BLEED BLEED Asia-Pacific Rank #21 have taken a 3-0 victory over SCARZ SCARZ Japan Rank #9 Yoshiii John Yoshiharu Kawakami in the grand finals of VCT Pacific Ascension, qualifying the team to the Pacific League for 2024 and 2025.

Capping off the single elimination Playoffs bracket, the grand finals saw a Group Omega rematch, where BLEED initially won in a hardfought 2-1 battle, with two maps going to overtime.

SCARZ made their way through the bracket by taking down Vietnamese hopefuls Fancy United Esports Fancy United Esports Asia-Pacific Rank #14 YESicaN Đinh Đình Đạt foxy Crus Lư Tiến Huy tok1o Nia twilight alongside Filipino juggernauts NAOS NAOS Asia-Pacific Rank #5 xavi8k Xavier Juan JA John Timothy Arone Mojer Jerome Literal Emman Emmanuel Morales Nexi Nathaniel Cabero , both games seeing close scorelines. Meanwhile, BLEED, who held a seeding advantage from topping their group, only had to play against BOOM Esports BOOM Esports Asia-Pacific Rank #3 dos9 Zhumagali Dastan Famouz Fikri Zaki Hamdani Shiro Hildegard Arnaldo NcSlasher Sheldon Andersen Chandra BerserX Rizkie Adla Kusuma , only coming out victorious after a 9-3 comeback with a one-map deficit.

BLEED vetoed Split, a map SCARZ had been 2-0 on during Ascension, while SCARZ took away BLEED's ace Pearl, a map they had since only suffered one loss within eight months to SCARZ during their initial matchup.

Kicking off on Haven, SCARZ took the opening pistol of the series off the back of a 3k by Yoshiii . After converting the first two rounds in favor of the Japanese side, BLEED responded back on SZ's bonus to take two rounds of their own.

Despite converting a thrifty in round five, BLEED continued to hold off an immaculate defense, forcing SCARZ into a timeout in round ten after falling 3-6, where they would ultimately end the half at a 3-9 scoreboard.

Opening up the second half with BLD taking the pistol on their attack, SCARZ won yet another thrifty on the anti-eco to put themselves back on track, giving them the momentum to take another four rounds before BLEED called their first timeout.

After taking six rounds in a row to fall one away from tying the score, BLEED managed to finally respond back by taking rounds 20 and 21, being the first to reach match point.

Being left in a 1v4 with only 20 seconds left to sScary 's name at 12-9, it looked destined for SCARZ to make it up to double digits. Being awarded with a trigger discipline play onto Kr1stal and Jemkin , sScary managed to ult onto A site to get the plant down with only 0.35 seconds remaining, leaving it down to a 1v2. A push into CT to find the final two went in sScary's favor, pulling off an unthinkable clutch and finishing Haven 13-9 for BLEED.

Never let sScary be the last one alive.

Bind started off strong for BLEED, beginning with three rounds going their way before SCARZ was forced into an early timeout. The second buy round in round 5 put SCARZ on the board, dragged over the line with a 4k by IGL Kr1stal. trailing behind 4-1. BLEED stayed undeterred from any further attack-side plays by SCARZ, continuing to fend off their opponents.

It wasn't until round 11 that SCARZ were able to take a second round in the half, as BLEED kept up a formidable defense to find a 10-2 lead heading into halftime, unable to get Jemkin going at all throughout SCARZ's offense. Going uncontested heading into their attacking side, BLEED ended off Bind 13-2.

How harsh.

For SCARZ, map three was all or nothing. Heading into Fracture, both teams were no strangers to playing each other during their initial group stage matchup. Their previous Fracture faceoff had gone BLEED's way 13-5.

Change would need to come fast, as map three was their final chance to fight back against elimination. SCARZ would need to pull off a miracle, looking past their adversities in the maps prior. A map-winning ace clutch, a 0-14 statline by their star duelist, crushing halftime scores – could it all be tossed aside in favor of a fresh start?

BLEED came into Fracture showing no mercy onto SCARZ, racking up round after round in impeccable fashion, gaining a 6-0 lead before their opponents could even take one for their own. TORANECO showed up even when SCARZ treaded into dire straits, pulling off back-to-back triple kills to get his team their first two rounds. SZ gathered the strength to take an additional two rounds, while BLEED took the final round to finish the half 8-4.

SCARZ began their defense strong, winning the pistol and both follow up rounds to move 7-8, only one round separating the two teams. When it looked primed for SZ to tie the score, BLEED staved off two retakes to reach double digits.

At 12-8, crazyguy was put into a 1v2 clutch, tasked with bringing BLEED to the finish line. A swift takedown onto Jemkin while pulling out his Showstopper left him in a 1v1 against Allen . An attempt at a wrap around by the latter went awry in the end, with crazyguy taking him down while descending from B Tower.

His clutch was all that was needed to end off the series, closing out with a 13-8 victory and a clean sweep, qualifying the team for the next two years of the Pacific League.

Despite the loss, SCARZ have their spirits held high for next year. For them, their experience gained throughout the season gives them the spirit of repeating their Ascension results in the future.

“Next year we'll qualify for the international league,” said Fadezis . “We'll keep improving, and next year will be our year. I hope we made you proud with how far Japanese teams went.”

For BLEED, an organization with players who have gone through trials and tribulations time and time again, their win here today means everything for them.

“The win feels very good,” said crazyguy. “We practiced for so long, we prepared everything, and we feel very happy.”

BLEED raising the trophy The crowning moment.

However, they'll also be looking to seek out vengeance. For players such as Deryeon and sScary, who faced heartbreak numerous times against the world's best, a chance at revenge awaits them in the international leagues.

“Hello partnered teams, watch out. sScary is back.”