably applied some pressure themselves and advokatee succeeded in capturing an equalizer for ARCADE, 1-1, backed up by some admirable play from UDJIK.  Then, seconds later UDJIK, and utilising the speed of his wasp, brought the flag back to his base, unfortunately not on time to capture before PSYCHOS had countered and a flag stand-off ensued once more.  This time, in contrast to the previous round, PSYCHOS were determined not to lose a second stand-off, backing this up with a return of their flag and a capture making it 2-1 to them with precisely 2 minutes remaining on the clock. Once more though, UDJIK's speed proved the turning point in the round, as he whizzed another flag around to his base, allowing his hunters to capture, 2-2.  

 

It was at this point, with 1 minute remaining, that the round started to hot up, enabling UDJIK to cap off a remarkable round for him with some skilled wasp playing, by once more picking up PSYCHOS' flag and delivering it to his base in mere seconds.  ARCADE came away winning the round 3-2, after having turned it around in a spectacular fashion, almost entirely down to UDJIK's speed which prevented PSYCHOS doing a counter attack to respond to their own flag being taken.

 

 

Two rounds gone, 2 wins for ARCADE, and it was clear that ARCADE had bested PSYCHOS in Barda, however, with the third round, came a new map, the notoriously exciting Forest.  Both sides equipped two Prodigi's which, no doubt would be the main target for either side's smoky's.  The round itself started in a typically energetic fashion.  S_E_N_T_E_X and Muctep_Kpa6c (Mister Krabs) both got forward early on, equipped with drops and captured swiftly.  This was mainly due to I.Shomaa's decision to not shoot the flag carrier, but instead the hunter behind him, allowing the faster hornet, who was carrying the flag, to capture.  Seconds later, both flags were in play, with a short-lived stand-off following on, which ended up with some good play by Only_Win to secure the return, allowing his team-mates to level the score.

 

It is important to note at this point, that A_R_A_K_E_L_Y_A_N had been playing extremely well all match, but it was in Forest that he was completely at home.  The number of times he made the opposition miss was astounding.  He was a completely different guy to the poor player who had been trampled over by PSYCHOS previously and he was clearly looking for revenge.  His stylish play held PSYCHOS at bay for several minutes in yet another stand-off which resulted, surprisingly in PSYCHOS capturing mainly due to a huge mistake by You_aLways_Iose who had replaced PARD seconds earlier.  It was not a good way to mark your arrival, with PSYCHOS making the score 2-1.  Shortly after this, a mini stand-off ensued again, and just in the nick of time, I.shomaa returned his flag after remaining unnoticed in the PSYCHOS base, allowing advokatee to capture, making the final score 2-2.

 

 

As the fourth round began, ARCADE were 2-0 up so it was looking pretty good for them.  The round itself started in a peculiar fashion, with I.Shomaa being replaced by gangstachel after a minute, with no obvious reason available to spectators.  Gangstachel hardly got off to a brilliant start either, missing his first shot, which allowed S_E_N_T_E_X to capture the first flag making it 1-0 to PSYCHOS.  Seconds later a long stand-off began, with neither side looking particularly committed to it.  Despite this, it lasted quite a while until gangstachel returned, allowing advokatee to completely outwit his opponent and capture.  The rest of the game, however, was a shambles for ARCADE.  Somehow, PSYCHOS managed to capture 3 more flags, with players such as UDJIK and Only_Win making huge mistakes in amongst it all.  The final score of the round was 4-1, not what anyone expected, given what had happened in the previous rounds.

 

 

The fifth round was to be played in Kungur, a map notorious for its quickly changing game tempo.  For ARCADE, A_R_A_K_E_L_Y_A_N, the smoky, was defending in the blue base, a particularly good thing to do, as I myself have experienced when playing with my clan.  The round got off to a typically dull start, however, with Muctep_Kpa6c picking up, and wasting, drops several times.  In fact, if you're ever looking for a masterclass in how to waste drops, the first 5 minutes of round 5 would be ideal.  Finally however, S_E_N_T_E_X and Muctep_Kpa6c made good use of DA's about 6 minutes into the round, bringing ARCADE's flag round for capture.  ARCADE didn't take that lying down, however, A_R_A_K_E_L_Y_A_N picked up a Double Power, and with that to aid him, killed 3 hunters in lethal style and ARCADE equalized in flag captures, 1-1.  Minutes later, A_R_A_K_E_L_Y_A_N again, who was having a dream round captured a second flag in just as many minutes meaning that to stay in the StarSeries, PSYCHOS would have to capture another flag.  And...in the true nature of the game, PSYCHOS pulled it off, capturing within seconds of the end of the game, and keeping commentator Arabiannoble's hopes of a Penalty round alive.

 

So, going into potentially the last round of the game, ARCADE were 2-1 up.  PSYCHOS had to win, otherwise they would be out.  If they did win, there would be a 5 flag Penalty round in sandbox, which many people had been craving for throughout the finals.

 

Merely 3 minutes into the sixth round, a flag stand-off had already began.  Perhaps the pivotal point in the entire round was You_Always_Iose's spectacular failure to return his flag.  Then, another error occurred by ARCADE, this time the previously impeccable A_R_A_K_E_L_Y_A_N was at fault, bizarrely running out of cover, getting shot, and allowing PSYCHOS to return and capture, 1-0.  The rest of the round, much like the fourth round was utter destruction.  The final score of 5-1 to PSYCHOS was completely deserved, thanks to fluid attacking from S_E_N_T_E_X and Muctep_Kpa6c throughout the round.  What happened to ARCADE though, for them to concede such a crushing defeat no one knows, but what we did know was that there would be, for the first time in StarLadder history, a Penalty round. 

 

THE PENALTY ROUND:  Annihilation.  The first-to-5 flag Sandbox penalty round can only be described using that word.  5-0 to ARCADE the final score of the round, with PSYCHOS barely taking their opponents flags through the short exchange.  It was clear for all to see, that ARCADE were better in Sandbox.   A_R_A_K_E_L_Y_A_N had a field day, knocking 12 aims off in the whole round, and kill over 3 times the number of people as anyone on the battlefield.  kirill.132 in contrast, looked like he had never used a smoky before in his life.  All in all, PSYCHOS will hope they never have to see the map sandbox ever again, as ARCADE advanced to the SuperFinal with a spring in their step having washed away the memories of their plight in Kungur.

[r_Damn_Slow0 12,476]

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