ESL UK Premiership – Final

So we’re into the final games of the ESL UK Premiership, so we’ll start with the third-place play-off. This was a BO1 game between Infused and United Estonia, to decide the lower two placements of the play-offs.

The map was set to be Inferno (as the league is using the previous map pool still). The game was strong for United Estonia, as they went strong and hard in the game. After taking the pistol round they went on a long streak, so much so they only dropped three rounds throughout the entire first half. Exceptional performances from their lone Estonian, cheti, and usual manager alexE helped them through this (He managed a maddening 121 ADR this map). The second half was more of the same for UE as they didn’t stop to the end, only dropping the one round, as they won the map 16:4 setting them third in the tournament.

Joee and redSNK, two teammates at epic.LAN, now foes at the ESL UK Premiership finals.

The final was set to be an exciting one. The Working Men were to be up against Reason, and the maps had been decided. Reason chose Cobblestone, TWM taking Mirage and leaving Cache to be the decider, it was all up in the air. Heading into the first map we have Cobble, one that should go well for Reason, but it didn’t look so at the start. TWM managed the pistol round and then went forward for the following four before Reason managed to answer, but that was only one round. Ping-pong followed and then Reason managed to go for a four rounder to even it up at 7:7, and the final round went close, to the literal second as REAZN lost out the plant by barely a second as TWM edged the half 8:7. The second half started off in the favour of TWM as they managed to pick up the pistol and the following, and even though batham managed to take everyone out in the fourth he missed out on the defuse by sheer seconds as TWM went up 12:7. The round after was a lot closer as Reason manage to pick up an eco win, with a couple stronger pistols and the M4 saved by batham. This went on for a string of five rounds as Reason managed to equalise it out at 12:12 against TWM. A bit of ping-pong once again occurred as TWM tried to limit Reason’s reach but a strong round from weber afterwards sent them to game point, which was firmly secured after keita picked off robiin to take the map 16:13.

Mirage was up next in the Premiership final, the pick of The Working Men. The pistol was picked up by jakem’s crew as they went on to pick up the next round, not until Reason smashed their economy apart the round following to pick up a set of three. TWM manage another before moving on to take the four afterwards. Reason manage to pick up a buy allowing them to finally pick up another round. After that, an ace from keita secured the round that followed to even out the game. Afterwards, TWM went onto an eco so Reason managed to secure a quick equaliser at 6:6. After a short break, TWM manages to pull the rounds back to them and take the half 9:6, a strong lead for TWM as they move to the T side. Reason go into the second half, taking the pistol round but TWM takes it straight back as robiin manages a 4k to end their start and pick up three rounds. But Reason wasn’t to capitulate so quickly, but fre1 stopped any thought of that as he carried a 4k into the next round. This helped TWM push themselves forward to 15:7, showing their strength on Mirage as they pushed forward to match point to potentially even the game out. A force buy from Reason avoids an inevitable end for a couple more rounds before the inevitable was finally delivered, as TWM takes the second map 16:9. This evens the series out at 1:1.

So we’re on to the decider – the final map of the day. We go to Cache to see who will take the crown of best UK team. The map started strong for TWM, as they picked up the pistol and following rounds. Reason, however, refused to sit down as they use their T-side to push through onto a next round, but TWM refused to give anything else as they take the next two rounds. Reason answer back straight away as they rail the following four to even the map up at 5:5, as the rot ends and they push on to face off against an eco. After managing six in a row, TWM finally answer back to keep Reason’s lead small at 7:6. This was answered back quickly as Reason hit over the line to pick up an eighth round, before moving on to the half at 9:6. The pistol round of the second half went firmly into Reason’s court as they aimed for a victory as they followed, securing the next three rounds. TWM force up to take the round afterwards to manage a seventh and then follow it with another to give them eight. dUdLeY and robiin help their side on to the next couple of rounds as the game gets close to the end at 10:13. TWM smash an eco and then Reason’s full buy to push on to take it close at 12:13. Reason pick up a force to attempt to push on to championship point territory but it wasn’t to be as TWM end it all to push themselves to 13:13. This left Reason’s economy completely busted as TMW took themselves to the 14th round leaving the game teetering on the edge. TWM pick up their ninth in a row to send them to match, and championship point against a Reason side who aren’t showing the form they had previously in the tournament. A force buy came through from Reason but it wasn’t to be as TWM ended it all, as they take the game 16:13, the series 2:1 and coming first in the tournament.

Therefore this leaves the final standings of the ESL UK Premiership as:

1. The Working Men (£2,750)
2. Reason Gaming (£1,375)
3. United Estonia (£875)
4. Infused (£500)