UKIC Season 7 format saw a major overhaul to accommodate the VRS system. Therefore, every single team had to qualify through open qualifiers. Even the process of playing in the top UK league was different, as instead of a 10-team round robin, the now eight teams were split into two groups and played in a GSL format.
In classic UK fashion, the regular season went against the grain. A much more ruthless format meant you only had two chances, whereas the previous round robin was way more forgiving… You could even make the playoffs with three wins.
That ruthless nature was showcased after the UKIC Season 6 Division 1 finalists, Synical, crashed out of Group B 0-2, losing to Glitchtech 0-2, then to CORE3 1-2. Moreover, the four-time UKIC winners, Hawaii, didn’t even qualify out of their group on top.
Foreshadowing the future, dripmen shocked everyone by topping Group A, besting Hawaii 2-1. What makes this even more impressive is that this squad went back to being orgless seven days beforehand. Fraser “Frazehh” Sollom and co joined BuzzKill after qualifying for UKIC Season 7 Masters, but only for 20 days, as according to Frazehh: “org owner dipped because he couldn’t afford payments to purchase the org brand”.
Prime is looking for revenge under a different name
Heading into the playoffs, the bracket produced what many thought to be the finals in the semi-finals. Because Hawaii finished second in Group A, they were pitted against 8Sins, who won Group B. The only team that has been able to consistently test Hawaii has been 8Sins. At EPIC.LAN, in the UKIC Finals, online – no matter the setting, it has been an incredibly close affair. At times, 8Sins has come out on top, but never in a meaningful way.
The two main occasions the underdogs won were at EPIC.LAN 44 in the upper bracket finals, and at EPIC.LAN 45 in the group stage, coming back from a 3-9 deficit. Unfortunately, at EPIC.LAN 44, 8Sins then lost in the grand finals, and at EPIC.LAN 45, they were knocked out in the lower bracket semi-finals by Tom “arTisT” Clarke and co.
History would once again repeat itself in the semi-finals of the UKIC Season 7 Masters. With VRS points up for grabs, Hawaii had a lot more to play for than domestic pride as they beat 8Sins 2-0. This confirmed the favourites’ spot in the grand finals at the Endpoint HQ, looking to win their fifth UKIC title in a row.
Three different teams have challenged Hawaii in the last four UKIC finals; now, a fourth steps up.
dripmen had already played above people’s expectations, but would take it one step further against Glitchtech in the semi-finals. Despite two of their players retiring earlier this year, this group of players is competing at the highest level it has in a while.
Can Hawaii win their fifth UKIC title in a row?
The main European Glitchtech roster has a very high ceiling. Hell, they just made ESEA Advanced playoffs in the first season these five have played together! But, because Fred “Finchy” Finch is the only UK player on the roster, they had to use Jack “Sorex” Renton-Cooper and Charlie “cJe” Everitt for UKIC Season 7 Masters. This makes them a lot less formidable, but still a strong team.
The opportunity was seized by dripmen with EPIC.LAN 44 MVP Michael ‘Prime‘ John Fury and Frazehh topped the scoreboards in an intense 2-1 victory. In three separate overtimes and excruciatingly close maps, dripmen earn their UKIC Season 7 Masters Grand Finals spot, and seek to challenge Hawaii.
As mentioned before, many have tried, but none have succeeded in dethroning the kings of UK CS. The core of Hawaii has not lost a LAN finals in UK CS since 2023; no one can beat them. dripmen have already done it in the group stages, but can they do it on LAN in Sheffield at the Endpoint HQ on the 13th September?
