Day one of EPIC 43 has kicked off and this is the place to keep up to date with everything going on here at the Kettering Conference Centre. The on-site team at UKCSGO are going to be updating this article throughout the course of the day with updates coming out after each round.
Round 1: Easy Breezy (for some)
Favourites reign supreme in the first round of EPIC43 with a majority of matches ending in a quick fashion. With a total of six 13-0s and only 3 games exceeding 17 rounds, the opening round of the tournament came to a swift conclusion. The quick nature of the morning allowed the tournament to return to the schedule after the first round got delayed due to a few PCs not getting any power.
Squeaky for Dripmen
One of the favourites to make it to playoffs Dripmen were in a match to note in the first round of the event as it was one of the few matches to exceed 20 rounds. Eventually winning the series 13-11 against PUGSTARS, Dripmen struggled to get their feet off the ground in their opening match starting the game 6-1 down before making the eventual recovery and closing the game out in the maximum amount of rounds whilst keeping it in regulation.
Dreams for Legends.
Coming in as playoff hopefulls Dreams to Legends (DTL) have struggled to kick off their EPIC 43 campaign in the right direction. The mix team ‘Fug knows mate’ managed to catch DTL off guard and lock in a comfortable 13-7 victory of the favourites to start the tournament with massive high.
8Sins avoid losing and winning
Another favourite in the opening round: 8Sins, manage to narrowly avoid losing their opening game, drawing 15-15 to the mix team One Point Six. 8Sins came into the match up as clear favourites to win the series, but the mix managed to give them a run for their money meaning both teams end up walking away from their tournament debut with a draw.
Round 2: Streamed match provides a thriller
Round 2 saw no upsets as all the favourites to win their matches cleaned up nicely to see themselves through to round 3 of play. ‘Fug knows mate’ were unable to keep their form from the first round and ended up losing 10-13 to the One Point Six squad that showed great form drawing to 8Sins in round one.
The Binmen vs Coalesce Odyssey
With no clear favourite coming into the match up, the match streamed on the official broadcast provided a thriller ending in a 15-15 draw. With The Binmen being down coming into their T side they managed to pull off the comeback giving themselves two chances to close out the came in regulation at the 12-10 scoreline. Coalesce managed to hold on in the end forcing the game into overtime in which the teams inseparable ending the game 15-15.
Round 3: Halloween scare for Belfast Storm
As the third round of play gets underway the matches begin to get a little bit closer, with a few 13-10s and fewer 13-0s the competition is really heating up here in the conference centre.
One Point Six keep it up
One Point Six keep up the exceptional run of form they’ve had so far this tournament, so far undefeated they beat Xtagon in a close 13-10 affair. The match was level for a majority of the game ending 6-6 going into the second half of play, but the veteran team managed to run away with the last few rounds of play to keep their undefeated streak alive.
Belfast storm cling on
Belfast storm avoid a scare and manage to cling on to their undefeated record. Closing the game out 16-12 winning their match in overtime. Winning 8 rounds on the bounce to win the match, Belfast storm maintained their composure up against 4 match points to keep their winning streak alive.
Byfield’s boys close out a close match on the stream
A fake comeback by CTRL esports gives Flowstate their third victory of the event. Leading at the half 8-4 Flowstate fought off the comeback and managed to hold on to the lead closing out the game in a close 13-10 affair.
Heartbreak for Granny’s Knockers
Ryan “RyRy” Chapman’s Granny’s Knockers looked like they were about to close out a convincing win to give them their first win of the event. Unfortunately their dreams were crushed when ‘A Discord Server’ demonstrated their resolve and came back from an 11-6 deficit, closing out their comeback and winning the game 13-11, handing Granny’s Knockers their 3rd loss of the event and taking their first victory for themselves.
Round 4: Undefeated teams clash
Somebody’s 0 had to go in Round 4 as undefeated teams clashed. Belfast Storm and The Last Resort (TLR) played out a pulsating anubis. The Last Resort appeared to take control with a 7-5 CT half, before Belfast Storm found their own success on the CT side to lead 10-6. However, TLR managed to recover their composure to close it out 13-11.
flowstate lost their flow against Annex in a 13-9 defeat. Annex, EPIC 42 semi-finals, look like they’re punching above their weight once again. The Dripmen taught the young men of Viperio Academy a lesson, taking them down 13-7 to hand them their first defeat.
