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What's the way you guys are doing?
We're doing by Zero from Team USA, coming out from a great win against Team Japan.
Zero, I might be getting ahead of myself, but I feel like you guys are like 99.9% kind of close to going to Anaheim, right?
So I'm just going to congratulate you first on making it to Anaheim.
And also, how do you feel?
I feel great. I think the team's been working really hard. I think we have a really nice system.
Everyone's just super passionate and we want to give it all for our country
and to bring the World Cup back to the United States.
Talking about Team USA, you've played on the Team USA team.
I feel like this is your first World Cup representing USA, so how does that make you feel?
It's a dream come true. When I first joined USA, even now,
I'm kind of buried in doubt a lot, a lot of people have doubts for me or maybe because
I made it over another, but I've given everything I can to the game for these past nine years
ever since I was a little kid and it's my dream to be here representing USA and I'm
going to give it all and I'm going to be the best player in the world.
And you guys actually do have one more match tomorrow, I feel like.
How are you guys preparing for that match?
A lot more. I came to the venue yesterday to watch Sweden vs Japan to study up on both teams by myself.
I think Sweden is pretty similar to us, at least in the comps they play, so I think it will be a big head-to-head in each one of our roles.
I think the better team will come out on top 100%.
I feel like you're a very passionate and also you're very skilled as well.
Do you have a personal goal that you want to achieve in the Overwatch World Cup this year?
I want to bring it home.
To be able to win the World Cup by 19, it would be a dream come true.
I can only think about winning in every tournament I play.
I only think about winning and I think I'll be able to show everyone how much I care and how much this means to me.
Alright, that's it for the interview.
Zero, thank you so much.
Best of luck. Move forward. Thank you.
What's up, everybody? It's interview time.
Yes, and we have a special guest.
We've got head coach of team Sweden almost panther joining me coach. How are you doing doing good straight off the win?
Talking about that win. Hey big congratulations on getting the win and
Congratulations on moving on to Anaheim for overwatch World Cup, right?
So a lot of things to celebrate. How are you feeling right now?
It's good. It's good jobs not done. We need the first team tomorrow
But I mean we'll we'll definitely go and eat lunch at least together before we start prepping for USA tomorrow
I mean we'll talk about USA tomorrow, but let's talk a little bit about this one
I'm gonna be honest. I thought it was gonna be a 3-0, but it was a 3-1
What went wrong for Team Sweden?
Honestly like props to China
They done the like amazing amazing stealthy because they literally picked our worst two maps like statistically
We had by far the worst win rate on both Atlas and Pariso
So they had a good read and then we had some smaller like
like comp issues, but we, I mean, it was a quick fix
so we sold it for later, but nah, it's just like,
we'll pay to China more than on us.
They played well, but you guys played better
and got the win, of course.
I feel like, I feel like I wanna ask you
a little bit about Team Sweden.
I mean, you're the head coach,
I'm pretty sure you were heavily involved
in picking the players when making this team.
So like, how did that go?
Did you guys, did you like sort of like,
had one key player and built a team around that?
How did the process go?
Well, I mean, we're pretty fortunate this World Cup round.
We have great talents, but now we made sure,
we had some players that were more focused on getting for the World Cup like Jester,
but the others, we had the close tryouts, and it was very even actually.
We have great talent in Sweden, but we chose this team to have a more,
because we're not playing the Brawl Heavy sim playstyle,
playing more to just like a lot poke heavy and like all these pairs fit really well and
it's like super fun as well with Willis Hassard because he's on the second map he saw he
saw that San Supit Hassard and he's like oh hell yeah I'm going mirror he just loves
that guy so I mean it just fits our compositions so well so I'm just super happy with that.
How's the team total like team Sweden's vibe currently for the World Cup are you
Are you guys super close? Do you guys go out and have fun together?
Yeah, we're eating almost everything together.
We're super tight-knit with discussion and stuff.
Most of our players are here to work.
We're good friends, but we're here to work.
We have a very serious attitude towards it.
Some players are staying a little bit longer to explore Korea afterwards.
But we're taking it very professionally and like no going out late or anything.
We're just like bed early, get here on time and to work.
Talking about work and talking about business.
I mean, yeah, you guys did qualify for Anaheim.
But like, you know, there's one more match left, right?
And you guys are up against Team USA. Coach, how do you feel about that one?
It's good. I mean, they're the strongest opponent in our group for sure.
But I mean, they three won China.
China had a little bit of a map edge on them, too.
So we'll see how that goes.
We have a good read on them.
So it's, you know, let's see.
I mean, Admiral and Hawker teammates.
So I mean, they're probably keeping a lot of secrets
to each other, but it's going to be a good game.
I feel like it's going to be very exciting.
All right, before I let you go, coach,
anything you want to add before you say goodbye?
Just thank you to everyone watching.
It's a great event.
So, thank you Blizzard, thanks to all the Swedish fans sharing on us, and yeah, let's hope we get the first seed so we can hopefully play against an easy opponent like Canada.
I love that answer. Thank you so much for the interview and again, big congratulations on getting to win. Thank you so much.
Hello everybody, welcome back to the Overwatch World Cup group stages live here for Busan.
Stay number three.
We have a lot of extra awesome games for today.
Matt Mastricht with the Reinforce and Jake.
You were here late last night, Johnny, doing a banger.
Oh my god.
Korea getting upset in Busan in front of the crowd.
Like, that was one of the most insane matches in probably like Overwatch's history.
Like, that was an all-time banger.
Yeah, and I mean, Australia taking down Great Britain,
also pretty crazy when you say Jake as well.
Yeah, big upsets.
That's what the World Cup's all about.
This year, honestly, things have been incredibly competitive.
A lot of teams that historically maybe
haven't been able to make deep runs.
Now with the addition of breakout players
have been a lot more close with some of the top teams.
Yeah, let's take a look at some of the highlights
yesterday from day two.
Probably the most consequential day that we've had so far
at the Overwatch World Cup.
And Johnny Denmark, they get off to a great start.
Yeah, Denmark, obviously, they came in second here
from the online qualifiers and that they're looking to put themselves in this group that
features France and South Korea buying for that number two spot at that time of
course took down their points in Colombia and a team USA Jake and a
Overwatch back on top like they never left red they are looking strong right
the American team this time around you know I think maybe looking to right some
wrongs from this year in the OWCS where it's been a tougher region KSA versus
Mexico I'm not gonna lie Mitch it I casted this one. Widowmaker this one was
This was painful. KSA has looked unbelievable. China, in that group with Team USA and Sweden sitting there at the bottom, quite a rough look.
And then Johnny, I think this is one of the bigger surprises from yesterday. I'll surely be able to take down Great Britain.
Yeah. I mean, we had these on the desk. We had Great Britain all the way here. But really surprised actually all of the way.
And then this series was just absolutely bonkers.
Crops and France get it done at the end.
They got a little dicey towards the end of this one.
I can't be more worried about it.
Yeah.
The wild game though.
But I mean, the full reverse sweep is crazy to do a compilation from Korea.
This is a huge setback, right?
I think this is one of the fan favorite teams, one of the favorite teams, period, to win
in BlizzCon to take home gold.
And so, I mean, losing this match against France, that's kind of a shock to the system
for Korea.
We're here in Busan and it's your first game.
Everybody's so excited.
they go up to 0 and then lose 3 straight, I mean.
It was honestly like amazing doing the commentating because then on Korea's defense, every time
Korea won a teamfight, they crowd aggressively like a mountain rider, like please save us
from this like catastrophe, this car crash is about to happen.
And then obviously at the end of the day it's all France coming out on top.
Yeah, I saw a dip in the lobby today and he said the same thing, I was like, God
could you hear the crowd out there and he was like, yeah towards the end of team
battle, I guess I already get a little out of sight so you can hear it.
the team fight way too much.
Let's take a look at the standing, though, right?
So we saw a lot of games left, or halfway through the group
stages here for the Overwatch World Cup.
Team USA and Sweden, both sitting at top of the group
here, Jake, 2-0, each plus 5 map differential.
China and Japan should have a really rough go so far.
Yeah, Group A. I mean, qualification to BlizzCon
has locked in for both of these top two squads.
They're going to be facing off the German who
comes in as the higher seed, which actually
pretty important given the competitiveness around the world.
I feel like this year more than ever, you really want to come in with a strong bracket towards BlizzCon.
Yeah, Group B, KSA just kind of dominating that field. Obviously Australia, they get the win over Great Britain.
We'll see how that pans out with tiebreakers and things later throughout the weekend.
Johnny Group C is one of the more interesting ones to me. Germany has a huge game today.
Yeah, it's just like three teams in that group.
Thailand maybe looking a little bit behind everyone else, but Spain, Canada, Germany, like all three of those teams
Could realistically be vying for the number one spot.
We'll see how the games today affect the future of Comfort tomorrow.
And in Group D, France obviously gets that massive win against Korea.
Where Jake, that puts a lot of pressure now even on Denmark, right?
Denmark will play France.
It's not like Denmark is banking on beating Korea as well.
That group could get quite interesting.
Yeah, that one could get really down to the map differential.
It's going to be on your performances.
Even a team like Columbia could play spoiler.
Just picking up some map wins against some of these other teams
could end up changing their fate so gotta watch till the very end
to see how Group D pans out.
I mean you didn't think about like Group D right?
If Denmark is able to get over France,
you think Korea wins out, we have like three teams at two and one
and then France is a tiebreaker over Korea right?
In that head to head that could get real spicy.
And this actually happened back when I played in the 2018 World Cup.
We had like a three team kind of tie there
and it was like the Johnny in the World Cup.
We in Sweden, we know, sorry, it's because
It's because it was a bad memory for the Danes as a suede, I had to bring it up.
But we were actually already out to Sweden, like we couldn't qualify for BlizzCon.
But we beat Denmark to ensure that Australia made it to BlizzCon, so Kostas in the back, like, go Sweden!
And then because we were able to take down Denmark, Australia ended up qualifying.
So then, the three team kind of like matchups here, like, it actually can become a reality.
Yeah, the group's really close here throughout all of them.
Now, honestly, in the group stages here in Busan, we have one game here, the kickoff today though,
that has a lot of consequence for Group 8. It's USA against Sweden, this is for
Topps in the group. Both of these teams are pretty set going to BlizzCon, but
getting that number one seed, especially with maybe Korea now finishing with a number two.
I was talking to the two of them.
Yeah, they're just like, okay, so like, theoretically, like, what if we like take down USA now?
Like, amazing at you know. And then you get rewarded with South Korea, like at BlizzCon.
It's like, it's like, you gotta go for the number one seed. Like, you gotta go just all out the entire way, right?
Yeah, I think for sure Jake I have been pretty impressed with Team USA here in Busan
I was like cautiously excited
You know you always kind of expect something to go kind of wrong
But they have definitely proved a lot here on the global stage. Yeah
I mean players like tree really showing that the global superstar status that a lot of players
Put that respect on him the results haven't though been there especially for NA in general as a region
in OWCS. So in the World Cup, it's an opportunity to right pass Rons, maybe pick up another win, right?
With a star in the jersey, expectations have to always be high, 14 USA, Hawke has taken to the demon.
So well, I think this is a hero that really suits his botanical individual strength, as well as his ability to lead in an aggressive role.
Well, I think also, I love how you're going to point it out, Hawke, because that's kind of where I was going to go with this as well.
With a new tank coming into the pool, Johnny, he's one of the players that you would trust in the whole field to be able to like really dive in deep, figure out this hero pretty quick.
Yeah, I mean, we've already seen this tournament so far. A few tanks have really adapted yesterday. We saw Krog stuff up.
And I feel like Hawke is also off that archetype, a tank player who likes to really brawl it out.
And obviously he has the potential now to really make some great stuff happen on Demo.
But also, you know, in Sweden they got a good Demo player themselves too.
as we take a look at team USA this is starting line up here today.
So nothing too surprising as Luke Amino and landed a really
phenomenal backline says a lot about them combining where you
can't really find time for ultraviolet who's unbelievable
in his own right.
I mean what a career really for Luke right for for a player
that you know took the long road to the top level of play
right coming through tier two climbing his way to tier one
being one of the really exciting players on Dallas
Field in O WCS and now making into the spot
Or to me to say this is a very competitive roster to even be on to be on the bench is a competition
Right and so the via key starter who's had huge performances on the jetpack cat great look for look me now
We got to get landed back in a pro WCS
But we got to get him back is we take a look here at their opponents
It will be Sweden and Johnny Kipsers all the way back
I know there was a while where we're like everybody who's kind of down on Kev
But he has been dominant on tracer. I mean that a lot of this tournament
I mean, there are some amazing players in Overwatch just in general, but I felt like the last couple of matches, just like...
I feel like Kepster just like took over the lobby, and it's rare that you have those players that literally just like take over the games.
Like you're just watching like a highlight montage of them just like taking the match over themselves almost like,
and feeling their team across the finish line. So overall it's a really good team, they're well rounded, a lot of players are stepping up.
stepping up, but the big, big, big dog in many ways is Kevster on the tracer, the stuff
he's able to make now.
Yeah, and I think it's impressive that he's been a player who's been at the top of Overwatch
eSports for a long time.
Obviously, we've had a ton of changes since he started playing and still maintains that
high skill ceiling where a lot of players from there are completely gone.
Right?
They're not even gonna competing anymore.
As we take a look at Sweden's roster, Jake got pretty high on Willys.
We've casted him a lot, you know, in EMEA throughout the last few years
of OWCS.
Definitely a tank player to look out for.
Yeah, I think Willis is really important.
I think Admiral and Kepster, the three of them together, actually form a key unit in this meta,
where you've got these aggressive tanks like Demon, Pazzer, getting into the mix, brawling in,
and that's Willis.
On the main sport role, Admiral on the jetpack, that can be a part of those dies, unconventional for main sport,
but very important in this meta, and of course, the tip of the spear, Kepster on the tracer.
So the three of them together expect them to be a really key element in this series.
They need to be able to get on top of tree shut him down do the same to land and punish these more vulnerable backliners
But of course, this is gonna be a difficult match to do it
This is the most difficult test yet 14 Sweden they are underdogs in this series
But guys with a very real punches chance using the underdogs in this series
I'm a swedish when I do that has been I mean they're pretty awesome during the groups
Yeah, I guess they I guess it would be different level of tests from my perspective, right?
This is a team USA is expected to be I mean generally should be thought as one of the favorites there
There's not many teams here where every single player on the roster is like a tier one professional player
Who goes to lands plays in the world stage like there's no player on this team or when we're talking about oh
It's exciting to see them get a chance. You know, yeah, they they've had those chances
They've had that experience for Sweden
There's still some young players on the roster with question marks about how they do under that kind of scrutiny
And you know for Johnny, right for him that size Sweden. Yeah, they definitely have to be under dogs
It's Johnny, never.
But in fairness to Sweden, underdogs, but with a real shot.
We're wasting this.
Underdogs, where, to be honest, I really
had to hope for them to win.
I didn't think they could win a map.
Sweden is a very different story.
If team is a slip-off at all, they bring anything
less than an A game, Sweden can take this.
I mean, guys, just look at the two rosters on paper.
On the one hand, you have USA.
All of those guys compete at the midseason championship.
And meanwhile, the reality is that a few of the players
on team Sweden, they failed to qualify for the upcoming
stage three of all the PCS so like it's literally right in front of you like this
team you say roster is stacked that being said though Kevster is the best
player in the server yes yeah with an opportunity to potentially take it over
prediction wise though I went with Team USA in this one I I think look they've
they've hurt me before Team USA in the past you know Jake sorry you've hurt me in the past
Team USA but hey I think this is this is their time I think this is their moment
I would love to see you know it's a pipe dream won't happen right I'd love
to see this seem like a WCS. Now they would kind of fair. But I think they're obviously
built here to win in Busan and Overwatch World Cup by USA.
Yeah, I had to go the same way. I mean, I think we talked about it. They're on paper,
the favorites. I still am excited to see what Team Gene can do, though. And honestly,
if they can really bring a strong performance, there's no reason why they can't take
this win. But of course, got to consider Team USA the favorites, expecting to win
probably with a 3-1 scoreline, if I had to guess.
So I take predictions very seriously, as you guys know, but this time it's more of a passport
kind of play.
I wouldn't be ashamed if you picked Team USA here, that would be wrong.
I had them marked out on paper.
It's the battle for real.
I couldn't even do that to myself, like my heart in this one.
Well what is the pathway for Sweden, realistically?
So actually, what happened to South Korea against France yesterday, there's a lot
of pressure on the line here to like step up and represent your country. We've seen these players for
Team USA like they're on different squads like they've had practice time together but like they
didn't really practice for the online qualifiers because they didn't really need to. I think this is
a team Sweden roster that is coming together they're showing great form and like everyone's like
Sweden is really good in scrims they have Kevster, Vesper and the lobby. It could just be the
case that Sweden is a little bit more on the same page and then backing up Willis in the front
line maybe Team USA are caught a little bit on the back foot but I don't know maybe it's no
Hey, look it's for the number one seed here in group A. Obviously that is really important going into BlizzCon and the game is ready.
You guys can take it away. It is USA against Sweden to kick things off. Thank you very much Mad.
And as we get into this, it's been a time honored pick. A lot of teams have brought us here. Nepal, the opener, picked by Sweden.
Yeah, so obviously they win the 1-0-1 duels so they get the courtesy of picking up Paul here.
It's been the go-to map for a lot of these teams. They've been a quite favorite going to this one.
We'll have to take a look at the balance as well and see what these teams got in store for us.
It's going to be quite similar playstyle though. I feel like for both of these teams,
I feel like the meta has kind of been defined here going into the third day of the awards World Cup.
The demon is really strong. Jetpack Cat is really strong.
And now it's a matter of like, can you come out on top on the individual dude?
It's gonna be an honor band for team USA here.
Yeah, it looks like that was deferred by Sweden.
Sweden gonna ban him?
Oh, okay, that's confidence.
To be honest, actually, I think Hog is maybe a more interesting hero than he gets credit for.
Given the play time being really low, I think there are some cheese hog strats that we saw from TVNT on Twisted Minds,
like actually playing Hog in some sort of senses, so...
You know, I don't think this is a completely crazy band,
but also when it comes to the tank role,
I think Willis is going to be comfortable on any of the top meta choices
and I don't think that they're going to feel the need to like, as you said,
stray away from the meta.
I think this will be a pound for pound match where maybe a lot of pressure on
Zara in particular hasn't been a great year for him as an individual player.
It's fair to say, I mean, obviously bigger circumstances surrounding that.
So this is an opportunity to go up against one of the best in the world
and show that you are still on that level.
The Tracer head to head, I expect to be really significant
in terms of the outcome of the series.
Yeah, and obviously you have to give Zero a lot of credit for the past achievements, you know, at Nightmare.
The way they went head to head against Kratz, they went back to an early major tournament a couple of years ago.
So, Zero's definitely done it before, taking all these fantastic Tracer players, but you're only really as good as your most recent match.
And in this case, we're going up against Kevster. It's going to be a new, true test for Zero to see how he fares against Kevster.
Because Kevster, he won't give Zero a moment's rest of this one.
I think Admiral vs Lukmino is going to be another key matchup because these are two teams that have both generally speaking straight away from the Bastion Cat, right?
They let the cat have a little bit more agency and go with a more conventional hitscan like the Cassidy or the EmRamming that's going to tree Signature for a long time.
He is absolutely lights out on the hero with the insane individual tracking he brings to the fight.
Maybe an opportunity to play spoiler on some maps, change things up, show a different look than you brought before.
And for both teams now, they've had ample opportunity to see what the other brings to bear.
And knowing that they're fighting for the one seed, not for a ticket to Flizzcon,
it opens up a little freedom to maybe get Flizzcon.
Taking a look at the player cast here, all good, very relaxed.
And jumping, shooting with the MAGA in spawn here.
Taking a look at both teams.
I think both of these teams have secured qualification to Flizzcon already.
They're fighting for the number one seed here.
But in general, going into his first match up of the day, two teams,
playing pretty cool and relaxed.
We're just going to rock the team on.
See how the Malga matchup goes.
Definitely a bit of a scary one.
I mean, Malga can bring so much frontline pressure to Baron.
As I said, they wouldn't expect to see much Bastion treat.
Actually, he's going to whip it out here in the opener.
They're trying to fight back against it.
They're trying to get behind the team at shield.
But the offer's little cover just barely slips away.
But a lot of damage pouring out from the CUSA Bastion on the high.
And Sweden just taking a moment here to peel back.
I want to make sure they stay alive here.
USA is going to contest the point first here.
But Kester making a move now towards home.
Demon also into the back of my wheel is getting marked by Team USA.
It's actually Landon who goes down first, a well-placed bolt from Zoro, opens things up.
First blood on the server, second as well.
And with both supports out of the fight, Team USA just scrambling for any kind of a counter pick,
but the best they can get is a quick reset.
Zoro lights up the feed.
Yeah, and you gotta say, Sweden played patiently there,
finding their time, taking a look at what Team USA were playing.
And then when they have a pretty good read,
they re-engage their tefs to put some pressure on the hawk.
And then it's going to be Willis make some space in the front lines and Sora cleans it up
This is gonna be back into the suit before the next fight got team act early into that one
Luckily, he's gonna be able to rematch and be ready for the re-engage
Team is they can be looking from the outside and so already is the Polish on on time. This could be a threat
They got a bit of trace real quick syrup
Gain is the ground here on the high ground in me while just doing some work surely go ask well
Point pressure here from USA, but we don't really have to pay the price for that
Yes, they're dancing on the point. It's ignited by Maga.
Struggling to stay up for the moment. You've got to keep this cap in context.
Zara Willis, lighting up the beat again.
Team USA, the Bastion, has produced very little here.
Great movements from Sweden around this control point.
And he's fighting the arch over at Team USA.
Really struggling in this opening round.
Yeah, and you would have looked at the damage pairs of Team USA trees.
Their capabilities are of the highest caliber.
But Soros and the ones stepping up so far on the Freya, sitting back, getting good value with these folds.
Retake, always a challenge on this map.
Team USA.
So many ults arrayed against them, how are they going to approach this retake?
Artillery from Tree might open up just a little modicum of space.
It's really choked, forces a TP out of silence on the Kiriko.
And Hawker moves forward to the point.
Capture though.
Sultz the back line has to battle with Tree.
Already forced out of the recall.
Huge damage from Hawker though.
Jibri goes down.
No one else really making use of the rush.
Instead, Sweden moved to the back line.
Zero-off Tree bastard though.
Hawker bringing a lot of damage into this front line.
USA still very much in this fight, but so are the Swedes.
Yeah, everyone looking for the picks on the side of Sweden.
Willis knows to take down Hawker and Luke Minow as well.
This is looking like a Team Sweden victory.
Very dominant showing there at that time.
Team USA wanted to take a fight on towards the point, but Sweden again just playing the pick-game,
working the backline and putting pressure on the other members of Team USA.
It's a dominant showing to kick off the first opening round on the ball.
100 to 0. We expected a closer showing and certainly not this kind of dominance out of Team Sweden.
Hock, maybe feels the limit there, wanted to bring the Moga but just not finding success.
I would much prefer to see maybe a change up here and take a look at the stats.
Yeah, it's not pretty. The one kill on the carry, all you really find in this round.
To the USA, I mean, switching away from their conventional EmRick going for the Bastion look,
they try to maybe catch Sweden unawares, but it falls flat.
Zora with a fantastic opening performance for a player who has, arguably,
relatively lower expectations on this team. It's a great sign for Sweden.
I mean, we've been seeing a few teams really shine with the Demon Play yesterday,
also squarely, also France. And now this Nighthawk is shining away from that hit, Jay.
It's a little bit surprising, as we said.
Now with them around the server, this is the more conventional walk, something that some
USA has had a lot of success so far in this tournament with Zera dueling Kev on the flank
and he had consequential wants to keep an eye on throughout this series.
Bogg is playing that frontline pressure game, Willis, he gets best with the plasma saver
to box out that Maga.
With Tracer being marked on the flank a little bit less assistance in clearing the
Maga.
Aghoss to get into the action.
Here comes Willis getting into the backline, pulling a ton of attention onto himself
and gets stomped down.
In the meantime, Sauron finds a pick onto Zera and Sweden have really half their hopes on this control round.
Tepster picks up another. This fight feels done already.
And honestly, they're playing so well right now.
Like you said, Gwyneth's creating space in the front line.
And meanwhile, Tepster harassing, of course, he's going to be the focal point of this team's Sweden roster.
But it's actually Sauron then, the third member of that lineup, who is able to get so much value onto this Freya.
So Sweden's showing it. It's not about just the one or two members stepping up. It's a team effort.
That's an uncharacteristic mistake from Tree. Opening stagger kill on him, walking out of the spawn.
Team USA look positively disapopulated. Sweden could just run away with this first map, Johnny.
I mean, Team USA, they just haven't showed up at all. Like, got a couple of eliminations.
They played pretty, pretty passive so far, putting some pressure on towards the point.
But look at Team Sweden, look how spread they are. Williams on the one side, Admiral on the other.
Team Sweden, so happy and comfortable right now, playing Flanks.
Kevin Trubble gets bursted down, not expecting the damage from Luke Mino's Cat Vanys with Recall.
An uncarious mistake from one of the goats, the rush comes out from Siles, stabilize this position.
Team USA slowing things down for now, biding their time, but as the ultimate comes to its inevitable expiration.
The Americans look to press forward, try to take something back.
Zorro though, showing no fear, looking for a play of its own.
Nick Bola into the backlight, tree caught between a rock and a hard place,
cut down by Willis, Siles finds another, and Team USA, where is this American squad?
This is 70% now! It's a great teamfight win for Sweden.
Getting Valley from the limit, great pickets, Sunerosh.
So we're following it up as well.
And now Team Sweden has to be set land on,
pop the Kitsunerosh late into that fight as well as a vital tool to try and get back into the series now.
Look at me, look at me, look at me. Where are they?
I mean, truly, this is not the Team USA we expected to see today, but that's what World Cup is all about.
Catechry means nothing.
Light on the server means everything.
Willis, weathering the storm inside of this cage fight.
Eventually, Hawk is going to break through.
Overtime is in contest here.
Living weapon comes out here for treat.
Feels like he needs it.
Not a flamethrower.
I say he can't take anything for granted.
I believe this map is gone.
He's going to still linger in this one as Willis goes down.
Team USA having the point here.
Now finally getting on the board.
But it's going to be an uphill battle here.
As Luke Minow carries the sole ultimate now available for the team USA squad.
And Sweden are going to keep poking and prodding.
They've been favoring this approach, not playing the objective as much as they're looking for opportunities to get on top of the team USA members.
They can find now. Sweden finds himself in the outside bar.
They can get you between his own hands here.
Or should the CP have a solidly stays alive through it.
Flick coming in, Team Sweden playing the objective here.
Lupino has to stop that on the cap. It's a risky move, Pop.
Now up into the front line, takes a close bump into the face, but survives it well.
Trig gets a pick up before he goes down.
Pop, Steel's staying alive. Supporting is good, but Kevser execs.
The final price from Landon in Sweden in pole position to take the fall.
It's very much looking like right now.
Team USA is scrambling to get back from testing this objective, but they need to find Kevser.
Oh, that was way too close.
Zera forced to recall the pop. Shucks down the carry trees back in the mix.
Team USA, still bleeding on this, with the rush on the ground here, demon.
Eating up all covers, the overtime is parting the stick.
Faster and faster now, Zera incredibly low, the limit break.
Catches one, landed, cleanses it off, stays alive.
Well, but the team, okay, the touch comes in at the last moment.
Zera still fighting, needs to come up huge in this teamfight.
Team USA are still capturing the objective here,
and they're going to find some solace in the fight.
We finally get a point, but there's a team shift.
Is Sweden engaged once more?
Tree taking off the map, but Willis out of the suit at the same time.
USA coming alive at the crucial moment. It's a 4 on 4, landed.
Shots down one, but with Lukino dropping, Kester coming alive with kills.
Zera in real trouble now.
Under the eyes of one of the greatest.
Has to back off for now, giving the foot back towards Team Sweden. Zera may be called upon to get this recon test.
Hunk also dropping low. Shirley now, Sweden has done enough.
Keeps figuring out here from Landon, but Huck is down.
USA still battling. Tsunay rush.
Tons of cooldowns available, but the damage keeps coming in! Zorro shuts down the tracer,
touching the point now, gets ever more difficult! Lupino over the top,
with the catnap pulls one away, but who's gonna touch the point? USA falling around their ears!
Sweden picks up map 1 in a stunning opener! Wow! We did not expect Sweden to come out,
looking like this against the very revered team Sweden, taking a look at the scored
keyboard, Kevster, 24 and 2, Zoro, 22 and 1, and this was a one-sided affair.
In the U.S.A. they got some percentage on the board that second round, but it very
much felt like Sweden was pretty much in the driver's seat for the entirety of the map.
I mean a great way to start for Team Sweden, especially to have a player like Zoro come in
in the opening fight of the map, of the match entirely, deliver a huge beat, picks up a
Orca in here? I mean that's a way to set the tone. But one of the young players right who's coming in trying to live up to those expectations
To actually be the one setting the time in for someone like Kevster
That takes a little weight off your shoulders
I give a lot of credit to Willis as well. He was cutting the pieces on the demon
It's better to say that this Moga counter just did not work at all
And also it was interesting because yesterday you said like we haven't seen as much Freya
But like it's you know it's a really strong hero and it's a pretty interesting damage fuel because you have Kevster
who's doing tremendous stuff in the Tracer fuel like Sarah's having a tough time hanging with Chester naturally
But that also buys a lot of time and freedom for Soros
Yeah, sit back and just form value with this Freya
And so this team Sweden composition really well thought through and I mean the mechanicals we'll speak for itself
He's like senior SA
I will say they did kind of come alive in the final moments of this second round right like death matching
Well, maybe finally showing some of the individual prowess that we expect from this team
but it's too little too late for DePaul.
We'll have to be enough to change things up with the map pick coming into this series,
but already Senua Seir are going to be on their heels.
So what did you think about the fact that Hawk played Mauga for most of that map?
Because I think we expected Demon to kind of settle in as the primary tank team played here.
And it felt like Hawk for a lot of the time was, you know, inching forward,
touching the objective, then dropping that cardic overdrive,
but the rest of the teams were all really happy playing around the Mauga.
didn't necessarily take that deal. Willis was sent into the back lines of Team USA, essentially
creating space for the likes of Kevser and Zorro. And so Hawke, on that time on the market,
didn't really find any value. And I'm curious to see if we're going to see a pivot in the tank.
Yeah, I mean, I saw it in the cage fight was a moment where, okay, that seemed to have a real
problem for Demon. It's just like cracking the shield, cracking the mech. You just kind
of get through everything during that ultimate. But in the neutral game, Willis was able
to dance around so much more effectively than a poke in, poke out, never fully committing
himself and you know honestly in fairness I think typically the tanks that do well against
Maga are the tanks that have a powerful way to block damage for the duration of Maga's
shout, right?
That you're not giving him lifesteal when you put up that shield, it's not going to
last forever, right?
Demon's shield isn't that incredible but it is very good at simply just denying the
lifesteal from Maga and that's enough to kind of force him off of these positions
to give him some real trouble, not an easy hero to stomp by any stretch of the imagination
using those boosters to just kind of nimbly stay away and I think the old
Ultimate is quite good for Mogga in the matchup, but I'm not really seeing it in the head-to-head tank trade.
And I think when Mogga can't do a straight-up tank trade and be effective, it doesn't feel like a good hero pick to me.
And I think you're right, maybe to think about the Freyaz, another key part of that.
A hero that is nigh-unpunchable for Mogga, right? I mean, he just tights away.
Tree really wasn't able to have much impact at all on whether it was the Bastion on round one, the Emery on round two.
Didn't seem to make a difference.
Yeah, it feels like a math that you just kind of have to forget if you're team USA and look forward now
and really think about the fact that maybe you want to change up your approach a little bit, the game plan, you know
whatever you had in mind for this series going into this one, but it really felt like so far this tournament
we usually talk about, you know, off camera, but like usually going to a tournament
We cannot see how the tournament unfolds and you learn information about all the matches taking place
and I feel like now we're entering day three here in the Overwatch World Cup
And to me, based on the results we saw yesterday, it's really been a demon-centric kind of tournament,
and Jeff Packett, obviously, helping out there, making sure the demon is protected in that front line.
And so if you can play aggressive around your demon, Koffba found great success on it yesterday,
Crocs found great success on it for Team France, and now I think that Willis is doing a fantastic job
of just getting into the backline of Team USA and putting pressure on there,
meanwhile Team USA a bit more passive in their approach.
I mean, new heroes, you know, always present a really interesting moment in competitive Overwatch,
Especially for something like the Overwatch World Cup where these are not like professional teams that practice year-round that are gonna spend
You know the entire week integrating a new hero into their strategy
They have to adapt on the fly and for maybe for some younger players on to Sweden the hunger that is there is proving to be enough
Like you said, I mean, I mean the demon looks good. I agree. This is kind of the meta meta defining hero in this tournament
I'm glad to see her in the lineup because she does also present
really exciting playmaking opportunities for the tank role where typically with most tanks you've got to be very conservative with your positioning right you know like
where you are on the map is a really significant decision and if you you know go a little bit too deep trying to make a play maybe you get the kill but
you know it often the cost is greater than the reward but demon seems to reward a lot more freedom a lot more aggression a lot more almost a
Damage-centric style on the tank roll and so it's something that I think team USA are gonna have to be aware of
They're gonna ban out the jetpack cat here taking us to route 66
And I mean the cat man is honestly one of the most significant in the current meta
I mean pretty much everybody's playing cat with various different styles
But the cat is really a mainstay when you take it out
It does signal that you really want to get a little bit greedier. I think on the support line with a diva ban
out of Sweden it's like open season for Anna I think right now in this
match. Yeah I think the Kath ban is the most interesting one in this one because
Kath as we know with the verticality it kind of becomes map design agnostic
like whatever the map is you can pick up the demon send it to the back line
it doesn't matter the fact that there is quite a bit of high ground here on
266 you can navigate that now with the jetpack at gone I'm questioning
Willis bringing out the demon in a case like this I think it could be
quite difficult to navigate from the payload and try to get into the backline which we've seen some
of these demons have success with. So going into this one it might be a bit of a pivot from
just back to Sweden, but also the demon in this case. Like you said opening things up for maybe
Skylce to play a little bit of Ana which she loves to do here, but it's going to be a very
stylistically different match from the one we just saw take place in the hall. Yeah,
I'm actually quite interested to see how this breaks down. See what I said earlier
in the tournament, played some Ana on this map and it was nearly there undoing actually,
You know, like they, I believe it was China who was just running at them with the Lucio base comp,
just pulling them over, and giving them real trouble at breaking some of these choke points.
So, from my perspective, I, you know, Admiral, you certainly, you know, wouldn't want to cast
his Persons on his Lucio, a super confident player in his own right on that role,
loves to play these faster styles. I have to see what both teams bring, though,
because without the cat in play, D.Va as well banned out.
It's going to be interesting, and it is a life lever.
Okay, shocking pick here from Admiral. I don't think we've seen any weaver this tournament
But with Willis on the same moment a ton of damage in the DPS lineup. I like what I see
I mean, this looks a little scary for the team USA offense. Yeah, the life we were can play pretty safe on top of the
gas station there
Certainly played a lot of flies we were looking for think back to the days of GK nightmare
We combined with older violets for a fantastic backline in this case
We're gonna make sure that Phyllis gets out of this one safe as well with a bit of a quick suit.
Obviously had a nice change, a couple patches to go. You can now cancel the group if need be here as well.
Yeah, a little more flexibility on the Lightweaver. See if that ends up coming into play, but
it's letting Willis be just fearless with his pressure. I mean, he is not like, we would not be able to play a position like this unsignificably,
but utilizing all that reactive mobility that Lightweaver offers, lets you a lot of damage on Willis,
but the Vendetta and the team in our blocks do out really hard on the payload.
I mean, there's not really a good hero to stall the progress, rather, from Team USA.
This is a really interesting approach from Team USA, because I just talked about some of the limitations that
Demon would have on a map like this, and now you're doubling down with Vendetta.
A melee hero asks, well, here, they're looking to go again for the backline, but now it's Willis instead.
Taking down Lukimino here in the toss.
A huge pick-off from Willis, recognizing some over-aggression.
The Grip is going to pull him out after finding that opener.
Team USA, if they can't find something soon, they're going to have to take a reset Hawks.
Zara getting incredibly low and Team USA just crumbling.
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I mean, the passivity of Lightweaver is starting to look like a bit of a liability for them.
It's going to say, ton of map control, ton of ultimates to deploy.
Sweden without flex, they're going to switch over to the tracer to try and deal with this Luthmi and Alana.
Kester on the tracer trying to put some pressure on towards the back line, but save for now.
Team USA, look to capture this second objective, ultimates in hand as well, coming up on five.
They're in a great position so far.
Kester's going alive.
A lot of attention in the backline. Willis comes in to clean up that opening damage.
Traits come in thick and fast. Hock's gonna go for the limit break, but it seems like a tough fight here for the American.
Sweden getting the better of it, and the Tracer squad from Kepster pays big dividends.
It'll be a reset for the attackers.
He'd win for Sweden, stabilizing the position. The retake on Ana is a lot more difficult than playing those neutral fights.
And like you said, it felt like Team Sweden, they're almost perpetually forfeiting their position, constantly forced to withdraw, and that gain team music so much ground, so Kevster onto this tracer instead allows him to more freely operate these angles, you can see already taking duels on the right-hand side here, allows Team Sweden to contest some of this positioning, you can only use them more.
Danibus is out, it's on Tree, over the top here on the fray, what can he find a big connection?
Watches some skills out, the life of a Tree stabilizing, love of the damage, actually huge for this Danibus!
Overwhelming the healing from the Lifeweaver, still with some openness to deploy, but with Zorro dropping,
seems to be a really rough fight here, 14-Swedon, Vendetta now free to dive into the backline, defensive play will only take him so far.
Admiral is going to go over to the Lucio, try to match some of the pace from this Team USA team, but the damage is done, Johnny.
The doors to third point cracked now by the Americans.
Team Sweden are looking for answer at this point.
This tree is going to make the swap over on towards the Bastion here as well.
This is looking like a team USA, but it's way more comfortable utilizing the flexibility from Lithuania and London.
Sweden are looking for some kind of answer.
Go for Freya. Where's the Cushree limit break coming out?
Oh, he's kind of forced into it.
Will is in trouble.
So I was going to throw the rush in.
This fight looks rough.
14 Sweden, the trade's coming in with a big ultimate deploy though.
I mean, the USA are going to be pretty happy to get even a chaotic trade fight out of this one.
Getting both the rush and the limit rank out is huge.
Zoro super long, he needs to survive this, but it looks just about impossible here.
Team USA can be bearing down on that position sooner rather than later, land it.
It's going to finish off the sojourn, and the cart essentially rolls through the whole fight.
I think this is a big mistake from Team Sweden to go for that engage.
Yes, Tile trying to make plays, trying to make something happen.
It's that kind of their post and they're working for a lot of teams,
but so far the execution just hasn't ended between them.
Willis already dropping low here, wants to get no shield forced to withdraw?
Oh, big limit break!
Paul's gonna give Willis real trouble now that damage him, cuts through his suit post-haste.
Gevser trying to make something happen in the backline, but Zero, well aware of his role, marks off that tracer.
Still, Gevser, always annoying, manages to provide something from nothing more often than not,
but it's Tree who strikes first blood, the rest of Team USA isn't waiting for the resolution of that tracer duel.
They're marching forward into the sweetest backline about to full cap on Route 66 and with a nano bastion.
It feels like a foregone conclusion now, one minute in the time bank, and then the Americans taking us home on the home soil under 66.
That is a way more comfortable look for Team USA as they finally find some momentum here on this second map.
Seraf doing a great job mitigating Tester's mechanical prowess on that tracer.
Bice enough time for the rest of Team USA to secure value from the Bastion pick instead.
Team USA, not really finding the answer. Willis dropping low, a couple of those fights. Not with the same amount of protective resources that our Jetpack Cat who's now banned out provides here.
Looking like a team-eat Sweden roster, there is still scrambling for answers here on route.
Flexibility on full display from Team USA. Tree goes over to the Freya for the most of this map, makes great use of the nano boost but also gets a lot done even without it.
Zera showing off what he can do on the Vendetta and then taking taking it to capture in the 1v1 right blocking off creating space for Luke Nino's
Ana to really succeed hot goes over to the demon and I mean huge adaptations from Team USA
This is like a 180 from what we saw in map one to be honest full-capping route at all is a massive win for the attackers
And so this is a rough spot for Team Sweden the map is kind of slipping through their fingers
They're really under pressure to deliver a really strong pace especially through first point and
It's also a map where the full hold on first is very realistic. It's not anything taken for free here on the offense.
The backline really is the big differentiator between these two teams. I think stylistically we'd say that Admiral is a more classical main support, likes to play a lot of Lucio.
Obviously, I spent some time on the Lifeweaver. And meanwhile, looking into Atlanta, I mean the flexibility is just world-class when it comes to those two guys.
So, you see in Team USA, like you said, flexing those hero pool muscles in this one as Team
Sweden taking a moment here to hit their composition.
Still gonna leave her.
Okay, it's an interesting choice here for Admiral.
Evaluating the vertical mobility, some of the saves.
From the auto...
Oh, oh, hold on.
It makes him a big kill on Xera.
I was getting a little bit too big for his bridge, so I just saw a chance to pick
up that Turret, but instead he falls.
This is just what Team Sweden wanted, an opening here on the first fight.
As soon as they aren't giving them anything further, experience showing as they stabilize
and wait for the Tracer respawn.
And it's still going to be a challenge here for Kepster to try and gain some ground.
You need to get on top of Lukimino in this one, but Sera is about to stand in your way
already back here from spawn as well.
Team Sweden, tough task ahead of them here, trying to round this corner.
And this ageless tough one for Zoro.
Tree keeps them and throwing bolts back the other way.
Willis is going to move through alongside Kepster, hitting it towards the backline.
Can they open up an opportunity? The health of this demon is dropping fast, head for out of the recall now,
marked off by Xera, forced out of the off angle.
It's a USA holding strong behind this on, and the cart does not move in each cock.
Digs his heels in here for the Americans.
So far it's been enough, and with a weaver, defensive play has been the calling card of Team Sweden.
Will has pulled out again, but nothing accomplished so far on this attack.
Yeah, Team USA are so comfortable with the status quo here on this defense so far.
You shouldn't have not shown that they're been able to break it yet.
It's going to be a combined push here from Wilson Caption of the Clan.
They go in deep on the tree, but he's happy to just dance up into the air,
put a ton of damage down to the backline.
Hock though, drops low, force down the angle, away from the honest sight line.
Cannot get to sustain.
Cracking the defenses here for Team USA, and maybe more than that,
here comes the man on the tree, he's gonna try and turn this one around.
Taking things into his own hands, a defensive Weaver Tree.
From Advo, just keeps him alive for the moment, but that's all he needs to accomplish.
Hock down, out of the baby form, and Americans have to beat a hasty retreat out of this one
if they want any chance to retake.
Yes, pro teams now, Kitsune rushes, are available.
It's going to be a hotly contested last fight here on the first point.
It's going to be a team USA, though, with plenty of ultimate in hand.
Feel that damage break available for Halt.
It's easy.
Scary one.
They're a recall for you, though.
I mean, Halt is not easy to play here.
Halt though, making a ton of space here in the back.
But hasn't he gone too far?
I asked to fuck the Lybrick just for the extra help.
Just to stay alive with the minions to do that important job here for the frontline tank.
3 on 3 in the deathmatch with Hogg, still alive and healthy in Zera, and insult the injury now.
Limitbreak online for real is there he go for the clutch right now, it may be their last chance to get first.
This might be their best opportunity. You might just need to go for it right here.
Might as well couple actually.
Huge kill. Maybe he doesn't need it. This is masterful.
From Willis and yes, Sweden will grab this capture point.
Well played in the clutch and diamond hand from Willis.
Loads onto a key ultimate that could help them snowball into second.
Sweden, still with the chance to go to 66.
Yeah, time is not on their side and so they need to be able to move here on second point.
Try to complete this point as quickly as possible.
It's been an absolute brawl so far between these two teams, playing the Freya and Tracer compositions.
It comes down to the mechanical skill of individual players needing to step up to either side.
And then who just happens to be enough for your pursuit?
Interesting choice here, we haven't seen it just about any who-yang in this tournament, but it's a signature for Lukmino.
Can they get out to the choke zone? Right now, that's the problem.
Zara started to get low, needs some assist from the team.
Hop goes through the choke, takes a ton of attention onto himself, but the focus fire devastates his leg.
He's already out of the suit, and the cart marches down through the halfway mark of this second point.
Hawk just takes an early death and a reset for the Americans, but have a greed of this Wu Yang.
I think it's being brutally punished. Team Sweden keeping the aggression full force on these chokes.
I mean, yeah, Hawk is essentially left to his own devices as he pushes out of the choke there.
Landon and Lukimino both have to play pretty cautiously. Can't follow too far deep with Hawk.
And this is going to be Sweden an opportunity with great over the back.
How's the second one?
Lillian comes running through, Linnifreik though seems to have missed, but Sweden doing so much with the rush on the payload, Kevster finds a few and Willis is just eating them alive in the background.
Another cap and a contestant engagement team USA. They did so well on the offense, it sets a strong time, but Sweden are matching it and maybe surpassing it, Johnny.
Yeah, so really awkward talk from Lukimino, who then thinks better of it. Back to the on and off. Really long sidelines available for him here.
