This thread is meant to give respect to each of these underdog teams:
Many people were criticizing T1's roster when it was made but they have continued to grow throughout the season and their team has amazing aim that went toe-to-toe with PRX. They will only continue to get better and they have definitely done a lot better than people had them doing in their predictions before the season.
FUT were massively underestimated before the start of franchising as they stuck with their roster despite losing to T2 teams like Parma. Yet, after solidifying ATAKAPTAN's starting spot, they surprised many with their strategic depth and raw aim.
I'm pretty sure EG were at the bottom of everyone's Americas rankings at the beginning of franchising with what many thought was an underwhelming roster, undeserving of a franchising spot. Yet they proved everyone wrong, building chemistry around the addition of demon1 and thorough anti-strats from coach Potter until they are vying for the #1 seed in Americas.
A big criticism of franchising was that it would suppress underdog teams from rising up and qualifying for international tournaments and yet we can see 1 team in each region that have exceeded their preseason/Lock-in expectations and rode their momentum to qualify for Tokyo. Respect to each of these teams for winning in the faces of their haters.
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