Giants continue stomping
Verdant, Verdant fe and 8Sins all carried on their strong form with 13-3 victories each. Binmen also kept it simple, winning 13-3 against Simplicity? Does that mean they’re equally huge? No, absolutely not.
Round 5: A little bit of friendly trolling
Cai “CYPHER” Watson and Jack “Gizmy” von Spreckelsen’s mix spiced up their match vs Team-Kaos with some team-griefing. Upon reaching match point, two teammates proceeded to zeus each other, and challenged the other three to close it out. Upon losing the round the call came out “guys, time to grow up and close it out,” quickly followed by Gizmy zeusing CYPHER yet again… Thankfully they had the rounds in hand to close it out 13-6.
Playoff picture beginning to take shape
With only a few group rounds to go the teams teetering on the edge of playoffs contention clashed in Round 5. Like EPIC.LAN 43, Oasis fans faced heartbreak when tickets for their comeback tour topped £500. Sadly they’ll have no reprieve at EPIC.LAN as Oasis lost 13-4 to Bravefart in Round 5, damaging their playoff hopes.
The team of two Frostys, Chucklestorm Strikers revived their hopes by demolising Coalesce Odyssey 13-3. Meanwhile Fug Knows What and CTRL ESPORTS similarly kept themselves in contention with victories in Round 5.
Belfast Storm got a bye in Round 5 as Esports Organisation pulled out. They had won three rounds in their previous four matches.
In other news the Air Conditioning is working. A EPIC.LAN miracle.
Round 6: Dominance and shaky Viperio
As the sixth round started the hall got noisy as we saw a quick and dominant 13-0 by 8Sins who continue to shine undefeated after their morning draw against One Point Six and Oasis might be looking back in anger as they lose 13-1 to PENJYMIN. As the games started to close the air conditioning might not be enough to keep it cool in the hall.
The giants keep on rolling
Annex keep their streak going with a 13-5 win looking hungry for the trophy. Could they go beyond the semi-finals this year? Belfast Storm sent The Binmen packing with a 13-3 victory and dripmen are one win away from securing a 7-0 finish to secure their spot in the playoffs here in Kettering. Verdant fe continue to dismantle everyone in their way.
Viperio Academy shaky on Ancient.
Nicolas Jackson put Viperio to work by taking a 7-5 lead in the first half of the game. The second half looked more comfortable for the young academy as they constructed a vital comeback against Nicolas Jackson after a lot of struggle. At 10-10 things got heated with back-to-back clutches however Viperio managed to save the game at 13-11 by winning a last second 1v2.
Round 7: Close games and titans clashing.
Started off by, definitely needed, war cries from CYPHER and Gizmy, Round 7 was the end for the day-long marathon of the group stage. The previously unstoppable The Last Resort was crushed by dripmen who did in fact secure their 7-0 and Dutchy‘s Bravefart finish with a 13-2 win against Simplicity. Other notable results include a 13-6 by Verdant against Dreams to Legends and Nicolas Jackson following their near loss last round with a 13-0.
Verdant fe in trouble
There was quite a crowd as Verdant fe was put to work, in a scary matchup against Alex “Byfield” Byfield and his flowstate. Things were getting heated when the first-half ended 6-6 and both teams were careful to not make any mistakes. Even towards the end we did not have a team with more than one round advantage until CYPHERÂ and his squad charged forward at 12-11. An overtime looked promising until a very defensive 2v1 post-plant by Verdant fe secured the 7-0 group run.
The titan fell
Annex’s run was stomped by 8Sins who looked to secure a 6-1 finish in the group stage of their own by dismantling the quarter-finalists on Mirage. The first half ended 8-4 with Annex bringing back their CT-half after being 6-1 down. The four is all they got as 8sins didn’t even give them a chance to breathe in the second half, coming down to a 1v1 to close the game ending 13-4.
Teams heading into playoffs:
Verdant
Verdant fe
dripmen
8Sins
Annex Esports
Viperio Academy
TheLastResort
Belfast Storm
PENJYMIN
One Point Six
flowstate
Bravefart
CTRL ESPORTS
TheRealBenForder Fan Club
Dreams To Legends
Chucklestorm Striker