They have a tp rush in hand here, looking to stabilize on this third point, drain the
time back as much as possible.
But this is a team freedom team that is now operating with momentum.
Kevster working the flanks, trying to see if he can combine with Willys here.
A lot of good ults for Team USA, I like the Bastion Swap, it should make Teanna a
little bit more effective, just pumping heals into the Bastion, keeping him firing is
more than enough production from a support.
Kevser has worked his way up towards the back line, maybe has a shred of a chance.
Zera, marked in a 2v1 near solid, sure in the zone, is not in any trouble, but the front line, without support, will his limit offset there.
As the flank goes being marked, he goes in too deep, it's burned down by the Americans.
When the defense holds for now, despite a really solid offense up to this point,
this is by far the toughest test on Route 66.
Finishing the final cap, Ana and Bastion in power positions on the high ground.
The beat has to be huge for Admiral to break this USA hold.
Yeah, you essentially just have the one ultimate title here, 14 Sweden.
That previous fight, not the one you need to win to get this payload across the finish line.
Give me a say, Samsung dominance with that Kitsuna rush.
But now, with that soundbearer available, this is an opportunity here for Sweden to keep this payload moving.
They've done well already. Working their way up to the high ground, a beat comes in, but into the spawn,
the USA never ready for this. Into the corner, post them on the tree's feet, but he soaps it with the help of that tank form.
Help with that tank form!
Now the retake from Team USA.
I'm already down a massive performance here from the Americans.
Still holding on to four holes, they may not even need it,
but a net on Tezera seals the deal in this teamfight
with both supports down, Sweden.
They have to retreat or die, get the reset,
get back into the next engagement because this one is done.
And that sounds very...
That was the big powers spike for Sweden on this offense
from here on out.
Team USA can essentially feel relief
in that they don't have to worry about it for much longer.
Willis is going to make a swap over here to the hazard.
It's about playmaking now for Team Sweden.
They need to find an alternate way into these fights.
Whether it's Kevster coming up with punches,
or Westerner trying to throw a lead jump shot.
He's in a rough spot. The limit break though.
He's going to turn it around in this room.
He really slips out to the help of the team
and Trey with the artillery firing in the closed space
picks up Admiral. It's not for free though.
Landon gives his life to get knocked out of that one,
but Azera finds another.
Just enough maybe to stabilize this whole team USA.
And it's been a much better route to take from Syrah here, who succumbed on the Paul, but now
f***ing a better job of holding up against the World Class player in the Kevster.
May be getting some of that damage, allowing Tree to free form freely on the Basin.
Still an overtime finish.
More than good enough to keep their chances on this map alive.
Syrah boxed out of the flank.
A good opener as the cart starts the inch forward,
but the rush from Syrah has to be perfect.
They need big value.
Chimua Se has been so intelligent.
and Kite Lee's ult in the past.
More than aware of this threat that it's posing.
Sile though already bonked out of the fight.
Great aggression from Hock and Zera.
Winner starts out the ground.
The ring was just too much and Tree follows it up
with a pick up to Sorrow as well.
15 seconds remaining on the timer
and it gets sooner to rush out from the sky.
Team Sweden scrambling now to get back in time.
Yeah, aggression broken into pieces by Hock and Zera.
Just a formality for Tree and Mukimino
to clear up this fight.
Now with desperation, retouch is coming in.
Tester leased to the payload, very little he can accomplish and without recall, it's just a trip to the spawn.
Team USA will stabilize the series at one to one, just the dreads of Sweden now, desperately keeping this in contest.
Exactly what Team USA needed to get back to the board, they banned out the Jetpack Cat and secure this second map.
And that has to feel great for the conference as well, considering the way they lost that opening map.
Now you tied up the series.
Don't feel like you're scrambling to looking for answers while Sweden is throwing your
ways.
Take a look at the scoreboard here, 3-21 and 3.
Focus well.
Doing work on the demon actually.
Yeah.
Finding value whereas Willis decided maybe not to.
Go for that mark.
I mean honestly, I think this is really well selected competition from Team USA.
I will say that I think the Blue Yang was maybe a little bit too crazy.
I was going for that one.
One second point.
Snowball through second did not really get a meaningful fight here
But in the end I'm continuing to say right the fact that they had tapped last these are veteran players
They know that hey as long as we can dig our heels in at some point on this defense
Yeah, some mistakes here and there earlier in the round. They just don't matter. I love that tree goes to the Bastion
I think this is a key swap to really make the autumn more significantly impactful
letting her having like just an absolute
Heal-soaking EPS that can really produce massive damage
You know, you feel like you got to jump on top of Janna to deal with her, but then you ignore the Bastion,
and I mean, certainly when you see from these highlights, that is Atmarone, Peril Tree,
bringing his incredible tracking to bear on the highest DPS hero in Overwatch.
It's a sight to behold.
I feel like TeamViewer's here to play so well about whatever the new Team Sweden have to offer when it came to the Ultimate Bank.
I mean, because that sound very push from Atmarone.
That was essentially like the best shot that Team Sweden had on the first point,
point to try to get some momentum going,
but it was a perfect disengage from team
and they navigated that perfectly.
Yeah, I read like a book.
I mean, they were already retreating
and playing into their own spawn,
playing into that tight corner where there's no visibility.
I actually experienced from Kevster
to go for the pulse bomb in the corner, right?
That corner trees him, and he survives the pulse.
Not possible to actually see from outside the spawn,
but the pulse bomb very nearly got them the pick
that they needed to really open up that fight.
But of course, Treach's a little bit too tanky
on the Bastion.
The support's a little bit too aware, keeping him up
at a high HP total.
And at one to one now,
little breath of life for Team USA,
a little breath of relief after Nepal.
And as I like that you highlighted Zara
because I think him and Hawk together,
like we saw a lot of those Katsune rushers on the sky
looking pretty terrible to be honest,
looking really off sync,
they're marking the flank,
weapon willis is in in the backline,
dying because he doesn't have any support behind him.
But that's the pressure Team USA are really turning up
on this second map, right?
They are forcing,
so I mean it's good that we saw that,
because he's forced to TP,
he's forced to cleanse,
trying to stay alive he can't even get to the point of the fight where the rush
can be meaningfully deployed so Team USA turned the screws now it's up to
Sweden to respond it's their turn to take map control choose where we go next
and set the tone with the hero band and with the captain out of the way yeah you
think it's back to comfort as we saw in Nepal yeah that's the pivotal band
right and so often in this new band dimension that we're in with your
of the World C-Sports Ecosystem, it's going to be must-win maps if you don't really want
to play the meta game, so to speak, so Team USA here.
I would argue that that was like a must-win map for them.
For sure.
Their prospects in the series here.
Given how dominant teams wouldn't have looked when it comes to playing the demon with the
jetpack cat, Admiral doing a fantastic drop-down hero, like Team USA didn't need it to win
that map pick.
Obviously going down 0-2 is not favorable, but it is so important to win these maps
who you target down the enemy team.
Yeah, I feel like Admiral.
Alright, the Lifeweaver, this did not work, right? Is that fair to say?
I mean, in general, I feel like Sweden didn't really have a great dancer at all, like the Lifeweaver.
Even the Lucio at times.
Yeah, it looked better with the Lucio, but it's so clearly felt like Team USA's composition was just superior throughout the entire map.
Yeah, I like the way Luke, you know, I mean, he plays these greedy or supports, but, you know, it's easy to, like, just look at this.
To understand in a simple way, all playing greedy supports, right? Is that good?
But the whole team around him knows, that means you put the enemy on a clock.
on a clock, you know that they're the ones forced into aggression.
When you have a strong defensive position like, like Ruze 66,
third point defense, the enemy being forced into overaggression,
we saw what that looked like, right?
Hawk and Zera are dancing, putting pressure on you,
knowing that you can't really invest resources to clear out the
demon, to clear out the tracer, because you're being
pelted by Ana, Nades are pouring in, the Bastions pumping
damage from range, and I continue to say, really showing
a mastery of, not just to pick those heroes, but really
like how to make them work. Sweden will take us to Neon Junction.
That is pretty interesting.
Very linear map choice.
Yeah, 100%. Maybe you looked at Nepal and thought like, hey, okay, you're thinking quite freely
with the verticality that jet-like cat-prey of pride, so obviously you can try to mirror
that here on Neon Junction as well, but it is stylistically such a unique map in this
pool if you compare it to Paraiso, I can ball there. It would be interesting to
see what heroes and bans that sweet team soon chooses to deploy here.
Yeah, they really got to set the tone here because I look at this and I think
this should be pretty comfortable 14 USA Sweden, gonna ban out Hawk Sigma.
I think this is a good choice.
I don't think for Willis for the competency we talked about in his pool.
I don't think he wants to head down with Hawk Sigma for Hawk.
That would be an extraordinarily comfortable, like individual mechanical
mirror where he could just really open things up.
It's also a very, I mean, talk about the linearity of this map.
It's a good one.
You would say you're going to ban out Freya.
I think this is to really ensure that Trey can get to play the Emra as he wants.
But I would also kind of looking at scants at this Neon Junction map because
I don't think this is a great Freya map.
I think this is actually pretty good map in general for Emra.
Because of the linearity, you know, a lot of points, the Skybox is pretty limited.
And so kind of coming over the top, playing the off angles as Freya likes to do is less realistic.
Definitely expect Demon to be, though, a key frontliner.
I mean, she has risen and risen in prominence.
It's not only, I think, up the back of the Hotfix, but also teams and players really just getting better with her.
It feels like she is a very new tank and that her style is quite unique.
I mean, I'm struggling to find like she isn't just like another hero in the way that she plays.
She brings a different energy, maybe.
I mean, the hero I think of when I watch her, I think of the wrecking ball.
Is that crazy to say?
It is a hero comparison that I've yet to hear.
I've heard a lot of stuff like...
Well, isn't that like, you're not a tank thing.
Junker clean, I've heard it.
Maybe JQ.
Recky ball is not the one I've heard so far.
But Dina is getting solo into the backline.
Without her team.
She's joining with the tracer in a lot of these engagements.
Which is something that you really don't see from other tanks, other than Recky ball.
So for me, I think the comparison is out.
I have to see how this one plays out, but with Ana on the field, it's up against a double hitscan look from Team USA.
But Tester already hunting and pecking from the flank, pulling a lot of attention to himself.
ton of space for Zorro and Syle to pump in damage with the Nade coming in.
Do you know what I say? Really on the back foot already.
Kepster's going to have more room here,
paint the tracer against Zera's Chee on.
And at the same time,
Chee has to be very careful on this castle
because Willis could drop in at any time.
Do you know what I say though? They're happy to bunker this one defensively.
This is a point that, pretty uniquely on Hybrid,
you can give up a lot of map control to the attackers
and still have a good chance on defense.
Now Hock, since this moment is going to go into the back foot,
with the sleep on Zera, Syle might just open this one up.
Cost is life, but 3 picks up 2.
Both supports down, Hock!
Barely staying alive, is popped out of the suit for now, but the damage, I believe, is done.
Tree should be able to clean this one up and with only a tick to show for it,
nice little extra delay on Willis ensuring Hock should be back to the fight.
Team USA navigated well.
Only prize for Sweden is putting Kepster deep in the backline, which
could be meaningful, could develop into something more into this next fight.
Really, it felt like Tree saved Team USA there.
They were bonkered in, hurted in by Kevster's scary tracers, but then finds some relief as he finds a couple who really opened things up.
But like you say, still in the back on here, with Pulse Bomb available.
Willis has to make a move. C-Straight on the workday trying to break this set up apart. This entire game is in the process.
Opportunity for Kevster, but Zera duels incredibly well.
Even with the help of the Cat and the Fatline, it's a pretty chaotic though.
So, with Willis Bind's 1, the trades continue to come picking fast, this inferior should be good for the attackers, and a pulse from Kevster makes all the difference. Willis Bind's 3, Lukmino desperately trying to pump whatever resources he can before he goes down, but no chance to hold on to this first last point any longer.
And to me, yes, we have like Team Sweden here with their composition, they are controlled stylistically here.
And even though Luke and Meen and Hawk, they went for a nice little play there, I think Hawk,
getting the benefit of the speed ring to try and get into the backline of Sweden,
try to put pressure on that Ana, that level of productivity won't be rewarded instead of going to be Team Sweden.
Really comfortable on the first map, but also this one navigating around Team USA.
Over the ray coming in, but to ill effect, here comes a huge lip from Wolves, I believe it's under 4, but Rage deals with it all!
Oh, Willis not able to follow up on it, now the women break from off.
And he dashes on top of Sylas, no way out of that situation.
Kepster also in real trouble, Trio picked up one up.
And it's a clean fight, when Fortuna was saying to set up Johnny for a very threatening spawn camp possibility.
Willis de-matched in the final moments as well, over confidence, sticking around that deep angle.
Now it's going to be quite difficult for Team Sweden 2.
First of all, walk up here without taking too much damage,
but then also scare about the screen.
It gets you, Mirage.
Team USA is a bit of a wrap around here.
You don't have any answers for the screen,
but Willis takes matters into his own hands
with the nanoboose opens up the fight on a Team USA.
Matuccio is already coming up for Team Sweden.
You like Team USA, you just have to eat this reset.
Great aggression from Kepp and Willis.
Not bleeding for the initiation to come to them.
And it's just a little bit like without Team USA,
they're forced to play house.
Sweden played on Route 66, their hand is a little bit forced, they can't sit back because of the threat of Kevster on the tracer.
Instead, Team USA, they have to be proactive, they have to wrap around, they have to put Hawke into the back line of Team Sweden,
and that in many ways opens things up for Kevster, so Team USA, if they want to find some level of success on this defense,
they need those proactive dives with Hawke to work out, because otherwise Team Sweden will punish them.
Very much a Feaster Famine choice.
Xero would love to get his hands on that very threatening grandma in the backline with an O.C.
you
you
you
you
you
you
And that could essentially benefit you, the accuracy to get through that narrow choke
that is so devious here on this third point.
Teams wouldn't have a good opportunity here still, taking a look at the team you see.
The ultimate column is lacking a little bit.
I don't know if one of the better cats got the catnap to assist his OC.
Renouncing USA backs off the angle, they're staying alive, respecting the threat from Zoro.
He takes the opportunity to take a very assertive position out of this lagrass, getting one opportunity
but gets burned down by Tree, the silver bullet!
Shops up Zoro, hero for Team USA in a crucial moment.
Without the soldier, Sweden still hunting and pecking.
For a ghost of a chance, they're gonna go for more than that with the catnap in.
Pigs have actually luked Nino as well, but Hawke exacting a concession in that trade.
And with Tree already finding one call in the fight, slipped back into the Ssak spawn, a masterful performance for the American Cassidy.
Yeah, Team Swing is trying to make face in a 4 vs 5 scenario.
And they're finding a couple of pigs, but it's not going to be enough.
Facing the spawn of Team USA, and eventually USA stabilizing, Dead Eye comes out from Tree as well, and Will is taken down.
And 40 seconds remain here as the push fails from Team Swing.
Tree on fire right now on Cassidy
Test him at your peril
Gonna take a cheeky hold on this angle early. I'm sure walking into it. Oh, that's that is too close for comfort
Even point of their cheese
And big old staff from USA feels like they've weathered the most difficult part of this style getting close to that rush of his own
It's gonna have to be huge here both teams with a ton of both
Oh
trying to push this one in. Tree needs to get some kind of big damage out of the top of the kill!
That's gonna be enough! Zara out into the spawn! Kimmerko TP sprue as well!
And Team USA! Hold on in the final moments!
Admiral Gralagos back in time, but it's not going to be enough. How does Tree find that pick?
All right, Tree is him. The Weed's tier list has been vindicated. Super S tier.
That kill on Azora with the OC on second point, then again on third.
Finally, in the critical overtime moment when, really it looks, it looks dark.
I mean, Cassidy versus one.
Maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe the baby demon died, but it was up to Tracer and Kiri versus
Cassidy.
You do not want to be Cassidy in that spot.
I mean, no heals, no sustain, no help, and he just goes shot after shot, kills
the Kirikouk, the crucial shot, because then it's at that point, you're 1-2 wanting on a payload,
but the American spawn is too close, Kiri comes out, all hope is lost from that point. Tree refuses
to lose here in a critical moment. DmUSA now set a wincon here on Neon Junction.
It's a world of difference between capping the payload here on Neon Junction
and just getting the lone two checkpoints for Team Sweden.
I don't know what's yet though. We've seen a lot of full holds on this map Johnny.
A lot of full holds?
It's challenging.
I mean there's been a lot of them.
We usually get to the third point most of these.
I think if you crack first, yes.
But I think more than most hybrids.
Folding is reasonable.
We don't count stuff through yesterday by the way.
That doesn't count.
Well why not?
You just decided that.
I decided that.
Okay, well I didn't get the memo.
We got a meeting. We got a meeting. Sorry.
Kyle's gonna go for the honor once again. Zera back to the trusty Cassidy.
Becoming a real signature look for him.
The beat in the dreams. The nightmares maybe for Zoro.
Given some of the moments in this match, Zoro with the Bastion too.
An interesting approach.
For Team USA.
A lot of frontline pressure coming in. Nade goes wide. Sleep as well.
Little bit of desperation here. For Kyle.
It's a lot of help though.
Team USA more than happy to just take some points.
The point control puts the pressure on, Capture's here to respond to it, mostly ignoring him arts in USA, choosing instead to focus on the frontline pressure.
Zera though, dealt with by the cat, saw it go slow, but he doesn't prompt.
And the Swedish hold is good, but Shrie again takes out the lightning rod here for Sweden.
And the rest of the Swedish team bring the fight back on, wants to take the fight to the enemy backline.
Put in trouble, but the support is great from Team USA.
Skar getting closer to this. No, no, that is the one vital to Sweden needs to really flip momentum at this point
Nano demon is a absolutely terrifying force. We reckon with Sierra trying to break this set up before he come through
File 10% away should be able to make it there barring some sort of mistake from Team Sweden
They're poking the link with the over here from top over the top
Diving in the nano is out for the cut of his life. What can we lose produce needs kills on the back of this tree running for the hills
Let's go down, but hold a lot of timing before he drop, now we'll see trouble.
He's off and landed, put onto the payload, Hawke desperately hunting for this tank trade.
Limit break on fire, the Americans would love to capitalize on this.
Holds bomb wide from Kevlar.
He's cut down as well by the limit break, and that'll be enough.
Team USA, cap first.
Get off past the first crucial hurdle in the injunction.
What a great job that time from Hawke and Luke and Meenow.
First of all, the first fight.
They navigate the sleep door from Skyland, recognizing the skills
The skills that's available to their opposition and then that second time as well knowing the skyless approaching that don't abuse they get on top
All that on a try to get rid of them immediately and then from that point on I mean a team USA
They're trading out will his finds to one about in a four versus four scenario gets in rush available deployed from Landon
You're going to save favorite team USA in that one. Sky Nium combo real threat on second point
team Sweden
weakness of this on as you're somewhat limited to her ability to feel so they just play this corner instead of pushing
I'm going to open up here with the override protocol.
Laying this down though, Willis is produced well in the back line.
With the high noon, good enough for one.
Maybe more to be found.
So we're all going to really rough spot.
Boxing by Hawke, picks up another.
Here comes the cat, not for both me though.
Hoping to turn a trickle into a flood.
Hawke, close behind.
Cut spoolies out of the suit.
And this card continues to move forward a little.
Momentary delay on Willis spawn.
Gives him an off-wave spawn.
More map control once again for Team USA.
And that was also Ultimate's deploy on the side of Team Sweden. Willis utilized the limit break down to 7% Ultimate Charge now.
They don't really have any great tools to get back into this fight.
Can't deal with this Bastion. Floating in the sky above.
Zoro called upon I think for a big moment here on the hip scan.
Certainly some sort of a roach landing is low though.
Kepter into the back line is a scary proposition here for the Americans.
But trying to keep that pressure, focus the other way.
Deathmatch are crucially important. Hawk marking the flankers, recall out of chapter, is going to limit his effectiveness. There he go for a risky push.
Americans take this opposite-shadow high ground, moving well through the map. They're going to start to choke out this Swedish position.
For now, the fight is stable, though.
You need a biorec right here from Scott. Really changed things. Keeps you to scrabble and trying to find an opening.
Sleep on the Hawk. Where's the follow-up? Nate is good. But here comes the clan's Kiri in alongside this demon.
The support is massive, though.
Admiral keeps out alive, and with that catnap,
may just be possible landing.
Steel grab's one before he goes down,
but surely Willis is gonna be doing enough
to hold onto this event.
Sweden pass the crucial test here,
staying alive on the injunction.
And that's a huge team fight win for Team Sweden.
Really scrambling, trying to find an in
and cast their unlocks things
with a couple of frags themselves.
Skyle is able to get this Anonibus
available for them now,
but they're facing a Team USA team
with five ultimates coming up to them.
Zerah makes a swap over to the tracer, actually.
Besides that, Riot do a better job here peeling against Kevster, making sure
the Swedish superstar doesn't have to secure as much value.
Yeah, so many enclosed rooms in this second point.
Kevster goes into the backline, landing is down.
Burn down by the Swedish superstar and in the long side of the nail for Willis,
this has to be a re-17 USA that runs for the hills tree.
It's deleted, great tracking here from the team and Zerah will find much in the same fate.
They're ready to come like this, defense from Team Swedish was falling short, but the last couple of team fights they stepped up big time, great playmaking there, and they're gonna try to keep this pressure on the way they're setting up fire.
They're setting up fire on the grenade? Good season.
Horses they climb up on land, they know he's in a good spot.
The dead eye just doesn't quite connect. The limit break is out as well.
She means throwing caution to the wind. A huge dive into the back line.
The limit break damage was enough, but Willis to finish the kill.
But now Hawk, alone in the tank while on the server.
Zorro, all the ponderous big moment. Van the Hammer's raiding down,
but the limit break stabilizes the position for Hawk.
Close bomb is out.
Bore, Kevster, can he find something? It seems that in the chaos Team USA are just happy to run to the payload.
The payload is still in a terrible position. He is dead from right here, waiting for the trade.
It's a terrible spawnway for Skyle because actually the payload was falling back so Sweden would have got another contest.
But without their honour, this is surely just USA pushing this one in.
And Team Sweden they have to retreat to the war's the third point.
It's going to be their last chance. Syle off the almond now.
Getting punished in Zera. Interesting.
Thinks about the vendetta. Still considering the swap though.
though. But in the close quarters of third point I can see the vision just waits for the
potential counter swap doesn't see it come out. I'm willing to commit now. Grouch advantage
for Team USA. Adam will speak such a nuisance though on this cat, Hock is gonna ignore it,
getting in alongside this rush deep into the back line. Postbump goes wide. Luke,
you know, barely staying alive and a huge crit on the capster, but the damage cannot come
to finish the job. Sweden finding great aggression of their own. They don't wait for
for Team USA to come through them, but as I say that, hold on.
The last scrappy members of Team USA caught a couple of pigs back,
and if Hawke can slip away from this one,
the cart may end up rolling forward after all.
But that was the Kitsuna of the player from London,
and now, with a minute 30 remaining, Team Sweden,
they can feel fairly confident on this one.
Zero's going to have a lot of damage towards Willis,
but this three-subtractor on the treasure.
Shield broke, and he has to back five now, Pat, now missed.
Great moves from Willis.
Sees that one coming, here comes this guy,
And they're going to have a great opportunity here with this guy noon is tree
but Skyle coming back with the consumer of 4th Team Sweden.
Who will win out between these two epic ultimates?
Tree, waiting for a flank push. It doesn't come. Instead, he's going to make his own opportunities.
High ground battle crucial for Team Zera and Kevster.
Ultimates getting big for Team Sweden though. They're happy to run the clockdowns.
We come to the final fight.
No opportunities being given to Tree. Forced and said to play the tank pressure game.
There they go.
Here comes the Skyle. With some big chain, coming in.
But what a rough spot to lead it now!
To watch still the payloads and opportunity will us needs to produce something!
The young of the age is back!
A huge win and break as well!
Americans dropping like flies!
Team Sweden just ten seconds on the clock!
Surely they've done enough now!
Tree claws one kill back, but...
It's him against the world, a big shot from Zorro!
We put the Cassie on his heels, both of them goes by!
Tree surely now, just out of gas!
And Team Sweden make the hole!
Going up 2-1 in this critical series in Busan!
Whoo!
What a map win for Team Sweden!
Make the defense work after it felt like Team USA were off to a great start.
But at the end of the day, it's going to be then rewarded for their aggressive playmaking.
Kevster 34 and 7 on the tracer once more.
And Sarah pivoted over to that Vendetta, helps out the front line.
8th Hawk a little bit, but it did mean that Kevster felt a little bit more comfortable in the matchup.
Oh my god, so many of these fights are just coming down to the scraps. I mean the team's so evenly matched.
He killed production from both sides.
It is starting to feel like Tree and Kevster going blow for blow. I mean this Cassidy is unreal for Tree.
And the fact that a performance like this isn't enough for a map win?
How does Kevser find a stick like that?
I mean, automatic play.
Like the jetpack cat? Come on now.
That's like sticking a recall, a tracer after a recall, right?
Like that is a flashy play.
And for Kevser, I mean, maybe just another day at the office.
I mean, the pressure from Kevser is unbelievable.
It feels like, certainly, he always gets the one.
He always gets the one.
And if the bot's down to like 4, 3, 3, 3, this meta is just about trailing back and forth so much.
Mechanical prowess of all these players and that tank caster, Zoro waking up towards the final stages of that point as well, making a difference here.
But it was the second one that really stood out to me, Jay.
I feel like you didn't give out a couple of team fights on that second point defense,
which then allowed them a good third point here with some good resources built.
Yeah, Zoro as well, and a catching fire here in the final moments, just when the team really needed him to have a big fight.
He comes up big, does enough damage to wear, Kevser ready to clean house, and Giles as well.
Really gotta give him a lot of credit. He is going toe to toe with Huck.
Gonna be American greats here.
Nothing given for free though, and I gotta say, Donnie, this series, it feels like it's destined to go to five.
No, is that crazy to say? I mean, these two teams.
It's feeling that way.
I don't know, my faith wavered a little bit on that third point.
I was like, it felt like Team USA went home.
It didn't feel like Team Sweden where the team was momentum most of that now.
Yeah, they were on the back foot in the big way.
Yeah, yeah.
I feel like that's where Zorro had some big fights there.
Like getting into the back line.
The high noon, crucially carried by the cat, doesn't come up with a kill.
He has to get it done the old faster way, has to produce meaningful kills.
Like if he just goes down there easy, that could turn into a snowball that just ends
the map right there and then.
So for a young player like Zorro, he started this match so hot, it's crucial that he
continue to have big performances, especially with veterans like Treet
really starting to heat up in this match. See, Junkbuck fucking pretty intensely
right now. Team USA, a lot of expectations on this roster, right? For
Team Sweden, underdogs, but we're up 2-1 in the series right now. Maybe you don't
feel like rookies anymore. Yeah, how do you feel about that first, obviously?
You have Rivers in it. Team USA asks, well, you know, it's a big way to carry on your
shoulders and especially these players now going up against Team Sweden that is
playing like automatic like Team Sweden they're in their group a lot of teams
have been talking about how good Team Sweden are looking like in scrims and
so you carry some like confidence going into the matchups like this you know we
saw yesterday like South Korea as much as we talk about mechanical ability at
some stage it comes down to like your comfortability playing on stage your
teamwork coming in from different squads and obviously gonna give credit to
France you know folks did an amazing job on Demon but it's a
different kind of circumstance to compare to your regular ODB's just play.
For sure. I think Admiral has acquitted himself incredibly well because a huge
part of the success here for Team Sweden, when you remiss if we didn't talk about
how good is Jetpack Catplay has been. And you know it's a good point about the
pressure that you face as one of the top teams, one of the teams that has won
the World Cup in the past is like you want to do it again, you know you
want to get that second star on the jersey to live that huge moment in
BlizzCon. You know I think the best players are those who don't feel
that pressure paradoxically right even though as great as it is you know I
look at a player like Kevser he has that sort of paradoxical impact where you
know the louder the crowd the greater the bigger the storm the bigger the
pressure the higher the stakes he seems to actually be calmer and more more
focused more just in the moment of the task in hand and that's it that's the
ultimate test right for a player right is to you know I think there's
something it's like what's like what is that how does the person is that a
skill you develop is that something you're born with I don't know
I mean Kevster feels foreign with it. If you stumble into Kevster like outside of the game, he's just
perpetually relaxed, he's like chilling, and he's just turning up in the lobby doing his thing, gets a
couple of 2ks every single fight that's just automatic, and I feel like if you team USA, you can't
ignore that fact. You know he's in the lobby, you know they're gonna have to deal with Kevster,
you're gonna have to set him back as much as possible. He will just, every single team fight
just turn up and try to make it impact. Yeah, I mean honestly, Xerath is probably the player
under the most pressure right now for Team USA because that's your roll match.
They've been avoiding it somewhat on that last map, but I wonder if that wasn't a mistake.
Like going with the Bastion strat felt like on second point, there's just too many of those
rooftops.
I didn't really like the Bastion on second trying to finish the map there like, hey
you're using damage with the tank and then people slip into the room and like you're
not able to kind of follow up those plays from Themen.
I think the Tracer felt way better for Kevster and Team Sweden and going to be Atlas.
the big 14 USA definitely expect Tracer to feature prominently here.
Yeah, I see you talking about Tracer now.
Has it been banned yet?
I actually think that's it could be a potent ban against Kevser.
Not because Kevser won't also have a big performance on something else,
but the Tracer has just has always been a completely unique hero in Overwatch history.
It's a hero that you cannot run down.
And the fact that you cannot run down the Tracer,
if she decides she wants to run away, she gets away.
She's a little long, she has the resources.
That fact creates a lot of pressure.
It's like you can't just go deal with the flanker.
Like even if she's on, yeah, she's threatening.
But if you decide you want to just run at her with your whole team,
you can deal with her.
She runs out of cooldown.
She runs out of movement.
You have to do instead ban demon.
Another really powerful way to destabilize the equilibrium
that we found in this series.
Yeah, definitely likes team USA is the team that is
probably fine showing away from this demon,
putting Hawk on something like a Mauga.
I like this a lot now as well.
Because for real, the Hazard has been another really sick look for him, but against Manga, it's a tough look.
It's a tough look to break.
Yeah, and also it needs to be said that Team Sweden obviously, their great form hinges on the fact that
Demon has been introduced now into the game as well, combining greats with the Jetpack Cat.
But we saw what happened on the Route 6 when you force a more conventional matchup, compositionally, here in Overwatch.
Team USA, like what they showed on Route, they looked really confident.
Is it okay to double-fix if we're not there instead and so I think this is going to be a true test for Sweden
It's like what are you capable of when you don't have the demon after disposal because realistically
Team USA they they have the better players on paper in that financial
Yeah, and I feel like I think in a way this reprogram makes sense because I think by banning demon for me
That's very strongly signals. You want to go towards mobla on Atlas and I think that makes a ton of sense
And and honestly like a death ball rush look for team USA. He's gonna be their bread and butter
It's gonna be something that very very comfortable and confident in
Taking away the Reaper means at the very least if you want to try to avoid the mirror match against Maga
There's a little bit more hope right like Maga plus Reaper running you down on
Which any of Will's is comfortable heroes is not a good place to be
It's almost like a cancer in that kind of matchup. It's like I can't I can only do so much
I'm putting the Reaper mirror right right like that
But it's also a lot of tracer you can't do to you can only do so much in that
Now when you ban the Reaper, you're almost in a way forcing Sera to kind of like at least contest cancer a little bit on whatever the pink happy
Now I think with the Reaper ban it kind of feels like it should be a tracer Atlas is also a map where as that lid scan has gained prominence
I still feel like it's been awkward on this map in particular
There's a lot of good corners for tracer to play a lot of you know conveniently placed mini health packs that really move the needle
Or tracer more than just about anybody else
But with one of the core heroes of the Meta Demon banned out right now,
it's anybody's guess what we'll see on Atlas.
So we can find themselves on match point here, up to one.
They've battled to get to this point, Team USA with a lot of weight of expectation on their shoulders.
They've got to just survive this map for a chance at winning the series in map 5.
Both of these teams already qualified to the finals at Gleskon.
But that number one seed becomes so critical in setting yourself up for success.
Come at the playoffs bracket in the stead.
Although South Korea yesterday taking a loss, you know, throwing a branch in the seeding matter of things.
There's a lot of pride on the line, you know, like people talk about that, like,
how is there a more optimal seeding here?
But you can't think that way.
Yeah, I think for a lot of players, you know, it's the simplest thing in the world.
Win everything. Win everything.
Ooh, easy to say and not so easy to do.
Tree?
Showing me?
Might go to Sierra.
And we saw this from them earlier.
They lost the map with Sierra in, but honestly, the Sierra was kind of sick on that list.
Like, it was working.
The damage output is insane.
The ultimate in combination with Logo Cage is ridiculous.
Like, it just melts anybody and you're trapped in with it.
Now it becomes a matter of preparation.
Sweden and they sniff it out. How will they react? With this unconventional pick, Sierra,
a hero we haven't really seen at all in no WCS. Now the last couple of days, Tree has been showing it off.
Gonna roll out from Tree. Boost drone in, further assisted by Lukmino. Frontline pressure gonna
be really devastating though from Sweden with this Neville hitscan look. They can bring a lot
of damage to Bear. It's there up. Has to make value for texture, or he strikes and makes
Kiriko's vowing like this?
Surely that's too much for Team USA.
Kepster wants more though.
Yeah, he risk his life in this situation.
I mean, how do you get that pick if you kept still?
Although Kiriko like that, unbeatable.
He used to spell different.
Kiriko is that kill that just instantly resets the fight.
Found that early without a response.
There's no way back in.
Team USA got the gift first place.
Here comes the other big connection.
On top of Soror, a cleanse needed
to keep this soldier in fighting fit.
What a big stop from Willis brings things right back!
Shucks down three!
Hoth, though!
Sent his weakness, we can win this state trade!
All would be forgotten!
Team USA now in the 4-on-4 admiral, though,
ensures that they still hold the advantage.
Traits continue to come thick and fast.
Zoro called upon in the key moment.
Luck and Hoth produce just alongside the cat.
Well, not much of anything, maybe just a reset.
And Sweden hold on to this last one.
And all in line, racking up crucial percentage,
already up to 60, as we haven't even reached
the first couple of ultimates.
Luke and Mingo's going to beat this all.
Sorrel with the pick of the tree here as well.
Cuts him down out of the air.
Young Swedish phenom right here, coming up clutch here
with all the pressure of the nation on him.
Team USA, they haven't had much of a chance so far.
And Tree says, I'm enough, enough.
Calls Uncle over to the Shea on more conventional choice
here, see if that's enough.
But Sweden with already an ultimate bank advantage.
Looking confident on this first last point.
Team USA have to contest the pointer.
Team Sweden, they're going to work around it.
Oh, great shot again! Shots down three!
Last nuggle's a rough one for him, but he's really found his footing here.
Catnap missed from Lucfino.
Hope's dwindling here for Team USA on this first Flashpoint.
Kill feed all Sweden for now. Zera brings one back.
Shred of a chance, but surely with that kill under Hawk,
Kepster's done enough, and yes indeed, the Flashpoint goes the way of Team Sweden.
So close now to defeating Team USA in what would be a stunning upset here in Busan.
Team Sweden has looked so comfortable throughout this entire series dealing with the proactive aggression from Team USA.
This time as well, Sera finds himself caught in the front lines here, but with 20 seconds to go onto the flash point on Lux,
not going to be the biggest of deals for Team USA, but Sweden, they have a very comfortable ultimate bank to go with this initial positioning.
That first round was rough though, they got manhandled by Team Sweden,
And so, Team Street 5 has those with a ton of ultimates.
Vendetta has kind of yet to make her mark on this map.
You can see the same for the rest of Team USA as well.
Close quarters on this class point though.
Maybe a little more up for Team Zerah.
Rushes down, exchange onto the point.
Zerah, what can he find? Comes in over the top.
Not the front, you know.
In a big tree like this, but a big hit by the catcher sets up for the kill.
Shots down the screen, and now Team USA finally getting their footing on Atlas.
Some big connections to Zerah, pulled the catch into himself.
Hock finishes the job onto Willis.
And surely this will be first control for the Americans.
Sweden is a team that thinks first in that one with Kevstar engaging with the scree, but gets punished for it by Sera.
And that's going to be team music taking control of this second point.
Now they got to carry on this momentum.
Kitsune rushes the board by both teams, open the doors for some of these damage players.
We can think difference going into this next one.
Hawk more than happy to soak some early damage here.
Build up a bit of that Kitsune rush for Landon.
It's an economy game focused sports in the USA, but Willis with the cage fight could be a huge problem.
Now he overruns in, but takes massive damage and the way he hit an awkward look,
kind of a desperate cage fight here.
Willis take that front line fight, but a big stun from Admiral.
Sets up their kill, bursting down some players. Willis though, the weaker trade to start the fight.
Sets up Hawk to have just a ghost of a chance.
Surely though, as Zoro and Admiral pick up kills of their own.
Team Sweden battle back into this one.
Going to be Hawk, lone man standing as Sweden takes cap control here and this added damage
from someone to Soren is making a big difference here in the mild game as well, overclock available.
As now with few ultimates in the game, you need a player like Soren to step up here
big time.
You can say already back here.
Here comes the OC, needs to get something there over the top already on top of Soren.
Where does the storm front out chooses to back off the front line, starting to
He's thrumbling over Sweden, nothing found on this OC except Gath!
Pop!
Who leads that frontline and looks now for more to give USA
a stunning retake.
USA forcing them to map 5 here.
Critical they can take over this last point to stay alive in the series.
They've done enough to keep in the scoreline one to one here on Atlas.
This look way more comfortable playing around Hawke and abroad.
You are like this.
Chester on towards the Sion and it's not going to be as much of a thorn in this side
Compared to when he's on the tracer. Do you need to say? Raise all of the bank available to them here. Let's see how they deploy them
What can I find here? Okay, try to be zone
Angle so tight here. It's a difficult one for Zoro to get in and find value. Catches Trio, won't he have a thing about this?
3 comes in, countermanding the aggression.
Lionton as well, joins into the front line.
Willis just overwhelmed by American damage, and just as the point opens,
a kill onto the tank, surely spells a reset for Team Sweet.
And this has been a proper tank difference so far, on this flashpoint.
Hawke is just looking way more comfortable on the Mauga.
Willis not able to play the demon now.
Forced to take a step back, and we consider his action.
And he's yet to build the cage as well,
so Hawke with another opportunity here to make a big difference in the tank build with the cage.
The usual knockdown. Could be good for Willis-Hawk.
Burning out before he can stand up.
The Sudden Replete over the top! Oh, can't come down!
Kepster takes him out of the sky.
New lease on life for Team Sweden.
It's an expensive one with the brush, but gets the job done,
gets you back into the fight in a bit of a second,
since you've shown a dominant team fight.
This was just with the Doctor Ord for Team Sweden,
who still can end the series here.
That's a nice relief for Team Sweden there.
The execution, not really on par there for Team USA.
As Halt goes down early, forces the hand of Zoro almost a little bit, but 47% still,
you're bound to get another Kitsune Rasha 4 land on here towards the later stages of this point.
So make sure you get a good fight here.
Risky D for landing with that Kunai, set up the damage, called out!
Luke Mino and Zoro come in to finish it off with the cage right once again.
Team USA punish the slightest of mistakes from Zoro and just overwhelm the Swedish defense.
The lack of a flanking DPS is really is hurting them in these choke point fights.
Yeah, team USA are showing that they've got the upper hand in this one, capping the objective as well.
Going to keep poking and prodding here in the front line.
The threat of Hawke's being dropped in here by Lukimino, making plays.
It's really good student on the back foot now though.
Kevster with a 3 available, sword building force and overclock.
Good swing from Kev here.
Starts to put some pressure on the point.
This is a comfortable setup for the range, GPS.
How's team Sweden?
Where's the response from Lukimino?
Yeah, has that catnap available?
It's the fuel run in this series. Will this one be good?
Just catch on the wheel as the stun comes in, but with the spree coming in to bail out this cage fight.
Surely, Sweden will get another chance here on this black point.
Just Sarah and Tree now, stalling out, just dying on the payload, taking that reset on point.
Sweden not out of this yet.
And both teams kind of doing what they have to do here, winning the fights
that they're destined to with their ultimate bank.
But as mentioned previously, Landon is now going to approach this Kitsuna wash,
could be the critical tool that just overwhelms TeamSuit and Sorrel looking for a play here with the Overcloth crowd.
They'd rather fight outside in some more open territory, 80% on that flashpoint,
not a ton of time to work with them, maybe just enough for the Americans.
No meaningful shots really from this OC, and a swinging back out from the long range,
getting the rush out of land that would have to be enough of a fly.
Dream with this free-thumb, a big win!
And then comes in to finish the job himself, one more splash from the screen,
And with two kills found, Syles soon to fall.
Team USA will notch another fast point under their belt.
Will this with a big stop on Hawke?
The support is so good from Team USA.
They keep their tank fighting fit.
Now put themselves on that point here on Atlas.
Team USA too hungry to go down in less than five.
I mean, finding that value with the spree
is unbelievable from tree because
because Sweden forced that Kitsunorosh early
with the overclock, you're almost thinking that Sweden
should have the edge finding on the point
with their own Kitsunorosh.
But, Tweet comes in touch there.
Hazard swap?
Willis chooses Comfort.
I think this is a mistake though, Johnny.
A little bit of open space for the DPS.
The suit, in theory, be a good flash point for the composition.
The Sweden has chosen, but Hazard is a rough one to battle into Maka.
I mean, you just cannot take that straight up trade.
You need to win this opening fight with Skalskets in a rush.
You just set yourself up in the conditions for good value for it.
Oh, he killed.
Assist finishes the job here.
But the trades come in.
Cost from Rush out of Scyl.
Surely it'll be enough.
Katnap from Admiral takes one off the field.
But honestly, if your team USA,
I think you're pretty okay with this.
I mean, you made it expensive.
Both Rush and Katnap with, by the way,
Admiral has made an incredibly valuable ultimate
in this series.
I mean, it feels like he gets huge stuns
just about every time he pops the ultimate.
That's a big part of the success that this team, Sweden, most like showing.
I don't know how the hell you're supposed to play against Gage Fajdon has it.
I mean that was a huge teamfight win for Sweden, but like you say, these next ones are going to be the more difficult task for them.
Zoro would love an opening kick before the ultimates could come down.
Team USA taking the space little by little, but let's back into a corner surrounded by American players.
Cree incredibly low, sometimes survives on this G-Ark, but a desperate free from Chester, is punished and cut down.
Sundering bleed as well will be enough for the retake, Willis also in question.
He uses instead the dynamo point getting a little bit extra percent for Sweden.
A good choice I think, given the impossibility of this fight.
Critically, Hawk pulls on to the cage fight.
This is the biggest threat and you could not get it out.
It's very good stall from Team Sweden though.
82% on the board.
Landon still has the Kisunor in hand and like you say, Hawk with the cage fight here.
here so team USA will need to make sure that they get a couple of team fight wins
and open our board
for Zorro, Popsio, Siebel, and in perfectly position slips into the corner
but here comes the games right off, doubles down, the Rocks behind them as well
too much value both of them are getting close ran
and the spree finishes the job and they're gonna get a nice happy delay on Willis
this could be for the game Willis needs to die quick, needs to force some kind of response
running away the best way to accomplish it
but that's a massive spawn delay
Team USA, now with the proper possibility of getting very aggressive off the flashpoint,
Kevster will be forced to touch this to keep the map rolling, but Luke Minow
can redeem himself with a huge catnap here, could force a game five for the Americans.
He needs a great play here. He needs a fantastic play, and most of the guys get to this good soon rush.
Thinking about it, calling the team in, hoping for follow-up in this moment, a pook.
Kepster forces the OT, but here comes the American aggression.
Players point out the payload, peak connection from the catnap.
Wow!
Into a terrible position.
Syracite!
That's what they like!
The burn is enough!
Petri grabs another.
Mutual knockdowns come through.
Will is still fighting.
But where's the assist?
There's no support slap for Team Sweden.
Team USA on the custom force kit, and no one can touch the Americans.
Stay alive!
One more knock, Johnny!
It was faded from the beginning.
Was there ever any question?
Maybe a little bit, honestly Team Sweet, give me sweat as a team, you know what I'm saying.
I don't think we have to get the team to win that fight.
We have to go map 5. The fans, everybody watching at home, everybody wanted this map 5.
It's been a giga-banger so far.
Phenomenal, phenomenal series. And this, again, it's like a map where much like Route 66,
you attack a core part of this key strategy that's been so successful for Team Sweet.
This time it's the demon and the Maga, I mean Hawk, veteran hands on the Maga, right?
Like he was a huge difference maker.
You can see why they opened with it on the wall.
Because if they were able to force this series into a Maka mirror,
I think it might already be over in favor of some USA.
So Team Sweden, they do have control of the band phase.
They do have control of the map pick as we go to our fifth and
final map of the series to decide this one.
pride and LISKON seating on the line, maybe more than that rivalry.
An opportunity for a player like Admiral to really show just how far EMEA as a region has come.
I think his impact on Jetpack Hat cannot be understated.
Yeah, I mean, Admiral is a great new player for this team, Swim and Roster.
He feels a gap kind of at the region to feel out there brings veterans the experience for this roster.
and you know this this style of teams we have it's on the back of players like
that are playing to pay being able to play a really good jetpack cat so don't
have to drop so far but like you say it's two distinct styles and as these
fans can get drained throughout the series we're now building towards a
map fight where surely both teams should feel reasonably comfortable
playing to their own style and I mean it's going to be a push map so
So, most things are viable.
