EDG continue dynasty with 3-2 over FPX

EDward Gaming EDward Gaming China Rank #1 S1Mon Hsien Meng-Hsun (谢孟勋) ZmjjKK Zheng Yongkang (郑永康) nobody Wang Senxu (王森旭) CHICHOO Wan Shunzhi (万顺治) Smoggy Zhang Zhao (张钊) have defeated FunPlus Phoenix FunPlus Phoenix China Rank #3 Autumn Kale Dunne Life Qu Donghao (瞿东豪) AAAAY Zhang Yang (张杨) BerLIN Zhang Bolin (張柏霖) Lysoar Liang Youhao (梁优好) in the VCT China 2024 grand final, confirming once again their dominance in the region. The victory rewards them with a top seed at Champions Seoul, while FPX will be second seed.

The ninth match between the two organizations, EDward Gaming had come out on top on six different occasions. It is also the fourth best-of-five series between these two teams, with EDG boasting a flawless record in past encounters.

FPX started Sunset on the defense, where they won the opening round. They lost the follow up after EDG found the first kill, and ZmjjKK 's Neon helped secure the next two rounds. FPX took a round after reinforcing A, but CHICHOO prevented them from tying the scoreline. The gap continued to grow despite an FPX timeout, and it wasn't until round 11 that they returned to the scoreboard. The next round, EDG won a flawless to send the match to a 9-3 halftime.

The second pistol went FPX's way, and they found their sixth point after a productive round from Autumn . He helped win the next round, an EDG eco that got too close to comfort. The map continued with a back-and-forth, but the defenders were unable to stabilize their economy, awarding FPX with a ninth round.

EDG's lead was too much to overcome, as they forced AAAAY into a 1v4 situation to earn match point. The final round went the defender's way, as Smoggy stopped a desperation mid-to-B push with 20 seconds remaining.

Heading into their own map choice, FPX maintained their agent composition, with every player on a comfort pick. They went three for three on pistol rounds, but were able to shut down their rival's buy round, taking a 4-0 lead. The disadvantage led to an EDG timeout and eventual round win, switching to a B push and stopping the retake in its tracks.

Despite their success on B, EDG returned to A the next three rounds, gifting FPX a 6-2 lead. Momentum shifted in the offense's favor, as they were able to string together four rounds, but a successful retake consolidated FPX's lead by halftime.

The fourth half of the series broke FPX's pistol round streak, as Smoggy eliminated the final player with enough time for a 0.04 second defuse. The win helped his team equalize, but they lost the next two rounds despite considerable economic damage.

Feast and famine followed for EDG, as ZmjjKK helped recover a round after a second failed aggression from Smoggy. Keeping EDG out of the match, Life won a 1v1, breaking their economy. The low buy helped FPX reach map point, and a well-oiled mid push tied the series 1-1.

EDward Gaming had the upper-hand on map three, winning four of the first five rounds of Haven. FPX's timeout gave the team temporary respite, but a successful A take was followed up by a hectic EDG win. By 7-2, the offense's second timeout was used. BerLIN and Lysoar won the subsequent eco round, but EDG maintained their footing throughout the rest of the half.

After the break, EDward all but brute forced a pistol round win. FPX were able to secure three more rounds, a pause called for the attackers afterwards. EDG reached map point by finishing the round with an aggressive C take, catching their opponents off-guard. A massive blunder from EDG let FPX win their seventh round, but the advantage was too large to overcome. EDward Gaming ended Haven 13-7.

During the map, FPX gained a player advantage on 14 of the 20 rounds played. Life and autumn contributed to 11 of those first eliminations, but the team was unable to capitalize on the benefit.

Starting on the attack, EDward Gaming won the opening rounds on Icebox. A 4K and clutch from AAAAY helped FPX take the lead in the half, quickly tied by EDG after a timeout and thrifty win. EDG punished an advanced A defense to win the next round, which set them up to win the half 7-5.

The pistol round and a 2v4 secured the lead for FPX. At 8-7, CHICHOO eliminated four before dying to leave a 1v1, but Smoggy could not seal the round. FPX continued extending their lead after heroics from Life and Lysoar, who each found a 3K that all but won the round.

ZmjjKK prevented match point with an opening elimination and 1v1, while CHICHOO kept his team in the game by reaching 12-9, but they were only prolonging the inevitable. FunPlus Phoenix sealed the deal with a fairly standard round on B, not needing to plant as they won map four 13-9.

EDG opened up the decider, Bind, in dominant fashion. They steamrolled FPX, going up 6-0 on their offense. Their opponent's first round came off the back of a low buy, but EDG continued taking rounds afterwards, reaching 10-2 by the break.

Only needing three rounds to win the tournament, EDG appeared to make quick work of their rivals. They stopped FPX's first two attempts into B, reaching their twelfth point of the map. Not content with a stomp on the final map, FunPlus Phoenix started mounting a comeback, winning aim duels and expertly working the map to win their own six-round streak.

Relative to the previous rounds in the half, round 21 was anti-climatic. The teams were set up for a clash on B, with EDG on a half buy and FPX having found success on the site in past rounds. BerLIN managed to get three, but three Stinger kills and a Sheriff elimination from EDG put the BerLIN in a must-win 1v2, but the need to plant and incoming Nightfall let ZmjjKK end the series with his classic.

The win locks EDG in as the top China seed for Champions Seoul, while FPX will take second seed in the event. It is also EDward's eighth domestic grand final victory in a row, a streak that goes back to FGC Act 2 in 2023.