VCT Brazil Stage 1 Week 4 Group A:
Here is the second half of the Week 4 recap. Here is the Group B recap from yesterday as well.
Gamelanders (2-0) Liberty
A win by Liberty in this match would almost certainly guarantee them playoffs as they would win almost any tiebreaker scenario. Gamelanders came into this match with their backs against the wall after losing to TBK and surviving an upstart Vikings squad. With Gamelanders and Liberty trending in opposite directions throughout this group stage, a change in form or tactics was required to cause an upset.
The defensive bastion of Split was chosen as the first map by Gamelanders, and Liberty showed the defensive part with a dominant defensive first half in which they never once were forced onto an eco-round. A couple close rounds by Gamelanders including a Fuzari 1v1 clutch against krain to end the half kept GLB in the game heading into their own defensive half down 4-8. Despite Gamelanders looking dominant with guns on their defense, Liberty won some crucial low buy rounds in the 1st , 2nd, 3rd and 6th rounds of the second half to inch their way to map point and prevent Gamelanders from running away with the momentum. Nevertheless, Liberty continued to be ineffective on their full buy rounds on the attack, and Gamelanders forced overtime off the backs of a 1v2 clutch by dgzin at the end of regulation. Gamelanders continued to be slightly more effective on full buy attacking rounds, winning an attack and the map in the second overtime. This was the first time krain and dgzin played Chamber, and both were very effective on the defense. It was the supportive players for Gamelanders combining for 6 multikills of at least 3 kills that solidified their hold on Split.
Icebox was Liberty’s pick, but over the course of VCT Brazil stage 1, Icebox has been almost as attacker sided as Split has been defender sided. Gamelanders started out on the attack and looked unstoppable, dying only 11 times in the first 8 rounds. Liberty found an eco win off the backs of a 3k Sheriff play by Glym, and they managed to salvage a 3-9 scoreline at the half, but Gamelanders won the pistol and second round of their defensive half to reach 11 rounds. A 3k Sheriff round by Liazzi turned the momentum, and Liberty rattled off 4 straight rounds including a 1v2 ace clutch by Liazzi. After Gamelanders reached map point, Liberty ran off another 4 straight rounds to come within one round at 11-12. The unconventional spike plant on B site which cost Liberty their attacking pistol once again cost them as Gamelanders were able to place an easy Sage wall to defuse and secure the 13-11 map and match victory. Dgzin dropped 30 kills, 357 ACS, and as many 3ks (4) as all of Liberty had in the map.
After obliterating Vikings and giving LOUD their only real challenge in the group stage, Liberty looked to secure playoff contention in this match, but they will now have to beat TBK in week 5 to have a chance. Gamelanders have no more games to play and sit at 2-2.
TBK (2-0) Vikings
Similar to the last game, this matchup had serious playoff implications. Vikings at 0-2 needed this win to stay alive, and TBK at 1-1 would be require other games to go their way if they lost.
TBK picked Split, and unlike last series, they actually had a competent attack. They won the first four rounds and led the half 9-3 winning the most attacking rounds on Split out of any team in VCT Brazil so far. (The only other team to win at least 7 rounds was LOUD against GLB). Vikings managed to claw back on their own attack with four straight wins of their own, but once TBK had guns, they closed the map 13-7. Kon4n and tuyz led the way with 22 kills apiece for TBK.
Ascent was Vikings’ map pick, but it went worse than Split. They started on the attack, and only managed to win two rounds with one of those being against the 3rd round bonus. The second half didn’t go much better as Vikings once again only won against the 3rd round bonus en route to a 13-3 loss.Vikings looked completely out of the match, and they only compiled 7 multikills (2+ kills) against TBK’s 21. Tuyz dominated with 351 ACS and and ace as TBK coasted to the win.
TBK are now at 2-1 and only need a win over Liberty next week to secure a playoff spot. If they lose that game, there will be a three way tie in which they are in serious jeopardy of losing a three way tiebreaker. Vikings are now eliminated from the playoffs and have one final game against LOUD which has zero consequence.
Coming Up
Next week, TBK play LIB and VKS play LOUD
LOUD are guaranteed the 1st seed and VKS are eliminated
If TBK beat LIB, LOUD will be 1st seed, TBK 2nd seed, and GLB 3rd seed.
If LIB beat TBK, LOUD will be 1st seed, and there will be a 3 way tiebreaker.
The round differential sits at: GLB -3, TBK +1, LIB +3.
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