At Plevite Cook here, Johnny.
I think Team USA may need to ban a DPS.
I think the Tracer ban is potentially a huge problem.
I mean, there's also a Ciri ban that could come in for Team USA,
like a couple, I'm thinking about these heroes that have,
in terms of Team USA wanting to disrupt Sweden's core style,
which is pretty clear at this point, right?
They haven't banned Ciri, they haven't banned Tracer just yet.
And for me, either one of those poses real questions.
real questions. The Cure Band maybe is less threatening because the Ana has been shown
to be a very viable replacement for Sylas. It's a comfortable one I think. But the Tracer
Band against Kepster, for me that would present problems. Like for Zera, he'll be happy to
go to the wards of Endetta. Like that's not a problematic matchup for Kepster. I don't
see that hero as nearly as comfortable for him and it's certainly not a hero where
you can have the same level of individual impact. I mean, Endetta does a lot, but
You're almost constrained within a box, it's like we know, okay, you come in, you have a big moment, you pop all your skills, you get good value.
But at the end of the day, you're not going to do these crazy outplays, you're not going to, you know, take things to the next level, turn one, kill into three.
And for Kev, I mean, it's crazy to say, but that's what he's called upon to do in a match like this.
I'm really curious to see what kind of babes we're going to deploy here.
It does feel like, if you can protect Van, for Kev's search tracer,
Yeah, I might be getting a bandetta here.
You're bound to get value on either Esperanza or Colosseo.
And then if Team Sweden or Team USA want to force them on a matchup,
like that almost favors Jepser in a way.
Because he's happy to get that kind of a duel instead.
It's going to be difficult for Team USA and this one, especially with the second band,
to kind of get the playstyle that they want going into it.
Yeah, if I were Team Sweden, if I were coaching them right now,
I'd be saying Esperanza, bandedta.
I mean, not that Vendetta's a particularly...
Well, if you just...
If you're gonna cap the team on Tracer for team speed,
it's like, you're happy.
Exactly, Tracer's the last one that hasn't been banned.
So you'd think, I mean, and that would be my mind
if I were Sweden right now.
I mean, it feels weird to ban Vendetta,
but I think if I were to see in the USA,
I'd be saying, hey, let's get Kevster
in an uncomfortable spot.
And for the rest of the team around it,
they're so used to specifically Kevster's Tracer.
Like, Willis was talking about that
in the post game interview yesterday.
Oh, like Kevster's in the back behind,
he's making so much opportunity.
I just hop in and pick up some kills.
It's like, it's like ordering delivery.
Sorrow was like, oh, this is the best time
I've ever had playing the game,
because I just get to like play hit scan,
and you know, my Tracer player is doing work on the flanks.
Yeah.
Giving me space to do my thing,
and meanwhile, Willis and Admiral
they're in the back of the editing team, so.
Kepster is also one of the only
elite level Tracer players in history
that is like a, based on a main caller.
I mean, main calling is a little bit dead
and modern Overwatch.
Everybody needs to participate in the cons
to play at this level.
But, Kepster is one of the only tracer players who's known as a highly vocal, like, I don't know.
Having played tracer, I just don't know how you do that, like, even as a player who's used to being vocal,
to do it on tracer is something different, but let's be honest, Kepster is someone different.
And Swedenban here!
So this, okay, yes, this does bring out Siles on him, which in fairness, I think has been really good,
has been a bit of a bright spot for them.
But for me, I'm a responsibly banned tracer.
I would instantly, man, if I were to say this would be a snap fan for me,
I don't know what they're going to, if they're going to have the same read.
Oh, yeah, they do.
They do. I think this is a, honestly, I think this is a critical error from Sweden.
I think Sweden should have seen this one coming.
And this bronze is a phenomenal tracer map, too.
Like, even when tracer isn't necessarily meta,
you probably want to break her out here.
Yeah, we'll have to see what kind of rewards
The question is what does Kepster play, right? And can he have the same impact?
For Zera, it's like, yes his tracer is really strong, but I actually wouldn't even say it's
necessarily his best. Like he'd almost rather this be whether it's a bandetta battle, maybe
it'll be a two-hit scan battle, which actually I think could look quite good for Kev.
But nonetheless, it's like, Luke, Mino, and Landon are gonna be so much more free
without a Kevster, Tracer, Pasturinem constantly,
I think the support line can really shine for Team USA
to close out this series in five.
And on the flip side, big expectations for Sile.
You ban the Kiri, you're forcing this,
you know, being on a match,
expected to be Landon versus Sile.
Landon has not played on at this series,
unless I'm mistaken, I think it was Lugmino actually,
who brought it out under 66.
And so for Landon, another test for him,
he was telling me yesterday about,
he's liking it on these days,
He wants to bring it out.
It feels determined that Skyler is going to play the honor now alongside Adderall's
just that cat.
But if you think back how this series has kind of progressed,
I would say that Team USA has been the better team when it comes to adapting on the fly,
according to what the bands deployed are,
and just feel more comfortable in general, just playing Counterwatch, if you will.
And a lot more experience on the team in general, right?
Yeah, these were experienced players.
I mean, these are, you know, major championship level players here on Team USA.
Meanwhile, Team Sweden won a couple of maps, they were in control of the series, but it was on the back of the demon,
was on the back of the tracer, and really abusing the fact that this composition has been so good for them.
Now, going into this fifth map with the tracer band, they will be forced to adapt and play a bit of a different style compared to what won the maps previously in the series.
Gotta say Admiral has been a beast on the cat though and with Ana in play, the backlight in general is going to be a lot more vulnerable to those kind of opening kills, cheeky deathmats that Kat is so uniquely competent at in the support line.
I haven't talked as much about the demon though and Willis getting back on the signature, this map should be much more comfortable for him rather than what we saw on Atlas.
But also, like you need a little bit of follow up here. Willis is bound to go deep into the
enemy backlines here, puts pressure onto the likes of Tree, but you need a bit of follow
up and it's going to be the She-On-For-Tepster here. Obviously it's going to be very respectable
still, but it is a different tempo compared to the mobility of the Tracer.
Cass? Interesting choice here. The Skymen is such a potent combo, but there's no
No tracer to mark, the ranges are very long in this kind of a moment.
It's Gandal.
The player matters so much more than the hero.
While putting a lot of kids back to the other way, keep your tree honest.
Yeah, gotta be careful about this Freya now.
Being able to get so much value with no tracers on the battlefield either.
Devsir takes him in a powerful position here on the off angle.
U.S.A. is starting to get boxed into the corner,
Realist strikes getting carried in deep to the back line,
a little bit off of those drops of the bridge,
I think we'd have rather knocked on top of the honor.
Sile rains down another name.
He's been fantastic on this honor,
showing why they banned the carryout.
Well, even though he can be decisive in this map five,
and Saur opens things up,
finally got the space, closed the distance,
shuts down the enemy Shion.
Now looks for more.
Team USA, they need to find a pick or retreat
immediately, and they don't find any value.
You know, take a step back here if they wait for Syros to get back into this fight.
Nano's being built here by Iderona, and Team Student has great positioning on this high ground.
Another Nato to Lukmino.
I mean, it's often raining in there.
Fearless aggression from him.
No thought of saving that neighbor, but that's an opportunity.
Hop though, maybe he finds an opportunity.
Punishes Kepster, but Kepster slips away if he's gonna bait this whole time.
Lukmino is native this time, and Nano is out!
Skyrim?
Bit of an awkward one on the channel.
Pretty strong here on Team UK, he goes the distance, he gets Lupino instead.
A worthy prize.
And with a well-placed headshot, Zora opens up on the landing, finishes the job himself.
Big solo kill to close out this fight, and Team Sweden are going to take the first cap.
And a huge advantage on Esperanza.
And that was a couple of ultimates deployed by Team USA as well.
The Nona from Landon to try and get back into that fight, but it's going to be
a team Sweden edging closer towards the checkpoint here.
A Zero makes a swap over.
And of course, the Bastion double hits the end now for USA.
Interesting choice.
See if this pans out.
Onik can make a lot of plays against Bastion.
Sleeping in in crucial moments.
It's a big target.
Opportunities such as that.
This will really bunker up USA here.
Allow Sune to work the angles.
Boosted up to the high ground tree.
Kept ready for this one.
American is on the move.
Snipped out, but really went to the door.
Gonna put him on the high ground.
Rob comes in, they're trying to grab away this American Casky pulling back at any territory.
USA try to make the play off the back of the chaos.
Sierra opens one up on the cab. Big lint break from Willis.
Puts Hawke in a tough spot, but Hawke just shrugs it off, goes instead for the back line.
Finds a kill on the side.
Looses his suit for it. Willis now needs to produce in a big way.
Finishes off the baby Diva with the bashing in the sky.
An issue for which they don't have an obvious answer.
Get out of the careful here if you're Team Sweden, but they want to capitalize on the bodies they took down of Team USA.
Get back into position on this high ground, and now can play fairly patiently here if you're Team Sweden.
No need to force the error.
Oh, big shot a mistake! Zoro can't hold his nerve, falls off from the cat, cut down by landed.
Admiral Bale's really out of trouble, but Team USA are power play for them.
Zero over the top, looking to finish up some kills. Kyle keeps him honest.
The TUSA finally with a chance to take some initiative here on this fifth map.
They want to get back quickly so they can use their Sky Nude.
No, I don't want the Kepster actually.
Oh, they're still here.
First shot, Mrs. B!
Oh my god!
Hill's connection!
I was the kill!
Kepster finds three!
Hold on though.
Hawkins 0, grab a couple back.
But in the 2v3, Shirley Sweden will close this one out.
A big double-oam commitment though from the Swedes.
Now it's a lot invested, but you now have the Skynun to rely on, so that's what you would say though.
But so far it's been on Team Sweden that has been in control of this matchup, and now again pushing this bot forward.
They can establish high ground if need be. There's no rush really to utilize the Skynun to round this corner.
Truly high noon at the Ok-Karau right now, didn't I?
Who blinks first? Who's got more damages? Channel? For both sides?
Oh, it's big, big damage! It comes in, but there's no finished tree, though!
It's finished by Willis!
Wait, full of up.
And now, Sweden could take yet bigger advantage here, looking at his low.
Zerion with the tank shells, no finds on us somehow!
And Team USA still into this fight.
A counter-kill back the other way.
On over-extended for the move.
It's a bloodbath now. It's anybody's game on a low number.
Sweden keeps the cart rolling forward, though.
Making yet bigger their advantage here in this fifth map.
Team USA under maximum pressure now.
They're just keep making plays as well. That time it's Team Sweden pushing the
backline of Team USA and finding a couple of members that allows them to carry on
that momentum with the boat. 83 meters to zero for Team Sweden halfway through
this Esperanza and once again they can retreat, they can own this position on
the bridge, forcing USA to make a play now. Big shots.
Mock down a tough spot here. Margeant progress the bot. Will is happy to run the clock.
Sweden with their huge advantage not forced to make a play here.
Team USA will need to change the status quo and every time Zero peeps his head out, he's
kept repressed by the fire from Anna.
Admiral will even finish the job with the limit break out.
Team USA throws them all to him, but Sweden showing real patience with this point cap advantage
that they've already generated in the map.
Oh, the patience.
The patience from Sweden now.
Not forcing the errors.
Hawk is constantly just poking and prodding, trying to find an end here for USA to
allow them under risk.
Where is...
And where does Tynes have to pick up to land them?
This is just a team, Sweden team.
This is so comfortable right now. He was looking for answers.
Siles has been so hard to get with on this map. Kepster though,
those deep on this flank, meets a ton of USA players. Maybe one of these players...
He saw a huge headshot to save his battle brother. Kepster stays alive
and the cart continues to march. Player advantage.
Four sweetened Sky Nude comes in from the top. There's no 50-50 rock.
Oh no!
No!
No!
Turn the tables!
The American Cassidy stands tall once again.
Here comes the Pringles!
Caps don't try to land!
Landon!
To lead them down, hold his line!
The Americans are still alive here!
In this series,
Adro grabs one kill back,
but surely that's all he can find!
And Team USA on the brink of disaster
still was so far to go!
But they will not be broken,
not just yet!
Oh USA, making plays, fighting, it's so much spirit.
I'm constantly on the back foot throughout this entire Esperanza.
And it's 98 meters from Sweden. USA, they need to rack up for momentum.
They need to win a couple of teamfights in a row, but this time, no ultimates on the board for them.
Who can step up for this USA squad?
Truly attached for the veterans.
Ambul's been so insane with the Catnaps. USA fighters will dump it in the room, huh?
So is the Catnaps solo though. He'll be happy to take that one for the team.
As you said though, someone needs to step up, someone needs to break the status quo.
D.U.S.A. have yet to make progress on the other side of the map.
No openings to be found, tree may be called upon to be a hero once again.
Hicked up over the top, marked by Kev on the final break.
The easy limit break connects to the three, I believe.
Will is in real trouble, the suitcase broken, sorrow also soon to fall.
Finish the job.
Now, please taking the honor, keeping out of the engagement, and finally the bot begins to move.
And that's exactly what USA needs.
That's such a good teamfight win on the back of that limit break from Hawke.
Who secured at least three there.
And now they continue pushing forward.
Lots of ultimates on the board now.
Now they're coming up with this non-boost.
They want to end towards this guy here for three here as well.
But this is a Team USA team.
With two minutes left, they need to win at least a couple of teamfights in a row here.
Now we get to see though how well Team USA play with this high ground position and Nano on top of Landon.
Oh wait a mistake, okay no Willis does finish the job.
Hock is low as well, this looks great for Team Sweden.
And Willis great patience as well, slows the fight down.
Let's the pretty big finish hook with Swing.
Skydonald on the top and he's shut down by Willis.
The young hero, but Sarah's still into this one.
Team USA will not give up.
Even with the first pick against them,
Willis grabs one back, but surely dead to rights.
Hock with a plasma saber, guts into pieces.
Luke Nino lives through it all.
And the cap will be there for Team USA
Opening up the forward spawn, but with just one minute to go, Sweden still with a very good mark on this series.
Ultimate economy be damned for USA, I need to fight with Tooth and Nail here to try to carry this both forward.
We'll try and win out this series, it's going to be Sweden now, Sky Nude available, Limit Break, the Spree as well.
USA, they need something, conjure up some magic and try to get up here by doing the end.
who's this now going to an incredibly consequential decision now in the
hands of Landon holding it defensively for now a flanking movement though
Sarah responds well stays alive Sweden they can run the clock here what would
you USA do to break this equilibrium nanomuch a 3-8-5-2-1 on a SILLE can I get anything out of Zorro
got enough kick in the shots on the Lupino hot-fights another
veteran hands for Team USA clean on to this critical series so much pressure
Kessler realist grabbing a couple kills back. It won't be a clean one for Team USA
But now the golden line of victory here in vision forward spawn surely the Americans come back into this fight
It all comes down to this
Ten seconds opportunity for individual players to step up here cease this series for their country
straight from tab two big shots from Wendon
Keeps him honest
Let me break from heart search the crack with us. The Mac is broken so always low
Sile finds one back cancer called upon now to find something incredible
Beating team USA from the break a battle back in Busan and we'll take home the first CD in the group
An incredible performance from Team Sweden though what heart was shown on the server today Johnny
They should be so proud to have pulled it this far between USA. They dig their heels him despite a huge disadvantage
early on in the push map they hold their nerve an
Unbelievable game from tree. I mean truly one of the greatest of all time and that's such a young age
What an unbelievable comeback on push for USA. 98 meters to naught and yet team
fight after team fight they come out on top and at the end of the day like you
say it's three who is the big difference maker. He made plays continually
throughout the series but none bigger than that and it was Sweden who were
in control for the majority of this game. The ball felt like it just lived on
the side of team USA this is amazing spray here from capture boosted by the
honor of sky but what an incredible comeback on push so unlikely and yet
they get it on team USA
wow this wow moments like this I mean this may have this as well able to do
that sleeper just when capture is coming in for the kill the team that
So well
But finally the ones who really open up this team fight really to crack the shell of Team Sweden and show that they can be beaten in this scenario
Will have fought so well in this area Sarah as well. I think once he got onto the she on
Really was able to match Kepster. Kepster was meaningfully slowed down. Once the mirror came out
Beautiful that's a real catch. That's unreal a tree to finish the job. I mean that felt like destiny
That play from Luzumino is unbelievable on the cap there. Wow.
What a sick series here between Sweden and USA, where USA, they come back at the very end.
I mean, they were down almost 100 meters here. It did not look good on push, but they battled back.
We talked a little bit at the pre-game where Sweden may be the underdog, and this one, I kind of felt like it was a little bit closer.
Sweden, they played awesome through most of the series, just not good enough in the end
to get it done.
Wow, what a serious back and forth.
What an impressive showing for both teams who are already qualified for BlizzCon and so you
fight for seeding in a matchup like this and look that is such a bad way to lose a
series.
I mean if you're a team student, if you're the furthest player, you're just like kicking
yourself like we should have closed that one out but at the end of the day like
what an incredible result for both teams I feel like.
I think Jake, for me, teaming to say having the Tracer band for that fifth game was like so important.
I mean, if they don't have that and Kev is able to just kind of run rampant as he's been doing the entire group stages,
could have been an even some more trouble.
I will say, you know, the carry band, I was really questioning it, right, open the series,
but Slyle had massive impact on Ana.
I mean, he is a huge part of the reason that they're able to take that giant advantage,
that they're able to put themselves in such a strong position.
And Kester on the Xeon, right? He's also doing really well, like you honestly got to give a lot of credit to Team Sweden
You know, Team would say, wow, when they, you know, put these bands in, take the game away from the current meta and bring out some of their core looks.
They're able to win their map picks. But when it was on, like, the modern meta of the day, Team Sweden was actually the team that felt like the innovators,
felt like the team with a tiger read on not necessarily like a whole-hearted swap within whole comp, but just like the better DPS to play, the right time to have the support swap.
So it's a you know, it's a meaningful result for Team Sweden that that they could put TV USA to such a stiff test like I
Still think they're huge underdogs. This is still a really great performance from there
Yeah, even if it's mad 5 now and Sweden takes the loss
I feel like they've earned some respect going into blizzcon
It's like hey, let me give a day, you know, they could show up and take out anybody
Yeah, Sweden is not gonna be your typical number two seed in a group going into blizzcon where
Team USA they get it done three and all atop of the group while they're game with China in Japan
I know a little bit later to see who can get a get that third place obviously want to get a win on the board
We have a special guest joining us here
Back in the contenders I
Never like a
Blizzcon we'll get a bunch of we'll get a bunch of cock chance in the crowd
Unbelievable series goes all the way to distance. What's going through your head when you guys are down, you know
90 something meters there on Esperanza, uh, I think the entire time we were locked in we kind of got a little rattled at
beginning because we didn't we didn't think we could push the fray and we didn't think we
kind of thought we had to play very like
Turdly like stationary um, but we know when it's an on a mirror that once you get set up
It's like very defender sided so once we win a fight we know we can like snowball that into something bigger and
I don't know. I just forgot. I honestly I don't even fully remember what happened
Yeah, it's wild when I am blaming it
I feel like that Esperanza the last few minutes
It's just like you're gonna have to go back in the replay for you
And like see what's happening there because you're just trading back and forth both teams. It was a really epic matchup
Yeah, not now. I mean obviously you guys go to blizzcon number one seed. How does that feel?
Now, getting that, obviously it really wants to make it a BlizzCon, but finishing the group
undefeated and now going there as the number one seed has to feel pretty good.
Yeah, I guess this match was a really good, a quick stress test for our team, just, Team
Sweden is very, very good, they're probably one of the better teams here, in the whole
entire tournament, you know, cap searchers never go down without fighting, the rest
of the squad is really good too.
Yeah, like, being first is really nice in the group.
I guess it'll come down to the 1v1, who's going to get the seeding.
I think that's how it's going to happen.
Um, I guess also Korea is kind of through the bracket.
Maybe.
Maybe.
Maybe.
You know, a little weird.
Yeah.
So the 1v1s will be a little weird, seeing who's going to have to play Korea first.
And um, yeah, I'm excited.
I got to ask you, Hawk, I mean, to take it back to the very beginning of the series,
right, like, you know, you guys probably coming into this knowing, you know that
Maybe on paper the favorite even though Sweden
Respectively is a very very good team. They came out incredibly hot like hotter than they don't think anyone expected on the Paul
Huge round from Zorro particular an opening fight
What was the what was the feeling like after that moment in for team USA like where you guys rattled at all or?
This is another day at the office for you guys all pro players. Um, I guess maybe we were a little like
not literally not rattled, but maybe a little
So, second guessing how good Naga would be into Dmon, we still think, or at least I still
think Naga should beat Dmon on those two Nepal maps we played, but maybe we just played it
wrong.
But yeah, I'd say maybe I should just swap Dmon on that map to have a better match up.
I don't know.
The first episode was so long, you know.
Hey, that series was really long.
You have to go get a nice rest after that one.
Enjoy the rest of your time here in Busan.
on Auk and Team USA getting that number one seed there in Group A. We have a lot
more games to go though. We have five more to finish out the day here in date
number three from Busan. We'll have our next game right after this quick break.
The 2026 Overwatch World Cup is brought to you by DHL.
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Oh
you
you
you
you
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Do you see this build thing?
Jumping is good and..
its a really good answer
This is bad.
We're doing IRL perks with Team Japan.
We got KSG and Niko here.
So let's get right into it.
Never having to eat or never having to sleep.
Walk twice as fast or jump twice in size?
I think it's not a disadvantage to jump twice as high.
On the contrary.
When you jump into the house, you can hit the ceiling.
The ceiling is low in Japan.
The ceiling is low in Japan.
I think it's great to play all the languages.
If you come to a world tournament like this,
there are a lot of players who don't speak the language,
I think it's really fun to be able to talk with you.
I like music.
I like to play all kinds of instruments.
I like music in the first place.
I would be happy if I could play in that kind of place.
Would you rather never be hot again or never feel cold again?
I don't feel hot.
I'll go with it.
I feel the cold.
Cold?
I tend to work on melting snow.
I think it's better not to be cold
I see
Like the sauna the hot tub it's true like a day at the beach in the Sun
Jake and Johnny here Johnny our resident
You know the series gonna be a banger when he's around
Every series you got
This next game. It's gonna be a banger to my bar. I know I think this game is really gonna be good
So we got Germany and Spain coming up
That's gonna be our next match up here on the stage and Jake both these teams buying for a spot at BlizzCon
I was pretty high on Spain. We did the online groups. They thought they were pretty good
Yeah, Germany ended up surprising a lot of people during that portion of the event
Yeah, definitely. I think this one could get spicy
These are two teams that are arguably on the bubble from BlizzCon like this is a match that could end up deciding their fate
In fact likely it will for team Germany, you know led by a player like Aiznan
They really stepped up, right?
Whereas some teams I don't think have been able to rise to the level of their leader this team has
And also because you took a five map lost to Canada on the very first day of the tournament if you're Germany now
You're playing with like desperation. Yeah. Yeah, okay
We all we have to be Thailand of course with the other team in the group
But you know we need to beat we like there's no option here. There's no
Alternate reality where we take a loss here in advance like we need to win immediately and meanwhile, you know Spain
They got a pretty walk in the park 3-0
against Thailand but they still have the opportunity to play both Germany here
but also Canada later tomorrow. Obviously Canada surprises us right getting this
win over Germany the other day. What do you think went wrong for Germany in this matchup?
Honestly Canada I think played really well. I earned this win but it came
down to some key moments. It honestly was Canada I think bringing in Razor
changing the pace. Germany was a great team at finding the aggression which
to be honest has been a really I think a key marker of a lot of the
best teams at this tournament in the Demon Metas, taking the initiative, being the aggressor,
letting you know, especially for a team with Aiznall on it, letting him lead, letting him
set the standard. It was Akku with a really good jetpack app performance, like she was
doing really hard to kill.
I saw Miz though kind of like young to be like the leader of the team, right? We've
kind of talked about his, like I say he's in the OWCS over the last like two years,
right? Like now, like kind of becoming the veteran of this team, Johnny. It's
definitely a different position for him to play from.
Yeah, it's definitely the star player of this team now. Of course, residency
at Virtus.Pro and Odebusesia CMEA and also we find ourselves in a meta where I feel like Ice Numb would shine
on my hero like Demon and like you said back up on the Jetpack Cat as well. I feel like Germany has
all the tools to overcome Spain in this one. Yeah Spain though not going to go down without a
fight obviously they take care of Thailand we kind of expected that but Jake looking at this roster
what do you think they can do to against Germany today to really kind of turn the tide in their
favorite. I mean the obvious name who just like has to take all the fresher in
this one is Exodio. Yeah. I mean hitscan has also been a role where we just saw
Tree doing same things on the Cassidy for Exodio. I think that's very much his
signature pick. So for me, Gala K'Nel, you got great supports, experience
supports in the backline. You got a monster hitscan. It's pretty straight
forward how this team can be really effective. Not just experience, it's
supports Johnny, but experience supports playing with each other, right? Yeah.
Obviously Exodio got a hold of now the hitscan roster. Yeah. But
This is a Spain team that needs to prove something to us because you look at the highlights there and they're playing like Soria
They're playing Diva. They're not playing this demon which I've seen so much success the last couple of days
And obviously they didn't play a match yesterday
So it's like you've been hanging around in Busan you got some scrim time yesterday
It's like what are you gonna come out with here now against a really formidable team like Germany actually?
This is a Spain team that we don't necessarily have a great read on what compositions will they play when it really comes down to it
It's interesting. Now when we had Hawke on here just a second ago
He was talking about maybe like some of those mage comes into the demon
Maybe is that something you think that they could go to if we see I know I just kind of pick up that new zero
It's an option. I mean, it's a different look. I kind of don't expect it honestly for either squad
But you're right, Johnny
I think Germany or rather, we're not dirty rather Spain or a team that we don't know so much about yet
They win over Thailand and pretty much a walkover. But yeah, to be honest, Thailand
I think of the weakest team in that group
It's not a huge surprise and so Spain have yet to be truly tested truly pushed to the limit
And this series is going to be really bad as I just said for Germany. They're fighting for their German life
I mean if you lose this one, it does kind of feel like Liz Khan is not likely for you
So for either of these teams is a bit of a mushroom in scenario Spain with a little bit more room to play with
They haven't faced off against Canada, which is also a winnable match. Well, let's talk about predictions for this series
This one is like very
Like kind of up in the air. I would I would say this one to me is like 50 50
I'm trying to remember if I made this prediction before
Germany lost because I actually probably would have said Germany wins like after
They end up losing but I think I was so high on Spain. Oh, no, I actually did go to Germany
Okay, so I think Germany bouncing back after that loss from Canada
Like I almost feel like a Germany beats. I think this is more of a 5050
But I think like I you're alluding to Johnny like what they're kind of backs against the wall
You're gonna see the best set of Germany today. I just thought Germany even in that loss against Canada
They still looked like a really good team. They still showed some really impressive performances XSJ and cure XU critically on the DPS
Look solid XSJ's tracer
I think it's gonna be a real for in the side of exodial and even gala and canal this match
So they're gonna have their hands full and the big question for me is how do you handle the tank battle?
That's why I had to go for Germany because I think I found such a known quantity
He's one of the best in the world
Santee she's gonna up you up against maybe one of the toughest challenges of her career in facing off against a world elite player like
I said, yeah, I actually had Spain pencil in initially in this one after seeing them play Thailand
But then permanent marker I actually went with Germany instead just thinking about what the meta compositions have been so far this tournament
I feel like Germany coming into this tournament
It just feels like they are playing the superior composition and it's up to Spain to adapt
Yeah, it does feel like a little bit of a 50-50 toss up series
This should be another good one here Spain vs. Germany potentially the spot at blizzcon on the line guys take it away
Thank you very much Madden to get into this one Spain. Take us to Samoa a map
We really haven't seen much of I think it's my first time casting Samoa this tournament
and with
Exodio being such a key threat I see why they go here to map where I think hits can can be particularly significant
Yeah, it's a map we haven't necessarily seen so far come out here.
And we'll kind of have to see the mercy second time coming out here.
I think this will be two teams are kind of feeling out each other like the first map, see what the opponents are doing,
how do we want to gain command for that and the rest of the series here.
I feel like this is a back line for Spain as well that may be pretty comfortable flexing around a little bit,
showing their muscles when it comes to some of the more flex-support-oriented heroes here in the game.
And so if you want to replicate what you just said in the previous series,
go to version 2-6, Bambi Cat, like that is something that Spain definitely could do
and might even have the upper hand with a series like this,
but we're going to kick things off on Samoa Control.
Always a good map for this brawly style that Germany had in mind.
Yeah, Samoa's going to be pretty important here, but with Kat on the field, I really like
what Akku has been showing in this tournament.
Like she has been really clean with the Kat, boosting Aizanum at the right moments, putting
him in powerful positions, but crucially just staying alive deep into the fights.
I mean, we see Kat's picked off.
Like when you go for these risky moves, you try to get into the backline, make
a play, you can end up being an Achilles heel for your team.
evaded that just about everything so far. I mean survived really well against team
Canada so we'll see if she can handle the pressure. Exodio on the other side of
the field is not a fun spot to be playing the jetpack now.
As both teams roll out here it's going to be demon on either side. Looking at a mirror
matchup here. This meta composition here and Overwatch won't got boots on. Oh, it's
going to be an early pick of the S6K by something.
Yeah, a little extra damage there.
Keenlin, somebody's enemy finishes it off.
Great tracking from her on this one.
That early opening pick.
So early in fact that I just should be able to get back to the fight, but hold on.
Not if more can be added on.
QRXU takes down Exodio, but all the trade's on Ku out.
First flip, looks to be going to Spain, but Germany won't give up easily.
Aiznop.
Gonna take his chance to spot the ceiling on the character behind.
Look to stabilize 4 now, but Akku not going to be available just yet for Germany.
Aiznop, they've got a bit of damage here.
something sealed broken dropping girl gotta be careful if you're German here
he's get boosted out purex you can't find more but a couple shots go wide demon
restored back to health I love it so incredibly low no way he survived
don't think everybody's solo massive plans from dock we know there's a huge
amount of health still Spain press a panic so deal back into the fight
swings why takes up one maybe looking for more eyes on now in desperation
tries to get on top of the Cassidy but definitely wins the one you want
The very first fight, finally concluding as something comes up big on the demon here.
We talked about it in the pregame, it's not a hero that something necessarily played against
Thailand early on, but showing she's got the skills required here to deal with Germany
in a very difficult tank matchup against a Reveal player like Aizno.
This guy noon, QRXU over the top, getting a lot of big channel.
Oh, those skulls are close, God.
He pulls the trigger a little early, nice roll from the Zodiac to get back into cover.
Now, Santee, under scrutiny.
Playing from all sides, often goes down.
Good tracking from Bones, throws a pulse bomb in, no joy there, XSJ returns to kill right back.
And with the rush as deployed, it's anybody's fight to win.
QRXU now runs down, Santee again.
And the team's moment of need comes up in the dead match, and I saw them.
Deploy the Limit Break, but cannot bring the fight wind home.
Gonna be staggered out, my Sampdion.
This map starts to look pretty scary if you came to Germany.
Yes, Main has been firmly in control so far.
Absorbing the actions coming out of Germany, something doing a good job staying alive.
And now, they still have this dead eye available to them in case they want to go for some aggression of their own.
Sky noon, always a big threat in this map.
That's a rough thing to be going up against.
All the shots are bullet-Acu!
They're raising her survivability, but under the wintering eye, Xodiel has not been the case on this first round.
Fast damage followed up by Sadge, here comes Xodiel looking for more.
Chasing inside of the room, the catnip is forced out.
The cleanse! Xodiel will claim one and a second!
Point toucher makes this change is good, though. This fight has turned sloppy, not what Spain were hoping for.
Xanti commits as well.
And I could actually drop the ultimate here as well, as Germany struggles to get on the
board, finally captures the point, spanking a good job of stalling things out for now.
Most of all, this is still a Spain team that is still trying to find openings, they're
still hanging about despite the fact that Germany's got the point control for now.
Germany, they need to find value with this guy now, an opening craft, but Tineil
already is running a thing.
Oh, it's crazy.
Huge!
This early, the Sousa was good!
Great timing, crumb came out, keeping Zodiac fighting fit.
Limit break is out from eyes now, Germany don't want to give this point up so soon after they've just taken it back.
Cassidy traded out for the cat, worthwhile here for Germany.
Up to QRXU now to maybe open this fight up for more.
Guys not being boxed back, but the support is very good, keeping him stable when the spawn splashes well at his heat.
He needs to rush now. Despite the contention for QRX2, start of the light of the feed, cast of the uncontested here, pushes one back, canal retreats as well, Santi, even being delayed off the map.
With that misbegotten dive into the spawn, Germany are right back into this match. Spain kind of threw it away.
Yeah, Doc, he's saving the day there with the Kitsune rush, but that is going to be
the remainder for the round off of Germany. They need to make play after play, and that
has allowed Spain to get back into things with this open economy. Tameo Kitsune rush
available, and Silvio getting close to a Skydon as well.
Tyloon so critical right here. The other team has found much success. They both
been so adept at responding to it. Zanz takes the peek wide, but it's
expensive in terms of her health bar. Now the opportunity from your RxU this
This time, finds a critical kill onto the Kiriko, Zodiel strikes back, but 4xU still in a powerful position, boxing his enemy team off of their Katsune-era, being headshot.
It's Zodiel desperate now with the high noon beast to find something, but playing on the low ground, relatively immobile, puts a bit of damage out, but it's not enough.
QRXU holds his nerve, shuts down the young phenom and exodiel and snatches this first round for Jeremy.
Wow, what a comeback from Germany in that one.
The Sky Noon, early on there from QRXO, it was just too much for Spain as they couldn't really probably get set up with that Kitsune Rush.
You know, we talk a lot about Kitsune Rush being sort of pivotal ultimate in Overwatch, TASPEN, since Kyrgosh believes.
But facing the threat of the Sky Noon, that's immediate death, should you take that shot, and so Spain not able to find the value there.
Despite the very powerful Kitsune Rush.
Yeah, good patience. And that one from QRXO, right, holding the dead eye.
waiting until the commitment comes in and then once rush is deployed on the point
it's like even if you do run away you you've already paid a pretty steep price
some two-thirds of them too. Stabbed out so far on the demo.
Certainly. Eisenheim feels like he's been a bit of a punching bag but
veteran experience keeps him alive in a lot of those contested fights gets the
point for it back at a key moment. And since Jade this time Germany wants to
take matters into their own hands they're gonna push Spain down to the
low ground. Santee though, Spine's weakness. QRXU is trying to get Cheeky on the plank and it's gonna get
run down by demon pick. Oh no! We got this. It takes a long time though. Is there gonna be a
counter punch? I thought maybe 4th into this though. Spine seemed ready for it. Stake in
position there from QRXU. Try to get Cheeky on the plank. Spine snipped him out and that'll
be first cap for them. Another great fight by Spain. They're really getting active with
this demon. I like how Sanctius is playing so far on this hero. But it's up to the rest
of the team now to start waking up as well, challenging Germany. We've been wanting to
see Exodiel back in the mixed series of Overwatch Esports. Need to come up with some
big plays now. Sanctius really been the standard bearer for Spain so far in this
map. And if you take the names off of the server, you'd really be hooking
and Urus set in the tone on Demon.
I would love to change that narrative for Santi around here.
Really necessary.
This is aggressive.
It's indeed.
With a lot of attention to yourself and backs out from it, survived that play really nicely.
Bones will pick up the pieces.
Really nice play from Santi.
I mean, big vision aggro pull that results in a dominant team fight win for Spain.
Yeah, the coordination is not there from Spain, like you say, Santi going in creating
a lot of space and bonuses on the cleanup duty here on this tracer, so very impressive
from Spain yet again here taking early lead in our second round on the Samoa and getting
closer to these ultimates being built by the team.
The German are going to go for it.
Spain have yet to clean it up yet but there's a big shot from Exodio.
Captain that Mr. Maku rolled away from buying Exodio.
Aizam gets killed in the carry though.
Keeps this fight just at the edge of possibility.
Maku doing everything to keep Aizam still fighting in the soup.
But eventually it breaks still to the cost of Sanctis Meg in return.
And with XSJ and QRXU backing to the mix, there's a real good argument for Germany to battle this one through the silver bullet.
We'll tick out.
This one through the silver bullet will take out
And the German Cassidy stands tall
Spain that looks like such a good start for them
But to give up the flip in the middle of the fight and Germany sees the advantage
Shades of the last round Johnny. Yeah, well, that's the thing right? There's no easy fights for Germany
Even that one come out on top, but it takes forever
Finally capturing the point of course at least build some percentage during it
But they need to make a big comeback here and it needs to start with QRXO again with another DayEye that I available
That's a scary thing to be repushing into. You don't have any obvious way to open the fight for Team Spain
Aizan knows the situation knows the sport. He's 15-fall more than happy to run the clock
QRXO now comes to DayEye. Spain retreats inside of the room. Sandy left out all on her low so takes a big shot
Sandy's super low, needs to get plopped out of the suit.
Eisenhower, great pressure, accomplishes that.
It's a good turn into the final fight.
Spain need to force this quick so they can get a reset off.
Tracer in the back, I know, hold on.
Bone finds Doc, makes Sodeo fight one!
Sodeo!
Canal done another!
Spain lights up the feed out of nowhere!
But it's all for nothing if they can't flip this point.
Three versus two scenario here.
Eisenhower not cool alone on the point.
Octavia needs to do a lot.
She's the one under pressure here, but she's staying alive so nicely.
He takes a big kunai to the head and lies down.
He will not give up the flip.
The spawner's now back into the mix and on.
Who critically finds Gala and the chaos.
Germany on the verge of taking Wusong.
Limit Break is out.
The cleanse is forth.
Canale runs for the hills.
So does Xodiel.
Starting to get scared for Spain.
Offended with the haven't broken just yet.
Canale with the light new.
Cannot keep Xodiel alive.
And so Germany now with the vanished players up.
Looking to clean up this fight.
Santee close to that limit break.
Where should be able to find it all in time?
QXU takes down Gala, Fade.
The hope started to drip out of Team Spade now as Aizam runs through them on top of the rush.
When the break is out from Xanti, she's still fighting, but Aku keeps finding Morgan to feed the cat.
Produces yet another.
And Germany somehow some way.
Wow.
Pick up a 2-0 onto Song that seemed unlikely given the way these rounds started.
When they got control of the point and they were fighting from a position of strength,
Germany looked undeniable in that one. You can see several players coming alive.
Iceland 16-2, looking really good on that demon.
Despite the fact that Spain were of the early lead, you saw some individual playmaking from the likes of something.
It is going to be Germany who, pretty confidently I'd say, win those last few teamfights,
each in single run on the back of Purex, so getting decent value.
XS, SXJ, always on the flank, you know, combining with ice on as well, so I gotta
say, well I was really impressed with Spain, it's a really comfortable NAF win for Germany.
It's been such a fun Overwatch World Cup to follow so far, makes me really
excited for BlizzCon, because for a lot of these teams, especially these countries
where they're not necessarily fielding, you know, a full, by-man roster of
professional players, right? Like some of these players are less
experience for a lot of them. It might be their first time on land. And yet, from my perspective
from the eye test, it's been these young players who've stepped up. The players with less experience.
You know, Aqua takes a tough round one. She gets cut down out of the sky a couple of times.
I'm worried I might have to eat my words about her Jetpack cat. But then makes some really critical
saves in round two. Keeps Aizan on into these very, very desperate fights that he's able to
clutch out. Making sure that he has the resources to do so, though. So, I mean, to be honest,
I come into these matches thinking, okay, maybe the pro players are going to be the key ones to watch.
Will the other rest of the team be able to live up to expectation?
And the answer is so resounding, yes.
Yeah, we talked about in the pre-game, you know, the leadership from Aisno,
playing on a really good team in Virtus.pro, of course, and probably feeling now in these fights,
they're kind of guiding the team in the right direction.
You know, having a breakout call where they can kind of set you up for success,
just like these are the ultimates we're using.
And then completely kind of like guide the pressure in the front line. How deep you really want to go that sets
Germany up for success in this one and meanwhile Spain like great individuals, you know
It's so deal to talk so much about the back of the line canale
You're struggling to find their footing a little bit
Purchase you where they take us next year because you really want to set up a player like exodial
Provide the sidelines for your hits cam player to do some serious work
They might be a little bit more difficult when you play these close-range maps and a D-1 could get close into the background.
Santino was looking great on the D-1. I like their aggression. To be honest though, I think in both rounds
it's Spain in control of the point. Only for an aggressive move into enemy backline, which isn't necessarily crazy, right?
Like that can be a strong move. But both times in both rounds, they end up giving up the flip.
Things get into a little bit of a tricky chaotic deathmatch and Germany clutch out both of those fights.
I mean, to be honest, I think Spain in control of the point when you go to that aggressive fight
And you there's no one ready to stall the point at the same time
Like that's a bit of a rookie mistake to be honest and from a team with a few professional veterans
Like that's not the kind of mistake that they can afford to make
Even some of these younger teams have brought a real fire here to Busan to compete
But it's still I think you know despite it being a 2-0
Clearly this is gonna be a very close a very scrappy series with both teams really firing on all cylinders
showing a lot of promise. Yeah the execution left a little bit of asking
there for Spain like you say but you know when I look at the Spain roster I
feel like that aggression is kind of like their identity as well you know
they want to make those plays and you know fix support players can get pretty
hungry sometimes you know wanting to make plays happen you got some like a
turtle as well so obviously they can step up the execution and maybe reap
their awards because of that but I don't think there's any kind of
denying that you want to be a proactive team you want the most of
time I feel like yeah maybe that's just my instinct as a player too like I like
being aggressive I like being proactive and try to go for those plays now if
you lose the capture point in the meantime that's something you need to
like amend you know when it comes in practice and stuff like that making sure
that that doesn't happen. In fairness to your point you know this is the first
match that's really testing them you know arguably those are those I agree
they're not bad plays to go for it's just it's a small cleanup it's a
small tweak like hey when we go for this move make sure somebody's ready
for the Capcom test so we don't give it up as we start to fight so well.
And I agree, that's not without a range at all for Team Spain, so I won't like criticize
them too brutally for it, but for Germany, this is their back against the wall, they've
been tested by Canada, they've been pushed to the limit, they've seen what it takes
to qualify for BlizzCon and they're showing up to deliver that here today.
Yeah, I mean, that's some battle experience, right?
You went map 5 on stage and you feel a little bit hardened by that, like that
match didn't go your way, you lost in map 5, like that really stings for the
same time you're ready to come back out on stage again with that experience behind
you and feel like you can go into this match you know feeling completely ready
and now for Spain you gotta collect yourself a little bit just like
while I'm wrong in that map what kind of game are we looking for to play next
year and it's going to be a neon junction as so many times it's such a
unique hybrid map here the way it narrows everything less flank angles
available to them Spain here might even feel a little bit comfortable
Stepping outside of this demon battle obviously something a tremendous job painted demon, but you know like we saw against Thailand
This is a spain roster there as well
Able to flex their muscles a little bit when it comes to the tank hero pool and maybe trying to look for the upper hand against the Germany team
Talk about enabling the hitscan
Spain throw in the Bastion ban on map one Germany effectively discard theirs
There's only not something that I think a team like Spain want to play, they'd rather
have Exodio with more individual expression.
They're going to ban the demon to maybe create more opportunities for hitscan.
It's also a tank that I think Aiznom can really do just a little bit of everything on.
He can clutch out these deathmatch fights.
Germany responsibly banned Mizuki here.
Maybe they're worried about a Mizuki SIG or want to enable Aiznom to pull out
a diva here.
I mean, it's kind of a surprise, because if anything, I would think, I'd rather see Aislin on Sieg with Mizuki behind, you know, like, that would look pretty good to me, like, in terms of individual carry, I feel like Sigma is kind of top of the list in the tank role.
You don't feel like if you're German here, maybe you feel like you can brawl out against Santi and the rest of Spain here, relying on the skill of Aislin, because if you slow things down and bunker up, like, you're putting, you know, a lot of focus onto the hitscan players as well, Spain, you know, Exodiel, we know what is capable of when it comes to playmaking.
You put him in the white situation to succeed on the Hitzgen hero and he can make some miracles happen
If you if you instead brawl out here a little bit
I feel like maybe that could be a good option for Germany to just more rely on ice-doms individual skill in that area
It's a good point, right? Like yes, the ice-dom is great on the Sigma
But the hero pull for Germany. He's an odd one, right?
Like not every support player has looked good on Mizuki even in in OWCS, right?
So maybe ensuring that things don't get too crazy in terms of the back line
But you guys will see where we've been flashed some very interesting compositions here
Who's seen Darker Queen one time this tournament from X-Rome?
This is a little wild. I don't know if I believe it Jessica. We'll see. I'll spawn.
Don't believe it, but that's great.
For Germany, I absolutely believe it. They're still gonna rock the cat, but nonetheless
Not Sigma doesn't need the Mizuki, right? He can still have a huge impact here
What is gonna be the Spanish reaction through this ice domesic?
They're thinking about it.
It's also like a really solid, well-rounded defense, first point.
Like, you don't really know what Spain is going to throw you away,
and so you can play the cancel here with the cancel.
Very reliable.
Sigma, pretty versatile tank, asked well,
and you held off pretty good on the defense here,
regardless of what Spain is throwing you away.
Yeah, middle of the road style.
Not a fan of the Zarya, honestly, into the Sigma.
Typically, I would think Sigma is a very good match up there.
