There were two big matches played in the ESEA-Invite division within the last two days that were both very important in terms of the standings, 20ID vs. EG and Complexity vs. Loaded. Coming into the games, the standings looked like this:
Complexity: 12-2
20ID: 12-2
EG TF2: 9-3
Loaded: 10-3
The map to be played was cp_freight, and it certainly didn’t disappoint in terms of excitement. Both matches featured tense stand offs, quick rounds, big swings in momentum and some intense action at the last capture point. Medics on all the teams were switching back and forth between the Kritzkrieg and the Ubergun, leading to some devastating crit kills and surprising ubers.
EG TF2 vs. 20ID
The match started out with a long first round. EG took the momentum out of the gates and was able to push 20ID off the middle, then back to the last CP. 20ID had a stiff defense but wasn’t able to return the action to the middle, leading to EG eventually taking the first round. EG 1- 20ID 0
The second round intensified early as 20ID’s medic Ruwin was sniper picked during the middle action, forcing 20ID to pull back. They again tried to hold on but were overpowered by EG. EG 2- 20ID 0
EG started out strong once more in the third round, pushing 20ID back to their spawn, but the tenacious 20ID players were able to clear EG out, giving them a fresh shot at the middle CP with both teams arriving at full force at the same time. 20ID was able to re-take mid and the next point, but were losing control when the teams hit the end of the first half and the round went to stalemate.
On the restart 20ID came out fiercely with the Kritzkrieg and utilizing their man advantage were able to score a quick round. EG 2 – 20ID 1
EG’s dominance continued, despite 20ID’s Saber07 switching to spy and scoring a backstab on a soldier and a face stab on a medic. It was the only time a spy was featured all map and was a smart switchup by Saber07, but EG persevered and took the round. EG 3 – 20ID 2
The back and forth action continued and the kritzkrieg again proved influential. EG Destro was having a fantastic match and scored some crucial frags to again push 20ID back to their spawn. Saber07 was again influential as after getting a Lvl 3 SG setup, he abandoned it and switched to scout as his team pushed forward, arriving at the 2nd point in time to kill the last EG player and successfully cap the point. Unfortunately for 20ID, EG quickly retook. In the end it was EG Cyzer who sealed the round though with some great scout work to snag the last capture point. EG 4 – 20ID 2
With their backs to the wall, 20ID picked up the intensity and responded accordingly. A great kritzkrieg leads to 20ID demolishing EG and taking the next round almost immediately. They were only slowed down by their cautiousness. EG 4 - 20ID 3
EG was able to respond and take the middle CP at the start of the next round, but after losing too many players 20ID was able to retake and push through. The round wrapped up quickly and all of a sudden the score was tied! EG 4 – 20ID 4
The last round was tense and a little more drawn out as EG came out confident but cautious and 20ID tried everything they could. All match long, Saber07 had been doing an excellent job sniping, but for I think the first time in the match he was sniped by his counterpart Herooooo. EG was able to keep the pressure up, snag middle, and push 20ID back. The warehouse CP changed hands a couple times but EG were able to insure that 20ID didn’t get too far forward. With an Uber on EG Destro leading the way, EG were able to pick apart the 20ID defense and score the final cap.
Final Score
EG 5 – 20ID 4.
Train: 5 kills, 3 on 20ID’s Gaston
The stars of the game were EG Destro for his fantastic demo work, EG cyzer for some great scout action, and 20ID’s saber07 for rocking the Sniper and his smart class switches.
Complexity vs. Loaded
With Loaded riding a ten match winning streak and Complexity on an eight game winning streak this game was sure to have fireworks and intense action.
Loaded started things off great with their Demoman SolidSnake coming out of the gate guns blazing and scoring multiple kills. Loaded easily cleared Complexity out of the middle, then brushed their way through to the final point. CoL 0 – Loaded 1
The second round was a quick role reversal as this time it was the CoL demo Reptile utilizing the Kritzkrieg with Pure to deal some major damage. Like Loaded the round before, Complexity quickly pushed into the final point. Pure got taken out by a train during their push in but it succeeded regardless. CoL 1 - Loaded 1
Complexity sealed the middle CP in the opening moments of round three, although Loaded was able to re-take. Unfortuntately Complexity pushed Loaded off of middle quickly and took the 2nd point as well. Their Medic Pure went down but once he was back in the action, CoL were pushing hard again and took the point easily. CoL 2 – Loaded 1
The next round again quickly went Complexity’s way. The middle was seized and the tight spaces of cp_freight enable Complexity to take advantage of the downed loaded team and take the 2nd point. While Loaded worked to keep CoL at bay in the right hallways, Reptile sneaked around the left and with a sticky hop scored a great back cap. CoL 3 – Loaded 1
Complexity just couldn’t be stopped and in the next round again brought crucial kills and constant pressure. Pure continued to switch back and forth between the Uber and the Kritzkrieg, using both extremely effectively to dismantle Loaded. CoL 4 – Loaded 1
After a half time switch, Complexity was not going to be stopped. CoL cleared out Loaded from mid, easily took the 2nd point, and then were on top of the final point before Loaded’s Engineer or anyone else for that matter could muster some sort of defense.
Final Score:
CoL 5 – Loaded 1
Train: 3 Kills
It was a quick brutal match, over in 18 minutes, and brought about mostly by the stars of the game: Complexity’s Reptile, Paladin, and Pure. Pure’s Kritzkriegs and his switches to Uber really shined with the help of Reptile’s nades and Paladin’s rockets, who simply owned with their Kritz volleys. Honorable mention to CarnageJohnson’s sniping.
Overall, in both matches cp_freight proved to be an exciting battle ground and hopefully the map continues to gain further acceptance in the community.
After all was said and done, the standings looked like this:
Complexity: 13-2
20ID: 12-3
EG TF2: 10-3
Loaded: 10-4
Loaded’s win streak was stopped and with one game left to play first place is out of reach for them, though they are guaranteed at least 4th place. Loaded will be playing their last game against EG on Freight. 20ID will be playing on cp_granary also against EG for their last match, sure to be a huge match. EG still has even one more match to make up against pureEsports on granary while Complexity will be taking on pureEsports for their last game on the same map. Lots of excitement to be had as both EG and 20ID will be looking to stay as close as possible to Complexity and hope that pureEsports can pull off an upset.