Maybe the DPS can change that with some well-placed ally bubbles.
XSJ and Auken fighting for that flank.
They can shoot at ISDOM.
He keeps comfortably front to back, but it's a Sodeol.
He's really in a free fire zone here.
Bones takes the bubble.
Zarya starts to move through, starts to break apart in this position.
Germany getting leveled across the board, but the sports are doing good work.
No kicks just yet for the attackers.
Toki is building towards that P2, but he still has most way to go.
But XSodeol is not working for my great damage here.
He's hammering out damage with his M-Ray.
Yes, German is really pushing forward now, trying to make a play.
Uh, Craig Combs from Eisenhower, Lee's the charge and punishes Santee.
Gotta use those bubbles to get your team into a power position, but when the cooldown runs low,
Germany calls the bluff and all these Odio puts out huge damage and cannot find the finishes.
Daki and Akku just too slippery on the support, too focused on keeping these German frontliners alive and...
The long slow fight, in at 30 o'clock already.
Yeah, this is going to be a difficult approach for Spain here, because you're up front from Tunky.
This is going to favor the Germans now as they push forward.
For Bones though, finds a pick.
Fibers is forced into a turn for Spain, now they capitalize.
Aw, great, bubble for the Sancti, but Bones still copping in a rock at a hard place.
Doesn't have a way out of that one.
Spawned managed for the offense here, and Canale with a one-sided rush.
That's going to be the response of my zombie.
Pops with Flux, picks up the Zarya.
He's going to neuter some of that Crescent, QXU over the top with the Sky Noon.
Picks up one, will finish off another.
A beautiful retake from Team Germany looking well-practiced Spain, scrambling for answers now.
Germany looking so good on the Cat here.
Akku providing lots of playmaking here on the Jetpack Cat.
And even though Speed has been such an important tool here for Lucio,
it's a little bit linear now in a matchup like this.
Gala with an inconsistent Sunbear here though.
This is the power spike that Spain really needs to work with.
3 as well.
Bones opens it up, takes time to access J.
Should be able to fight more, but gets shut down!
QRXU! That's a peak fight!
Xanthi makes the face trade.
Aizan surrounded by set by attackers on all sides.
Gala has held the beat so far.
Akku deep in the backline, pulls a bit of attention back to herself, grabs the pack.
And Germany, playing this one really intelligently, really patiently.
Spain hold their nerve with the sound barrier, but...
It's gotta come out sometime.
Exhaustic place to kill first!
Now do you commit? You dare? With the beat, headshot out from QRXU, that's going to suppress the backline.
Senti gets low, but on the off angle, she'll be able to reset.
They're leading towards the ground on search here. Spain gathering the ultimates.
But just a minute remaining here, Jack. There's no room for error left.
Senti has to find a huge grab here.
Sorry, I was so slow to build that ultimate into the Sigma matchup.
It's a sling! The badge is burned down! Before the beat can come in, no follow-up on the grab!
And the German cast will hold the line!
XSJ adds insult to injury...
...in Germany!
Don't lose a single player!
Oh, and the swaps come out now for Spain, recognizing the desperate moment at hand, 30 seconds remaining.
It's going to be Exodio with this override protocol, combining it with Kyo's Katsunor to try and make something happen.
But the Sky News from QRXO could be devastating at this point.
There's no right throw on top of the Sky News over the top, Exodio's still running for the hills.
Essentially being overwhelmed here.
Zolion 2 HP and QRXU connects the final crucial shot.
Now Aiznop stakes his claim on this point.
He could be looking at another Neon Junction full hold.
QRXU playing the back line so well alongside Akku.
And Spain cut to pieces, falling apart on this map.
Germany stand ready to eliminate their European rival here.
Going while setting a very strong mark on Neon Junction.
I haven't run it yet but this is brutal. It's hard to see how you hold. Especially when Aislam
is going to be very comfortable running back to Sigma. Wow, what a defense from Germany there.
Very cool and calm, often backed off, building ultimates.
Didn't rush into things. I talked about playmaking on the previous map, but that time
Germany really bided their time and waited Spain out. And when it came down to it,
it was a Spain roster that was looking at a Graviton surge and a sound barrier to make
Things happen, but both of us really denied their pinnacle of value as Germany reacted. Well, I mean look at that scoreboard
I mean they got they got destroyed
It's just J playing the flanks the only one to take deaths
To be honest, I think that's a terrible comp selection Spain like playing Zarya Lucio in the SIG there
It's kind of a criminal matchup like Zarya cannot trade with Sigma. It's really really difficult
You exist above your DPS, but the way Germany was playing, they were bunkered in the corners,
bending but not breaking, and then you could see the coordination, just obviously, right?
Like, they bend back, they bend back, taking so much pressure, but they just, the sports
do not give any kills away.
And then when they surge forward, it is with a vengeance.
They evict Spain off the offense.
Spanish players have to really find something special to change the narrative.
Germany with house cash to play with here they can really be patient in terms
of how they approach this one. Lots of opportunities now for a Germany team
that fell against Canada in a fifth and final map on day one here at the
Overwatch World Cup. In this pivotal map against Spain fighting for a ticket to
BlizzCon. And now four minutes on the timer here to secure their second
map win series. QRXU two shots back to back.
to provide all the crack that Germany needs to step through.
Aiznán putting the pressure on the other side, Kasti.
A lot of room to work with players to support.
Okay, Kasti are just in time to bail out this flank.
And Exodiel shuts down Aiznán.
Okay.
Good hold from Spain so far.
Germany's still gonna look for something.
Would love to find a trade.
Canal is gonna go down.
Kastan's the bleeding here, Spain.
Cannot give up anything further.
The Bones will ensure that's the end of the bleeding.
Nonetheless, paint under real pressure. QFG was very close to finding a critical opening pick.
Germany once again will look for openings
and they have the skill required. It's not to be Exodio with another opening pick
and this is the soloist that Spain really weren't looking for. Needed someone
to really push Germany back and Exodio has been doing that so far
to continue to build these opponents. I don't know about...
We have ultimates though.
That's a flux from something.
of this will they sniff out the cast? Germany coming up on a big ultimate economy as well
in Spain because they utilize that flux they're never going to fight with a little bit of desperation
on this defense they can't allow themselves to go down big at the historical site. So risky for
Exodio this is insane and in a curious reaction here comes Katnap comes in grabs the player
Isom, stun, Bones, another early kill on XSJ no traits found back just yet Isom's going to go for it
with the Flock. Saki stepped up past the choke but there's no follow-up to finish this kill.
Spain began to pays off and Germany what should have been an open and shut attack
has been beleaguered at best. Spain has really flipped the momentum of this map so far.
This aggression we talked about working in their favor but 90 seconds to go still.
Their failure to attack properly needs to help continue to defend but this guy
I knew it could be devastating.
Sit-off from down to the Xodio!
The can opens up the fight.
Everybody hiding, no joy from the dead.
I rushed exchange on the point.
Germany trying to force their hand,
but with a player in bandit,
surely Spain can play this one out well.
Bones with a spree.
Picks up Juan, Santi with another.
And Germany, they're down to their last legs.
Spain on the verge of doing enough
and with the Sky noon,
with the Flux nearly in the hand for Santi.
Now it's Germany who find themselves.
Really, the underdogs have finished this map, shockingly considering the first run.
Yeah, they've used so many tools at this point, traded out the Kitsuna rush that time,
but it is going to be spain with the open economy once more.
And not only that, their individual players have stepped up big time.
Early dead ice and decent channeling.
QRXU shrugs it up, and who finds a kill?
Doc, stop that, it's Odeon!
Such a hopeful start to the defense, but it all crumbles here.
And the remaining three Spanish players bring this one back, it seems unlikely.
One for one, a worthy trade given this German player advantage.
Blood in the water now, Eisner steps up, forcing the issue.
Knows that a kill on the signal will end it here and now.
And he finds the job.
Abdu, what an opener, somehow finding that.
In Spain, despite a valiant attempt on Nilan Junction, they fall in the end.
Germany pick up match point, setting the scorch to zero.
And after the result of Spain failing,
To do something respectful on that attack forced to defend for four minutes. I mean that's such an uphill battle
You were correct earlier in your statement. We've been seeing some more full holds here over on neon junction
But it is point is not easy if you're forced to defend for four minutes. I mean that's that's that's a different path
If you can full hold that's great, but then forcing to
Reverse the full hold and pull it off better yourself. That's just too much for us
or you need to do better on offense.
Assess yourself up to success.
And to be honest, Exodiel going for a hiding play.
It was so crazy, but it didn't work.
Exactly what they needed.
They kind of cheesed a free fight win in the middle of the round,
but you really don't expect it, right?
I mean, I see a refab in this final fight.
I want to see how Akku got an opening kill,
because that is what had alluded to Germany
so far on their offense.
And with Exodiel over the top, but with the sky due,
it didn't seem likely to come that way yeah it's been a fantastic job in these
couple of fights always being the first team to get that first taking in a
five-person sports situation it's going to be so
you
you
you
you
you
you
This could be one of the best years yet.
Spain now facing a reverse sweep necessary to bring down Germany here.
They're going to take us to new, junk city and look, when you make those mistakes that
Spain has been making so far this series, you know, you you fix some of those mistakes,
you shore up the ship a little bit and you could, you know, start inching with a map
win here. And they're also critically, of course, take a look at the jetpack, get bam,
like the map wins themselves are now so pivotal because you're facing, you know, a match against
Canada tomorrow. Hopes are not over yet for Spain in case you go down in the series,
but you need to get some math wins on the board. And it needs to start here on
New York City.
Yeah, it gets scary because the moment you're feeling like, not just you have
to beat Canada, obviously you've got to beat them. But you need to win 3-0. That's starting
to get scary. You're starting to feel like that's a very, very tall order against some
of these scrappy teams in this group. Germany are going to get rid of the sim and with
Cat off the field, I mean, I think this is a great band for Spain. Like this is exactly
what they should do. They're going to force a very class. It should be Lucio Kiris,
this is a new junk city. I mean, this should just be like a high-paced rush
look. Clearly, I think that's the way they want to play through the whole series.
And so Germany have a, maybe the toughest test yet. They're going to fan off the
to just not deal with at least that level of x-factor, right? That's, you know, like,
teaping Exodio around. I understand why you don't want to deal with that one. So I
think wisely banned from Germany, but they're still gonna have some tough
questions. Akku has been really great on the cat, but she hasn't been pushed to
show much versatility beyond it in this tournament. Now that's gonna be the
question here on New Drunk City. What else does she have in the tank? What's
gonna be the next look for Germany? Now looking towards Exodio to continue the
momentum he established. On Neon Junction this would be a fantastic soldier in a map.
She's made so many plays on before as well. Need to kick it into gear here. Rack up those
entry frags which are so pivotal in this five versus five game mode.
Ice Noah won't be going out on the ball.
Never say never bro
Demon I
Curious to see how deep on plays. I mean, I think that has been really a powerful assist or her fixing some of those vertical
Hobility issues. This is not a map that calls for much in the way of her mobility
She is a brawler after all last point really lends itself to that kind of a place now. Absolutely
bones unmatched from the tracer
Double hits cam from Germany. They should be
Pretty comfortable playing things slow
A lot of pressure coming in on the Santi and Zodio yet to activate Germany.
Turning the screws to this Spanish front line and eventually Pala cracks into the pressure,
picked up by the rail.
Zodio though, drives one right back, Santi grabs another, Spain,
now back from the brink, should be able to secure this fight.
Some key shots from the soldier.
Sounds like it was a good job that time.
Absorbing that pressure from Germany as they pushed forward.
Able to stay alive by some of my friends. So they'll come in with a couple of frags alongside bones
And that is now Spain on a good board. It's a good start
They need to continue making places. They already push forward of some additional folk here
The building does all that's a look for railguns wherever you can. It's just taking to take the bear
Keep things straight up
Thanks, I have so much impact in the match like this
Thanks, Jay's been really impressing me so far in this training
The nail getting way closer to the terminal as to the counter for the toky
Your ex you put the big shot of the exodial. Hi, son
That's the back off
The point pressure from xj though forces a responsive move back. Okay. I'm sure the move to the choke
So turn once again on the menu
Santi will eat him up and both as well in the back line denying a keeper off you
She does well to get back into the main flush of this group for Germany, and with 80% already up between Spain, there's no chance to back out.
A pick on the Gala starts to pay dividends. Bones does a big pulse on the Aiznall, but the support's keeping that German take alive, not to B, as the Mech breaks.
It's getting cold at a C9! Oh my goodness, that is...
Oh, it's a Mech Kitsune or something.
Oh, I mean, that's a tough scenario to get back in, because Aiznall has already lost a Mech.
You dropped the Kitsuners thinking that we can prolong things and Spain just get away with the point cap.
It's going to be the clean up here for Germany and not even...
...it's closing the NL trade back here.
That's a devastating...
...devastating fight from Germany.
So many reasons why the Kitsuners being dropped is one of them.
That is a yikes for me dog. They see an eye.
I mean the rush? Not crazy me if you're gonna go for the clutch, but...
...exotil maybe just popping off that Lucio before she can make it to the point.
You have to put that one behind you though.
Some good ults in the bank for Germany. They can bring this one back on New Drunk City.
Now it's the Spanish who find themselves fighting for their life.
OC is out from Exodio.
Get the young fiend off, find something. This is a shot there.
They bring off, make a little break onto Exodio.
Good-making vulnerable, but Bones instead already has cleaned up the Kirozo.
Surely without your support standard bearers, this fight is just too much for Team Germany.
Santee doing so well in these clean up fights, constantly finding the key pickups, finding the windows to get aggressive and take control.
Yeah, she's continuing to look really good on the demon here. That needs to be a win condition for the rest of the series. Demon's gone already, of course.
Take a look at the Lucio's here now. Want to secure some real good value with the Sand Bear.
Spain's hand might be a bit forced here.
This guy is huge.
Welcome to OCD, QRQ.
And it's huge narrative of this round so far.
Huge damage.
DPN owing to a rough spot.
Forces got his hand with the beat.
Aqua with the later better beat.
And QRQ picks one up on the bone.
Good team fighting from Germany.
Baki adds on another.
And even with QRQ falling, Santy's two kills back
the other way won't be enough.
Aizanl lanes up the mech suit.
Exodio not far behind, just stalling
for a crucial extra few seconds.
but for the first time it feels like Germany take control.
Yeah, finally get on the floor there,
getting some good value with the overflow gaming space
on towards the point, and then a better beat from Akku.
That's going to be the win condition in that fight alone.
Now, to nail it, earlier on to this Kitsunorosh,
because of what we saw happen on the initial capture point,
you see if Spain can benefit from the Kitsunorosh
when it comes here, it's worth the objective.
He steps up now, boxing forward, rush behind,
Neat test for Germany now.
We're going to get a finishing kill, though, with a rush down and starting to expire.
Eyes off.
Stays alive, through and off.
Santi going deep for the kills with Gala.
Neat performance all the loser, the women break is out now.
The heal making all the difference, but eventually even Santi's neck breaks.
Still, Spanish DPS.
Striking blood into this Gala finds a few in the fight as well.
Now to be a second flashpoint for Spain.
Surely can put one on the board on this map because you get the objective there because of the consumer watch early on as that's
Five kind of progresses. That's going to guarantee you the second pointer is Germany
Full steam ahead here looking for maybe some very early fixed
But it's really risky for Santi to try to stay alive here. Yeah, she can't get back back into the suit
Germany happy to punish that a little bit of grief
There's a plane to hold on the DPS might be able to drag it back. Just trace her in Lucio now though
No damage left to deal with the tank
Spain have to regroup quick if they want to get back in before this point caps.
Going to have some time here for Spain to properly reset.
Germany should be able to get the cap still on the back of this,
unless Spain getting back into this one though, knows the port of them is available though.
It's going to be down to it so good to make it play with the other blow.
Good side-lines.
That fine-tech good open field takes a lot of damage though.
Force back off the angle.
Maybe that's one last chance for the OC to pick up an opener.
Yeah, you're caught in there against the limit break, I can just continue slicing and dicing.
Surely we'll wrap up there, utilizing the full skill set of the demon.
Now, Germany can solidify themselves on top of this
capture point right here, coming up on the Overglot, and the sound barrier here as well.
Yenakendo.
So, it's going to be Kameil here with this off-synch Kitsuna rush.
It could be the big difference for Spain.
Akus beat so important here, he needs to hold this defensively.
Your ex-unis, of course, an over-response with his over-bock.
Or even possibly more. Slides indeed. Impressive movement.
Trash is out. Pull comes close like you're a two-whackity force.
Gala hooks the beat for now. So does Aku.
And just say with a pulse, oh, we've found a set.
Aku finds Aku. No beat to the point.
They go for the beat regardless.
I feel like they needed to close this one out.
They will get the job done, but Gala, I wonder if he needed that beat.
Now this flashpoint, very much in contention the retake looking threatening for Germany
it's their turn to have support all the minute.
Yeah, you know the opponent has the sound barrier so Akku dying there, you know that
the opponents are not going to have the sound barrier, 5 or 4, you're probably thinking that
you can close things out but yes like you say Gala loves the sound barrier but this
now allows a win condition for Germany here.
Temple sound barrier if need be at least secure the capture point and hopefully some
frags will go with it.
Entry so important, Exodiel could silence it all with a well placed rail.
Santi is going to take the initiative, goes in for some Limit Break, drops off again, pieces, but hold on, Lucius trains off the board, still a playable fight for Germany, and they get the flip of the chaos.
Oh no, okay, they keep the fight going, but I don't have so much of a look into this, Limit Break.
Santi is so low, the rush comes up for Dockley, she's going to try and get this one in.
Minaki coming back in with scoundrels, shouldn't he need it? Exodiel in real trouble.
Canale grabs one back, things are getting wildly scrappy, the beat now comes in from Germany, should seal the deal
and get a flashpoint on the board, Canale getting incredibly low
Point, steal in contest, still being touched, but just a drag to Spain little by little, eventually the kills come in, Germany
Find something, Spain make it difficult though
Yeah, the early cap from Germany forces Spain's movement on towards the objective and then it's just a matter of ultimate value
The double support ultimate being utilized by Aku and Doki
And out of these keep Germany in this map for now
One points to two as we head towards the outdoor areas of this map here in New York City
Exodio some great side-fights there on the overclock
Lucio's once again traded off the field but pulse farm next SJ doesn't know the set up the finishing blow
Your excuse though dies for his troubles and the OC started to really tear strips off of Germany down
Exodio great snap from him should lock up this fight
They're gonna attempt to stall on the Isenam, but he can make it to the point.
For Spain's hand.
And now on the verge of picking up their first trap in the series, Spain have really
rided the ship with this jetpack-cat-band, looking a lot more comfortable on the Lucio
carry.
Oh, oh, oh, it's Odiel.
Whoa, XSJ.
Put them on notice there.
It has been a Spain team that is looking pretty well-worsed into this demon composition,
and so no surprise, they're doing good work here in the New Jump City.
But if the execution still needs to remain, it needs to be there to make a hasty decision or a take
under a load of pressure here by something, loses the mech though, here for Spain.
Germany still in this one.
Ah, Bones gets a frag on Tito, that should be enough.
The support response is really beautiful for Germany, somehow keeping that sojourn alive, but Bones
really starting to show up in this teamfight.
That initiation looked a little rocky.
Now, it's not, comes to force the point, but 1 vs. 3, no shot for him considering whether to stay alive.
He's been a limit rate.
Nix is working it back in time and he's right.
Germany holds their nerve.
And I have not picked up Gala.
Sander is not able to come out.
I thought he'd incredibly low the support,
once again desperately trying to keep this key tank in play.
They'll accomplish that with the limit break,
Blue Sandeep.
Shuffs down QRXU.
She's looking for more though.
Still blood thirsty in a crucial overtime engagement.
Gala with the beat could end it all here.
Deployment now sends it deep into the back line
on all five members of Spain,
With a knee kills, Akku finds his opportunity to rock in our card place cut down by Canale
and Bones surely with a nether he'll seal the deal dockly no TP out curics you left to
his own devices and even with one different XSJ it just feels like the beginning of the
end Spain great execution on the lucio period looking so much more comfortable they'll
not one on the board Germany have more to do to win this series every map so critical
hearing group stage after your boards woke up in Spain will feel really good about that
one boats 28th and three on the trace of their four Spain crazy that's my son I
like doing is a great work there and demon can put on a heck of a carry
performance in a Lucio carry better like that is a little bit wild to see
both Lucio's being
you
you
you
you
you
you
Like a comfortable situation that QRXU had to brawl out in these like crazy deathmatch engagements that are so common in this meta.
And he held his own.
Germany, Route 66 is going to be the call.
There's then some interesting questions actually for Axodio, who really loves this Cassidy,
but to map where a lot of teams have felt that Freya is more consistent, more effective.
Yeah, I at least feel that Demon is maybe slightly less effective on Route 66
compared to what we just saw on U-Junk City, so maybe that favors Germany a little bit here.
I do feel like this series is a little bit...
Ban I cannot stick in a sense. Yeah, I think it comes down to individual execution more like we saw in the previous series between
Student and team USA like there's a clear distinction between team USA wanting to maybe flex away from the demon
I'll live a bit more. I mean, I think the one huge
Was actually spain banning cat that was the one really big ban where Akkou has played nothing but cat
Germany really like playing this current meta. They like giving those extra boosts playing the individual style
So Germany banned the Hanna and I think this is ultimately like I said
I mean it's not just a protect for Curie, but it's also somewhat of a meaningful band like other teams have played on
I hear I mean Janelle Gala, you know, it's yeah very flexible backlight for Spain
And I think Germany spoke with the match right back where it began
Into wise in the dominant meta demon cat Curie
Diva is gonna be the band from Spain, but to be honest. I don't think this means a thing
I mean, I think Demon is the better pick here 10 times out of 10.
Right. Do you think guys know what I rolled out with Demon?
No, he would not play Demon here.
I mean, I think part of the problem for Demon is that Demon has a very good matchup.
Like, generally the tank heroes with a powerful melee tool have a good matchup for the Demon.
She doesn't really have a way to respond to it.
And Demon, I mean, pretty sick when it comes to that point-blank trade.
You even have a way to disrespect the ultimate from Demon with the frontal shield.
And so Germany then, up 2-1 in this series already taking a loss again on map 5 against Canada.
This is a bit of a must win series for them, they got Thailand waiting tomorrow.
Which we expect to be a win for Germany, but it comes down to getting that second place in the group and these two teams right here.
They are the ones battling for it for the time being.
If you're Germany, you want to kill things out here and now.
I'm losing to Six.
It's a good point, I mean I think if Spain can pick up a map win here,
You really do change the narrative of the series
Where the cat comp Germany has come up to and out. Yes, they've been scrappy. Yes
They've been too close for comfort especially on a neon junction that started so well
But in the end as the dust settles you won those maps
Spain have to show that they can win in this style if they've accomplished that going into a map 5
It's a lot less clear where the edge is for team Germany and
The reverse sweep from here would be heartbreaking for Germany.
I mean they went to the absolute limit against Canada.
They showed up so strong in these opening two.
The cool, comic collected play is enough to get them over the line in those first two
maps.
Will it be enough on Route 66?
It's not an easy task Jake.
It's no easy task.
You might say after watching this series so far, Germany should be the favourite to
close things out from Route 66, but with the pain making we've seen from Spain,
those individuals stepping up nothing can really be predicted going into this
one so Germany here with their backs against the wall people to map for
them coming up here you need to play at your utmost capabilities close things
down on this international stage I mean it is a gamble but actually now the
even man makes a lot more sense I do kind of like it though because it it
forces some reactivity out of Germany I mean I don't know what it forces because
to be honest we do not know how this matchup plays out everyone's been playing
cat I could see this being a little scary actually because all I can do I
guess you could do a lot of damage but you could just as easily have like a
Skynoon pop you have a demon dropped on your head from above it is a test though
for Germany and how to navigate it sim is well from bones that's gonna get
weird yeah this is a north of those composition here from Spain I stopped
you for the time being they pretty far up with the reliability of that the
teleporter is need be but like look at Germany here the way they're forced to
approach here taking protection don't let me do much book down it for
Oh, what a shot!
And that kind of defense just breaks down on the back of that wheelie.
Out of nowhere. I mean, that's- I really didn't see that kill coming.
URXU makes his way into the flank, makes his presence known.
It does drop down, but trade should be good for Germany,
but they're not cleaning this fight up just yet.
Even without the patiss, the rest of Spain fighting well.
But you're in so deep in the lorry, the escape pool feels unlikely.
But he's got a lot of lives on him.
Maybe you can.
How could they?
How could they get out of this one, Johnny?
Johnny that looked devastating and open around the back and wasn't enough
That they just shouldn't have done it back into this one and now keep nailed back from spawn as well
Make it this long run and germany continues to battle trying to get this payload up and going
Stay they often stand for the forward teleporter. I can make place deal, but I think it's going to punish them for their
Oh, yeah, great pulls from him getting this car rolling forward
Shalda, it's still looking to clutch this one. Hasn't dropped the Harkness yet.
Gonna drop down now.
Might be able to play as we have this one, the Bapolari together.
Staying alive well. Capriced Sun. Powerful Ultimate.
Beeman really lacks tools to mitigate that threat.
You need to take a moment here though. You need to take a moment to gather the truth.
Capriced Sun coming out here, but Suzu gotta be wary of him.
Direct shoot, hidden away.
Squirrel himself back into that tunnel. Great plan.
Exactly, also gonna drop the rush now, forcing the fight onto the payload.
Despite that early engage from Spain, it's gonna come down to the final fight.
Aizan boasts that limit break, but Santi as well.
Look at the Flux on mine.
She's really under huge pressure now from Aizan.
The limit break comes out, can they get the kill and done?
No!
It was a Flux slamming Aizan before, their neck breaks.
Free reign now for Zodiel.
And he can find more kills.
Not quite just yet, somehow.
Germany staunch the bleeding once again the supports to a huge work to keep this fighting contest XSJ gets one before he goes down
He's not back into the suit, but I know a dollar fine. He kills her. She'll be
It's the channel goes for more
Still wall in front of it. I'll do things down here in the catnap cuts canal away
Too close for comfort for Germany, but they passed the first and arguably most difficult test for this style is to match up
I mean, if they don't win the teamfight there, it's going to be a massive uphill battle for the remainder of that first point.
But they do get the payload across on towards this second point, like you say.
Bonstau have to shield up, okay, level, towards Spain to build some positioning still.
QRXU, way up aggressive there on the shield wall, get punished for that.
Spain, need the clean house here.
Tandy over to the D-mon has a little bit more flexibility, so do the kill on the XSJ shooting short.
A comfortable reset here for the Spades.
This man is a standard to speed up the Spades.
And I gotta say, Jake, I still love the Spades that are from Spain.
They're not hostage to the moment, they're continuing to play with their reckless aggression
and making life difficult for Germany to adapt in a moment like this.
Three minutes on the board here, but Spain, the way they've set up defensively here,
the way they're playing the Castery alongside the Allari and the Baptiste,
It's going to be a struggle for Germany to find an opening and gain some ground here on towards this point.
High ground pressure, immense here.
I mean, look at these teleporters!
He presents so many...
It's a stupid!
He drops down low! QX, he was low! Can he turn it around? No!
Doctly too late to make the save, can he turn the kill around?
That dive for Exodiel is punished by the rest of Spain, making the opportunity.
All of it, the Captain's son may be forced to use it though because Aiznab once again still alive deep into these long fights.
The same turrets are presenting real problems once again, the opening part of this map.
Proving to be a real problem for Germany, the choke point is just so impressive.
I also feel that the chaos is a little bit overwhelming for Germany here, who likes to have a more solid approach, gather the troops, make a decisive push forward.
And now in a moment like this, they have the captive's son, but they're gonna face so much pressure against Exodil's dead eye here, just waiting on the high ground.
That guy's gonna be crucial. A lot of ultimates on the field here. Four spades.
Eyes down over the top, those kind of destabilized positions for the Spaniards.
Drosh coming over the top.
And so do you, though. I knew him good enough for one.
And without the jetpack cap, mobility is severely limited, but in the chaos, I am now starting to find something.
I'm getting it rolling. Here comes the limit break.
But as their kills to be found, same thing gets won, but doesn't seem to be enough.
QR is viewing over the top.
Gonna break this suit and maybe the hopes for an early hold on this second point for Spain.
So Germany does break through there, despite of all those ultimates deployed by Spain.
But still, I think Spain has done a tremendous job just holding the payload in place as well.
And so Germany here, they'll get the benefit of the high ground as Spain looks to regain ground here, but...
Sky noon's still up though.
Also the shield wall though, the shield wall.
Oh wait, hold on, XHJ's pulse keeps his one just on the edge of possibility.
XHJ somehow finishes that kill on the canal.
And if Aizanum can stay alive in the soonest, he's somehow managed to too.
This is a scene that you missed out on this one.
That is better in scene. That helped me.
Ridiculous from Aizanum.
And it actually makes all of the difference in the world
because he's fighting kid more than final engagement.
Ten seconds remaining here for Germany.
This is their last grab opportunity to cap out his second point.
I stop it over the top, nose to right, spread his butt out, straight to the capacity.
Now finishes Baptiste as well.
Oh my god.
It's a five versus three and they'll touch.
That is unbelievable.
A critical error from Team Germany.
Surely they had done enough to claim second point.
Pressure immense in this moment
What can you say an iced-on usually such a calm elected place our hands come up on the player
It beggars believe and
Now a moment to settle and consider the implications
I mean root 66 has been a map where
The question has been your distance into third. Can you cap third? Can you push the card deep?
now you don't even fully get it to the end of second Spain are gifted a new
lease on life I saw this for dinner though
you didn't get a full-up act okay him living that last fight was that is
unreal they're like running him down he's got no support at all and they're
making the place they're just like coming down time's running out you're
I'm getting a couple of picks and there's just no talk.
That is one of the most devastating C9s I've seen.
And in a comp like this too,
there's no lack of people to touch cart.
But maybe that's the problem, right?
Everyone's like, okay, the cat can do it,
the tracer can do it, the demon can do it,
the carry can do it.
And then, you know, sort of the buy-stander issue,
no one ends up really committing for the play.
So are the ones yet though as Spain?
I mean, if Germany can mentally recover,
this is still a very winnable map.
First point is a really difficult cap.
Spain going to go with a more conventional offense though.
It's like you say though, can they mentally recover?
After a mistake like that, Spain has shown the last couple of minutes.
They're willing to go aggressive, they're willing to make the plays, make life difficult for Germany.
And it's going to be a difficult defense indeed for Germany,
they're going to make their stand here and win off the series.
Spain, hopefully important for now, can this payload forward?
Are they still?
They could probably do the amateur.
That good pressure from Zodio. But still, Germany have this crucial corner.
First test for the Spanish offense. Even over the top, the QRXU snaps off bones.
That's going to limit some of this Spanish aggression.
Akusti's alive as well.
Something's got high ground control here because of Gala's help though.
How long?
He's not really utilizing. After we've drawn.
Gala's getting a big crew knife thrown back the other way. The cast that he put on notice.
I noticed.
Jeremy, they're so good at losing some of those health bars and yet staying into the competition.
Bones is low. Recall his HP.
Bones just barely touched that flashback.
But, Zodio, wow, he's so deep.
Diving in off the back of the cat, calling Canale also.
Calling into question now.
Pastry of QRC, holding onto this high dude.
Pops it now.
Zones, the player's away, breaking this formation.
14, Jeremy.
And with the cat pick up the early channel.
That's elbow, it's not enough, Santi's the one who actually takes the front of it, didn't expect maybe that angle.
That surely is going to be enough for Jermy to reset this aggression.
And as the dust settles over the last two minutes, what have you really accomplished for Team Spain?
Nothing really, haven't really gained the ground necessary here, as they look to reengage once more.
A couple of pivotal ultimates still available for them, they have the Sky Noon, Germany does not.
And when all the space available to them could be really good, but dead eye the first time
he takes a shot just slips into the cave though inside behind
Or they ready for the check in and secures the lands just perfectly reads the play
High enough turns around with the limit break
Passes the damage of all of the Kiri Aku with the nev
Takes Senti off the map with critical finder in the jetpack cap
And a symphony of skills here from Team Germany
Crossing every hurdle, in an only one they should be mentally broken. They rally together.
I mean, that was a picture-perfect Zuzu by Zoki there. To begin with, all that damage coming out of him.
Extodial. And now, with the consumer, with the Jedi wasted here, forced banked,
they said look to something to make a play with this mimicry.
Here it comes!
Swings connected to the QRC to the table gym.
Sends a phone to the fitness.
XSJ falls as well.
Germany straight to the payload now.
Good fundamentals displayed by Aiznop.
Making sure that there's no further progress.
We love the pickback, but feels like a little too much to ask for here.
American Test though.
Very realistic.
XSJ immediately over to the sim.
It's going to tip you the team out back to the tracer for the touch.
But still, Spain have a powerful position to finish off this first point.
But also, if this becomes a sky that doesn't matter for QRXO, this could be absolutely devastating for Spain as well.
Had nothing to do with Sunnit, but he gets past the choke.
Big dead eye over the top.
Santee is so isolated. No shot comes in, but position is decent.
Dollar is down! XSJ shows up for one, but I stop. Out of the soup.
Santee now with three rain in the low ground. Who can stop the bleeding for Germany?
QRXU!
Xero in the team's moment of need, but with no tank!
How do you hold onto this payload?
They're pumping, damaging, sobs, and they break pursuit as well!
QRXU goes down, but he's done his job!
Octo finishes off that baby-
I'm here!
I second Octo on the cat!
Dead Eye available for XO, and you really need to use it to finish this one!
I snub back into the fight, Octolion!
What? HB?
He can't get back to the tank, he dies!
But I snub with the limit break!
Surely, he can close this one out!
Limit break goes wide!
Surely, he don't touch it.
Oh, he's got the shield!
Responders bring something soon, he's going to be back with the Catnap.
The experience with the German 10th grade Supreme!
On the back of the Cat, finds one!
An eyes-nose cleaning up, surely not!
Spain gifted another chance into this map, but it's all slipping away now.
He's soon able to brush with their feet, but Sade just doesn't have the resources to survive.
Kandale is down, and Germany gets it done in 3-1!
A finish for them in a map that must have devastated them in that last round.
I mean, that was one of the worst C9s we have seen in a hot second.
A Germany trademark call to bring things back from the edge.
After what a showing on the Jetpack Cat.
A crucial kidnap in a previous fight to take Santi off the edge.
Then she comes up clutch in those critical moments.
When a mistake is so easy to make.
Eisner also, I mean, come on.
Disgusting performance on the D amount.
Yeah, so many members are coming up.
22 and 2.
Without that Seusser as well, look at the damage from his side of the dead eye, every single teamfight, someone steps up for Germany as a team effort
as they hold on onto that first point, preventing disaster, I mean going to map 5 would have been so worrisome
especially you know maps matter so much here in the group stage as instead Spain will look towards Canada in a matchup tomorrow
for their hopes of advancing to BlizzCon, it's going to be Germany holding on to their potential ticket as well
Still have time left to face, of course.
I've heard more than play spoiler in some of these matches, but...
For Germany...
I'm reading the sigh of relief.
They've done what they needed to do in this match.
Look at this highlight.
Cleanser's perfect.
Aku is kidnapping something off of the map.
Does die for trouble, but...
That's what it's called upon.
And then even...
In this penultimate fight on the map.
to be able to track things out, stall the clock out, and keep the fight going.
Yeah, edible fortitude from Germany.
I think it's a really difficult defense to hold on to because Spain, like, what they do,
like, it's not like an entire attack for Spain. They're just, like, rotating.
They find themselves in the backline of Germany.
And there's no, like, you know, typical positioning available for Germany.
They constantly have to rotate and adapt to what Spain is throwing their way.
But they find a way through that, most after the final fight here and I still
Buying enough time for the rest of the teammates to get back from spawn and they close things up
What a clutch fight from the entire team they're gonna look back at this series man
The score line just does not tell the story. Yeah, I mean this series very close between these two teams, but
Germany obviously their backs against the wall after losing to Canada must win game here against Spain
They get it done. It was not easy though. I mean, I thought I was upstairs with the rest of the crew
I thought we were going game five for sure. Me too. I mean after that C9 like the road was paved for Spain
To crack that one open and for Germany. I mean like honestly just the resilience
That's what I'm most impressed with even in that fight where they lose Isenam on the first point defense
and it's a four on four Isenam gets a trade but
Surely you'd think right without your phenom tank player on demon a key role in this meta
Surely you don't clutch that one out, but QRXU comes up big, breaks Santee's suit before he goes down, provides a huge value on Cassidy.
That's up the team for the clutch as Eisenhower gives back to the fight. He's got it, man.
Yes, you know, I'll take a look at the standings here in Group C in just a sec, but it's gonna be another,
I mean, what? Because Germany lost to Canada. Germany now beats Spain. We still got a game with Canada, Spain.
That'll be coming up.
Johnny, this is one where we're going to go deep into those tiebreakers, I feel like.
The map difference, I mean, you see that it's even now between all these teams.
Yeah, of course, because there wasn't a fight between Canada and Germany, and Canada had the edge out on top.
But looking at that series, there's no guarantee that Canada beats out Spain.
I mean, again, I think it's a difficult Spain team to play.
You have to play your best if you are Canada in that one.
So any given day, that could be Spain coming out on top tomorrow.
Well in Canada, obviously, Jake, they have to kind of,
that'll be our next series coming up.
They have to keep pace with the rest of the teams
in this group.
They kind of have to run through Thailand.
Yeah, Thailand, I think honestly,
can be a huge spoiler team given that Spain win 3-0.
You gotta think like, well, the transitive property
is not necessarily the best in Overwatch,
but if Spain can win 3-0, Canada, Germany,
if they're all gonna be buying for those top two slots,
you really wanna win that one 3-0.
And that's a little bit scary in modern Overwatch
where a bank come in kind of mess things up for you.
So I love about this event too.
Like you look at the groups and you kind of think like,
you know exactly like how things are gonna kind of play out
and I know maybe you have like KSA in your group, right?
It's like, okay, well, we know that's gonna be pretty,
pretty good for them to get number one.
A lot of these groups are now obviously like,
I think it's a group C and D now,
the group with like France, Denmark, that one already.
And then this group C, these are both wide open.
Yeah, yeah, I mean if you're Denmark like don't count them out, you know France took down Korea which caused
Look, I know Sweden Denmark like I'm not counting out my boy shockwave still okay respect respect given
Yeah, as we take a look at our standings. I mean that we talked about so he's crazy absence in CND
I'll surely be to great Britain that was another one there like we did not have
As this this top eight going into blizzcon could be quite funky
know, not a type of top eight
Jeep that we've really seen go to
an event like the Overwatch World Cup at BlizzCon.
It's the beauty of this event, though.
It's the opportunity for players
you don't expect to make a huge splash on the scene.
And for a lot of these players, hey,
you know, showing that you can perform under
huge pressure, like, we have seen moments of
incredible pressure where it feels like
you've lost, it feels like you've thrown something away
to be able to have the wherewithal
to kind of bring it back together on land
and still show really great performances.
I think for a lot of OWS teams, this is a really powerful test to show
hey, these players can actually perform on LAN.
To get that is a huge opportunity for these players' careers.
It really is like a kind of a new age of Overwatch, right?
Like, you know, China, obviously they're struggling in their group.
Finland, who's the team?
They got third at the last time we were at BlizzCon.
They didn't even make it here to the group stages.
And then Canada, who's been the mainstay at BlizzCon in the past,
they will be fighting for their spot coming up next.
They need a win to game against Thailand coming to you right after this break
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Hey what's up everybody I'm here joined by Razor from Team Canada for a quick post match interview Razor.
What a match, what a match. I mean it was our first map fight banger and also you guys that last fight was insane.
Can you walk us through what happened and what were you feeling at that moment?
So the fight before they really dumped Alts so we called the go fight spawn to make the touch hard.
Unfortunately, I don't know what POV it was on, my Alex Bastion bugged on the roof, so we got caught in the end of dying.
I think we forced Suzy really enough, so I decided to go, like that was the time to go make a play.
I pulsed the Bastion, and we cleaned up the fight really well, so I'm ecstatic right now.
It was so entertaining to watch, and also I'm just curious, how are the comms like in that moment?
because everything's like everyone saw what you did and it's like super important right?
How are the comms like and during that team fight? Yeah, I mean obviously we're all screaming
It's very very very like a high tempo moment
But I think that's the kind of time when you're a team that makes you a team when you're all on the same page
And those really really scrappy fights
So I'm so proud of my team that we close that out and it was entertaining at least for you guys
So huge congrats for Team Canada and very good reason for you as well
you guys definitely definitely deserved it. I heard that this is also your first very first
um overalls world cup so I just want to ask how does it feel to be in Busan competing for the
overalls world cup and representing team Canada? I'm so proud uh Busan has been so amazing we've
only been here for three or four days and I've never had more fun in my life and uh for
representing my country I just you know it's probably the best honor I could have as an
Overwatch player so um I'll keep doing this crowd. You have you have more games you have more
more games to play, so best of luck moving forward, thank you so much for the interview.
The first round
The first round
The first round
The first round
The first round
Same, same
He's deaf on the right side
So, we have to speak louder
Come on 3, 2, 1
Ready?
Yeah!
Almost close, moving around
Yeah
She's always complaining when
C.J. Athan got hit
I guess that's very silly honestly and it's all the time complaining like he said and he's screaming a lot, moving a lot
Oh my God, look at me
Oh, there you'll be
I said it like that, I don't know what he's talking about
I feel like if you don't say the same thing I'll be very disappointed in you
Ready?
3
His name is Will
The loudest guy ever
He always says, help me, help me, and he's full HP
Stressed for the player
We just saw Germany take the win in Group C
Up against Spain in that last matchup
And we have another Group C matchup underway here
It's going to be Thailand versus Canada, guys
And Thailand, this is a team where they had a tough opening match up against Spain
against Spain. On that first day, it was that 3-0. They weren't able to find that success,
but this is still a roster that has some really great pieces in it here.
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, it doesn't get any easier for them from here on out. I think Canada
are obviously looking pretty strong, but this tight team have got some experience and also
they have a greater count of themselves in Pacific. A number of them did. For me,
my favorite story is Lumi, the Singaporean player coming through the breakthrough program.
He actually fought against a lot of the team's secret players in the final
VWCS Pacific which went to seven maps. It was secret versus Shen Xie. So now he's trying to help them
Yeah, get to Anaheim after standing in their way for a quite long series. So these guys know each other well
Yeah, very talented group, but this is a tough group
And we've seen a lot of these players that have played for Thailand at the 2023
Overwatch World Cup, but like what you're talking about. I
It does feel like for Thailand your path was so like maybe you can be
You would have thought that Canada may have been the weakest team in the group.
And then with how Canada played the other day against Germany, now you find yourself in like a world of trouble,
if you're Thailand, who we actually had represented a few different boys' cons, right, where they've made it all the way.
And they've always had that dark horse moniker, right? And obviously, you know, Mickey the General Manager is one of my greatest players from that era of Overwatch.
Let me pull me on the bench. Let's see, um,
Kyran obviously in for the most part here, but I think High Vision and Yoshinori are incredibly talented DPS players.
High Vision and my opinion is the best hit-scale player in Pacific. Yoshinori, uh, I think the term was dazzled people.
We've run these Genji performances in Pacific runs in the past, so these guys have got a lot of heart here,
but it's an uphill battle in this group in general now, as this might actually be the real group of dead, actually.
It's been a terrifying right like looking at this group see with how wide open it feels like contention is for those top two spots now
Taking a look at Canada you guys were just talking about how they did take that win up against me that three to two
It was such a close matchup Matt and Canada. They really impressed
I think a lot of those cat plays they're going out as well finding that success there for Cal
yet just a
Different Canada team that we've seen in the past awesome to seek Cal back
just an unbelievable player and to be able to just kind of step right back in
right they get a long break from Overwatch jumping right back in here
against some of the best teams in the world. Getting that upset early on Ash
is great but they can't make it like a squandered opportunity right they have
to take care of business here. It's been a long time since we've seen
Canada even make it out of group. In 2017 there was Silver Medalist, 2018
bronze. Then they fell off a cliff. Other regions caught up, eclipsed to them and in like 2020,
we barely saw any of them. But this is a really promising young outfit that have already shown
us some quality. I mean, Raze has been around, you know, high level competitive Overwatch for
the longest time. And it's quite been able to find just that level of success. And I thought,
yeah, I can mention, Cal has not skipped a beat. They honestly have really taken to,
you know, a number of different roles here in this modern era of Overwatch. Nothing seems to
They're very chill and you want to leave out Canada teams that have gone far, right?
You think like XQC obviously in the past, Sure Four, just like really top level players.
Now really kind of the next one is stepping up here for Canada.
Yeah, I think someone else I have my eyes on here though for Team Canada has got to
be Astro.
He's been really impressive on that cafe roster.
Has been a centerpiece here for Team Canada.
Yeah, and I think this is the kind of matchup where you want to exercise your dominance from that tank position
especially if we're going to see Demon still being folded into a lot of these comps
she is very aggressive especially when the Jetpack cat compositions can sort of circumvent her mobility problems
and put her in the heart of the fight a lot of the time here
so I want to see Canada adopt that pretty heavily
I want to see how Canada starts off in this series
Because Thailand is not going to be fazed by like Canada, beating Germany the other day, right?
They're going to come in and think that they probably came into this event thinking they were better than Canada.
I think they probably still believe that.
Canada can't squander the opportunity in front of them. They need to absolutely kind of dial in here.
Can't be so happy. You kind of clutched up the other day, come in here, give up.
All of a sudden you give up like two maps and then you find yourself on that loss to Thailand.
That map against, you know, series against Germany goes for nothing.
It's overwatch World Cup. Anything can happen. Yesterday we made history with France taking that win over Korea and
expecting this matchup to be another very close one. Here we have our predictions and guys, I don't think you're surprised that I went with team Canada for this.
You have to. You have to. I got to get back home.
What? That's crazy, bro.
I have to. I have to. I'm pulling a match, guys.
Yeah, I'm signed with Canada here, too. I'm pulling with Canada. I was pretty impressed with what we saw with them the other day against Germany.
And I think Germany obviously just proved how good they are.
Yes, I'm also going with Canada here
I think that an o3 is not how Thailand wanted to start their campaign here and it was against the team that we just saw
If only use the chance to pop property here
They lost to the number three team in this group. So that's not a great sign
I think that like it's a different day and a chance to sort of circle back around and recruit for this Canadian team have really impressed us
Yeah, they are true dark horse potential going into Anaheim machine and then make it and a win cable secure
It absolutely is a dark horse year 14 Thailand
They're looking for their first win today and Canada want to maintain their lead you guys take it away
Thank you very much. Yeah, like we mentioned this group is
Just really broken out fought differently than we would otherwise expected
We're up to yeah some over here pretty quickly to get started and I'll see how bands
Where she on band for Thailand and Canada banned away the music heat
So we've seen a lot of Mizuki bands haven't seen the ton of Mizuki play
potentially just kind of worried about Mizuki coming into the mix as
Kanna will kick things off. It'll be Tracer Cassidy with Shion, with
Dimon. So a mirror matchup here on both sides is this has been kind of a pretty
this or like with a bash in the mix of kind of the go-to cards.
We're actually moving away from the Bastion look at this now that I think
Dimon is demanding a fair bit. Well, the jetpack cat in terms of that
grapple and that mobility, and maybe Bastion gets left behind a little bit here,
we just know how good the fly armors could be. A Sky Luna. And I think it's also just kind of
more apparent how a good cat is just on their own, right? Without the Bastion play, a lot of
damage there on Ace. Then I have to back up here. Canada looking like they're going to be in
position maybe to take this first, which is, they'll actually be Thailand who gets all healed
up, they'll actually contest the point. Yeah, good pressure here on the front line,
It's gonna be wavejump, it deals with Yoshinori.
Unsurprisingly, that ends up being a trade.
So, let's get back here at the moment for this team counter squad.
Astro trying to drop you back here as Ace wants to try and pressure the war of attrition in the middle part of the map.
Nobody's been able to flip yet, and quite the trade emerges.
High vision has dealt with Doxus.
This should lead Thailand down a position to serve past.
But both back line is still in play, and Astro getting plenty of healing.
Canada can still contest this.
Yeah, Cal, they have to step up onto the point there with Astro, and they get taken out, it'll be a catnap there for Pal-A is...
Now it'll be Thailand getting control of the point, so...
I've got to keep into the round, right? We had probably a minute or two of play before anyone even gets control.
I do think that, you know, if the teams are using, like, they're breaking up sidelines pretty diligently,
these fights can drag on a little bit in those frontline scenes.
Suppose you are cursed whenever you sit down...
I mean the part because I've been here for a few hours already you get to sit down here in your seat and we had you know
Yeah, emergency pauses here looks like a mouse snow. I tell is he dating their
Where we do our investigative work, yeah, exactly where we're gonna try and use as many complex places we can for the stage
Do we know it's count?
It was not Colonel Mastin in the kitchen
stick with her that
Not Dave Matisse
Dave Matisse doing the situation. No pause
He's just a you figured out
And right now if you're just joining us we were like instantly into this first map
Thailand has point they're gonna get about 15% here when we jump back into things and there's stuff really well
I mean limit break
You're gonna have a kid soon a rush both the damage dealer
ultimate so
Thailand's sort of not pretty strong. Yeah, are we gonna rate back into it?
So Cal, Cal, they're all good, ready to play so really lightly first engaging here with a lot of our
DPS players actually seeking out their opposite number and taking fights
Ace also being enabled to play that was for aggressively up on the point
Remember to run Astro down and get them DMG'd
Actually, no, he knows that demon is working on the other side of that doorway
He's gonna try and jump these nice little pincers here, pressure again for the frontline
A lot of pressure here for Canada. In fact, Noctis is the one that gets run over.
Meanwhile, Astro is just believed to get surrounded out there, and Graveyard was not able to extract them.
This is good looks here from Thailand.
And then I've used really, I mean, just the limit break, right?
Oh, they're actually okay. We're gonna get a Kitsune rush here.
From Thailand as well, right?
That would seem like a little bit of a panic one. I mean, Kall ends up using theirs as well.
Yeah, so in that sense, right, to know how I'm in a foul kind of situation,
They're gonna get punished through and the ulti noe is aware the graveyard is is toting a catnap. So quickly dashes away
There's a sky blue for you. Are they aware? Yes
Cass is behind it. This is gonna force Kalei to fight close up a person inside this small room
And as a result Kalei ends up falling to the pulse clock. Aces dealt with those. I have to over-aggressive now behind this fight
There's actually been a cat at the point those must have been Alex doubling back to secure. Asterisk here does just get some free crack and press CG
The answer's close to BG, but Noxious and Graves are out of handle.
Kynesha is going to be pulled out of the frame.
Yeah, the point to split it again here by Canada, they do a nice jump,
just going to get those back caps, but they end up losing the fight.
Yeah, Ash was going to get DMG here.
The disengage is a little like there for Ash, so it's kind of hard to
intuit the amount of damage that you're going to be taking,
but it's going to slow this further here as Canada just played for some extra stall.
And this is kind of what I was worried about.
Thailand is not a team that is just kind of, you know, go easy.
It's Canada, you get that epic win.
We have never seen these guys back down from a challenge.
No, no, you get that epic win against Germany, but job not finished, you'll be dead-eyed here.
I did a nice roll there.
It's not a win.
It only took her so long.
Yeah, impossible to break line of sight for any length of time for high vision.
Now I'm under pressure.
I'm only going with the catnap, but yeah, Nautius is waiting in the wing still.
Pick the Jepang Catwalk.
So, Decent Soul gets you up to 9 to 2% here.
So both these teams are taking the measure of one another.
Canada has some catching up to do.
Canada, there's gonna be one more fight here for Thailand.
And, I mean, what?
Actually, a pretty impressive cow.
They've been able to build up towards another rush.
I can tell most of those rushes used at the same time.
You'll have that for this next fight.
For Canada.
And I think you're...
Okay, so there's a path here, right?
If you can, like, consume a rush, you win that fight, limit break, then you're probably with, like, a, you know, cat-dead eye, pulse bomb, and be able to close it out.
Yeah, high vision is looking dangerous here.
Flying over the dead eye, as you mentioned.
Okay, most of the crossfire that's going to avoid it is a little bit like it comes on in.
High vision's going to be brought down. Alex had to get the kill, but they're casting dead.
And Kalpang is safe off-angle now, keeping Noxious well and truly in position to have impact.
That's the dracer now falling, Astro.
Just circumvent a space for the backline.
That's a bit of it. God bless you, but fight your way.
Feels like that was an opportunity there.
Bore Thailand, but Canada.
Asher with a huge limit break able to hold on.
Ace now going to go over to the Mauga.
This might be just like for a little bit more staying power on the point is
this Jedi flying through the air from Hydage has to be massive.
Striking in the previous fight, but they've actually had to use the Mauga.
Switch here, comes in from ice.
In theory, the idea probably is to try and get behind that front line, but High Vision can take it down already!
Nox just gonna be pulled down out of the way, and the CG goes from very early to a very early swoosh,
and that's a swift step away to avoid getting taken down!
Kayak overdrive is in play at all of Tylaida, trying to stick together,
but that's exactly what Astro wants, runs them down in the middle of the pagoda!
And that's gonna be Canada coming back from 30% to take the round!
You never get a use of your dead eye there for High Vision, like how strong it is to get the cap through the air,
with that Cassidy, and you never get a use of it.
I mean that is brutal there for Thailand. They got off to such a great start
And honestly that she doesn't even feel like Canada played great there in that first round
It feels like Thailand just kind of like let them in
I think you open yourself up a little bit with that. They can't possibly composition
You are opting into a bit more of a
like number of different skirmishes across the map at times
See the stats kind of tell much of the story here MSCG
Getting punished in towards that backline. I
I think they were forced out of position by that threat of Noxious's Deadeye, yeah, having
Suzie himself right, trying to avoid getting picked up there and that did spread Thailand
a little too thinly.
Back to business, though.
That's why it's gonna be Ice living over the wall of the demon.
See, Astro just kinda like waiting when they decide to go.
the hinder comes in from behind vision but the health bar from Astro just a little bit
healthier than ace you also see the damage that Astro did early on almost double the
ult charge here these fights have just been lasting for a very long time nice
out there by not just gonna get away from the tracer fiosha nori just
trying to pester him from behind but in Canada it's kind of by sheer
willmich and be like overall just their HP just way stronger I'm gonna be
back them out. I'm just taking the Perk that actually gives you a mood speed boost after the
dodge roll. It's just kind of nice for a Cassie to have. It's not a heal like Houston's.
It looks here from Noxus though. Cleaned up the fight really well. In the neutral,
in fairness, he did look like Canada a little more confident. He was like he still had to
blink first in that first engagement anyway. And yes, you know what, just hunting down Cali,
finally get Cal, but pretty cool, you know what I mean? Yeah, I mean now I'm gonna
Super far behind right so maybe a little bit of a pincer opportunity, but Cal can get back in the fight rather quickly here
Doctor's something for the double grenade purpose to make it easy to connect. Look at this, you already have the limit break
Right up to you to let that one go though and that's strong
Yeah, he's actually taking damage from off that shield again can't do too much to mitigate the other demons damage and allow
I used to get too many slashes there. It's an easy pick up, but
Can't have a healthy buffer already 43 encounter
Yeah, and you're going to have, you're getting close to both support ults here for Canada.
And maybe if you're going to have Astro take some damage or you're able to farm up that Katsunei rush, you have the ability to get knocked just flying through the sky.
They've definitely executed that with Graveyard and knocked just much better than we've seen on the side of Thailand thus far.
He's trying to take another fight. It's an early damage here on Astro.
You're going to win the Dead Eye. It'll be a problem!
Oh, hi! This is flaccid by the Canada.
Easy talk for notches. But it's good for your Shinori.
Even things up at CAD, but the LMSG and Palet out of a fight is quickly over.
It's, I mean, just like that.
Canada, you'll get back in the mix.
We were talking about how Noctis has gotten really good value
out of those Dead Eyes and just the Cassie in general.
Ah, yeshnory. It's hunted there.
The cat is always there with the tracer, right? So try to...
If you opt into that 1v1 against the tracer, it's never a gentleman's use anymore.
Some of these cats are scarier than some of the tracers we get out there.
You can work into the slash. The tick damage. Cassius tick damage.
Both of those is welcome. So let's heal him first.
For Thailand, quite interesting is...
We had Hock a little bit earlier on the show. He's talking about maybe the Maga.
pretty strong into the D-Mog.
That's not a side-byte.
Kitsune Rush comes down from Cal.
That little window where Cal has the ult a little bit early, then MSCG turns into a tank elimination
and denies MSCG the opportunity to reciprocate with his carry ult.
Asho just pushing on forward.
I think there is some credence to that, like the Moga can be pretty strong into the D-Mog,
but with D-Mog fighting inside of the Kitsune Rush,
Nothing you could really do there. Recall used by Oceanori already Mitch, so the tracer Thailand in some trouble. Can't exactly get on to the point to contest.
Now they get his new players on. They're grouped. They got the rush. Straight doubling back here.
I don't know if that tracer maybe. I vision falls to Noxious. That's an important duel to win now, but again, it's always there. It's never just for one-on-one anymore.
Flattens! Dominated! Couldn't get a health break. That is huge for Kalev.
for Canada. Astro here goes aggressive, knows that Ace needs to be brought to bear now.
Cleanses off the damage and from the limit break, look at this map control now for Canada.
They haven't tried to flip it yet though, so Ace gets the chance to stall out, but I think Palae might not have enough
healing to keep them out of getting the fighting cowl. Is that going to drag Ace down?
Now it's about trying to do some damage. Palae trying to double back and get that health pack over
towards the coast and a good roll back there from Noxious. High vision's picked off again off spawn.
Astro is such a problem for the rest of Thailand trying to get out. And that'll be the map folks.
Slow start for Canada, but a dominant finish.
I was like, man, they cannot lose the mage in that situation, right?
I think you only had the cat, though, for heals.
You also had Cal alive, therefore, Canada able to provide so much healing over to Astro, and...
There's a shot.
I've visioned there's so much damage.
Yeah, actually, that's kind of crazy.
Out damages, not just...
It just felt like Noxious was way more impactful, though, right, throughout the entire round.
I also think it could have a bit to do with the cat involvement.
Look at Greyguard's damage compared to Palae's.
They're able to get in there and settle some of those one-on-ones in general.
I think Malgo is very difficult here because you're very committed,
especially if you use a shoulder charge.
So understanding how much damage you can afford to take and how deep is too deep,
was an issue for Ace, even playing the demon on downtown.
So proper situations there were just a little bit hard to play your ins and outs effectively.
Especially given that the demon has some lateral mobility,
But still sometimes you can commit when you sort of go full with the charge
You kind of find yourself in a compromising spot. It's anyone is sort of play frig and did punish for like that
Yeah, actually forward probably like knows that feeling well
And you were talking about I think there's a no high vision taking me perk where like the speed boost after the roll
But in the what it's like a double flash though. It's like so I mean it's no good
But without so much pressure from the cat in the tracer
Yeah, I think, you know making sure you can more easily hit the cat in the air as well because obviously there's like a
Radius around the flashbang right that effect so like getting like a hindrance for cat gets a little bit too close having that extra thread is
Pretty potent. I mean that's just a small thing
But interesting to see that Newcastle perk being used. That was the Shiana Mizuki fan map though here for Canada but overall
Yeah, half a pound
This Canadian team really got it together
Yeah, I
I thought Canada, I mean they definitely clutched up there. I mean, I thought the first round Thailand was very competitive
Looks pretty good probably gave it away. Honestly, they had multiple fights where you would have had like somewhat of an old advantage
Or been able to force one
Going in we'll see what Thailand decides to do here going into map number two
Do you consider like a a tracer band? I mean
Potentially right I thought the tracer was really impactful there for Canada early on
Yeah, I mean, I'm curious you maybe just fall back on the she on right? Maybe there's a reason why like the she on bad
It's that's so early in the series. It's actually pretty surprising. I think to see it there
There's always a fallback. Questionary always is also just not like a
Tracer or any player so I don't know if that is a pick that hampers to the same degree
I do wonder as well if you're Thailand if you have to consider like demon, right?
Like you know the fact that you have to kind of go over the manga. You're not winning that head-to-head
And we've seen Demon probably be the most, uh,
Japan hero at this event.
I also think maybe one years ago, tank players here in Busan have had to rush to adopt the Demon as quickly as possible.
There are a lot of people that, maybe not pro players, but a lot of people that maybe brought off Demon pretty early on just because of it.
You know, like there were bugs that had to be fixed, frankly.
But now, like, the quality of life increases as well, like the gun, the way it's charged, works recovery time, honestly is pretty important.
to feel a lot less clunky, more dynamic.
It looks like people have rushed to pick her up
and go, hey, she's actually a terrorist.
But I do think I want to see just how much plays
lean to port to Demon on maps if Jetpack Cat gets banned.
Right, because it's very powerful where the cat can
drop the Demon in.
And Demon has full shield, all abilities, full fuel, right?
And then your backline is just, I mean,
for when we had a landing on where we're talking to,
it's like, you're just dead.
Yeah.
I mean, it's the same thing that made the cat and trace
accommodations at the mid-season champions.
It was very powerful, right?
Think back to, like, watching proper getting thrown
into a backline with three blinks and a recall,
like, available.
Normally, you're spending some of those important cooldowns
to actually get into a position to be relevant,
whereas Jetpack cat ameliorates any of your,
like, mobility issues.
And also, Dmon doesn't have that vertical mobility.
Some maps still call for that.
Some maps where, like, we'd see D-va,
or Hazard maybe a little bit more.
You can still get away with playing the Dmon
because of the cat.
That doesn't mean they're less bastion maybe in those cobs.
It just feels like people have done it like Shion Cassidy a lot.
We've seen a decent amount of Endeavor here as well.
It'll be Neon Junction, the map selection here for Thailand.
His map has quickly become a fan favorite out of the pool.
It's quickly getting that King's Row status.
It's like a go-to.
It's got the King's Row vibe to it.
This map pool though I would suggest has some very polarizing experiences.
Even with Aiken, Wilder, and Karizo having significant changes that make it less challenging as an attacker to get good positions to fight on even footing.
Neon Junction, I think, to many feels like it's something fundamentally where you always got game as the attacker, you know?
I think teams are always...
Like, Aiken, Wilder has so many points on defense where you can get, like, sick holds.
I think the new Karizo will be a map that we see a lot of teams go to, as...
I think they definitely like and I like worked out the kinks of that map
But I think I like we seen Sweden play it and Kevser just dominate on it
Demon is the band here for Thailand. I was a little bit earlier
This makes a lot of sense. They didn't really seem that comfortable on it early on
Yeah, I don't think that looked like they wanted to really take that mirror here and the Lucio band comes in here for the second map, so this
Functionally doesn't change too much. We might see very similar comps as we had on Samar where we have Kirikarp
But now without the demon here, the cat might be has a little bit of a different job description.
Well, yeah, I mean it does also like if Canada was worried about them playing like, you know, a Moga comp with Lucio in the mix, right?
To get some extra speed. That's off the table.
Moga can be... Moga is just good with everybody.
It feels like no Maga can be an answer to anything can be played with just about any type of shell
feels like a tank that
really anything Maga and Rematra since they come in it just
You know down in the tank roll, you know Maga
The Sigma we've seen kind of like rise up it like comes out of like Sigma-Mazuki
But speaking of which I think I was seeing a sovereign signal
So, it should give you an idea of where we're trying to go.
It might be like a Weber Gaining-esque take on the map here.
With Demon out.
Because we've seen when Demon is in band, they're playing it everywhere.
On this map.
Also, it looks like Kakiri being Hobbit, but obviously Mizuki's not banned right now as well.
So, you can lean into that Klaipa poke style with the Sigma.
It just feels like poke at this point with the mobility of Demon
and then also like Jetpack Cat getting Dmon in, and it feels like poke is so hard to play.
You know, when the only option on the other side was like D.va,
and you're able to kind of hit those chains so easy and get rid of her,
you know, you can obviously make it work.
Sigma, no, especially into like a Dmon matchup, right, Dmon obviously not here,
but into a matchup like that, right, just gets swung on by the Dmon.
So I think that's just kind of why you're seeing less sick overall.
Um, the cowl?
Alright.
We have the lightbrick back. The Winston came out of the gap as well.
Ah, the Winston, yup.
Yeah, I'm not sure what the ideal was there, but...
In Rematra's the sick matchup in the sick, right?
Yeah, genuinely. Obviously, like a creature will lock you down.
It's a bit annoying, but you literally just pick yourself back up and you walk down the guy.
Like, it doesn't way like you for very long.
This also demands, I think, that, um, the Sigma take the perk that reduces this creature cooldown
I was fear connections just to try and slow the progress here
But this is a bit annoying. It's off angle last for a city
He needs some healing but the vortex bit problematic for race and Alex on the main throws of all that makes it a bit uncomfortable
He's been out of use this window effectively noxious for all of my building the sojourn posts has been brought down
They just be careful not to over extend and sort that a little too much in Samoa that kinetic grass comes
Right at the last moment, but they still in the mix
I mean just an unbelievable job keeping Astro alive on through this
coming up with two now, with the Nemesis form.
That's Cal and Gregor just pumping healing into that Ramatra.
They got the Ramatra so low, did Thailand?
Just not able to finish Astro off.
And like when you push up that much and you're kind of committing to that kill,
you have to secure it.
I mean, for me, what's so definitive in that fight?
Like, Astro just walks up and Nemesis really punches Yoshinori the next Tuesday.
Like, he has so close to that Ramatra in the frontline.
And obviously, the Nemesis form speed boosts.
boost like you catch people off guard but like a little bit of a positioning gap
there for Thailand to get the court out. May does force this though, I will say
that like making really punished bad like like slight misposition. Yeah this has
the opportunity though to snowball in favor of Canada right? Double support ult, now it
definitely does. Missionary cannot be done in the neutral. That is just
devastating. Now you've got no pressure on this backline. It's gonna be a
gravidic gloss here, it's gonna be a blizzard drop right on top of it,
They can't commit to the kill with that Blizzard in the mix.
That's the ace of the way.
Consumers can end the grass, it'll lose full control when you get Catnap.
An ace is trying to drop you back to the rest of their team, good body blocks here from Astro.
Gonna make that all but impossible.
The Sigma comp is not resilient to displacement.
Sigma wants to hold that space and not be dragged or pushed away.
And the Catnap is the antithesis to that idea.
And Polly uses the catnap there for Thailand and could you connect with almost a worse target than me?
Right Alex is able to just kind of, I know,
private fire onto the cat, put some damage down, and then just ice flocks
and able to live on through it. Mawgub the go-to here for Thailand.
It feels like it's Thailand's fallback. No, she's already going over to Ripa now.
All right, up we go. That's it all. Great tech to make sure we get some extra air, graveyard thing, look at it.
The High Vision has to know there's better options.
Or are there?
All Canada playing pretty safely for the time being there.
Great, now look at the try and challenge.
High Vision drops down though.
Pallet finishes the job, but that's not going to be enough of ace.
Honeyfallen so early in the fight.
Astro has felt...
...lilaw...
...and been unkillable.
Yeah, Astro just kind of dominating the tank match up here.
Between...
...self and ace just...
...doesn't really seem to matter what Thailand goes to in terms of tank.
Now, Ramatra into Maga, Emre, it's a ton of damage, right?
I also think you have to give a lot of props to the graveyard and cowl being able to kind of
keep the Ramatra up through all of this frontline pressure.
And I want to see how, well, I think the main wall helps.
It actually keeps it at screening for a moment, like, you know, to the right of the side to heal up here.
I like the attempt at the capture on that now.
I'm going to wall a fire where it needs to be.
Pipes and soldiers up though.
Mindful, I think, of the presence of Noctius there to wall to the back.
proper sojourn dual at work here that's true. It's pummeled top shield when he's in that princess form
Now they absolutely needed to get something
Going their way did Thailand is hide this around the corner finally deals with nobches is the swap
Over to the sojourn here for high vision is all right. We're gonna get on our Risa
So we saw this at the midseason championship teams go over to our Risa against a lot of different kind of compositions
The spear right there really catches the mob there.
Yeah, that's kind of why.
Yeah.
Watcher can't displace Malga, can't force them away.
Also can't deny that effective like order of additional healing.
So like the pickup here, not just have a slide away from the cat.
They know that Yoshinori has to quickly fade away.
And it's in position.
Don't keep it on that wall.
There's probably a good opportunity for it now.
They're going to keep playing you with the choke.
Pally's going after Grave now.
There's nothing that Canada could do to keep the cat off their back line.
Yoshinori out in the open.
It's high vision delivering some important eliminations.
Let's see a graveyard. Okay, gonna get a Mizuki here.
Now with the Orisa and the Mei.
The Orisa really good, right? Cause like, you can fortify, no stomp available,
like you're not gonna get like knocked down, you can kind of spear spin, knock that model off course.
Top of map is with Gold, you was at reset as well.
That was the cage using that fight, Death Blossom as well.
Cause base gets hit with a spear, knockback.
Terror search gonna be available here as well, for Kira.
Overclocked by 1st here for High Vision. What's the play?
Alex a little bit low, but High Vision is in that bright side.
Lines Alex picked up. That's a perfect window for High Vision to find elimination.
Now forced away, but safe enough for the tired being as Graveyard is taking the task.
Asher tried to get there to body block.
Or Alex coming out of that ice block didn't make it there in time.
Tied Vision starting to look much more comfortable in this series now, playing the Sojourn.
It's been like probably like what, a minute and 30 hold, two minutes?
Yeah, I think despite Acehike being an owl in a matchup against the Orisa,
he's been able to make enough space for high vision.
Who in that last fight just went hunting for eliminations with the Overflow.
Noxious now though, has one of his own.
Very good, you mindful of some blank presence for the defenders that brief a whore,
he's teasing it.
There's an opportunity, call it a binding chain, nice use there by Graveyard.
And now Ace drops pretty low, no healing left for the Malgrin,
Astra's able to get that extra durability off the Terrasurge to survive.
Yeah, it does look like you're gonna have two players here on a nice TP way actually
Yes, Nori now will fall
So both those players dealt with
graveyard had to actually use like the TP of the Mizuki really early on because nice job by the Reaper
Yes, Nori in poly just going on a splint constantly putting pressure on the supports
Hey, it's gonna be a match rush by coming up now call it's there's go straight away. I go
All right, disrupted! What a great timing for the javelin straggler, Astro!
Now, just gobbles back, make a little bit of space here.
Concerned potentially about a death blossom if that's been tracked.
Grave out going down and a full cancel was essentially called there.
But they're running out of time, this stagger could be a problem for Canada.
Now only down to a minute on the clock here.
Canada's offense has looked awesome up until this point as Highland feels like
right at cornering lives on the line here.
Are you ready for the Reaper comp too?
Ah...
Yoshinori looking for a way on him.
Oh, great spot there, an option to split for the rest of the team.
Check our sanctuary thrown down by Graveyard.
But Ace is falling.
I think trading a Sojin for the enemy frontline might just be worth it.
Yoshinori knows he needs to make the plays here.
Great stun though, that's a problem.
Terrasurge, you can't really fight into that.
MSCG picked up as Graveyard goes absolutely haywire.
And that death blossom looks awful in that situation.
I mean, Graveyard goes insane there.
And they commit so much, like they hit at the log of the Reaper, everybody to go after the Sojourn.
And they almost lit up a back cap at that moment and then Graveyard with a nice sanctuary and then finds three in that final fight.
The Orisa, the Reaper, all really healthy there with the Mizuki.
Although it's a pretty good defense there from Thailand towards the end, still time in the bank for Canada.
Again, high vision, just vomiting down between 19 and 5.
It's a pretty respectable line.
The Astro was making sure he was getting those favorable matchups.
Now, Ace eventually was, you know, sitting on that Malga after starting on Sigma.
Astro got to play Rematra, switch into Orisa.
Yeah, you know, cause problems for that Malga post switch.
They may hear sneakily as it's pretty dead good.
So, you could play the SIG here against the Orisa though, right?
Uh, if you wanted to, like, it's gonna be a Risa here on defense.
It's still difficult.
Generally, like, the accretion is so telegraphed that it really shrugs it off.
Nine times out of ten.
Well...
So...
A Risa, like, if you can cycle the cooldowns, like, you can become, like, almost unkillable
if you'll strike a guy, right?
So the idea is to, like, try and put enough pressure, maybe with, like, a Freya, with
a sick, like, poke to get, like, a portafi out.
Of course, you Risa back, and then you can start to use some of your, I know,
Impactful abilities like an accretion to take advantage of your reset. What's this pretty challenging for so like Alex taking the racks
Yeah
Here comes a pretty far forward battle line draw here the rest of this play composition
Pyrovision's gonna be outranged pretty, you know,
egregiously by noxious.
This is good though, right?
You get fortified out of the arena,
so you back her off the point,
then look at this, you just move up and take that space.
That's exactly the type of thing
you would've wanted to happen.
Beautifully done, I think giving the sojourn
or just, you know, constricting the sojourn's option
at the start of that fight is big.
Yeah, both the ports here are like,
the cow also bites too.
Pyrovision dropping back here.
I hope that makes you can't really be fixed.
The Bionicle I needed for cow
was looking for something over Ice's shoulder.
I can't have a chance at a weak set.
I'm actually just back.
Yeah, Kale on the honor.
Making sure they keep the Orisa standing as Astro goes deep into the back, like, this
thing's in a lot of trouble, split between most of Team Canada.
Yeah, not what you want to be, but it's a little bit strong, like, high position.
They've got a side left for Root here, and see if he's going to be careful here.
That's a pretty early switch step away, and high visioners couldn't get the healing
they needed.
They've just lost the shot in those close quarters.
This is a problem, but so unhelpful, I shock us.
Uh, it's Kale.
Just discovered.
Get the biograin, there's a bayonet uptie in here.
It's an aww, nice shot there from the Oshinori.
The right is like coming through, taking out.
Not sure if this is...
Astro still alive, does have Terrasurge, contested here by Alex.
The Tracer being a nuisance.
He's got kidnapped there, and picked up.
Oh, the Nell use here.
Alright, Astro into the fight now. It's really about trying to buy some time for Aide.
That's based on Terrasurge as well.
Astro is gonna be very hard to kill.
Quick roll away there for high vision, MSc2 goes pretty low.
Astro though doesn't have any healing.
And the shot's a true from the Tyteam.
Graveyard trying to break that line of sight, but eventually the point will be conceded.
Graveyard tries to get on there, get a touch.
Nice shot by Alex, keeping it going there on the tracer, and then Astro getting the benefits of the nano.
White aggressive there from Thailand, they move on up.
Probably they will land too.
It's never just a 1v1.
I was curious if you stayed with the Orisa here.
Like, it's kind of rough maybe to play the Maga into this, but definitely something I think you would consider.
Not with the me as well, you'd have to switch the man.
It's kind of a weird match, aren't we? Like you have to rock the Maga after the unstoppable wears off.
Turn around and get him.
Cal, not the most mobile... Oh man!
Not the most mobile of heroes, but just have to walk inside a door. That was enough to...
Steiny high vision attempt at a dead eye.
Ah, yeah, but where's the balls to be ace under a lot of pressure, the irritation needs to be thrown out, Yoshinori having a fight, they get lost in the water backline side, Alex struck his back around the corner, and, uh, surprise, peeking two faces, the reaper is there the whole time, wall thrown up, the tile ain't continuing to march on.
Yeah, I mean, if you're Canada, you could play, like, you know, Alex, like, let's say, can play, like, a Shion here, you can play Romantra or Magan, and I would probably switch, like, even to consider a Kiri here.
At this point, it'll just be a swap in terms of the tank. Here's Shinori
Diabolical
This is very dangerous, but not just touches down and it's not rare pyre vision only at ice for the reaper
It ends up getting taken down by the casting that is a soldier at all interrupted
After that, there's like the wing is not great here. This has been brutal here for Canada on defense
An all-incense to do is just maintain this spice try and push up,
the shield dance is unsuccessful for Astro and that is a second checkpoint online.
I mean, I think Canada's got to make more changes than this, right?
I mean, how much more do we have to see for this comp to change is...
Alex, I mean, I guess it's kind of where you're just like pot committed, right?
You're close to that. You have the support ultimates, you have the blizzard.
You're not going to swap off of those heroes, even though it might be what's needed.
but Hybidsion somehow keeps finding these nice angles to get drops on Notchis.
Yoshinori constantly binds his picks on the reaper.
Look how split this tight to him.
Oh, it's really hard, I think, to like...
Nanna or a master here stabilizing this game.
Atro's gonna shove forward here, then Nanna was decent.
Getting rid of the bases. Definitely gonna slow things down, but look at Palae, bro.
It's chasing Notchis on the back side.
Hybidsion's slept.
That is very tidy work from Cal.
A bit like the maid means it's low escape for Hybidsion.
He can't stay still on the move. That's the issue.
Yoshinori is picking up where his DPS partner left off.
Finds a way around the disparate wall, erecting to protect Astro over the annihilation, perhaps a little unexpected.
That is so risky though, right? So low was Astro, just graveyard there to heal him up to Nice and AWOL by Alex.
Kind of like, you know, makes it really an awkward angle for the Reaper to fight at, at that moment in time.
So they keep that rematch of the annihilation basically has to be used just to get rid of the Reaper.
Don't remind me though of this client team back in 2016 with Obito, Mickey, they just kept the game going very up tempo, very dynamic, very under stabilised under circumstances like this, was it attempted now?
At least I can throw that down, I'm going to see if you're going to go for a shitsune rush.
Here comes a sigma over the top gear ace about ready with a gravity, flight should have been required.
Yoshinori is the better of luck just there.
It's just there. I thought the most subtle approaches are for Reaper, but it certainly works out.
Dead Ivene leverage, both those DPS ultimates here for Tylaan gonna get them some serious
mileage and all Count can do is try and slow them up with elimination.
Tylaan looking to set a great time here on the entrance. And Alex, the Venture.
Good time, Tylaan. Yeah, he's coming out here as well.
Alex been caught, dragged out into the open.
the damage on Alex. Eventually we see it. They picked off and now Astro is back in position.
This guy on the roof is... power plopping his accretion is not a good interaction.
Yeah, can't that though? You can see it. It's going to be available all you want to do though.
They're not ideal. Astro is in a such a bad spot in that matchup. He gets just booed by accretion.
Can't that bear that? They must have gone to the rock perhaps.
The ace is going to be dragged away from the car, but the rest of Twilight are there to try and get it on in.
Insane levels of stall as Alex eventually has to surface and get picked off.
There's no touch of chances to touch, but really you're just trying to buy seconds at this point.
Calphe, Katsurei Rush throwing in, why not now? Noxious with some cooldown reduction, still won't keep him alive.
Very spirited attack side here from Thailand. Nice little 56 second lead.
And it feels like Canada just didn't make adjustments fast enough, right?
It felt like they needed to make calm swaps.
Thailand just kind of rolls through that second part of the map and then there towards the end.
Really strong push as a lot of nice adjustments from Thailand without much
Coming in from Canada so 56 seconds more here for Thailand
I mean you say that but we did see extra try and shuffle a couple of different tank because I'm not going to count the
Doofies better. I think they just need a more slots around it though, right?
I mean it's crazy
Yeah, actually
42 and 10. And we are going to X-Train him, so it's been like a full length match so far.
Yeah, but what time did you run over the Sojourn?
And as I say that, on defense, gonna play Emory.
Haha, what the hell, it's fun, the Sojourn. It was really parmin.
Yeah, just having really consistently high output.
Now Nox just did flash the Freya earlier on here, but no, it looks like it might be a jet-packed
Bastion default now coming out from that Canadian side.
Well, as we go into OT, obviously you have the full ability to pick Perks, the Bastion
obviously pretty strong.
It'll be the artillery shells here from Alex.
I think Alex is not expecting there to be a Bastion on the defense side, which is reasonable.
Off to work!
I think we should be showing off, playing all the hitskin.
They'll get a frail look.
Ah, again, just trying to ignore the seatbelts as much as possible, make sure that the
The ball shot is not easy enough by any grasps.
The guy heist didn't clap to the front line.
Here comes the damage.
These border shells are ringing out.
Ace has to give up a lot of ground.
By a piece of dough.
Dusty the Bastion gets an explosive bolt stuck in there.
Counts very low.
The ace ever run them down.
Yoshinori has fallen low.
Graveyard keeps Alex alive
and keeps momentum here going for Canada.
Yeah, Yoshinori, you have to use ball, the movement,
cool down, get back in the fight rather quickly.
Gonna actually decide, you know what?
Not worth coming back on the Reaper.
to go over to Tracer here.
It's a nice shot, it's gonna get my privacy on a cow.
Almost takes out the carry.
That's giving me zodiac vibes the first time I saw him on this pig.
Really nice, consistent connections here.
Got to respect Bastion and all other tracers coming to call.
5Vz is gonna know where to go, and this is dangerous.
So he's gonna be thrown down at Connecticut.
Grassballs would have tried to fire a little bit of space,
but time ran out.
There was no touch.
Yeah, things you hate to see.
They touched so much, they went past it.
it and that was definitely a little unfortunate. That was an anti-climactic
way to end the round. Sometimes as a player like your heart sinks when you
realize the game has slowed down, you realize you're able to attend to the
objective. No ticks there, which is the problem. So this really sets up a clear
win condition for Thailand or, conversely, might be heading towards
to outburst draw. I think you've seen me in those this week.
If you are the Book of Paws king, the draw, the draw master, let's see what these perk
takes are if anything stands out to us. If you're Yoshinori, you definitely play the
Reaper here, right? I'm curious, so they're going to play Sigma Zuki on defense with
a Mei. So I think this is like, if you're going to play the Mei, I think this is
It's definitely a better comp to run it with, it's relatively safe, I think like I'm wondering
where the binding chain is going to find value, it might dissuade Palle from going too aggressive,
I'm trying to like go after Noxious, and Noxious is the easy target here, but you do need to
tease out some of those movement cooldowns, Graveyard himself as well, obviously does
have like a brief sort of TP dash, but outside of music he's not known for being flushed
with mobility options.
I should know you're always looking for a bit of action.
Ceremonial Widow Shot.
So probably increase your Reaper here.
Let's see, it'll be Reaper.
Yep.
All I have to do is get with the Abahai vision.
Nice, not punished for being on the opposite side of it.
Very safe.
So look at how Canada opposition is very spread.
Try to make sure no one sneaks into my side rooms.
Hali is very deep.
Even if you're directly.
If I talk about the Binding Chain,
it might be great if you're looking for the Jetpack path there.
Astro is picked off in the frontline, that is big, Thailand are coming to collect, but Noxious
takes a very aggressive position to wrap around. A-Stuff is going to be hard to shift.
Well, actually, you can shoot him with a head. That's enough. Yoshinori will touch you.
We almost a tick there, but Yoshinori realizes there's no real staying power, and Palle, or
MSCG, rather, is going to join him. That was a nice wall. Quick ice block, not the
way you want to take his name. No, but you've got health there. You see Noxious stepping
up, and Yoshinori is forced to step back, but not a pick that Canada were looking for.
55 seconds back. We are in draw territory here. Ash still going to get bullied back
on the high ground. Nice connection yet again. Ah, Polly there to finish off Nautchus. But
you lose the Reaper. With the Punisher on his dip, Polly is getting away with absolute
murder. Gershonori down, Alex goes before that elimination but now High Vision is
trying to get set up. I mean, you're not really ready for this play, but High
Vision doesn't have to sideline quite yet. The Blizzard could be huge fighting chain
Caught out ace Palli again going in for the kill but Alex is already
Swat's the feline menace away in now
It's last chance to learn for Thailand to get a win than this path and it'll be oceanary going over the vendetta
You're gonna be able to play close here at the show. You get like ball off lizard go for one target
See how Canada decides to play this
Astral wants to play forward can't blame the guy the vendetta might change his mind a little bit
Goat riveting black stuff too far away and that was it still is an issue
Binding chain on the Vendetta could be massive.
Graveyard has a big job in this 5-0, he gets caught in the blizzard.
Suzu comes almost too late, but just in time!
Gekai Sattri comes down and Ops is going to get caught up on the ball, and it's Kyle getting picked off!
Graveyard also falling!
Thailand finally find the answer!
Rushing through over to the point, but Alex finally succumbing!
That will be enough to secure them and map win!
Almost draw territory, but Thailand look vastly improved over their first foray this week.
week yeah what a massive clutch there from Thailand the blizzard comes down it
actually almost it gets ace but it's a nice Suzu that comes in they're gonna
keep that sigma alive and then just the shots from high vision all game long
18k damage there.
Faleh has 43 limit.
Oh man.
If you see the jetpack hat and you squint, you can almost see Tracer flying in the sky.
I mean, and like, we were watching, we were on POV with Noxious for a lot of this map.
And there's a reason why the soldier has the highest amount of deaths on the Canadians.
I get it, you die, but they are the folks who talked about them being the priority target.
To think that notches would get exploited to such a degree over the course of this very long map is pretty astonishing.
And now you're, as you move forward, thinking about, right, like, what, Germany 3-0 to Thailand?
Yeah.
So even though now Canada, right, they go the distance with Germany, now you drop a map here, they just want to win.
They said, yeah, but I mean, as you start to kind of think about, like, tiebreakers and stuff...
Yeah, I mean, you can't get, like, a 3-2 here and feel good about it.
No, I mean...
Sure, I mean if you're concerned about C1, given the win-off, they're going up 2-0 in the group obviously.
It's a half-paramount importance, first and foremost here. They're basically going to analyze that scene.
And I think here though, if Tylai D managed to... if they don't win the series but put up a great fight,
then we have to take opponents' strength and strategy into account. We have to break it tight in the rest of this group
if Tylai go on to win a series later on. I'm pretty convinced so that these guys can hang.
This group now has become extremely hard to call.
Yeah, that bollishard there towards the end actually puts on some pretty sick damage.
I think it gets one, I think it gets Noxious, and then also does some damage onto Alex,
and they're able to use the Gravitic blocks after, and that's it.
High vision ends that round, and they're not playing the same roll, right?
But he ends the game with like an extra 30% on top.
Oh, no, an extra 50% of Noxious damage on top.
Like a huge outperformance in that roll.
And I like the switch over towards the Frey.
You just sort of take your time and you slowly put that heal pressure down where it's a cat carry calm
Can't always fix the chunk damage the burst damage instances that come in
Stretch those healing resources to their limits. So coach Danny. I'll see a team liquid fame
We'll need to rack his armors together and come up with the best map
That is the demon band for Thailand, which obviously has been pretty strong for Canada. So
Canada not going to be forced onto things like Sigma, Orisa, Brahmatra. You'll be able to play that demon now.
Even if you get rid of Cat, I still think they'll play it.
Yeah, I think if we look outside of a demon mirror scenario, it feels like Thailand have had pretty good answers in terms of their tank picks,
especially when Astro has been trying to counter pick a tank and set up favorable matchups.
It feels like you kind of run out of ideas towards the end of their Canada's defense side, right?
Amalgur is like, am I supposed to be playing the Orisa here?
Like, how do I answer this?
I think, like, obviously, the Jetpack Cat play from Twilight's Big Red,
Palae is a singular individual on that particular hero.
But also, like, the windows to punish Jetpack Cat are not as wide as people think.
Like, you're playing Mizuki, you're binding chain, you know, like, sometimes you're on Cassidy,
you've got the grenade still, sometimes it can be quite challenging to, like, stop that.
If Palae and, you know, Yoshinori getting into the backline, they're constantly, I mean, they're like,
It's like having an extra DPS out there that can also heal that Reaper in the backline.
Like sometimes you see them so split from the team, but they're able to play on that island, isolated.
Because the Cat's able to do so much healing on top of the damage output.
Using hindsight now, looking back, how do you feel about this as the main?
We've seen really forced by Canada for most of me on Junction.
I don't love it.
Obviously in hindsight, with Reaper having so much damage and obviously being a nuisance in the backline,
You're also trying to play like Mizuki into it too, right?
So like, you're ditching your own cat,
you don't have as much offensive firepower.
I didn't love it, Shemboly.
That is a spicy pick already.
I mean, this was the site of the great upset yesterday
between France and Team South Korea.
But it feels like to get the ban is support.
It feels like cat here in combination with demon
is almost essential if that's what you wanna play.
Yeah, I mean quite so.
We do see though, a number of tanks on this map
They don't inherently have that vertical mobility right, so you can't do that with Marcher and Rissus-y-Malga here because for the attack side, it doesn't feel like you're needed to dive into the backline so much, it's just have a really strong frontline, four spikes to come to you on the cart.
A jetpack cat ban here would be pretty interesting, I don't think that would invalidate going after...
Canada they're gonna play cat honor here and this carry band also protects the
cat so this is a great band I think from Canada yeah so far in the seas we've seen
a bit of the cat carry right it's kind of the go-to composition but this is a
mola right I feel like we were watching Cal play the honor yes I think that
opens up like lines with like nanoboost targets right no it's a lesson you
know the earlier on part of me yeah obviously we like demon getting the
The mana boost obviously looks pretty powerful, odds to break through that, and the Bastion
ban, which it really feels like Tata only dappled in the Bastion somewhat.
It did look like they were really...
Yeah.
You know, it looked a bit half-harshered about it, if I'm honest.
I think this is simply Beaver's camera.
No, you can play Kat with the Cassidy.
We see that being really strong.
It's just, do they have an answer for like, maybe if their Reaper kind of comes
out yet again, they keep playing this Reaper Kat.
Putting pressure on that backline, because the Ana, although it is impactful, is
an easy target. I'm kind of, I'm a little bit biased because he did carry my homework
cover to EWC, but I think High Vision is the send out play here. The DPS gap that is being
generated I think is certainly being felt. Ripple effect throughout these maps so far.
So if we see the Cassidy Riot gives you another option to slow down the cap, maybe
punish. Yeah, that over aggression. I mean, I want to see, I'm going to be
seeing, or watching for how often Palae is able to go, so like haywire into the
backline solo a lot of the time because he is acting as half of the pizza
himself finishing off his elimination normally it's like yeah oh you've got a
DPS like well yeah that softens them up and then tracer goes he defines
elimination now like you mentioned that cat is doing it all by itself play like
uh you know tracer genji now I mean why waste a DPS slot I'm doing that like
have a hit scared and then also have like a now two flankers essentially the
The fan service hero has warped the game forever.
Yeah, there's no way around it.
Okay, we've got ourselves a series on our hands,
like Thailand have shown that they can hang
and they mean business.
Just like every year we see them try to out
onto the stage.
Canada, shell shocked after a very long neon junction
need to collect themselves and get ready for a chip
pack out with Stormy Sharn,
even if they couldn't carry other heroes.
I would say it's not being super good.
Even though the mobility's been toned down a bit,
the self heal penalties can be least right.
It's clear that the depth direction is to try and make it a little more reliant on being
playing with the team, a little less self-sufficient, but I want Scott, I want you to pull that
lever even harder.
No self-heal, forget about it.
You know what, no jetpack, just the cat.
That'd be interesting.
Okay, off we go, lots of staff on the huddle here, just for a bit of early recon.
And so it will be Demon into Sigma.
So how does Ace navigate a matchup now, which I think tank players better, still trying to
evaluate in these early days of the Hurdomens?
This is like, you know, graveyard, you're going to drop the tracer behind enemy lines,
then you're going to be able to also kind of get that demon up to the high ground.
Tio Shinori on the tracer has to do a nice shot, putting pressure on the obchus.
They can do that and get high vision some space.
Hi-Vision has been winning this hit-scan battle, so like you have to decide what paradigm you obey here
Are you trying to take the fight to the fight, round it into the Sigma, or drag them down, forcing the fight along the cart?
After it was very deep here, without having gone down, that is your finisher, no longer available to you.
Hi-Vision is just kinda...
After map number one, even in map number one, the stats are pretty good.
Really getting the better of the hit-scan battle.
It's cracked.
Yeah, they're gonna have to do...
Something about iVision on the other side, because we now just playing the Cassidy here
as well.
So many of these players out of South East Asia were so soggy, just like, dominate, but
Team Australia, right, winning us the Overwatch Ashes, Clive is a much fantastic player, also
a stand to hear your Wii when we talk about Australia later.
I come from that country, I'm allowed to do that.
I have nothing to do with their Wii, but I can't even hear you there.
Oh, okay, bro, look at every American fan in the World Cup that we just saw, all
the stuff became a soccer expert, please.
I don't know, you're saying in the back that they were dedicating the win to you.
Hahaha, they would never, they would never, if that's, they'd dedicate that to underriding.
I mean, no, they'll be brought down as we jabber, there's a fight ahead of the cart here, but it's like Thailand again,
whether or not you're still really effective or not.
Ashrow gets staggered out here as well, so two fights in a row.
That you're able to win here if you're Thailand on defense is...
The Bersik here definitely looked pretty good. Also with a Juno now, right? Like with obviously the Curie ban
They don't want to play something like Anana, an easy target for the demon. They're gonna play the Juno
in a kind of way a little bit easier.
I'm gonna be trying to play into the old right as well.
Bersik with an horrible right, right? It's like...
And August obviously probably strongest with it.
What is your answer? What is the reason for playing?
Radar slips away, but only just. He's being hunted.
I was just gonna have to stow the peace cube off the time, big.
Alex is trying to get his attention. Drag him out of position.
Alright, there's a spoiling.
Finally, this is what Canada been trying to do, his pickaxe.
Some presence down on the high ground, onto the car.
Force A is actually fighting for that ground.
And obviously, in that next trade-up, head-to-head, his brawl,
Astro was inherently faded.
Yeah, there's no damage mitigation, right?
Astro is able to just kinda swing on the Sigma, the Sigma.
Can't do much of anything with the grass.
You can also shield off the accretion, right?
Really easily.
That shield uptime is like very fast.
What? Only a minute here.
Thailand with some ultimates coming back into this.
Katna!
The Grand Astral, this should result in a D-mag.
Oh, it's gonna be a dead eye.
Dead eye flying through the sky.
That's actually gonna keep that show off.
Oh, that one!
Great job.
That was close, man.
He's already used the kinetic grass early to get out on that line of sight.
So he tried it in the open.
open like you talked about no damage mitigation possibility therefore the
Sigma Canada within spinning distance of this checkpoint now they can't is still
being stalled out not just probably hunting for Yoshinori here Canada have
done enough in the main fight to get a subject now you're gonna keep ace alive
right the gravity blocks coming in maybe you would have been able to build up
towards that brain yes Nori living dangerously yeah so far from the
arrest of Thailand. It takes a while for Yoshinori to even get back in the fight. Yeah, it's a
little awkward, very split from the rest of the team. And if he dies out there, it's doubly
bad.
First up, here, there's the play up on this corner now. It takes an accretion, but a shield
getting a little more easier to be forced back. Yoshinori finally finds that peak
in the back line. It was not just all people. High vision on this little high ground
spot. It's about the best time to adopt it. There's a nice little flashbang
there with the perk making sure there's connection.
It's one of the better looks we've seen from the team playing against the demon without it of their own right being able to kind of go against it
Hey, you can see the moment where the signal looks really good and then where it like it struggles
So I just has to try and stack the deck in the fiber of the sigma and abuse these verticality difference
That's where a lot of little scowls up that's what here. Yeah, it's gonna get rolled down
That's the high deal target. Don't respect the other cap though and grab the others
I looked for a way to drag High Vision down to Earth, but everyone's eyes were on the castle, you know?
The traits are in their backlight.
Yeah, you don't think they expected Thailand to be that aggressive, right?
Just flying out on the defensive side from that high ground control with that dead eye.
And another nice play from Thailand is...
They want to hang in, they want to hang their chances in this group as well, right?
And you notice that the Perk, the Sigma here, is the one that increases your shield health based on life.
Taking the other one is pointless to get someone who can just mitigate the accretion just by the shot up, so...
Pretty good against that, you know, there's actually going to get a lot of pipe speed down.
It gets you, you have to limit break, no eight-bottom in the game as much as possible.
Good accretion! That buys you just enough space, and as for a Realize, is he overextended?
The confidence pour on by having that ultimate.
Looks him in harm's way. High vision of her, don't give that guy a lie.
That would be crazy. The predictive accretion to try and stop Alex from going in.
This Thailand team are now firing on all cylinders.
They're gonna flip this group on its head. They definitely have the opportunity to orbital ray there used
To keep ace alive the limit break connects with like two players of that moment
Now you have an opportunity to write knock down plus the verbitic blocks
Could be enough to stop Canada's push
There I mean what you're gonna use is this like a nano with the guy flying through the sky
Alex had to play here, and now...
Nooo man!
Pallekorn out, trying to make him play
He caught by the flashbang, and that's the danger
Trying to go off in the Cassidy
Still, LMSCG finds two, one of the Pulsar torpedoes
Astro is looking through a five, but it's not going to get one here
Not one that favours them anyway
Graveyard dips in over the top, and now he's looking
Piiiiquid out here
10 seconds left, with a high-key shot
Right-click on Graveyard, Alex had to try and even out the legend
This is getting now scrappy
Alex with a recall, Goshinori has that available
And it's actually just a jockey back
because there's time for Tylan to regroup and fight.
Yeah, you should know you just gotta be patient here.
Gonna get Pulse Bomb, you're gonna have that dead eye flying in as well.
Nox is just gonna have his dead eye up in the sky.
It's a great guy, trying to get him around the corner.
That's gonna be all the boosts used there.
I'm just gonna get dropped.
Cowell might fall that down at an angle,
but they can't give up that space on the platform.
They get picked off the outer ring.
This is too much of a vulnerability.
Too much of a liability here for Canada.
And Tylan are taking every advantage they can.
Astro is cooked here.
This is done. No more progress for Canada. It's Thailand. Look at this at Sigma comp like a char
It's high vision just dominating the hits game battle comes around the corner hits a flash
And then it's like the dead eye from not just to try and like maybe like I know channel just a little bit
They'll make that Cassidy
Just scared of a high vision just dominating
Don't even have to get that second checkpoint to be able to win here.
So it's a really nice flash though from Noxious on the poly, right?
Like when you're trying to bring him over the side.
That's the question I asked.
How much can you punish this guy for playing this hyper-aggressive kind of way?
Don't forget that like when you're grappled, you still have control.
Yes.
things to check himself there overall though the secret cop looked like it was
able to handle itself quite well feel like astro was not really getting those
close and personal encounters with ice nearly as often as they would like I
need to tell me about damage versus 3300 in terms of the head scan I mean here's
more damage than both enemy yeah you got to close that gap I'm fanboy I mean
Because it's also it would be one thing if it was just
Privation kind of going crazy, but your shinori's played quite well as they hear it, too
Yeah, it's fantastic, especially if high vision is garnering so much attention
Yes, you know, he's been able to get in virtually uncontested because a whole world with a problem start with the house on widow
If there's anything to be found here of the sonic
Canada playing ultra safe as they do know their buffer the margin of the area is
awfully sleek. They have spent a cheery bait for this map for this purpose to try and get them
this honor window. Thailand have been comfortable enough just moving in a CG over to the Juno.
And I think also like Thailand has to feel pretty comfortable now even playing against
Demo right? Like they've been showing the signal of being able to work ice accretion there.
Yeah, good play on Acer, not just ball W, and I'm keeping a lie, Ace.
We're in CT there, and even the cats aren't going to be able to save you.
Obviously, I think the main interaction we're looking at here is the fact that you can saw the carp in that window, right?
Astro's able to play out over the edge.
Which means that Ace has to look elsewhere.
Just trying to find the backline that will be a little bit exposed if Astro is stalling the carp in that spot.
So, Polly will fall here as well, so...
Will it be a first fight win there?
Or Canada?
They'll control this high ground yet again.
It's like, if they can get some of the cooldowns of the SIG right and then like kind of get
the SIG into harm's way with Astro, you know, if they're reliant on what?
Polly to get in there and kind of help that SIG.
Now I'm going to wear a gown, look at that, I mean, just drop in Ace Ryder's
death.
He's got absolute books. Easy enough to pick up there for Astro.
And again, I think this is tricky for the sick cop, because the defenders can kind of choose when and where they drop down.
It's not this fight. With Sick Mo's defending, we knew that he didn't ever want to drop down.
Astro wants to fall. He wants to play compact on that car.
There we go. Big party.
Oh, okay. Big opening.
Deanna has got like again a little bit of liability at times.
time to be able to get so much of the support not going to be playing as an offensive cat.
Damn getting away from Ace there a little bit as a full of disengage in series from Canada.
Correct response for losing the Arnold with that nano. That would obviously empower Astro to do
heinous things in the front line. Sort of earlier build up on the catnap for graveyard.
See if it ends up being relevant. The dragon is sigma out of the way.
Good! I'm going to do dodge, dodge, dodge, pretty early.
They look at the dive in though, Astro is going for a bait.
Use that mana for Noxious here instead.
And honestly, turning to Ultras for that seems okay.
I mean, I guess you use the nano and the deny kind of getting over the tar.
You save Limit Break, but I think importantly you save Catnap.
It's going to be a weird fight with the interactions.
Obviously both teams have those. In fact, Ultram is available.
Like, Astro uses the Limit Break here.
You have that orbital ray in response, right?
But you know you're getting sky noon here, so how are you supposed to stop this?
Try to make a lugamino like play there if you can get out of the sky. It just doesn't bind them.
As you set it like a sight. Obviously a good way to play around, didn't I?
I started pushing up here. A little bit of pressure down. There's gonna be a fight on the card now.
Ace knows he's gonna be surrounded under a lot of pressure.
Fight him as he naps back on this fight, and the break comes through.
Though here's that orbital ray to protect.
Hive is embarrasing in the ray, getting all the healing that he needs, and Ace can sit on this box.
In Canada, they find themselves in an awkward spot, and they're fully committed to this position for Noxious. It's very deep.
I mean, the one kill is so far for Canada, it's not going to be enough to slow the roll of Thailand.
Well, the one thing with Demon is that some of the conversations are not super tanky, right?
When Demon uses liver break and then wants to fight, you have the orbital ray on the other side,
you have the damage amp and everything over the SIG, the Cassidy.
Not going to be able to keep that Demon alive.
You can see how it looks sometimes, how it's on the down the champions, but it's what he's putting against the, uh, little break.
On our Paul Sparman here, Yoshinori's been pretty good with them.
Yeah, found Kale last time.
I can look at him the same there.
So let's drop these back here.
Look at these backline, make sure Yoshinori's are lurking, and Kale, uh, they're ready to start.
They are so ready.
They're shunned. Yeah, Yoshinori had to be in the middle of the pack.
They have to stay in the fight, Noxious.
He's been carried out of the flanks.
Oh, this is a dirty angle.
on a couple of occasions we've seen them pretty far past Ace's Sickness Shield, another instance of which to punish.
And this is where the Sickness gets beat up.
The Polly gets found there, you're going to lose Ace here as well.
This might be where it's hard for the Sickness, because you have to push up and take that space, right?
You can't kind of dictate the field of play with the demon in this situation.
Right now you have the ability to nano the demon swinging on the sig
I mean this is all this approach
That's not tough the brave young built that very quickly. I mean you need a
Pulse bomb kill here on a cow
Maybe on a not just as something here. It's fine. It is also fine
But I think it's easy to break that line of sight here. You see if that ends up in true
No!
You're gonna take a tie in high vision!
No joy!
Now I can play for that upper window though.
See if that position is gonna be enough.
There's a limit break brewing here for Astro.
We're gonna be forced back by the SIG with that perk.
It's very important to try and have success in any kind of brawl matchup.
Then high vision.
Alchemist with a pulse mark.
Now no cast here.
Alchemist with a pulse mark.
Now that clock starter.
Get a little bit lean for them.
That's a second kill for us.
Both DPS players picked off by the tracer.
Coming alive at a very crucial moment.
The Tracer coming alive at a very crucial moment and that's where it gets three damage
I don't think I'm gonna have anybody here making out. Juno, now come on.
I'm gonna be missing that. Yeah, that is brutal.
Reaper now
Will be the call here
She's just up deep. Yeah, that's very good.
But you have the catnap right?
An option is gonna get close to another dead eye
Both of these teams have leveled up a lot over this last map also.
Just going to get carried back to the high ground. Astro now can reposition.
Ice spotted on the low ground and we look at the pallets lurking up to the top side.
See him there in the wireframe.
Watch here for the guys. Just fighting down to the Cassidy here.
No casualties from earlier. No dice.
MSCG going to get taken down and when high vision fell, the Rabbidic flush has not enough to disrupt.
They're finally losing two players. They've got to call it here. They've got to back up.
back up! You should know he's committed, they're going to go for it, can't might be an option.
Sleep, no need of Byronade was enough to handle the Reaper guy. I mean, a huge hole here.
Doesn't look like anybody will be able to get a cut touch. Canada on a defense,
which they clutch up. That is a huge win for them.
And you talked about at the start of this map, you said that the Femon bands off the table
How does this game look when Astro isn't forced to try and make these tankswaps to get a comfortable matchup?
That's what it looks like when you can.
Yeah, it also helps that Noxious really brings it back in the second half.
We were just kind of laughing about the damage in terms of the hitscan.
Noxious closes that gap with high vision.
And then it's a completely different ballgame from there, right?
I know every team will look good if your hitscan is doubling up the other DPSes.
It's like, you're not playing at that high a level.
Can you win the high dish and the great first half?
Not as much in the seconds as Canada looking to close it out.
Yeah, look, I think if you want to boil this game down to some big differences,
like playing the Sigma on the attack side against the team on this, excuse the pun.
It's an uphill battle, bro.
In the amount of times Canada can choose when to brawl, drop down on the cart, you've got the nano as well.
It's providing Cal State's alive which looks challenging in that burst half, right?
Given how effective the optionary was at pressuring the Arna down.
But providing you get easy nanos on the world, Astro they can fight, Noxus also gets to...
You don't have to have a natural defenders high ground here, that's pretty important.
It feels like Canada can draw on a lot of advantage there from just having a more confident demon player.
But I mean, honestly, after early on, we haven't really seen any team want to play the Demon.
Not like the more confident Demon player, just the player that wants to play Demon.
And I wonder if like, SIG is, like, if you'd see better results playing MAGA,
than trying to play like, you know, we saw it in Mat No. 1, but only sparingly.
And Shambali, you kind of want to play SIG, right? That's why you're playing there.
But I wonder if you'd see better results playing a MAGA.
Like for instance here going like a new junk city and playing like a modern rush, right?
Maybe getting rid of the cat
Even though you've been playing pretty well with it. I mean you're just not doing that with that carry
You just not playing like yeah, that's true. I think that's like I think the carry ban
Really limited the tank options for yeah, it does don't have suzu. So what you're playing now again to bionate
Yeah, no, you can't yeah, it's a good point really punishing and obviously just
being able to have those, you know, accelerated cooldowns within that
Katsuna rush is just huge. But that in like looking forward ahead of the series
especially I was Thailand or on damage control that's an option. I've got
high hopes here for this series. Both these two teams have been leveling one
another one another up as this series has advanced. Yeah. Do we get Kiri
Malgo here? Is that an option for Ace to pick up and a map that maybe is not
going to be nearly as friendly to Sigma? Because that's the escort map sort of
out of the pool now. You don't have hybrid that's also gone. What do we
Flashpoint?
Push!
Yeah, it's kind of a ban, like, it's kind of a ban, Marga?
I don't think so.
So, like, that would be something that you have to consider.
Are you gonna ban?
Is Thailand gonna try and, like, protect the Marga there, right?
Like, you wouldn't pick Flashpoint, and then try and play SIG into Demon, right?
I mean...
No.
We've seen...
You did the launch investigation of that one.
Yeah, I'd have AC from the blow, or after that one.
Yeah, not gonna lie.
Again though much better looks here from Team Thailand even though we have a
map dropped here. There's concerns though about just how the tank matchups gonna look.
Canada kind of have their pick at the litter but if you go back to me on
Junction where you know Dmon was not available it looked like a very different
story. It is interesting that our first trip out to Korea quite some time. The
gameplay is being basically decided by Dmon, our newest hero in the game
and obviously one of the hells from South Korea but well she's very
She's right. This is the right time to be players are loud. No had some bugs maybe a little under power
Turn the knob a little bit and here we go. It was nothing
I could be wrong but like when I look to the patch notes. I was like this all seems pretty
Straightforward stuff. We're not seeing any massive tweak if diamonds. It was more like how abilities work as opposed to
Yeah, damage they did and then I think it was hard to like envision like oh, what's a good matchup for demon, right?
but then
It can't every matchup is now a good matchup right in the past
You know I've watched the heroes that have been like kind of jack-of-all trades
They've been at their best when they just had the numbers have been very good
Was busted like that was one one reason the new junk city is the picks this way I was talking about
Yeah, you're Thailand you probably want to try and play some Magikarp here
But it feels like I don't know if I see them
ban the DPS or support Canada I mean I think that would be a Moga ban that they
would come through with so yeah I mean okay so more I guess the more potent
question is like what is Thailand banning if I don't play let's say I want to play
Malikiri right top you can't ban a carry dude you can't ban Malikiri
Thailand could ban Orisa here yeah protects the Moga gets Orisa off the
table yeah they do at the first band
Orisa band is kind of wild right there's a marcher okay
similar like similar vein of thinking here you protect the marker crucially
uh and you also maybe just do away with the hitter that you don't want to see
i think annihilation like can just be a little bit snowballed sometimes playing
to like rematch is getting too much value
being able to shut that down is big and you also do say to your opponent
like you have to play a wister in my marker or mirror me
What does it get rid of here for Canada?
I was going to say either Cassie or Reaper.
I'm a little bit more surprised they went on to Cassie, but we also have talked about how high vision has been like nasty.
Yes, I also like not just maybe happy to take like a Soju Mirror or something similar.
I also think the sky noon, it just adds a level of volatility that maybe you don't want to deal with.
Like if you want to try and play like safe and not deal with like these weird spiky moments where like Cassie just randomly blows up multiple people because he's being flown over here.
being flown overhead then sort of take this out of picture does open up for like
you play the bastion again but demon saw on the table here for Canada
really demon matter what is your on play coming into you haven't seen much
she on just band of first in a series so long ago yeah okay so rise you're
coming in here for Noxious, so Noxious has been playing a lot of the headscan here for Canada.
Now, subs, for those unaware, subs come before bands, so Tyneine do get to see that Canada
are making an adjustment before they decide what their band strategy is supposed to look like.
I'm not sure if that's particularly impactful in this case. Obviously,
I don't know if it influences a mantra band necessarily, but do you have that information
I don't think so. I think Ramatra, it's like when you're thinking about what tank to maybe get rid of like
Norisa, I think he's like
You know good situationally. I think Ramatra. You're just like well, what does all you hear the roof of that?
or who
You know, it's like Zarya into Dima. I mean good luck. Let's uh
Let's flash the winter graphic
I guess you could say that bad.
Yeah, I mean, but I'm now.
Yeah, maybe not an option.
I wonder why it's not Wii with Australia anymore, man.
It is, man!
Hey, guys, those things are here.
I have my koalas up, right?
Yeah.
My voice.
Yeah, you can't change where I was born.
Yeah, I was born trying to get home earlier.
Just like, sorry, into Demon.
I haven't played the match up yet, personally.
Yeah, yeah.
I mean, we've seen it here, haven't we?
Yeah, that's true.
Yeah, the Demon just kind of runs through.
That's a bit to be desired.
Oh, sure.
Demon kind of does a little bit of everything right now,
good at all of it. Thailand here, why don't they stay alive in a series fighting to take
us to a decided map. Their survival in this group depends on a win against Canada who fought
a bomb bird over game yesterday. Looks like they're getting maximum mobile watch no matter
who they're going up against. And we'll see if Thailand can maybe play though they don't
want to play the demon at least it seems. Maybe they can play. I personally think
it should be Maga that they go to here a SIG, no, starts the fall apart where you have to
be you know a little bit more proactive, I think obviously Flash won't play directly
into that so.
Yeah we did see like some SIGs that crop up in like an NAWC on some control maps.
Yeah, I was like why are we seeing this on the fall like, not like crazy, but I think
that era has been very powerful.
It does feel like Sigma is like the I will carry from the tank role type hero right many situations like you've got
Tools to mitigate damage got tools to disrupt the opponent tank player set up solo in the eliminations a shock or ultimate that
You know can have team fight winning potential on its own this goes on
You want to feel like a vacancy feel like ever an opportunity to relieve your mark on the game
Then Sigma has been a go-to for many of our
Playing is here in Busan and for Thailand. I mean this is your chance right you win this series
Canada's 1-1, Thailand is 1-1, you kind of, what Spain and Germany are all at 1-1, right?
You kind of throw yourself back into the VX.
What a bizarre group.
Yeah, it's been, we kind of wrote it off a little bit, I think.
We were so focused on, like, the USA-China group, right?
But that hasn't really delivered, I think, to the expectations we set for it.
I mean, China were...
You kind of got so obliterated by Australia that, like, all of a sudden,
That's a black group, just boy, you know what I mean?
Where's the other compelling storylines left there?
Yeah.
This is like, bloody plot twist.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Nah, and uh, I mean, it just dreams right there.
I'm gonna get back with it as a statue,
like the dominant one on Pariso.
Bloody hell.
Horrocks on Twitter's gonna come after me.
I'm sure.
You guys are okay, don't worry about it.
Listen, if someone was picking on the Brits
that weren't Australian, I'd back you guys up.
It was an Australian pick it on you like it was yesterday.
That's right.
You're on your own.
Yeah, talking about the New Zealander playing cross shot.
I actually think Colhex might have dual citizenship.
Oh.
Yeah, because they break through player on their team, Soggy.
Oh, no, wait, no, excuse me.
I got it back in front.
Soggy, I believe, might have Australian citizenship.
Oh, OK.
Yeah, it's not that uncommon.
Oh, look, seriously.
When New Zealanders are doing something good, we claim it.
When not, we don't.
Also, why are you talking about that group A?
like Japan or China going to leave here, goosek.
Without a series on the board.
I mean, look, crazy thought.
I don't know, we'll get back to it.
What if Japan used a breakthrough slot
on maybe top dragon?
You know what I mean?
Just down support.
Let's jump into the game here folks.
Thailand fighting for their life in this series.
They've taken us to New Jump City,
where they will make their claim
the Ramatrapan for a fifth and final map in the series.
Oh, we saw him last night, club dragon.
Welcome back from dinner.
He's here.
We think most likely this is for them to play some Moga.
Or, I mean, Ace taking the Demon battle would be a little surprising,
being that they haven't really wanted to take this really much at all the last few maps.
Right, I do think we're...
Obviously still an option, right?
I don't think like we're out of line saying we felt like Astro was pretty clearly favored in that head to head like going back to
Samoa
I was gonna say Queen would have been great little Mexico shout out
I am so here for this try and find something in the ball. It's really strong now remember
You can't really mitigate the carnage damage as demon, right?
Queen?
He made that axe swing
Queen Kiri Mizuki
Yes, okay, and it is the Shion
So we're talking about Shian potentially coming in here, it will be the Shian.
I'm a little scared for Queen going up against the main.
Oh, we say that much.
Shian is panting out the back, oh yes, he's braiding out it very quickly.
Misposition cutters, the trait though.
Alex is trying to jockey back, yeah, they call the pause, like, wait, wait, wait.
Can't play jump, Queen.
Get that out of the way, hold on.
They're like, what?
It looks like Razor, who did just get subbed in, so...
Trying to make sure they're acclimated and they're set up.
Make sure everything is punky-dory.
He's pointing at the screen like, what is this?
I'm not supposed to die, what is this?
Queen in my game.
Yeah.
But I thought, who's that?
It's a bit unfortunate, I think that Razor discovers there's a techie shoe after getting
beaten in a 1v1 for flank control.
He looked over here and was like, who's in the play-by-play slot?
We were really under the stress that we're going to be.
Am I ever going to let this one go down, bro?
No.
Well who knows if you'll join us.
Maybe you won't.
It's good that it's your grandfather.
Into the pause or watch.
Now looks like we'll get this one.
Nothing too crazy.
Get this one back in the ways.
It looks like Flashpoint about to open
and honestly with high vision down
we're at a huge advantage I think
for Canada.
Can we theory craft a little bit about what this
the queen frontline looks like into the Vimmon setup right?
Obviously shield mitigates a lot of like the, you know, clean damage, but I'm just like so
caught on this idea of like her coming into like the full heal off the carnage swing.
Like is there anyone that can, like, can you brawl out against queen?
The queen has enough mobility though.
Like, Marnish shower?
It's just a long-ish cooldown, but the cooldown starts up,
the user not up and expires now, which is an awesome little party, right?
Okay, there really suits you there, Bapali. Look at that pressure.
Yeah, I do think that like, the team that is able to use that mobility instead of
firing backfire first is gonna...
Fireing into the shield, I mean.
Yeah, I mean, I don't think that's a less low team than the other one.
But I do, like, I really do... There was no frontline fighting, right?
There was like a...
A headband or a mantra? Because they want to, like, win.
No.
Hmm.
I actually am not sure on that one.
Very interesting here, from Thailand, there's a nice mini wall there from Alex, yeah I
do want some ace POV, see how he's gonna play this match up, and look out, look to
bro, what is the formations here, nobody is like grouped up at all, it's all over the
place, it's kind of spread around this point, there is ace eventually able to force the
Demons succumbed, but damage is condemned. Razor is popping the heck off on the Xiong.
Yeah, I mean, even though you do get the T-Mag on the Ash-Show, you're never able to deal with the Xiong or the Mei.
Just everybody barreling down onto the T-Mon, and still Ash-Show lasts forever, it feels like, and then end up losing everybody else.
So, we'll see another fight here for our first Flashpoint.
He's kind of talking about Razor a bit on the caption.
Didn't get to see him in the series up until now, but he also...
Queen is going to fall over with the Limit Rate, right?
Did he hit by it?
Yeah, I don't think that's right for him.
It cleans it, bro! It cleans it!
I'm curious.
Here's the losing coming in.
After a clutch, come forward.
High vision caught up early.
Razor has hit another one.
Yeah, what is they supposed to do here?
Why didn't they change?
Barely slows the Demon down.
Yeah, this is going to be Canada taking our first Flashpoint here.
The demon, I mean, yeah, it's been a, they've had no answer for it really.
In some of these matchups, obviously on Shambali, it will use the SIG and just kind of create
distance.
Yoshinori always flanked up, bro.
This is a must win fight here.
For Thailand.
Yeah, Razor and everything to work with.
This fight's been brewing for much of the map.
Yoshinori won that first encounter since then.
Hasn't had to do much for Thailand.
Go back up to Corsi, quick step away, Tani. This is what I was kind of thinking would be good for Ace, and your Cal gets brought down.
Ashe is still very healthy here, but that is dirty. My vision is pounds, Razer.
Probably down a little low ground. Ate trying to disrupt here, haven't been nice, but you've done enough here.
I see high vision just doing high vision things, has gotten Tylen into a favourable position.
And this will give them control of the point first, with your rampage here, so ulti poly
with sanctuary, so although the sanctuary doesn't really, it doesn't do anything.
And when you have the spree on the other side, you just kind of dive right into it.
Yeah, it's not, it doesn't match up well against that at all.
Or it's just like a low reason for it.
You do get the rush out from caldo.
Yeah.
I guess obviously it takes the perk here that usually when you cooldowns back up
the rampage it's obviously arguably the far better one. Queen, Catro pretty nuts here,
falls back to the other way, takes a fair bit of damage to the neutral. Palae at what point is
he going to think about this? Can he have a sanctuary? What about our County? Can he have an
astro to stop any fall off of it? There it is! The spring into the sanctuary! Damn good!
Palae eventually falls here, he comes to rampage, he's going to try and sell him to fight on
their own astro he is, and he'll be bleeding out. Good carnage connection as well,
the Racer's able to get some distance away from ace, he simply doesn't bother trying
to chase the down-dome. Thailand still have point control. Yet, just not enough
healing there for Astro. Astro and Graveyard hit by the Rampage.
Grazer in a lot of trouble. Not gonna be able to make it out. It's gonna be Thailand
tying it up. They're shooting at one apiece. I think they do smokeball of
High Vision having an excellent first fight with that overclock. But the
Rampage from Ace comes out when they're actually in a losing position
in that fight. They're having to turn it into a dub.
Aston Astro trading blows here, but Astro need a bit of backup, maybe some poked damage on the Junker Creek, it's sopping around there.
Cowl here a little bit low, you're sure no way he doesn't want to double down on the Kiri, sure we go looking for them now, right Cowl?
Off towards the side, keeping Razor in the fight, Alex is very deep here trying to play amongst his visitors, MSCG has been picked up, this isn't ideal here for Talon at all.
Maybe the big ult was coming out in that previous fight.
And that Razor is looking for a way back on the opponent.
No escape, Barney Chain wasn't given the room either.
Somehow, Canada.
I mean, they lose Razor, Astro, Dangerously Low,
Alex, they will use the Blizzard, get on, get a touch,
get everybody back, all fully healed.
Because I am kind of worried now, right?
You'll have the Kitsune Rush here for both teams,
but you're gonna have to limit Break.
No Sanctuary, not gonna be able to kind of heal on through that.
Look at how aggressive Astro's getting.
Yeah, it's like, it's like a...
It's a kind of forced here.
And Graga, the pressure on the mcg, forced this one,
and they're coming all the way in play.
And Astro was right where they need to be.
Here's a speed load from High Vision, picks up the...
the may at least, but you don't need more.
The ramp rage is just what the doctor wanted.
If you were a terrible doctor and didn't care about saving lives.
That was nice.
Astro de-nets, Graga barely able to slip away,
but it puts Thailand back in the position to even up the flashpoint game.
Uh...
Oh, I'm okay.
Astro's still okay.
With the big iron?
Yep, graveyard is still kind of lurking, not such a great contestant.
Oh, they're gonna rush here too!
Okay, this is big, ever since you've fallen, this is an opening that Astro made in Mini Demon form
by picking up High Vision, and now everybody is back!
Aces surrounded, nowhere to go, trying to fire up for an X-Wing, it's just not there to be had.
High Vision back with a vengeance, finally a second kill.
There's legs on this fire for Canada, that is a disgusting steal!
I usually always gotta like he's gonna have the top tier as well. I
Graveyard just kind of keeps like contested for so long on the cat
thin
Drops a rush. I need a replay of extra really high fusion. Oh
That is a rough one to lose man, I mean
Yikes, oh
You can't win that one. Yeah, I especially when you spent like remember that consumer rush got forced out of MSCG like
Yeah, maybe I'd still get the elimination on the carry and then Astro was just in there
And then Gregor the only one there they love this kind of going up and down gonna keep in the point to test it
Oh, that's classy stuff from Alex. He's raised it out
Out of the tech life century. There's a little bit of a test the healing output of that Missuki
Ultimate which I respect playing his life before the point even open. You already deal with the Oceanori
So if you trade this green from a support on a win every day of the week
Oh, MCG has to sue so we self can't quite climb away
decently scrambling at the line where to avoid the pulse bomb still brought down
regardless the sexy first fight with Canada
Yoshinori not gonna make it to the health pack
Wait no bad, come on man
Some extra bullets fired there by Alix
Leave and break, probably boost the portal tier
Can't I'm gonna close this one out
Oh, it's Greydard looking for.
MSEG again, partially carried down.
That's easy, you see.
And the switch step.
Both of them have been called out to Astro.
He's supposed to be where she's most needed.
All the time, I had to fall back as a group.
And this is percentage that they're still losing out on.
Very aggressive.
Liberus break here.
We're going to see a charge on through.
Aces with the rampage.
There's no follow-up on the anti-king Astro.
So, the Demons going to be back in the fight.
Eventually, one with Suspect.
Greydard's there, topping it back up.
High vision over extended with that screen.
Even the Demon who was being pocketed.
Healed up by the cat the whole time and now grab you up with the cat now.
Right, gonna CG on out of there and that's the Oshinori pulse bomb.
He'd soon up again and the other way you want to see their niche, they continued rush use
and as soon as it's dropped there from Thailand, two kills instantly from Canada.
They're gonna put this point right back.
The silver lining is at least there wasn't flinked there.
There's still a chance for Thailand to fight but they are on their last legs.
They're on their last legs here for their chance at BlizzCon.
As Canada, slowly, but inexorably overcome them, and there's no touch? Where's that supposed to come from?
Canada have all the numbers, maybe you desperately want to keep the game going. Here's Ace on the ball.
Oh, have a pulse bomb. That's mostly shrugged off to be fair, but there's all the damage in the world to deal with the wrecking ball.
And Canada, in a scrappy affair, have triumphed! Secure the 2-0 in their group, and remain masters of their destiny.
And it feels like if Canada is going to be able to play that demon, they'll count.
They're having great performances in that support role.
Razor comes in here at the end, really kind of shining on that Sheon.
Canada's going to be much tougher to beat than a lot of people expected it to.
And they're going to get some really valuable wretches against quality-ass 10 deaths here,
man.
That's right.
Yeah, I think it's something like, we're going to need to give you an opportunity
Do anybody talk about like how they're looking to punish the aggressive cap play because probably was getting away with again
A whole lot earlier on the series
Yeah, they're like when the castlies unbanned get the option to play down and later on in the series
It looks like Canada get a feel for the way that Tyler trying to use Pala use that jetpack cat aggression
It's just why I'll to think that coming into this group Canada was like, oh, yeah
Canada is in this group right, but you're not really kind of looks haven't done anything in the World Cup like
since 2018
Yeah, you're not thinking of the move top of mind.
There's like, oh, somebody, and this squad is so young, right?
Compared to like some of the other teams
are like more experienced players, you know what I'm saying?
It's a promising sign for the future of this region.
Hopefully, we just do the World Cup until the end of time.
And these guys have more and more opportunities
to show what they're capable of.
But as it stands, man, they're probably
going to get to stand on that stage after this game.
In front of, quote, unquote, the world
in like the marquee event of the year,
as far as the World Cup is concerned.
USA goes undefeated in their group.
Canada looks awesome.
Oh, here we go.
What about WCS and A-Li, let's bring this to some of those world finals, let's have a
deep run, right?
I kind of like when you're going there because this is showing just how much talent is sitting
just below the surface.
They're just out of the recovery.
It's so close.
I think they're having their teams that ran all the teams from obviously Asia and
EMEA.
And Cal comes back to Overwatch for the World Cup.
They were sick.
They look incredible, not skipped a beat.
they stick around because they've been a revelation here on to this
I mean in Havanu no WCSE for stage three and me like a huge impact. I'd be like instantly
Very impressed here obviously razors up to this last map right kind of wondering when we were gonna see them
This your plate early. It's just phenomenal. There's a three or four K fights happening
It's really a huge part of what gets Canada rolling on this map and again
Thailand refused to opt into a demon mirror
We had a bit of fun with the theory crafting there like wondering what the Junker Queen will be able to do and frankly
I think they had to play Marga there. Yeah
More disruption right?
Like again like getting a good stop in the back line
Seems pretty potent but ash this Canada outfit much to your pleasure. I'm sure have overcome it a pretty scrappy fight
Yeah, well, you know me
I'm thrilled about this win here for team Canada
But for Thailand, I think that the conversation ahead of today was also
You know the fact that we saw that they weren't that comfortable playing demon
They don't really want to pick into it first couple days of this event and a
We have seen you know the demon take over in the server. There have been some answers
But Thailand just weren't quite able to close that gap Sony heroic plays coming out from team Canada
And the fact that now they have secured not quite that qualification
But such a strong chance to be able to make it to the big stage is not feels quite good
And I think like yeah, I mean Canada look they don't qualify just yet
But as close as you could possibly be to doing so and they have to feel so proud of themselves for being able to get to this position
this series also like
Thailand I think could have gotten it to a different like I think if you play like look if you're gonna go new junk and
You get rid of the ram. I would have rather have seen them go down playing like
Reaper, Shea, and Maga, and just kind of like, just trying to bully.
There's a big part of what gave them that success on the end, you know, Junction, but that was a map in which the demon was bad, right?
So in a world where like, she's available, maybe like the Maga just doesn't cut the mustard there either.
We don't really know. There's like, really better in coaching on this Canadian outfit.
Danny's been around the traps for quite some time, so I imagine that he's really made that sort of value judgement and said,
hey, let's just, let's just keep course of this demon. Let's make it half a play later.
If they don't want to mirror us, then we'll just win the game.
Yeah, yeah, I mean they just kind of
But once they use that van on it and then it comes right back into the game
Chimbali it's a little easier because like the map like
Geography of it like you can just play further back with the sig constantly poke like there's just no other map in the pool like that
And then especially when you're going to flash point, you know, you're getting into a brawl
Yeah, it is honestly insane. I feel like it was tough for Thailand
they had ideas of how they wanted to maneuver that pick ban but just not really being able to find
the openings that they were necessarily looking for. For this Kylan roster though, I mean we are not
quite counting them fully out just yet considering how open this group still is. It's still an uphill
battle but was there anything that we think we can pull from for their fault? Yeah, they have
one of the best hits game plays at this whole tournament for sure. Like Pyvee and like
beyond any reasonable doubt is like it's a fantastic player but when he goes quiet he
He goes quite quiet, right?
Like something like maybe you move to the defense side,
you don't have as good sidelines on the attack side.
There's a lot of reasons why, like as a hit-scan player,
you have less opportunity to have your impact felt.
I think Pal-A is a really unpredictable part of this team
who really understands how powerful Jetpack can be
when you're willing to take some risks, right?
And just sort of push the envelope a little bit
on your opponents.
Also, like, Ace is a quality tank player.
I just like to see him maybe find somewhere
that's comfortable and frankly,
he's got 24 hours.
Get on the demon hype train.
If they were able to play a little bit of demon,
I think they could like, you know,
I've been a team that could really kind of do
what Canada's doing to the group, right?
I mean, high vision's still good in that, you know,
hit-scan role like Mitch mentioned,
I think obviously just our newest hero
throwing a little bit of a wrench into things for them.
Yeah, well the answer might be to try
and hit that mirror for the last day
of the OWC groups there for Thailand,
but for Team Kanda, they secure the 2-0
thus far within their group.
They're gonna throw it to a quick break though,
And when we are back, it will be Denmark versus Germany.
The 2026 Overwatch World Cup is brought to you by DHL.
We offer you distinct brands worldwide Rute hotels and resorts
I
Thanks for watching guys!
you
you
you
you
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After defeating Team South Korea for the last day of the match, oh my god, Zerion, fantastic job.
Congratulations on getting the win. I just want to hear from you, man, like how does it feel right now?
You guys beat South Korea.
I think it feels amazing, like we just need to win tomorrow and we make this game.
It's kind of a dream come true and we try our best to make it work again tomorrow.
And it was a math fight banger. It seemed like, I think in the first half, Korea was kind of favorite.
and you guys came back in a very big way.
What was the game plan coming into today's match against South Korea?
It really felt like you guys had a clear game plan.
We had like two clear game plans.
The first one is we just need to win one map
and we know we can win the series if the ban goes well.
And then like, I mean, it's not really a plan,
but we just said that people in the game will play like we're in the street
and try our best and, you know, just try and we did it, I guess.
And I also feel like you guys have like,
this is just maybe my personal take,
but I feel like Team France has a really good synergy.
What do you think makes Team France special in the Overwatch World Cup?
I think it's like we are all really close friends, even in real life and stuff.
So we can say whatever we want to do with each other, you know?
It's really nice feedback and everyone just improve.
So those things are like a winning point, you know?
Just as a team and since we're old friends, it's easy to make it work.
I mean, now you guys took down South Korea, are you scared of any other teams in your group?
In our group now, I don't think so.
I mean, we still need to play like really good tomorrow to win, but after I think we just need to don't play bad on, you know.
Well, that's it for the interview, Zerya. Thank you so much for your time and thank you. Enjoy your win against Team South Korea. Thank you.
I
Imagine lost for triple-o
Open the overall office
You got me stumped now. I'd say maybe it's overall online
I just graduated my master's degree, so maybe I know a bit.
Out of office. I'm out of office right now.
Outdoor office. Orange.
I'm lost. I'm forfeiting the OO.
I'm not making it in the corporate world. It's over.
Corporate time advancement, I don't know.
CTA.
Call to action.
Capture time. No way.
Isn't that called the action?
Capture time. I don't know what it is.
attack maybe uh coffee television uh like aroma
all right
yesterday team france made history beating south korea in a reverse sweep three to two today
they have another team ahead of them in this group stage so looking to block their way
on their journey to BlizzCon and it's going to be Denmark guys Crocs had some fighting
words in that interview. This was supposed to be the game that decides the second team
getting out of this group. All of a sudden it could decide our top scene with South Korea
not even in that discussion which is bonkers. Yeah, French team from France called the
South Korean team out of office for the last three minutes. I loved it. I was like dumb.
I was like, we got in crocs of the day as soon as we ended.
I was like, it's just the, and SkyTour called it straight towards the end of it.
He was kind of going, oh, these firing shots there.
But I saw him today in the lobby.
He was like, yeah, me and SkyTour were cool, we're cool.
But, Tim, it seems like they're not really kind of, obviously,
they're excited after beating Korea,
but they're focused on getting number one out of this group.
I think after a pretty embarrassing O3 group stage, X1 2023,
France want to very quickly put themselves back in the conversation before that.
They were like a top 14, maybe losing the quarter-finals, but like a top eight competitor, right?
2023 represented a big fall off for this quarter, but now they've announced themselves in the
latest way possible once again. You know, when you think about like, you know, some of the
countries that have had, you know, standout players, like French Overwatch historically has
being like right up there with some of the best countries in the world.
It's just like we haven't seen it in a bit, but I feel like this is the next generation of players
coming from France and obviously putting together some great games.
Not only has the fan base been insane, but I think we've seen so much passion
out of these French players looking to grow and improve so much in the scene, making their stand.
If we're not going to have Chinese fans at BlizzCon, I want the French fans there.
I'll take one of the best.
Maybe not even second best, but you gave me the choice.
I went around and had the French fans in France, but yeah.
That was the show right now.
You're a bit of a, you love you.
Maybe we'll get back there for another World Cup in the future.
But remember, this team is a number of Team Peps members.
One of their teammates is on the other side of this stage.
Rav, of course, of Team Demark, who spent all summer
helping that Peps team get back into OWCS.
had a legendary 15-0, 45-0 run, and many of those players, of course, are here.
I think Zaryon is a great warrior, he's a face of mass.
Just diabolical.
Zaryon, I think, is a fantastic flex support player.
One of the standout carries early on in her, like Rain of Terrorite, and this team I think
are really well-rounded, and Crocs is kind of the truth, as it turns out, is D1 players,
they were astonishing.
And I want this team to make it to BlizzCon so bad.
I mean, when we were in Paris through the MSC, there were so many peps chance and they weren't even there.
They were amazing bro.
Just such a strong fan base, you know, FFA, the French broadcast always an awesome time to be around them.
So I'm hoping they can get through to BlizzCon.
Yeah, I would definitely love to see it, especially the energy that they're showing on stage.
But this is a Denmark that is looking to make that qualification.
They missed out on the 2023 event of OWWC, not being able to qualify out of that EMEA conference.
And we already heard, you know, Krox excited to have this head to head up against Sky Tour.
And it's been interesting to see because Krox was, it feels like Dimon was made for him, right?
How are you feeling about the head to head with Sky Tour? It's kind of like Sky Tour.
I think by Sky Tour is someone who also wants to be on a playmaking tank.
They were someone who was like suit forcing Winston like last year in OWCS, you know, right before the fall off.
So I think it's honestly for any of those tank players, we'd love to try and make the play for the team.
It's going to be a fantastic look these guys not first of all very handsome
But this one obviously very experienced at the top level in OWCS
The Shockwave just comes out of the woodwork again to play and dominate and he's looking excellent for me
I think it's fun to you know fall in love with like crux or a sky tour
I think the damage dealers is gonna be a really fun matchup head to head
I think this series is fully dependent on the supports John of it's a new avid and Zarya on the FD
Got her like kind of similar where they both like both support lines are playing high for a dress
You're trying to call them inches, so I know you are.
Like, they are so aggressive.
And I mean, whoever gets the better today,
I think out of that matchup is going
to walk away the victory.
Yeah.
I'm super interested how our DPS lines actually
end up interacting.
The Shockwave still have it at that level,
because he will have to have it at that level today.
He's going to find success in it.
And Rav also understands how that Peps core operates.
I wonder if that gives Denmark a little bit
of an info edge here.
Yeah, I would love to see how that looks
to play into this coming matchup.
The little insider secrets there coming in
from Raph is similarity.
And it's also always fun seeing these players
play up against each other on the stage there as well,
because there's so much camaraderie.
Honestly, I feel like we're gonna see a lot of smack talk.
Turn game chat on, please.
I'm begging you, admins.
Match chat on for the love of God.
You could zero in on Crocs on the same team.
We need to see what is being said.
I don't know if it's legal for broadcast.
like that sudden match chat
Let's capture it with the EVS machine
and then
we have to do a little scan
to make sure it's good
Yesterday watching Crocs play on Shibata
Pro literally stopped dead on the map
and I started seeing this
I'm like why when we're not seeing this
They have that card energy up there, I love it
I love it man
Now it's so funny, the fact that he even like
what clapped after a kill yesterday
as well taking his hands off the keyboard multiple times
which guys
is not a game in which you have to have that like delusional confidence to be able to like
win. That's like the only way you win a series like that.
And I think that confidence has played such a big part in team France. Like even talking
to Croc yesterday, he said to the wrestling team who's kind of almost not quite sad,
but they felt the pressure of being in this group going up against South Korea. They thought
it was going to be difficult. And he was the guy being like, what are you talking
We got this. And when you have a guy like that on your team, the difference that you can make in the server to be able to really just rejuvenate that kind of energy is unreal.
If there's one thing that being a part of the Overwatch scene for a long time as a competitor should teach you, it's realism.
Right? Given how dominant South Korea have been so long over the years, but these guys have none of that. They've just thrown it out the window.
And the very first ever best team in Overwatch or French Melty eSports back in beta
We're like the first team that really shot to the stars and had like such a dominant showing early on feel like that history
Far away with some echoes in this team. I mean, that's that's the beat. I don't know the beat
2016 is 10 years ago. There's a very proud history. These guys are proud and they work hard to get here that beats our career
I mean, who can I guess team China can sort of post that same Kaleid right having done that before, but it takes a hell of a team to do that
It absolutely does. They were one of the only teams that had done it previously in 2019 in that group stage alongside team USA
We do have our predictions for this France versus Denmark matchup now here as well guys. I had to go with the crocs or on this one
I think that's totally understandable with the fact that demon has thrown such a wrench into the meta for a lot of these teams
He looks like the best demon in the world right now. Yeah, I mean, I would agree. I think Crocs looks unbelievable
In that role I went with France as well and I
Handsome but they're looking to win this game. I have France win this one as well
This was supposed to be like the decide of who like sneaks out of this of this group in second place
So if Denmark can put a strong showing on here, I've got questions about how this group looks entirely.
South Korea might not be going to BlizzCon at that rate.
This is going to be a huge litmus test here for Team Denmark.
For France, they are riding a high after yesterday's win.
Let's see if they can take that to an O or a Denmark.
We'll be able to clap back.
Vision successful.
Made a multi-exports reference in the current year in a live broadcast.
My work here is done.
France are going to be choosing to go with Samoa first up.
And again it is Dipkio Crox, Zerion, FD God up against Shockwave, Rav, SkyTor, Johan and
Jonovic. We've got the Lucio ban here for France. It's like protecting Cat, protecting
Kiri as well, and Bastion ban. No surprise here, so already our ban strategy centers around
that particular Cat Bastion combination. It's been a while since FD God has been a Lucio one
showing us a hell of a lot and also being an early adopter I think of the
the jet-packed cat paradigm. You just subbed that fashion out though or a
Cassidy and you're kind of right back in the mix so we'll see the TPs here from
both these players the most likely we're just gonna get the up tracer
head-to-head as Crocs and SkyTour are two friends going added here on the
Demon again for essentially a guaranteed spot after this call on the line
They're marked if they have to write the fashion club here in the frito fashion
But here's where the running hits the road a shockwave gets right already cost is barking
Yeah, he's in his element and he looks for the fight
Yeah, he's like talking to himself. He's so locked in. No, he's doing his teammates. He's like bro these guys they have nothing on us
I think it's also like
You have a player with that mentality, just kind of like what it can do for the rest of the team, right?
That confidence is contagious.
Dude, I would want to, if I was to compete at this, I would want to trade up PsychoPathomage.
Yeah, like, I want that energy, because at some point, it wraps up.
At some point, you start to believe.
The biggest hurdle, if theory has already been crossed for France,
they certainly don't want to look at their foot off the gas,
but they don't seem like that's really on the card, that whole shockwave.
Bye-bye.
Well not only is FDGuy doing a great job just kind of getting Crocs in the mix
but then also like Crocs gets there and on top of a shockwave and shockwave is
like you know putting a lot of damage down into Crocs but it's actually the
healing from FDGuy, you know really kind of playing that game on another level this is just a game.
Oh you're trying to bloody block it back out of the map.
You can't get the keyboard crossed.
Oh, brutal.
Now, how's this guy going from a Roadhog 1 trick, you know, cheesy guy playing, you know,
in like low OWCS to absolute giga-chat.
I mean, look, you get that chance at the top level, right?
You're gonna sneak in playing some heroes and, oh, I said, what in the world?
You're just gonna have a hero release like this that's gonna please exactly to how he wants to go.
It's about as much fun as getting out of sitting down and cross his leaving his dream
I mean, uh
French are gonna get in the back after this. They're gonna try and talk to the
Doctor Fernando now moving the bracket up to tomorrow. They're like
Keep it locked the patch lock it does just feel right when strats are at their best here in Overwatch
is
Yeah, he's out of his back and there was a hop on there from deep-eyed.
His aggression is far too much to handle.
And the snowball who hit that first flight has basically taken us the entire map.
I just did not expect like...
I mean, look, we're round one here, right?
But this is a...
Oh!
Oh!
Oh!
This is a beatdown, man.
I mean...
Ah, you can hear it here in the venue.
The French players, they are just vibing right now.
right now.
Krox just put his hands out.
He just played his hands out.
So what are you doing?
What are you doing here?
They are letting them have it.
I love it.
Oh man.
Who decided to put Krox and Xerion on the same team, bro?
This is terrifying.
The amount...
Oh god.
Krox is typing like crazy.
Oi!
Let me see the game chat, bro, please!
What do you think, back?
I mean, France has so many legendary players, right?
Soon.
AKM, like, you know, supports would be like, you won't go wins, right?
Like players like that.
You know, it's just been a very long time since they've kind of ascended to that level.
Like, you know, you thought about those French teams that would go to BlizzCon as like...
...Top 2, Top 3, like, at worst, right?
The French players you named weren't even in that first, like, wave of French pros as well.
I don't know what it is about these guys, man.
The nation produces killers out there in the esports world.
Right, it's all very much in the demon head-to-head.
SkyTor has been getting run over so far in shotguns.
You have to find an angle of this away into the game, so far he's been a spectator.
SkyTort just loses like all his health and Crocs are full HP, they have to be so careful.
Kid this demon alive is...
That child on the death would have been huge, probably finish off the tracer there.
Cross just looking to pressure Shotgun down, nice little connection with the jab.
Shotgun has forced off his sideline.
And in this window, Gio can do so much as the lone Cassie that can get to play the game.
Both Cross and SkyTort, though, they strike at the DPS line of their opponents.
Drop A even dip for the light, he's a little bit low here, he's waiting to die frankly.
Almost gets a DMG.
And the point does go over to Denmark early on.
Zahrax just flying through the sky there in the help of a D-Gun.
Nice TP away there from Daryon.
Just dropped a demon down on top.
The Aatrox here without DPS though could be a struggle.
It didn't jump back in the fight, but the Flush announced himself fine to go ham already.
Rav has to avail himself of the health pack in order to stay fighting fit.
And a mummy-tea like, says sky to a jolly tool, so struggling and off with his head!
Shockwave flattens!
Just a great job of collapsing here.
I say constantly, but like, watch how FD God plays.
Like, obviously we watch a lot of this through Proxxus POV.
FD God is the one who really enables a lot of this, doing a great job.
Just kind of like solo, like they both play on an island, like kind of let the tracer play off in another direction.
And if you got just has a great sense of like when to really be focused on healing crocs when they're actually kind of you're damaged
I think I used to be known for being too aggressive over aggressive over the last few years though
He's actually been one of the safest the most consistent
survivable
Backline is ever but he's always gravitated towards these playmaking support roles Lucio Brick and that jet pack
That's just that's just rude. Do we need to be doing that right now? That is insane
Yeah, I mean, Johnowich does get one off the side.
Rab's gonna get dip, and because Croc ends up losing his neck,
this is gonna be a point flip for Denmark,
so all the highlights coming out from France,
but Denmark able to flip at the moment.
That just needs to slow the game down.
I'll see a bit of a rough start for Denmark.
Rabnick's extremely dialed in here.
Blind Jedi is here for both sides, right?
Stoinoons.
We'll look back.
Looks like there's been more patience now. He's here with a flyby.
Jonovic's able to get to safety just in time.
He's here with some free damage now. And here is the fight in the frontline.
Sky Torps with a little bit of great crux. He's taking quite low.
There's the hindrance grenade.
What was that? Do it!
Somehow, Opticons defied death, but not for long enough.
Mega health pack of eights, and we're down to death mark, yeah? 72.
They're gonna have both demons out of mech.
And somehow they're able to keep SkyTour alive, is Denmark trying to tie this one up at one round of peace.
Now you look, we're gonna have a clean fight across the board here, right? No ultimates to work with.
I'm looking at how Crocs and FD got me can play for Shockwave.
Grav's starting to come alive as well.
Oh no, Demon and Max, that's gonna be brutal. Will the Crocs will get on? Get a touch?
I mean, there's a case to be made there for... it's quite true running off the map.
As soon as that fight ends.
It would've had them really early, yeah, yeah, really early, yeah.
And you have to move over to get back, you wouldn't have to be quick.
That's why we could also disengage and come back, it's fine.
I'm sure about that one.
Regardless, Files have a bit of catching up to do now.
Very unclose to a good suede rush, though.
My eyes are on crooks in the front line with that haste buff.
See Shockwave flying through the sky?
Gonna be able to kinda communicate that to Keo, right?
Get Keo out of the way.
Don't want your headscan to get flaps upon his shockwave, but then you're slowly going to land right on top of the mega.
But it gets dropped down so he's no longer being carried through by the captain.
Playing for a long pipe here is not good for Jett Martin.
We've got this consumer on the other side.
It's coming! Oh lord he's coming! Suzu hit the shockwave!
We're living it up dead high!
Come on you can't serious!
FD God gets the final answer there, but Q falls down so much.
In fact, Ketzer found connection.
It was fine to round the game.
France now are one last charge back towards victory.
Back towards victory.
I can't distance him from dip.
He just pulse bomb the mega health pack to force his opponent away.
Gross.
Will they be able to get a touch?
It's gonna be Crocs just boxing Sky into her out here putting so much damage.
You can play this aggressive.
You just try to deny them the touch and it'll be...
Grab who gets there.
It's gonna be the recall you straight away.
There's it back.
Ah, that's a player.
You're gonna be careful, Jonovic.
I mean if he plays inside that room he's gonna get picked off here.
No escape.
finds it. That's going towards the charge forward on the point with that shield has been popped.
He'll set up for some poke for the time being. Crox was DMET in fairness, but Yo-Ham is forward.
Now it's on dip. The only damage deal is currently alive for France, but getting that DMET is massive
and the cat-map cleared to potentially ensure the elimination. FD God finds a scratch with
the pause and now Raph has to recall again. No touch. No chance. France takes a moa.
Just the way they are synced between Crocs and FD God, they just look different here at the moment.
What is this damage?
1k damage there, as a SkyTron, it looks like 5k.
Two deaths for Crocs.
You don't do that to your friend, bro.
You say you guys are friends, bro, you don't do that to your friend.
You don't double out the damage like that.
You try to win the video game, bro.
I'm sorry, but friendship's out of the window.
You try to get the BlizzCon, bro.
me against you the tango
Do we have a play to get you telling talent takedown?
Yeah, probably. I was on the theater though so
So that is I think if you are Denmark
Don't I hope to be about
opting out of the D-Morning
No, I actually think you want to camp down
Okay, I think you want to camp down
I I think you got is like so
Such an enabler for crocs
I would rather try without the cat first.
And then FDGods hero pools expanded, but like not, you know, you're not playing like on it here, right?
It's really kind of like Curie Lucio. I mean yeah like you know is there
But the fact that those little types of heroes we're discussing like would put them in such a
Point I know yeah, it's not a disadvantage, but it would actually kind of I think
Make it easier to punish crops and then put like if we see Sky Tor a lot of the time
He's taking so much damage kind of getting in it's just not the same way they're playing in style
I think you got to get rid of the cat
Yeah, we'll see if that is gonna be the ban choice coming to the next map on solution would be now available get again
And that made you like friends
Dan Lucio
Early on is to protect the cat. Yeah, right?
Because you see the Bastion ban on the other side. So clearly like there's no maybe can't bashing a worry
I
Think if you're Denmark, I would you know, do you play?
thing like
quite like a neon junction maybe and they'll get rid of cat. That's a possibility. Sure,
I think. Yeah, it's probably your first port of call here. Yeah, pretty good on Lucio
still. I think he's like a decent spot, especially if we, you know, I think Sam Barrie is
like a pretty acceptable answer to limit break, right? Like while that damage amp is there,
I think he's got a good shot, but he'll carry you through that big go.
Obviously, it's not the premium pick and not something that FDGod has been trying to avail
himself of all too rapidly, but you know, in the previous series we saw Thailand just
really trying to avoid trying to play the demon and they were banning it and they're
trying to just pick Sigma or you know, well it didn't really work for them, so I don't
know if I would recommend that strategy for Denmark.
I will say though that I was a little bit worried about parodying this game on
that first round.
It really felt like Denmark were a little bit shell shocked, Crocs has been allowed
to be a little bit too much.
The second round, much more competitive, right?
Crocs is getting punished for these over-aggressions,
and I think that's probably where you start
in terms of your strategy for answering questions.
Can we bait Crocs in,
or can we at least set things up
to be outnumbered him if he overextends?
Right, make that much more punishing.
Yeah, but like,
are you ever really overextended
if you have the tool to get away and the cat?
Right, the conversation starts earlier,
but not about banning the cat.
Are you ever truly a cat?
Yeah, you are truly a recommended cat ban that part.
Like it's not a solution
like characters in the rest of the series because then you would have to try and target the other side of that comp and
right this guy's all like quite old on the demo it's just hard to shine I guess you could play something like a shambali
and
You know, maybe they can't stays and you feel like you can play some like kind of a longer range
But if you played shambali you actually
No, it's like if you ban demon there
I ain't demon is like more dangerous on like you know in like a new drunk city or something like that
right so you probably wouldn't want to ban the demon like shambali and then ban cat would be interesting
yes and then play like you can play sigma comps like play like a little bit for poke yeah I can
think about shambali so I still think if you're you're attacking on that map the lucia would
might be enough to give you the mobility that you need Tristan gonna be i can go but but then
Denmark's first outing against Colombia was off that telly in terms of...
Right, they didn't learn a lot.
I don't really know if they would feel comfortable opting out of the catmatch up, they feel like
that should be their bread of butter going forward.
They have a similar take on the game to France right now.
Their comfort picks are similar than I'm worried, right?
If you want to try to find a point of difference of this,
you need to attack this like demon cat compound
a couple of different axes.
Because like we talked about,
you only have that one opportunity to ban the cat out.
After that, you've got to figure it out.
They defer.
So they defer the ban over to France.
France actually,
France probably thinks they're actually going to target
the demon here so they get rid of Diva.
I'm curious if Denmark goes with a cat.
Interesting.
I can surprise that France are more invested
in protecting the demon and then the cat coming to this map.
You could make another support there, right?
Mercy.
Yeah, I mean, you could play Lucio here, right?
It would be sim, interesting.
We have not seen much sim play at all, I feel like.
Well, in fairness, we've not seen much I can play.
That's true.
There might be something that just has a merge,
obviously through scrims.
It does work.
The cat bastion's pretty good here.
I mean, you all have demon into the mix.
Yeah, I mean, frankly, I think what has gotten
France here is not interrupted whatsoever. We covered them, obviously in their group stages,
right, in their conference and they dominated and they didn't have to lean on a symmetric
comp here. So it's interesting to me that they obviously know something we don't. Again,
it's like Ram, who was alongside many of these players, you know, in FaceIt Master helped
them get back into OWCS. So perhaps there's something at work here that we've not perceived
ourselves. Off to Ike and Valdafox, Denmark with a bounce back, I think, you know,
And that second half of Samoa, but not enough to be convincing, not enough to make us feel
like they can dominate in the Demon Cat era.
Yeah, I'd be slightly disappointed if this is just Denmark opting in the like cat fashion
Demon, you know, Cassidy, I think they kind of need to, at least like what we saw, yeah
at least like off of what we saw in map number one, I'd like to see them, you know,
the game up a little bit it feels like that is so comfortable for France at the
moment at least right now I would I guess consider the nine areas that
they were just gonna keep running it back right so I never know what the
diva was for here but one thing's for sure the demon is protected and get
packed up was not targeted so identical comps to the previous map gonna be
I'm starting out on defense now. Remember, attackers have more there.
Trains are going to get airdropped behind.
Raph can take up in the hunting lots here.
I'm going to find another front that's going to set up, and then play further forward.
Crocs is looking for everyone.
Chirry to bully SkyTorrent is in the series so far.
Shield is completely gone. So low.
Good damage from Shockwave though to force Crocs back.
Sometimes it just feels like Crocs has more HP than SkyTorrent.
No way!
Obviously they have the same HP, it just feels like at a time.
I got the wave of Crocs.
He's looking to try and hold back in the backlight.
Bro, he's everywhere right now.
Shotplay loses out.
Nick finds that pick.
Jonovic is barely alive.
And Crocs knows to chase the cap down.
Damn, that is a nasty one-two punch.
I think it's just like, honestly, it's like,
what I talked about in the pregame for this map.
Like, I think FD got it.
It's just really kind of showing another level to his cat.
And his combination of Crocs, this is really good here.
For France.
Could be bad.
Tramp force that recall out.
Now we've seen Diptych on a hundred guerrillas, so I think he can handle Raph.
He probably has to do that anymore.
What a team.
This is...
No, I'm gonna finish this.
I mean, he's just playing so aggressive. Like, there is no fear.
Sky Torch, 13%!
I know, I just sold out.
You know, we didn't get a chance to see if he actually got the neck and went back and swapped, right?
I would agree, said, but...
Yeah, that's possible.
Procs at 79%
All right, ducks in a row now for Denmark.
I think it's ready to go.
We're going to find this Racco to get into the back line.
Here's Shockwave.
Dead Eye in the make.
He's going to do the works.
Pressure to cap down.
There is good purchase off the flashback.
Derry Dodgers away!
And there it is.
Nice pulse from Dip.
Even something like it for a time.
Keown lost.
France definitely falling behind somewhat.
Dip finally chased down by Racco.
He's just had a furrowed brow.
Ever since this series has started.
Ultra concentrated.
I would have knocked Crocs out of the back.
Yeah, I mean, that is heroic there from Rav.
Nice pull strong that connects on the Crocs, even though he has the limit break.
Oh, hold on, he really got killed.
What?
Hi, Ronald!
Hey, don't even ask me why.
What a flashbang, that was actually deadly.
Rav, what's the other...
This is a strafe away from it, and here comes Skytoe to the rescue.
See, Femon Ronald.
No!
No way, FD gone!
They're gonna clutch this.
That is such a big pick up.
Crocs is back on the Doomfist.
You think he's trolling.
Why is everything as yo-am using the Pipsune Rush here?
Stop it, he's just running away!
Coach does throw down, eventually.
Pipsune still alive, but Jonowich gonna cap the point on his arm,
and he's like, Jeff, Piper, what is this game?
Behing yourselves!
Oh, oh, that Pipsune Rush, that was...
That one sent me there for a sec.
They're still able to get on through it.
Jonowich just kind of solo-cat taking the point there.
Bruce getting carved down, here we go flying through the sky, so we get a trade.
This cat Cassidy has been massive for a while.
We're a jungle, it should scrap. As long as he doesn't finish anybody with the cat now.
I think he might have gone after Crocs, but Crocs is already in the process of being de-mech as possible.
So in that window, like FD God as well on the previous map, was not able to grab Sky Tour.
Okay, it's all about shot play as far as I'm concerned.
It's a brass pass. I'm ready to go if it's looking wrong, but chop over the flyover going after the god
I like this attempt here from demo 30 in high ground control, right?
Cannot allow just a six in up here at the top of the castle
That's basically a solo kill lefty God gets credit, but it was all about the carry there
Beautiful what the heck both support? Yeah, but backlight is down. It looks like Crocs went over the edge of the jump
Pygmykyo is in trouble. Not quite a scape. It's area of entry pulls.
The foe supports just die to the damage from a limit break.
This one is like, well, then a TDM feels like this.
So, for France, you still have this Kitsune rush, right?
You know, great opportunity to kind of like get up to the top of the castle door, drop it out, you know, get everybody with full effect.
He's dropping a great hopper, Paul's going to hit it, things better over, but it's really
rushed in flight.
Dispression of the bit upon a ball for the Danes.
Okay, I like the expected flashbang towards the backline, so I told his D-Mecto, it feels
like it's an Eloise.
Or a sick Reaper for Denmark.
It's so important for Franco, right, that now they can get back to high ground control.
Trying to stagger out of your hand there a little bit, but worried obviously, kill
potential of the Kiri, so.
Now, you're France, let's try and stabilize, right?
Ground control here
If I knew I'll enter and roll you obviously live a break. Yeah, I'm stating
Sky new no available right now a lot of cover especially between play like payload here, too
It enforced them back down and parcel if that's what they're coming from
My drop the exit spite it over
Yeah, Ham has a continue rush back that was easy to pull this is gonna be awesome
Yeah, Johnowitz here
Right you're gonna be able to kind of carry in shockwave and then also the cat-man we saw how clutch
Don't which was on point one
Yeah, this is my name
That's frustrating for Shockwave. It feels like a gold opportunity.
He's the best captain in progress. Those Skytools are going to be stuck out even further.
Trying to watch him get one there.
Oh, it doesn't look like it.
Just damage here, though.
Nice escape.
Nice shots there on Johan.
Yeah, and the cart is being contested.
They're hoping Graf can actually move the payload a little bit further.
a little bit further, drop fighters back, but look at that, really nice shot from dip
there to just kind of like manage that tracer 1v1 there over on the payload.
15 seconds back, while we've been having the time of our lives, Denmark have been struggling.
Nice shots there at range there from Keo.
Yeah, remember that, that's the ticking damage doesn't scale with this, so you can overcome
like your damage fall off by hitting those right clicks at range.
Alright, that was so precious.
Yeah, actually, you know what? I'm actually okay with the other one.
Yeah, yeah, we're fine. We're fine where it ended.
We're good. Again, yeah.
It's the Katzen, one of the most awkward spots for Ikevalu. It's the longest possible distance from spawn to objective.
They recall force there, right?
They then like, you know, D.Va like this ultimate like flying mobility up to the high ground.
It's really not a lot of pathways.
Especially with the Katzen taking some damage early on, right?
We saw it from Kyospeva.
Spearly yeah as it stands very achievable goal here for France to end the map
Not even quite getting to the castle battlements
Look, I would say that like shockwave for me was pairing up nicely with John which they
Decent moments on Cassie especially is that but like flash if he got a midair like get some get the like aoe on to him
They don't get point one unless John which like what you like wins like a play to
One your hands get to their rush is critical in order for them to take that point in the end
Yeah, yeah, I guess.
Yeah, we got the Hazebuff for Double Witching.
Yeah.
You should make a video about it after this.
I mean, we actually don't like, we see, I don't know if you actually didn't get it
off.
I think you actually kind of like died.
It might have been a rush to the windup.
Yeah, I didn't see the windup.
I think it doesn't wind up.
Again, it's a very tight situation.
I feel like if you're in like a 2v2, you can get a rush off and maybe your
teammate can like abuse the Hazebuff.
Well, I think he had Shockwave there with him and then I think Rath maybe there at the same time.
I would definitely give it a cast.
Give him a few more combat rolls would be pretty cool.
Either way, we got a race.
One chick, one chick one rather, 115 meters.
But we talk about how, you know, in the setup with Ash, about how aggressive both his support lines are, right?
Like, you kind of have plays like that that happen, but also you get the positive.
This guy is almost getting body blocked here.
He's taking too much damage from this. He's too far forward.
Foxe having to get up behind him now, but look at the heal pressure.
No one else on this Navy's team is going to get healed.
That's what Jonovic is like, what? Constantly.
Too much heal pressure.
That's how you punish ball positioning.
He right here.
Okay, being pushed down by Raph does hit the grenade,
so at least ensures that he's right.
Very good.
I love to get like a...
Like how much time does he actually get his hands on the keyboard
versus just...
Like, up in the air.
Easier for a good time, I respect it.
5 minutes 40 on the clock, and it's about a time.
That's the early attempt here for taking down some of the battle mode control.
We're here.
What are we doing, Crox?
What are we doing, buddy?
We are.
Up on that high ground behind.
Oh, shut up!
No, no, no, no, no, no, no!
Do I have the Cassidy?
There's a lot to do here.
Crox is definitely surrounded by a lot of foes.
And dip it enough into the Cassidy.
Still, there's still a lot of other late swaps sides of the map.
Would the door not open yet?
Yorunkus would step away though, and the Skytron would go baiting it to try to find a Kiri with Swift Step available!
To play the out of position!
That was not where Skytron needed to be in the end!
And uh, it's really unfortunate, it's changed!
Grants so dialed in on this comp though...
I mean...
It's like we're a little bit upset with Denmark, like with the band, like the sim, I just don't think like we have not seen sim really at all.
Uh...
No for Henshaw, look at this, the Limberbrake maybe here, set up, oh yeah, we'll do it.
For any reason.
Croc's just gonna be having to buy a little bit of time, I guess.
Gonna get just, uh, Rift down.
Find a full, uh, Jutsu no Rukh out of your hand potentially.
Dead on to the top. Sky Torn.
It'll be safe for the children.
Oh! Affiliate!
Chop over the periphery, just picked out one second too long, and that could cost them the map!
Croc's gonna run Sky Torn down, no escape!
None whatsoever!
And now across to get back up on that higher ground and you are smooth sailing. Yeah, I had a more fight for France
I can't have available here race like a great start with a lot of environmental potential
Tune a rush as well limit break held on. Oh, this is really nice 3p here
Oh nice beat there by Shockley
Nicely done, like a flashbang that came out so yeah, he can't have this in quite work
Shocker goes down, looks to that giver is wrapped, picked off
Prox now is going to return to the fight after giving himself a major health break, but he doesn't even need to be there.
We consider it right now to be a lot of heavy lifting.
Kio is able to basically make it impossible for SkyTorps to get any leverage here.
I see that McDonough, which would have scorned with the demo.
you
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You would never know, it's just so much confidence.
And that's how you get wins, right?
Getting a reverse sweep against South 3 last year, right?
You haven't had players who just like,
ah, who cares?
You need someone who can get you started.
You get the vibes back up.
We've got a team of people that are kind of quiet
and maybe the ultra-realists,
like, oh, let's just do our best guys.
Let's try and, you know,
you want someone who's like,
no, we're going to pick up these guys.
We've been kind of looking out at the stage,
from like where we're casting from and like uh you know crocs obviously kind of like doing his thing
but like those arians like laughing if you got as well like it's kind of like you know it feels like
at least from afar it's like brightening the kind of vibe of the team and you know those guys playing
a lot looser you know a lot freer as well making their games even better yeah and uh again the
way out of all my these like this time here before i said in this game right this one
virtually guaranteed then they can start to think about you know like okay what was the
the next step like you wouldn't hear like how where's the game going meta wise
he's still gonna be like abusing demon we're gonna do just to be which seems like
yeah this feels like a map though that like you can ban demon and maybe you're
not as worried with the cat right yeah essentially hey man you're thinking
about like okay like if we can take that one okay they ban the cat okay
why does this preclude you from playing the art look okay you have a
couple of flash points here that like a pretty annoying in terms of the
But there are also some flashpoints where Jetpack Hatch is not that cool, but hey, it's, you know, you're a little hemmed in sometimes, like, you know, fence, for example, maybe, like, not the safest one to play.
Marga. Okay, okay.
France are almost intuitive, which that Denmark are trying to opt out of a demon mirror.
Well, and if you were Denmark, maybe the fallback to the demon would have been the Marga, and now it's gone.
You talked about it a lot in the previous series.
Yeah.
Or wanting to see it.
Yeah, we frankly didn't.
So now I guess
You know you're putting fd god unlike Lucio. That's like, you know, he's not super worried about that. All right
I mean, that's kind of like what he's known for that. I do think fd gods
Cat is unbelievable here in Busan. So I'm yeah, I also like with Lucio coming back into your composition assuming that is the idea
I just think this speed is so it's trying to see it
You also have access to now like more that that a very powerful team wide utility all right
You can't answer those moments like, oh, it's a high burst damage.
I don't feel like France is going to be too upset.
There was a question, no matter if they do feel like the challenges that demon faces vertically,
I'm going to make you want to play something else.
I don't think so, especially on New Jump, there's not, you know, it's not like a map
where there's going to be like tons of verticality you're trying to fight for and challenge
for, right?
I think you're still going to be fine.
It's also really fun that we get an opportunity, we've done this for so long, to see a player
like FDGUN, the trajectory coming in, really like this star player, Lucio.
And then I think people started to be like, oh, they're like so many deaths all over the
place.
And I feel like now he is really matured as a player where one of the, you know, can
still play aggressive but kind of knows the limits a little bit more.
He feels like he doesn't need to make those hero plays.
I could have bought such a great example of this, where he like turns into a heal bot
because he knows that Crox is just going to be running it down, and that's why Crox is
able to have double the damage off Sky Tour with half the deaths.
So now whenever here for Denmark, they want to insert themselves back into the conversation
in terms of this group.
It's not all loss for them, because a loss here would then necessitate them following
the footsteps of France and taking South Korea to task.
And if I know South Korea, if I know those players and that coach Moon, they
They will never let lightning strike twice.
Let's see what Denmark has here.
The vendetta could be a good pick, right?
Vendetta can obviously do a ton of damage.
They could match up with the demon, no?
I mean, if that's even possible right now.
Probably less bad.
And Shockwave is going to play a sewage here, so...
So, let's go back to this.
Oh, this guy's got the ability.
I mean, he's dead.
He might be dead to you.
Hey, now I'm going to give him a bit of grab.
He's very, very deep.
Well, crap.
Crap just happens to be there.
Catch the wrong side of the plate.
And that was at the place.
Just a minute.
5-4-5.
You're able to just kind of pay attention
in a lot of these fights.
Or when they kick off.
I'm going to get rid of her.
We are done.
When they kick off, SkyTour, it feels like no armor before the fight even kicks off.
And then you also see the amount of just chaos that Crocs and Suze and the other team.
I mean, already it's 70% all, one fight.
Chaka here has to trans back a little bit now.
Chaka which kicked off early in the game so low, Crocs is just killing you all!
Who's telling you about this man?
Somebody stop him!
With no demon man, it's kinda, kinda a bit silly with how this is gone. It's using so good as, uh...
Yeah, I feel for Sky Tour. It's Stacker's Obligator.
Oh, hey, let's get the speed.
Not even Ravage forced to dash away.
Okay, Ravage recall forced, so I had to actually just kinda get all the way in the spawn.
Oh, it has a limit break.
See your house at 3am.
Where is he?
He's playing like he's invincible.
Is he playing Tracer?
Okay, a little bit risky here, but still,
I mean, if you're good enough, you can pull it off.
If the god goes in after him, Keo
is handled by Slytherin.
He's very low. Is there an opportunity to get him?
He won't get him. Yes, there he is!
That's huge!
Even if Chaka gets a point, he's killed cross to the skill.
I'm afraid he's just going to do something ridiculous.
He's getting chopped up,
staggering Sky Torf,
doing a hokey poke with his hands.
Shockwave might be a little bit of an issue for him
He's playing like he has double...
No, no, no, no, no, no
I've seen enough, that is disgusting!
He's playing like he has double HP
But what the hell is he doing?
That is...
Geneva, get on the phone
I mean, it's a little bit of a throwaway of the alternate
I mean, yeah, it's fun in the moment
Okay, Dweef, I'm having fun in the moment
I'm having fun in the moment
Fun of the moment
Shockwave does get stucked out a bit more.
The flashbang's kicked up.
Oh, well, apparently, SkyTor is out of mech again.
I do think this mech was demon-strike is interesting for, you know, Denmark.
It's a look.
You're quite nimble, right? A hardly hit, got a small hitbox.
I respect that.
Oh, look!
Both teams, like, playing the same backline, playing the same tank...
They're not playing the same game.
Yes.
It's just France feels like they have really...
Mastered how to play this kind of demon style overclocked used by Shockweed here
So nice shots there. It's like you get Zerion that it's huge
How are you supposed to like all the mobility that Soja has is still not enough because DIP is right there alongside Croc
Still, Gio is it dealt with it again?
Scythe will recognize that the Cassidy is a player with a high barrier
I'm gonna grab up this
Ah, I'm sure we're not gonna-
Oh, he's got a Dampi!
He did it!
Croc's low doesn't get defeat so he's gonna be de-mecked and this limit break now might look to punish the DIP
is causing problems
Raptor reload has to recall out.
Not the post!
Not quite.
Not quite.
The FD guard there
goes for the sound barrier.
He's actually doing an egg with Crocs as he's getting D-Mect.
And this actually kind of swings things now.
Denmark, right? Both support ults here.
In control of the point.
In control of high ground.
How do they keep such a neck while also trying to play
by the aggressive player of Overwatch themselves?
I think that's the...
ultimate in the long term as well.
Let's see, quite a compelling question.
Ah, Krox's back and he's hitting SkyTor, he's ripping, he's tearing.
He's going after his opponent.
Jato, falls back, shield load.
Krox low, doesn't care.
Getting pocketed and SkyTor is ejected once more.
It is Krox as well, you're just living it.
Well, the deny, they use that speed boost, move it on up,
it kind of forces the support up to the high ground
and nobody is able to keep SkyTor healed up.
And everybody on France knows that they just kind of like barrel down on top of the tank of Denmark
And Mitch any that was like an early consumer shy. It's a really nice show by France kiting it
It's not just Crocs. This whole team is kind of clicking right now
Anti-God is looking right at home back on his
Classic pick of Lucio
The sound barrier really looks good to be desired at least he's brought into the cross game play
This is going to be one of our faster series.
France. A lot of people expected this to be a very competitive match. They have just dominated
here. Keo's going to go over and play the Shion. So we're going to kind of ditch the
hitscan all together, play a little bit more of an aggressive style of play. It will be
dead marketing to this Flashpoint first. Crocs does get a mech back, so we get priority
to this next point. Shotwave's gonna have to slip away. Skytour just...
I mean, he's using a different body postcode!
He can't do a damn thing to help Shotwave!
Crocs is coming from very unexpected angles and the Raptors...
They're still not advisable here against this demon.
And there's the V-Soot. Zero out is picked off, low Raptors, five cheers.
But still, like, decisive fight win for France.
Well, like, the Sojourn slide, right?
As soon as, like, Shotwave uses it,
they know exactly where the Sojourn is going,
And then they also have the Lucio speed boost, hell.
Oh, dang, that demon in the position.
We talked about Jipap, capping so instrumental to demon overcoming her immobility, yeah?
But here, with Lucio, you've got more than enough.
Well, there's not a lot of verticality there, right? That's true.
But we just saw them play the Lucio's win on Vence, which obviously is pretty vertical.
Yeah, D-Guy gets that 4 HP there.
Yeah, living on edge, like only he knows how.
Soundbarry here could be good, Crocs just get a bit of a kill, but can they get...
Oh, Daffa, mid's this.
The answer is yes.
Shockwave can't go any further.
It takes for them to get France to move backwards, right?
Continue rush series at least in the hand you had on.
Mate, you used to be this, but not in shockwaves yet.
I do just get a reset for one last fight.
One last shot in this series.
No, they're going for the rush now.
Okay, what?
Infra-penning you for a pound, is what they say.
Your hand does not have a swift step right now
and has no way of getting out to safety.
He's dipped slowly, playing for this food.
Now the DMG there on Sky Tour, and...
And then the Red Sky Tour, like, live here.
I mean, it's like a Sky Tour.
will not be back in time.
There will have to be someone else to get some start,
some stall on the point, and they're running headlong.
It will start to look desperate.
The sound barrier used there coming out of the spawn
is not going to allow anybody to touch.
What a game from Frust.
What a decisive showing.
Making it clear that their victory against South Korea
yesterday was just the beginning.
Denmark was supposed to be their next close competitor.
These two are supposed to be fighting off
for that second spot out of the group.
This group has been turned on its head.
And after one, welcome to our new overlords in blue.
France are a revelation here in Busan.
And they will be such an important part of proceedings
at BlizzCon.
Yeah, really a rough one here for Denmark.
I think obviously the players on Denmark
and everybody associated expected to see better.
Krox 29-1 there.
10k damage.
Thanks for listening.
The lobby is like six and a half k.
Get him out of here.
Yeah, and I think Denmark, like,
they just ran into a buzz saw that is France, which-
What?
If France plays like that, obviously they beat South Korea, but if France plays like that and you know you have this type of meta,
frankly they could just beat everybody. I mean that's how good this team is.
That's what I'm making you think about. I can't say what she's asking the question.
What are you that kind of team?
So KSA does have this player called Forts who consistently kills basically the whole other team.
So, yeah, man, and also they've got, you know, TVNT, who is on holiday at the moment right now, alongside Ziad.
And I'm sure they could sort of, I've got this kind of approach, but France are
riding the blueprint here for teams that I don't know if you could really, you know,
emulate this from Croc, so that you need a pretty purpose-built team with a special,
like I said, special level of delusion. And it's a fun brain of Overwatch to watch, and it's
Overwhelmed.
To lose a series though without banning the demon feels a little bad, right?
Or Denmark 5.
I mean you come into a series right, you practice that comp, you believe in yourself, you think
you can handle them, and you don't have a backup plan, it feels like what happened
to Denmark.
I just didn't feel like, I mean I just didn't believe that there was another option
that could come close.
Or maybe Denmark wanted to play Marge here on this map and it gets banned, right?
That is a good point, and that's quite possible.
But then, like, you know, the argument of trying to take Dmon out of their victory.
Or Jetpack that earlier.
Oh, for 1-1 HP.
And after God, after that, gets a beat, he keeps Crocs in neck, allows France to fall back, heal up, and then win the next fight.
Like, this game wasn't even close.
These two teams, not on the same level, which is wild-ass considering that Denmark have already showed us some great quality, not only in their conference, but so far here in Busan.
They absolutely have and it is not what anybody was expecting when it came down to this matchup because it's not just a 3-0
It was the way in which France were able to win this so
Decisively up against a Denmark that has those pieces like shockwave like skytour
We talked about that tank head-to-head
And how that was gonna look because you mentioned how skytour does have a place out where he does want also be that centerpiece
Yeah, yeah, it looked bad the time I took look bad
But I think there's more that goes into it though, like the cap play from FD God was like really really good.
And like SkyTour a lot of the times, you're going to get in position to put pressure on the Cassidy on like Kyo on the other side.
I mean, it's already like got no armor. I mean, a really rough situation to be in there for the tank.
What was most emblematic to me? Ash was watching SkyTour try and like chase after Kiri.
He just whiffed away and all of a sudden he wasn't with his team.
his team. He wasn't actually able to help peel and fight for them. So it could also be like a matter
of time, a reps issue here, but France, you know, are the fastest adopters of this demon
composition. They're the ones that are making it look the best right now. And I'm not arguing with
a result like that. A three zero decisive win to be top of the group here, too. It's looking
real damn good here for team France. Of course, Group D is still technically open,
but you only now have Columbia in your way.
Congratulations, Dip, for your win today up against Denmark.
I want to talk through, I guess, what the experience has been
like here coming to the big stage, especially knowing
that you got that win yesterday against us.
Korea, we got to talk to Crocs about it.
What's it like playing with a guy like him on your team,
honestly?
I mean, it is too easy.
Like right now, Damon is like so B and you just have
the best demon in the world on your team and there's just nothing to do like Denmark to the
demon mirror all game they just have no chance. Yeah I know I saw you in cracks earlier today and
like obviously you guys thought you were gonna win. Did you think it would be a little closer than that?
I mean I thought Denmark would give you guys some go at times but it felt like you know we were
discussing during the cast it was like you know Sky Tour is at like 50% HP before the fights
even like kick off like you guys looked awesome. I think we're like a much better team but we
We did expect a closer match because I think their strategy was like a lot worse than we expected, so it was kind of a storm.
I think it could have been closer.
Definitely a storm.
That was a storm.
I kind of want to ask about your ban on New Drug City because we were discussing like, okay, obviously Denmark can't win the mirror.
Like what are the options?
Do you guys choose to ban Malgo?
Is that like targeted specifically at them? Do you feel like you kind of read them? You thought they were going to go there?
thinking behind that one.
I mean, for the draft, I kind of just trust my coach.
He thought their best option was to play Mogia
on the side of the green.
They didn't even take this open.
I mean, they could have just banned tank
and still play Mogia, I think, but they just left it open.
Even when they have jetpacked out,
you guys still have a really nice looking
P-Mon composition, right?
Does your job change between those setups?
Does your job change it all over the series,
or are you just trying to make sure
your flyovers are good to get, like, scared eyes
you know, winning the Hitch Camp?
I'm not really, I'm just on Tracer's duty.
I can't expect Tracer to ban us as well,
which did not happen, but not really to be honest.
I'm just making my game, I don't have much to do.
Honestly, Demon is like Thanos in the lobby, so...
I like what he wants to do.
When you have a D-Guard playing a cat like that,
and then Crocs playing Demon,
it has to be pretty nice on Tracer.
Nobody's really focused on you.
It's like you get to play more free in the backline.
Are people looking at you less, do you feel like,
Do you like this comp?
Yeah, kind of.
I mean, Demon is like taking so much attention.
As soon as she pushes the back lane, the back lane has to respect her so much.
It just makes you feel good.
I've got one last question for you, Kyrgyz.
Because you guys are looking so good right now.
And of course, it feels like the conversation was previously about you guys maybe being that battle for second seed.
You guys are looking like that top seed now.
Now between South Korea and Denmark, what are you thinking between this? Who's gonna be joining you guys?
What's the last game this Denmark need to be Korea?
Yeah, yeah, it does need to be Columbia
I'm sure
Okay, I figured so, but I want to see if you maybe have some spicy tea
Okay, well thank you so much for the interview with us Deb, congratulations once again and
can't wait to talk to you later.
Thank you.
It's such a pleasure to be able to chat with Deb guys, but we are going to throw it to
a quick break before we get into our next matchup.
So it is going to be Korea versus Columbia.
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Thank you for watching!
you
you
you
you
you
you
Go play professional basketball, that's good.
You'll be playing it so easy.
Play every instrument or speak every language.
Play every instrument.
every language. Okay, why? I want to speak to people. It's just so much easier. I can
barely speak English at this point. Never feel cold or never feel hot. I knew it instantly.
It's so easy. I like the cold. There you go. That's what I'm saying. You're chilling
then. Welcome back to the Overwatch World Cup group stage here in Busan. We've got
another group D matchup incoming hot for you guys. It's Columbia versus South Korea. And
guys, I've got Jaws and Moxie on the desk with me. Well, I mean, couch, I guess, a very
tiny desk with you. Well, but guys, when it comes down to this matchup, David and Goliath,
that is for sure Columbia, though the first time ever they did qualify to the Overwatch
World Cup in 2023. And back then, now they're in familiar territory because they
were up against South Korea in that group stage as well.
Korea realistically, like, it's like, oh, I'm throwing my guards up, I'm just letting
you guys get, oh, it's still Korea. Although, it's funny, because the way you're teeing this
up, like, hmm, kind of an underdog, like, I'm like, we were thinking the same thing
about France yesterday, so you know, maybe clubby surprises are there?
Potentially. I mean, both of these teams, in a very similar situation, it feels like
in terms of not conforming to the current matter, like Korea's one of the only
It's a potential China that we're still seeing trying to run things like the Sigma and that Mizuki
Columbia, they just don't watch the jetpack cat. They don't like to use the demon
So there's a potential that both of these teams are going to be really happy with each other's bands like taking the cat off of control
For sure, and then the demon a little bit later on too. I'm sure
Yeah, I think it's kind of while we saw the board
If simple can play anybody
But it has definitely been fun to watch the team Columbia.
This is a squad where I feel like the Colombian fans always rise up to support
this team and we have returning faces within Super Gomez as well as
let's see who is the substitute.
And I feel like this player of Super Gomez,
that's kind of who we have our eyes on for Team Columbia to be that rock here
for this squad with the experience that he has.
I know that we've seen Lich as well has been a decent DPS there in the server too.
Yeah, I like Lich and Temp. They've been ranked by us for a whole long time at this point in the North American ladder.
Been peeking their heads in a little bit here and there, and I'm hoping that they get their chance at least on the international stage to prove how good they are.
I think if you look at this team, you're like, okay, Lich and Temp, they are the players I think that are going to step up to the next level, coming over the next level.
Yeah, they had some good fights, right?
Columbia on New Junk City looked really, really strong for the opening fight versus Denmark,
and it was only afterwards that Pelia to be able to adapt to the range put from Shockwave afterwards,
which really haunted them for the remainder of that map.
So maybe now we'll get to see like that same Matt Marguestan composition.
Yeah, and now talking about Korea, who were felled by France yesterday in a massive upset.
This is a core team of crazy raccoons and you also have Sanjian and simple into the next tier as well and it was
Honestly a devastating loss here on home ground. What are we doing out here, man?
What what are we doing?
Reverse sweat, I think that was and I don't think you can really argue that might have been the most
Like crazy is upset of all time. It's horrible. It's horrible for sure
getting reverse wet by France like this this team is free to reckon almost but
I'd say it's in some cases almost operated I think simple is an absolute
nutcase him and Chorong looked really clean on the first couple of maps the
rest of the maps know like nowhere to be found I think this is such a strange
time for career this team to be in because they might not make this
for the first time ever which is ridiculous. Yeah, especially because we've gone from basically saying well everyone else fighting within group D.
They're all fighting for second seed, right? We all sort of took it for just expected. Okay, yeah, Korea.
For sure we'll be making it to BlizzCon. For sure they'll be first seed.
They'll be the grand finals team and now we're sitting here having to say well
What if they don't make it right because what we saw yesterday it wasn't just about the backline
It was also about the fact that that tank line looks fallible right they look really fallible
They had jump and coming in to play the substitution onto like the demon to try and match crocs night and day
That crocs was looking so much better on our hero
I don't know if you saw me turn around a second ago, but the Columbia fans are going to ballast like it is
Insane you've got a whole row of my they've got the flag going on
They got hella signs as well. They are the loudest people in the room right now. Thank you
I mean
Passion the pride goes hard and the pride. Yeah goes crazy and the Korean fans yesterday
extremely quiet. I mean it was ridiculous how silent the arena was. It was a song.
Yeah we need to see the fans rally behind Priya today because to be in this
situation where they did lose yesterday you want to see them amping them up. You
guys can hear the crowd in the back and it is just getting started. It is just
insane I think the mental boom that we witnessed in yesterday's reverse sweep
But that's also not terrifying for team Columbia right because you're gonna be facing up against a South Korean roster that is angry
Oh, yeah
They likely came out of that match because like there were one map away from being able to take that victory and then got
Reverse but which is probably the worst fashion to have to lose a match series because you're just thinking well
We just need one more map to close out one more map to close out if we win like we lose the next one
We get to pick where we go next we get priority on band draft
So it's okay to give one up, but then the second one after it, suddenly that's like hold on, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait
And then you go to that last one, and you're thinking, oh
No, and your co-clicked, like your staff behind you, they will not be happy
It's very likely that Saibkar after that match, they got grabbed off of the desk, hoisted into the broadcast
Saffron, and basically said okay sit down, we're going to look at what we did wrong
And this is how we can fix things for the next time we play, which is today
And as we get it into our predictions guys, I think the clear statement that we have to make about the South Korean roster today is how much of a
Decisive match they want this to be up against Colombia. I had to go of course with South Korea
I it's expected in this a huge overdog in such a head
It just feels it would still feel pretty bad to vote against them. Yeah, I
I vote Korea too. I don't think, I mean, again, surely, surely, I don't think Korea are going to go down here.
There's still a chance for them to make it, although very difficult.
Yeah, I agree. I don't think they're going to go out. I just don't know how clean a win it will be.
And I feel like it has to be a clean win for South Korea to start just stopping some of the fears that have started creeping in after yesterday's defeat.
Yeah, well, for South Korea, they want to make a clean statement in today's match up against Columbia to continue fight for their contention for blizzcon for Columbia. It is an underdog story. Let's get into it.
Thank you very much, Ash. Nepal is our first pick here. Team Korea, you've got to lock it. I don't know how else to say it. I can't say that in Korea.
I don't know how else to say it, because Columbia, in a way like Ash said, they're going to be
facing a rather angry team career. As we see Columbia, they're better than the Jetpack
Cat first.
Yeah, we expected this. Both teams don't really like playing towards it as, okay,
Korea actually will ban the Diva, so potentially they are trying to force this team on. They
did try to match it versus France yesterday to horrible results as we've seen Crocs
just be I think the best game on so far in terms of impressing on that new hero. But we've
also seen Colombia be just as uncomfortable. So potentially jump in here thinks he'll have
the edge over super bonus. Yes. And also, I mean, Max and the roster too. I mean, yes,
we saw that yesterday to be fair, the moxie max being served in and out and yeah, the
Zarya and the sigma, but it didn't really feel like it mattered. No, they tried instead
of playing the Dino versus France first they are they tried to counter it with
Xarya as now we're starting to hear those fans come through in full supporting
that team trying to send them the energy to be able to pull off this win as we
get ready to head into our first sub map of Nepal which will be Shrine yet
again as we've said Dino one of the strongest heroes breaking out here at
the scene in Busan but both of these teams almost allergic it feels to playing her.
not Dino.
Potentially the hotfix caught them on the wads.
I'm still going to mind up for a good kill on Superbomus to start off with.
And I'm sure again you kind of heard it through the mics.
This is Saturday too so a whole lot more people in the audience right now
for those cheers were way louder than they were yesterday for Team Korea.
Well, first fight taken for the side offside Korea
and like instantly swapping off of the tracer onto the Reaper
wanting way more frontwards pressure onto Jimbin
Jimbin on this Malaga trying to pummel through that tank as Junjo on the Genji has the distance.
Very early engagement on the first side of Korea, just slamming down and catching the Lucio.
Yeah, Crescent's on already down, and oh, Sojin. Nice little reset dash.
Now Temp, the only one alive. Give him a life for half a second longer there, but a good team
kill for Team Korea. It feels like Korea, yeah, they'll just go for the close-holds. These are
very fast engage construct. Not a lot of downtime as Stalker's trying to read out where exactly
the rotation is. No jetpack had to put Jumbin up onto the high ground to contest, so instead
it looks like they'll just wrap around and try to cut off the rotation before Colombia can reach point.
I like taking the fight early. Supergirl now's gonna have to be careful into getting stopped there,
but Sondred has already kind of put a large like stop sign in front of Tim. He says,
you know what? You can't shoot anybody else except for me. Sondred got a nice little reset
They're going to get another one too actually.
Chains ended up going down and now,
Korea, they're just going to keep their snowball going.
They've only used that single ult in that rush.
Yeah, I really like the Genji here with this composition.
Right, Jumbum being able to put the pressure on Tampus
like the Power Slides team do with the down hit.
Chains hit it early on the clock.
This is the confidence monster right here.
They need to re-establish that confidence in themselves
and also in the team for the audience.
Nice little teleport forward here.
25% to go though before the point is Korea's.
Tent lands a nice shot on Chorin, who was trying to retreat with the rest of his team, but they haven't got Super Gomez, at least not just yet, so you'll have to wait for the respawn to come in, as we do see Stalker switch over to Farran.
One side of Kivtsunir rush as well, could a light column it stops when Trude onto point, as Jumbin will have the defensive mage cage to set up with that play.
Yeah, Super Gomez, Tent is set away here, and the final fight is coming up in just a moment, but Jumbin's decided he wouldn't take a long view on actually against Tent.
Plague is popped by Zodja and he's that beat to put himself in an aggressive position.
Forces the teleport away from the Kyroko here.
Is the Sambar from Cretaceous, couldn't come at a better time.
Cage deployed, return, Cage is lich, here's the Death Blossom.
A double kill for the Reaper, make that a triple.
And it's finally...
...Landia, we're gonna get the point.
Yep, punishing that really aggressive Sambar from Choron, right?
The baddest side career thought they had it in the bag.
Don't have Sambar defensively, for both the Malaga Cage
all the death blossom in response. Now you don't have to sign bar for the overclock unless you
instantly drop 10th. Well, Columbia still have all of the cards to be able to win out this fight.
Just see some solo heroics here from Sonjin and Stalker.
Now Han's hand actually find the space for you to solve. Not the O'Clock's been popped in
Jim, it's already going down and well. I mean, no more heroics to try here from Sonjin and
Stalker to really secure the fight win. 10th guy's sure that you've already lost Sonjin
Shun and Stalker extremely low, good chase down by Lich, and that's a free kill on Sympil, surely.
Oh, actually gets it with a headshot, but it's all good. Super Gomez, there for the support, and Columbia, hold.
Yep, weight of the world on the shoulders of the DPS, that fight attempts to able to balance it with the help of Lick though, so that career is seen away.
But they're running back fast on points soon, Jen, threatening that back cap, having three fours down.
So the pre-foking session, Super Gomez though, Bows' head ends up turning tail and running.
If I have a flip!
There will be another touch however from Kratos, huh?
Jumbin briefly stunned with so much damage to the front line, Sorka's going to try and chase all the pulse on here.
Super Gomez has to go for the retouch.
Korea in control, that should be the round.
Ten the last one alive.
There you go, round one, over to Korea.
Yeah, Seonjin just puts feet onto point.
Korea, finding the flip, simple has one side to kitsune rush, overtime chunks on through,
and Columbia have no choice but to feed directly into the one-sided Kiriko ult when they have
no response, no defence, no chance of killing through it as well.
But still, back and forth.
South Korea, it looked like they were so decisive, but then that prior aggression
that they had almost playing touch the spawn doors challenge, it started biting them.
12 and 6 from Lich.
Ten didn't really have a good time there at all. Look at that, 3 and 5.
I mean, even Chimby was chasing him too, like, as soon as you saw...
Oh, you're out in the open for some, like...
Oh, you wanna put me head out? That's fine.
I'm just trying to watch you.
You used to kill you.
Tier X could do us a little better here.
Oh, this is gonna be a tough match up for Lich.
Going in to one of the very best.
You got a flara, and we have some Saunja this time.
This is also going to be a tough match up for Super Gomez, who's going to be absolutely
crumbled with cloak damage.
Oh, Lich, can he get killed?
Oh, oh, oh, oh!
Chorong 180, supporting that backline.
Super Gomez has found some nice little space, but they haven't got the bodies ready to finish this fight.
Nice stop coming through from Jumbin, and that'll be that.
Time to rack up the cloak damage as well from the crossfire of this Pharah and the Sojourn.
And that's going to shred through all of the kill opportunities of Kratoson and change Potenti's leading
because someone weak enough for Stalker to pick up before the fight properly kicks off.
Longer rotation, but you can already see Sundrum with the rocket air.
We're just checking to see presence on all of these different lanes
so that South Korea can change where they're holding
and have Stalker in the best possible position.
Super Gunners, this is no choice, he has the wall point.
Yep, just wall.
And unfortunately, Fredisundh can't offer his support now.
Now Stalker gets a nice double, make that a triple.
And there you go. Easy, easy here for Team Korea. Re-invigorated compared to yesterday.
Yeah, look at the charge of ultimates as well.
Poor Kratosundh, like the Lucius Healer, is just so slow.
In comparison to the amount, the speed of burst damage.
Kassunjin and Stalker can chunk through and yet again, shades of shrine.
Closer hold, Temp goes for a temperamental winnable play before swapping to the jump.
Yeah, alright, what as the carry broke down and it's all over.
No chance you win this fight. Best you can hope for is a pick, a career, and not going to give it to you.
They're just going to cycle ultimates now as well, right? Take the fight last before change the contestant.
Oh, who's the champion?
Who's the champion?
Oh, you have to feel like the ultimate economy is just going to warrant one free fight
When here, Lick with the Sintel, of course, but it stalkers the heads!
Barrage of the Gage, Super Gomez just turned away,
Overtured his own eyes to his own demise.
Yep, Korea just playing up, playing the tempo game.
And now you have two ultimates, just Horsage,
Valkylaumbia on that, just Resornship,
Before Criterion has designed Barrage to send the team aggressively forward.
Oh, look at this!
Trayor was on there, the Gage, Korea is already down to the cage,
If you get anybody, I don't matter, no problem.
Boxing, and this one's done.
Zoning object, that was a entirely zoning ultimate.
As, yeah, South Korea, it seems back on form.
Not quite playing the new updated Demon Matter,
but when your opponent won't play the Demon 2, it does not matter.
That is their weakness, apparently, the demon. Or maybe it's just crops. Maybe it's just crops.
Alright, map number one done. A clean two-hole, I'd say, there for Korea.
Feeling a little bit more confident in themselves.
Taking the day, taking the evening, night, just to kind of sit, reflect,
and get themselves back in the game.
is LISKON. Although it's not out of the woods just yet, the chances though for Korea after
losing that game versus France are getting slimmer.
I feel like there was a lot of pressure on South Korea to start this match very dominantly
and that's exactly what they did, right? They could have played it slightly slower
if they wanted to, but they had to make a statement and the statement was indeed
Also, takes away the style that Columbus lived the best on when we've seen them so far this
past week, being able to find engagement opportunities with the Malthasam, feeding up into things like
the Reaper follower, the Shion, the Vendetta, all of it entirely prevented as so much poke,
so much pressure from Jumbin forcing out those power slides early, allowing everyone
You can't just stay on top of the Sotian's position so you don't have to worry about trading down.
This is what I want to see more from Korea, honestly. Just look. Flexing your guns a little bit. Flexing the muscles.
We feel like we're that much better than you. Yeah, let's play this point. Let's play this super aggressive style.
Yeah. Get jumping to, yeah.
Like less macro and literally just win your solo fights.
Exactly. And I think Korea, they have the skill to do that.
We'll see where we want to go for Columbia.
So we've got another match tomorrow.
So again, they're also not out of the woods.
They're two games.
They're more the majority of their games, sorry,
in the last couple of days.
So let's see how they fare.
But for the time being, Team Moon taking off the headset,
ready to lock in and make sure that the team is
practically ready to go.
Columbia obviously hoping they can have their chance
at a big showing honor of LISC on stage.
It's going to be tough. The group was hard for sure.
That's to be said. Definitely one of the favourites coming into the group.
But we've shown things can change a little bit.
At least in this one.
Expect the unexpected. Take nothing for granted.
It seems in the year of 2026 Overwatch Esports,
something I am concerned about for the side of Team Colombia, though.
That was the Jetpacking fan, right?
You only get to use that once.
and now they don't really like playing the jetpack camp, the jetpack compositions themselves,
but that also means that things like the Mauga with the jetpack camp will be available for
Korea to just allow Jun Venti as aggressive but actually be more on target now with his dashes.
You don't have to burn that initial ship to hop over the rooftop, you will instead have a support
to be able to set you up there instead. So maybe we see a van towards the Mauga, just to
to be able to try and take
that off the table. But then
that takes away Columbia's
main strategy themselves
because they've been playing
them out of engagement.
We'll see. We'll see if they
can force them on a demon fight.
Hey, that's where they got
fell yesterday. We'll have to
wait and see where Columbia
want to take us for map number
two. I mean, it's funny,
Ashley's kind of saying,
look, but they've played
before in World Cup's
previous. It's always been
career that has gone all the
way. They've gone the full
distance almost in every
single World Cup, right?
There's three stars on their jersey for a reason.
But times change.
People level up.
Regions level up as well.
And I think the French have definitely
shown that in this group career in 2023.
Again, everybody's expecting them to do very well.
And Saudi Arabia kind of came out of nowhere
and upset a lot of people and ended up taking the trophy.
So I mean, Colombia, there's a chance for them too.
Of course, going down in that kind of fashion
does feel kind of brutal.
But we've got a couple of maps you can choose for next.
Of course, Korea, that was their map choice on the pool.
And Columbia, she's on the same.
OK, we're going for more broad playstyle.
This was, as we said, the strongest
they looked versus Denmark with that Malga engagement
composition, where they could just play very, very up close.
With the Sheon and that repo, I
would expect then Malga to be kept in play.
So what would the band of Columbia be here?
It can't be the cat.
Sojourn?
Sojourn, yeah, potentially take out the Sojourn.
That was one of the issues that Shockwave closed, and it was an issue when they played versus it on the ball, having to deal with the overclocks.
And also having to worry about just the sniper potential of losing someone when you do play that algorithm.
But no, they'll take out the Kira code, so potentially we see more Moira again,
because that was what they did last time.
Bandai at the Kiriko went for the Moira and the Lucius.
Now that is a common.
Let's get it.
I mean, hey, Korea can do the same thing.
They've got simple.
Guy plays everything.
You can play the Moira, Chong plays the Lucius.
No issue.
Brea?
Shion?
Yeah.
Taking out one of the main DPS structures
that Columbia liked to play with this composition
also means that the sojourn remains in play.
So we'll have to see if Columbia learned their lesson from that defeat at the hands of Denmark on this map.
They were able to win a few points of Flashpoint with the composition at first.
It's just a reluctance to swap.
They got into that sort of sunk cost fallacy where both of their DPS had ultimates,
and they felt like they would still be able to use them,
but then they died walking to point before they could use any ult.
And so I got stuck sticking with the hero for way too long, and just had to go all the way with them.
Alright, let's load on in. New Junk City.
I think with...
Jumping, kind of sticking in.
And 7th DPS line, of course, for Korea.
I think realistically, he's not really ever going to trade anybody out.
I think with how strong Korea is, I don't think there's going to be, I think, trading Max in and out short, again, more kind of play time on this stage like this, but I think there'd be more than happy just to keep Junbin in for the rest of the series.
Well, realistically Max would play what? The Sigma? Or the Zarya? And Zarya would be instantly popped by the Mauga.
So, Jump and having more flexibility, being able to play things like the Orisa, the Mauga match, and also if he does feel the need, he can go on to that demon.
We'll have a look and see. There's the moira that we expected, but at the moment, Simple's not actually matching.
It seems like we're going to have a Mizuki Vap teased, so a whole lot of damage on the side of Team Korea's backline.
And also some very good CC, with Churon being able to match up to things like the Reaper Teleport with that chain.
It's the snail's pace of a comp, really, isn't it? With Team Korea.
You're not moving anywhere too quickly, apart from Sonjun, of course.
Well, on the other side of things, Super Gomez and the rest of the gang need to be quick.
While speaking of which, Greta's undead, so that Lucio's fever is unfortunately non-existent anymore.
Jumping in the backline, by the way, he's just got to shoot everybody in the back of the head.
Super Gomez, the eyes kind of averted, was looking at that top rope, looking up at that high ground,
seeing if he can kind of pick people off and aid in a kill.
That lidge was trying to garner, but it is a team career, they're going to win the first fight.
Chasing down 10 who's on the wrong side of the map right now, but should be fine
Yeah, that'll cattle fully employed on the side of June then I have my fortify
I have my traveling spin let's just go send W is super gone
It's what's off of the now go now on to the demon
Tenshi trying to force out that match from June then wanting to be able to punish the light and ability on the backline
It's gonna feel kind of crazy to tend it
Here a quick D-neck. There's a lot of I would say
valuable practice against teams this good too. And then Super Gomez getting the
mech back and quickly desuited again. I mean realistically here you can
stall to the end of this point. It almost feels like Kritt actually let him get the
mech back right so they could extend that stacker because now they've
actually what they've done is they've chained him so that he can't get back to his team.
Bring it on guys!
The demon form and he's denied the rematch which now puts us at
Last fight territory in Colombia don't have a tank to do it.
Oh, it's a mid. Oh, almost at the spear.
Well, 10 does end up going down, so that will be the point.
Yeah, Lich knows that there's no chance.
This one is done, and Korea have 5 ultimates now
to be able to just borrow force the next one.
It was so unsighted as well, the tank being taken out out of one of the supports so quickly.
a lesson's no sound barrier to try to plush out some of the ultimates from Korea first
then kite them out.
Yeah, Sinem, a cool fris 5 ult.
Nice little terrorist there to start things off though.
Naga's great to stun.
Lich shut down, tried to make a big play, but Sonju was right behind him.
Oh dear.
Yeah, went for the deathglosser on that backline.
He gets Cho-Rong at least before Sanctuary can absorb the ultimates, but Tiongjun
still takes the Reaper down and South Korea still takes the point making it now really easy for them to be able to match up to things like their coalescence.
Super Gomez will go for Bazaar to at least have bubbles to help out the engagement opportunities for this Reaper or the Tracer, but he should just be popped instantly by the Pogs.
Yeah, I mean, look, Lidge got bubbles in, no one there.
Ha ha ha, oh no!
It's okay now, we need to use another bubble to get you in again.
Very much more defensive, super-makes playing for the team.
Nice little sticks, gonna drop the Pogswom though.
Here comes the Colour Lessons, 10-match, he forced the recall, still got a Pogswom,
of course, let's take that by simple.
One of the very best flex supports in the world according to Funny Astro.
And now, Stalker, very free on the high ground to basically do hands he pleases.
Oh, there's the Moira. There's the headshot.
And, yeah, the crowd's still fully behind Korea.
As we do see it being last fight now on this point,
an awkward situation now. Tent's going to have to touch.
I mean, dead eye as well, that you're walking directly into
with an untouchable custody.
Cratizen will have the sound barrier
if Columbia wants to try to engage aggressively,
but there's the high noon just on the mouth.
Well, they're going to try. There's defeat.
Doesn't end up hitting the Moira sadly.
But, yeah, straight in front of the window, N'Kronosun is gonna go down to the low ground,
and unfortunately, Stalker gave him a one-way ticket back to Spawn, and that'd be the point.
Stalker hitting the shots, and Team South Korea fully investing their trust into him.
The fact that Chorong earlier in those fights actually gave up his life to give the sanctuary
to the Cassidy so Stalker, without ultimates, can just shred down the entirety of Colombia's
Temp now will go for something that can try to match up to this poke, the M-Ray also having a little bit more self-sustaining to keep the support attention, keeping up supergomas because this Polsario has been on the board, no graph!
An ambitious post-op from Sinjin.
Chong goes down, 4v5 actually.
Here we go.
Lich is just going to try and find an off-fanger.
Kratosun's going to push the rest of the team forward, but they need another one for this one to really feel successful here.
Again, George Conor trying to push in, but Bredeson's kind of overextended.
Leech's low, now he's used to come up with the second kill that's required.
Jumbin hits the over North, gorging out slightly there, Bredeson ends up going down.
Leech with a death blossom, makes this one a very scrappy fight,
leaving Super Gomez an opportunity to cap.
Can he, though? You'll be able to cap, but can he hold it?
No, he has to bubble himself out and run for the hills
as Jumbin and Chorong rejoin the fight, and South Korea are able to find the flip.
back to the Gomez we'll have to grab a Tom Chorong does not have to scientist be
able to spend first of all what a grab from downtown to we got a escape but
unfortunately 10 on the high ground just lobbing me man this is feeling a
little unfair speaking about being frustrated about yesterday I feel like
we can see it in Stalker's play Stalker is just putting on a performance to
say that yesterday that's just a blip as the Seonjin pre-ping, punishing the lack of
Kyroko if there's pause bomb.
They're gonna be on themselves though, buying off the Pog's pistols.
Oh, this is the one clip on the Moira there is going to be a coalescence available to
Columbia, however, yeah.
Oh yeah, career are back.
Yeah, the front of the tracer behind everyone tries to just walk forward, send them
directly into the path of simple's ant matrix with stalker stationed behind it and this is
desperation touch time for temp on the tracer coalescence from change but no touches and that will
be a dominant total shutdown performance south korea said you doubted us booking a ticket to
blizzcon we'll show you exactly what we can do i saw that did you see that it was a smile a small
one on Chorong Space. It was brief but it was there it existed. It can exist but it will only
truly break out once you're away from the PTSD of the reverse sweep potential. When they get the
free-o that's when they rely to celebrate. You've got the one-sided smile, you can have the two-sided
smile, the toothy grin after after they get the win. I mean yeah like you mentioned Moxie
they haven't put that to the first condition. There is another game of course in this group
that needs to finish in order to really cement who is first and second.
France were the amazing offset against Korea yesterday, going down in the history books.
It was really kind of a dent in their plans.
And look, yeah, you can play your hearts out today, but sometimes as well,
the cards don't really line up for you.
It doesn't fall into your lap.
Sometimes it's about other teams and how well they do.
Because the map score as well might end up coming into play for Korea
as we go into the next day. Now, Columbia, looking a little rough out there, it has to be said, but
there is chance, you know? From my space, I still grab it,
Heddy Stalker just ends up three-taping people. Yeah, sometimes it does not matter, like, what
the state of your ultimate Columbia is. Sometimes you can just two-tap people with the casting,
especially when you're camping the position of the health package, you have that convert
of the reload, you'll just be able to keep the damage rolling on through.
As I think South Korea, they basically just said, okay, well, maybe we don't know what
the current meta has developed into, but we don't have to play the current meta if
we can literally just outclass you with our Booskir.
All right, coaches getting a little time with the teams.
They're getting their bans as well. Columbia picking the map.
Can I see what happens? Wait a second. Zoom in. Zoom enhanced. You can't see but our version
of zoom and enhancers jack slowly leaning forward. Let me get real close to the TV real quick.
Hang on. Just make sure that you don't point the headset on. They haven't changed it. They've
not changed it in the lobby. They've not changed it in the lobby. Wait, I can cheat.
Is this the new game? We have like one tiny pixel and a splodge of colour and we
have to try to guess the map. That's a really good way to second. That's a good second actually
to run on the desk at some point. Either in Overwatch World Cup, maybe at BlizzCon or I do
see us. How many scrims have you sat in on to be able to identify the scoring shot of
the map that you get before you load in? It'll be like a duel where it's like kind
of blurred. The map is kind of blurred and then you have to... And then it gets
frequently un-blurred and you get less and less points to longer the information
that they could be here. Wait, we did... Hey! Someone write this down. I heard the producers
say noted, so hopefully we'll get that as a game at some point. Either for a couple out
of CS. I did actually cheat. There's a monitor back there with the lobby screen. I'm so
disappointed in you. I didn't get it right. I thought they didn't change the map. Do I
have to just do this the whole time? So that you can... I thought they didn't change
the map initially, but it's the same kind of lighting as New Junk City. There you
That's your clue the map that is the same kind of lighting sort of and now I'm thinking about it
I actually really doesn't it's just in the splash I would assume that would be junk at time with the amount of like
Yeah, that would make sense. It's not
I struggle to see out my left eye always have but not
Yeah, can I read stuff from him? I can read this screen kind of wait wait wait down here
Okay, don't do that. It is going to be Shambali Monastery. See there's a little bit of orange in there.
Look at the lights. Orange. New junk city. That's pretty like an orange shoe.
That's like saying there's a splodge of blue for the sky. There's blue!
I'm not wrong though, am I? There's a blue color there. I'm not colorblind, I promise.
Shambali Monastery is going to be the map pick here for Columbia. Let's see what they ban as well.
Demon. Yeah demon I don't think would be. I think especially like demon would be good
because you've already burned the jetpack cat fan. I think if you still had the cat
fan available using it would be good because then you sort of take away a
level to demons frustration to play into for your backline right the fact that
the lack of verticality gets totally overcome by the cat just air lifting
in and every interview that we do with support players, we ask them, how is it playing versus
the demon? They say if so frustrating, there's nothing I can do. If the demon has a jetpack
cat, I'm forced to burn all of my cooldowns and I'm still dead. So with the cat still
fully in play for both Sebastian and the Cassidy, I think taking out the demon would be
the wisest.
coming in for Super Gomez as we head into essentially the final map for this series.
Korea was just as kind of expected, extremely dominant. So maybe a little bit of secret
source here.
Cue me out. If you're stuffing in a tank player that we have not got to see, potentially
you have that tank player the whole time just in back rooms learning demon because you have
the owl spare you absolutely could have just said hey okay this hero is actually way more
strong than we expected let's just have our substitute put the owls in grind rank ladder
and learn demon because you have to be good at the hero right it's not just a case of
understanding the tempo and the positioning it's also about all of the unique animation cancels
that you can do and the combos are as okay columbia banning out one of the forms of hope the fara
that has been removed don't hate it honestly fara is decent on this man although you can
still project pack cat which kind of renders fara a little more useless so fara feels somewhat
obsolete when you have a cat-cass. When you have a mini-gun flying through the air at like
a crazy speed that Pharah cannot achieve. It seems, it does seem kind of unfair for Pharah.
Yeah. But imagine you're flying being tied to fuel. Crazy. And Korea-Bam, that's it. All right.
Well that was a, that was a moon specialist. That's the obsolete. That's the obsolete ban.
That's second ban too, so you're not doing it to even save the support role.
Yeah. If we really are going to go extra maps then we have not burned a ban, which is what that one is.
I think that's South Korea wisely making sure to safeguard much more impactful bands when if
they do lose one of these next maps and they'll have the priority of that band draft.
But like I said, the theory of Columbia just having someone learn the demon
is starting to gain more credits if they have the opportunity to ban it and instead take out the
Pharah. As great they have liked playing the Pharah from time to time on maps like Shambhali
Monastery. We also got to see a little of it earlier on on control. It's very problematic for
tanks from afar to be able to play. Yes, both Stalker and Sonjin have been able to play the
so that it frees up the other hero that the other player can lock. A lot of flexibility on Korea's DPS line to make sure that they have as much ability as possible to play things like the Tracer, the Pharah, sometimes the Symmetra from Heesang as well, the Shion, the Reaper, the Emre, the Soldier.
just getting two players set up
for Columbia. Of course, we did
have a couple of substitutions.
We're seeing creative son step
away makes the in and then
also we already spoke about the
tank super Gomez taking a step
back. Now. I like the idea also
just again kind of a fresh look
on the game. Fresh mind coming
in, especially if you now need
to reverse sweet. So I don't
is a reverse sweep potential.
This is also realistically,
Colombia's last chance, right?
They've already lost one match.
Yeah, you need to win this.
You have to win this one to have a chance of making BlizzCon.
And the score line has to be the best possible it can be.
So it has to be clean.
Throwing a curveball out here like you, I don't hate it.
If you lose the map, you go home anyway, so you might as well try something new, something
which could catch South Korea by surprise, that they have not planned for, that they don't
have a strategy to directly counter, which means that we have to see the speed of adaptation
wipe from South Korea within the lobby.
And I think that's something that Columbia could actually start to take advantage of,
because if you look at the first two maps, so far of this match, it's not like
Korea have been doing anything that's genius level that's innovated how to play these different compositions it's stuff
That's old. It's basically just like okay. This is the hero. This is how you play the standard hero
Nothing truly complex. It's not the macro difference making so Colombia could be able to catch Korea
I'm just seeing the last couple of players just filter into the lobby now to eliminate just joining
for Columbia. Mixed V should be coming in as well. I'm actually keeping the screen.
Saw it out a few bits and pieces, but yeah, we'll get into the next map in just a moment.
Jamali Mon身. Don't forget to there's another game after this is Japan versus China. It's
going to be a heater. Yeah, both of those teams, glory, honor and glory like the
Rhine Cinematic, though probably not going to Eichenwald, as both of those teams
also currently win this and also sadly already eliminated from the competition.
Which is insane to say, China not making a BlizzCon playoffs World Cup after they
It came so close to lifting the trophy all the way back within 2023.
Yeah, really kind of saddening, I think, for the whole of the Chinese fan base not seeing a very historic team that's done decently well over the years.
Is that C?
What a crazy blue squint it would be as well if Korea didn't make it.
That would be insane.
Honestly, one of the craziest blizzcon since it started.
Yeah, go back in time what six years try to tell someone. Hey, that will come in time
Hey Korea guys
They ain't making it
Korea does not make
Yeah, I mean no one's predicted that. No, they really
All right. We're entering game
We're out to rock up to the Shambhali Monastery
See if Colombia can start that little reverse sweep run
Blow Korea not making any changes to their four or five
is we headed to this one?
Ciri Cat available with a backline to play.
Columbia burns that Kiriko Band on New Junk City.
The Cat was banned on control, so South Korea,
they absolutely can go for the support line
that feels like it's become such a default
off of the strength that Cat has learned.
It felt like we're just seeing this hero continue to evolve,
That there's so many different layers of wedding cake almost we find a new level almost every week every new hero drop
We go. Oh, wait, I can do this for this hero as well now. He's she's so valuable
All right Korea still fate hangs in the balance here
they ideally it's a 3-0 a little clean sweep they don't want to have their chances of blizzcon being
shot out of the sky too soon that map five versus france was a bit a bit off of the
beating path a bit off script if you will let's have a look little cap for charl a little simple
on the other like see this look i mean this as well i mean sim was just gonna
Yeets the nades straight towards the doors maybe even throw in his sleep as well and you just said well
I wonder what cat could like
Wait, we're discovering new things
Well, now he's pretty ardor in the sky. Yeeted, but no one was home
Everyone from Columbia wisely stayed behind spawn doors until they read the composition of the defense and change
Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Make a litches face
God
and a little grid on his face as well.
He knew, he knew, so he was playing with it.
Ah, Junker Queen again as we'll get a split now from the stack of Team Columbia,
but Junker just takes it for a badge.
Look at all these bubble splashes!
Nice time, Zuzu there from change, but look at that, Stalker again.
However, a very aggressive rush coming through from a ledge.
Well, not the alt, but just kind of the speed in which they were going at.
This is what this comp does best.
Yeah.
Queen, shout, running in, giving, literally saying,
have the Lucio speed you in, and then collapse on one person and delete it.
They got some trades too as well.
They're trying to find trades because their respawns are so much closer,
they come back so much faster.
If you get an exit trade onto something like the Ana,
that could force Team South Korea to have to back up
And not have the stranglehold of choke if you've been already first fight 80% to limit break
Yeah, I mean that's insane. You get so much of your charge with removal of the people above
This is gonna go straight in the back here. It's sort of a hero versus sword hero
Which is gonna get chased by the cat showing leaving little one HP, but there's Jimman skew is it?
A flip position hold on Columbia on defensive
Unfortunately though, there's 5v4
Lich is almost going to do an Elegantian Sherpa here and hope to get a Snipe from the spawn as they end up flipping the Snipe there.
I mean, like, unfortunately, though, it's Sonjun demolishing the backline, both the Lucio and Kiri fell,
and now Junbin is now going to hover over the...
Yeah, sadly that carousel moment, quite denied, as Junbin will continue to roam the feride that is Choro's Jevdakat.
Ah, spotted out.
Doesn't mean to say he's not going to give chase though.
Very close to dying, the Lucio picked up the mega health.
Piper Jimbets got the limit right now.
Goes straight down the corner maybe.
Everything's lined up for him but doesn't want to blow it just yet.
Jayden then up TP'ing away.
Leesa provides him serious attention to the jungle queen here.
And unfortunately, it will be at show-on finishing off the Lucio.
Come on in the sport doors and goes to the cat map as well.
Oh no, it's all falling apart.
Yeah, and Jimbets just so far forward.
Columbia can't get past to go fast onto one of the defense
This is this is brutal Jack
This is truly brutal as Columbia have to invest so much time just trying to poke out
Besides all teams I have career holding the ultimate at least
I mean they've taken away yet again by a cat cast. It's hiding somewhere in the world
Right now. It's on Shambhala Monastery. Wow. They are really just almost giving Jim been the honor
1v1 versus the Queen, but I will take the demon over the Queen in that instance.
Oh, Flicks back on the widow!
Come on, Lich! Come on!
He's waiting for that shot, he's waiting for it.
He's waiting for it.
He does something from South Korea!
Well, he'll go, Peach!
No!
He's still laughing, he's still chuckling!
There's the rampage coming through from the Queen, okay?
Sanchen ends up coming down.
Lich still on the widow, however, Limos losing their life.
Unfortunately, yeah, it's gonna put a halt to this push.
So many alts invested too for so little space.
As the soundbar is the only thing available, but pretty soon you're going to have a nano-boosted team on mech playing within your face.
Okay, we've got a ball now. Luminous is gonna try and make a difference on the wreck of all.
Jump in. It's got nano-boost now. That soundbar isn't gonna last too long in his face.
No, sir, re that should she has to be the whole here for Korea
And there it is a good one simple good enough for what but that'll be that's that'll be the rounds
And very close holds 14 Korea
Well team side Korea could just go for something now that plays fast aggressively and pushes back to Colombia's defense
It has the pressure level to have the threat of killing a backline
which then forces the defense to have to give up space on objective to field, but then they lose because of how little space the objective actually was pushed.
Or teams have career could decide to give up objective entirely for the first part of the fight and just walk on team Colombia to find the kills first.
Especially when it's this close, that is the strat.
Yeah.
It's like, well, we don't really need a dodge point, so we just kind of win the fight.
Yeah, kind of expect what you were saying
Just TP right TP left or even just walk speed whatever you want doesn't really matter and then just take the fight to them
And then just Columbia point one of it
Do you try to go for hide yourself right behind spawn wall to have the close fight?
Do you go all the way back to history?
I know we talked about that moment of carousel, but could we actually go back to do you recall the
Shambhali Monastery first hold defense strategy where you had a may wall and you would wall on this side
So that you would still be within contest distance. I'll hold on back
Or at least thinking about it
This this was one of the strategies where you would basically you would wall up on the side
Because you would be able to hold yourself on the alley with that may wall behind the may wall
So they could not touch you but still be within
Contesting distance of the eject
Alright, here we go. We'll see how well Temp manages.
Uh-oh, Lich on the reaper die.
What's up, Zimple?
Oh!
Oh, what a sleep!
Alright.
Oh, Lich is gonna have to rape form out of there, probably.
He's gonna get chased too if he's not careful.
And there's a swing on Zimple.
He's setting his mind decently low, but with Lich dead,
Zimple's not really got too many people to fear now.
And now Sorkin could take a barely aggressive angle too.
Oh, my God!
Sleep from simple all right living up to his namesake there the sleep darts just look easy
Nice little name nice little cap and there it is all right a few smiles there
Team Columbia side to be fair
As it's he
Korea, they are going to say this one, well, three up under their belts, oh, GS25, you know.
A difficult matchup for Columbia for sure, and a required dominant performance for Team
South Korea, as the fans here at the stadium, they expected more from yesterday's performance.
Seems like South Korea, they just decided for go the meta, let's just play what works
the best for us when we are some of the best at these individual different heroes. Let's just put on
the show. Yeah, I'm putting the show they did. I'm curious if uh, career at this point as well is
going to be, well, focusing on practicing this demon, but you've got to get it in the wheelhouse
shortly. I mean, Junmin, Max, whoever, really, I mean, one of the two needs to be kind of the
level we expect them to be on every time that is released. I want to see more from them when it
comes to this pick because the pick has been proving to be one of the strongest tanks right now, so
you need that in the wheelhouse, you need that in the back pocket especially if you make it to Fiskon.
Well he was on the demon there for the side of the defense on Champaulite Monastery and he
was doing well on it right the tempo that constant pressure of just dropping on the backline.
Simple to having an absolute vacation on the Ana being able to hit all of those sweet dots setting up for the followers or a tool from the gas
For Korea, they make the statement that they needed to a 3-0 clean in this matchup dominant
Exactly what we wanted to see from them for Columbia
I know we talked about the smiles that we saw from some of the players
It's an opportunity for them that is hard to come by to play against players of this caliber
team Korea. It's a great experience for this Colombian roster. But for Korea, it's about
looking forward now to tomorrow's matchup up against Denmark. They're fighting for that
second team, a position we never expected them to be in.
They need to win that. Again, a little clean 3-0 from Korea. I think, yeah, learning from
the French match is going to be a big thing for them. And I can imagine, again, even
going back in Bodger, we need to play the D1 at this level. We need to play at this
kind of pacing too because I think that's right now how you play that calm you just got to play it
super quick get in your face get yourself standing up like troxies and just screaming at people because
yeah that pick is just so strong right now and it feels hard when you're not playing it. Yeah it
feels like you're raid boss right it feels like you're playing an MMO and you're literally you
just have six people five people trying to like bring you down and you're just standing there
with the shield, the sword, the animation cancels, the limit break as well. Very fitting of an ultimate
with that comparison actually. As I think they started sort of learning that tempo right off of
just how fast Jumbun was resetting those fights. I felt every time Columbia was trying to do something,
was trying to walk physically towards Korea's backline, suddenly Jumbun was just dropping
on free squishies all clumped up so that the saver swings were just finding maximum value.
And that's exactly what you want to see coming out from Jumbun on Team Korea.
It's been interesting to see the development of the D-Mond because we saw, I think, some more passive plays
previously at the beginning of this weekend and seeing those disengages.
But then now seeing, I think, the standard that France has set and speaking of which, talking about these groups,
the standing tier Korea, they do manage to just scoot over Denmark.
Thanks to that math differential, but tomorrow's matchup is where it all matters.
Yeah. I mean, that's it. I mean, Korea need to win that.
If they don't, we mentioned it at the top of the series, it will be her historic BlizzCon in Korea.
Don't make it.
Three stars on the jersey for a reason. Korea got a lock in.
They absolutely need to lock in.
It is just wild moxie that we're in this situation, having this conversation in the first place.
Yeah, it's sort of insane to say like we were saying on the cast, right?
You go back in time, you try to catch someone up, BlizzCon.
You say like, hey, these regions, these heavy hitters, they're not here.
this year. But it shows, right, the evolution of Overwatch, but all of the different regions
are really starting to improve, to come into their own, and these metas, they benefit EU,
okay? We have to say it. Think about how aggressive High Pass Tempo, all of the metas
that have allowed EMEA teams to be so strong, like, go back, look up, Old School London
Spitfire with the Raian Sim strategy. It's very similar to the tempo that you play,
demon with the Jetpack Cat and it caught a lot of teams out at land terrain. There was
Overwatch League matches where they were the favorites to win and suddenly all of the Overwatch
League teams people expected to see score high, they were being dropped by the go fast
kill everything strap.
And that's what's been so fun about this group stage so far. The fact that we have
demon coming into the fray, shaking things up within this Jetpack Cat, better that
we've seen develop over the last couple of months. But we do still have one more
matchup underway for you guys here for this third day of OWW State. Don't go anywhere.
The 2026 Overwatch World Cup is brought to you by DHL.
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What's up everybody? I'm here joined by Landon from Team USA, big congratulations on getting
the win against Team Sweden. That was a crazy fight at the end. I'm going to be honest,
I thought you guys were going to lose, but somehow, some way, you guys got the win. How
do you feel?
I mean, I feel amazing, you know. My honest very much work in progress. So winning a
map on Kyrika and winning a map on Honest is a little bit different to me. And then
especially winning a map 5 on a character like that, that I'm not super confident
in, feels amazing.
I mean and also you guys already you guys are pretty much done with the groups. You guys ended first
You know with getting three wins. What would you say your experience was in Korea in Busan for the group stages?
I mean I had a lot of fun
I've maybe been to Korea like 20 times and I've been to the same city 20 times
This is my first time being outside of Seoul, you know getting to see a different part of Korea
I'm having a blast. I think my whole team is having a ton of fun
I mean talking about Korea and with your group stages being done you guys have I think you guys have a couple days of free time
What are your plans? What are you guys going to do? Are you guys going to do something fun?
So we have a new obsession in Korea. I don't know if you're aware of baskin Robbins 27 cubes
Repeat we don't know it baskin Robbins. What they've a David David David an ice cream cake that my team has become obsessed with
It's just 27 different ice cream cubes stacked into a little Rubik's Cube
And so whenever we win that's like our that's our motivation
You know you win and you get the 27 cubes after I need to look that up
I haven't seen that I don't even know what that is but that sounds amazing. Well landed. Thank you so much for the interview
Enjoy your 27 cubes of ice cream today. You definitely deserve it. Thank you so much. Thank you
Yeah
like a smith slain one.
Yeah.
Put your ball out of it in and out.
In and out? Hell of you.
Okay, now the fries to be better,
but the burgers, no.
S tier, S plus.
It's okay, it's okay.
You can eat it with a bunch of cheese.
I'm going to wash my face.
It's cold udon.
Oh, it's udon!
Wait, that's not how you do it.
The ramen noodles got thicker and a little softer.
Did I start right?
Oh, I said Bande ha paisa, bro.
No, I'm an empanada.
So Banda Japaisa is a mixture of steak, with rice and beans.
I don't know how to put it, you know, with cheese and all that stuff.
It is amazing.
Basically a full, hearty meal.
Exactly.
Yeah, and then this is just, take a bit of meat,
we're surrounding dough and then that's what you got.
Can't see.
What the hell is that?
I was just, I didn't know what to say.
We have one final game tonight for OWWC group stage day three here in Busan,
and it is going to be between Japan and China.
The door closed on both of these teams for their chances to go to BlizzCon,
unfortunately here in group A, and it's quite heartbreaking for these two teams.
I think talking a little bit more about Team Japan first, again,
Moxie, this is a roster that has the Veral Core that stepped into this,
who have been here before, you know, representing Japan, and unfortunately they weren't quite able to find bridges.
Yeah, it feels very sad for Japan because I feel like if we'd been playing a meta that was a month ago,
they could have done really, really well, right, but now that we've moved into a much faster tempo of meta,
Finn trying to just hard force this Ana, it's not really working out for the team,
and then they also have to burn a lot of bands to be able to set up the tank on the diva, so likely
we'll be seeing things like the demon being banned out, the Kiriko as well, to let Finn have that space,
but something has to change, but you're bound to find value with the Ana, right? Because those
nanoboosts, no value. The fact that the Ana's dying always first every fight, not pulling the
proper players away from the main fight that happens afterwards, because Finn keeps dying to
Yeah, either dying to the cat or the giant tank has dropped on top of his head like it is it is rough out there for the team
And yeah, I think a lot of it does come down to the fans like you said
I think especially with KSG. He's not he's not been I would say like resistance to picking up the
Demon, but I think a lot of tanks right now
They've really stepped it up in this competition
They absolutely have but in this matchup even though those opportunities for BlizzCon are no longer
existing for these two teams, it's a battle of pride especially for China where they have consistently placed
top 8 at minimum at every single overwatch World Cup, top 2 at the last three and now not
need to get to BlizzCon is absolutely heartbreaking. I just can't even believe it honestly.
It's a tradition for China to make it all the way at BlazCon, right?
And them getting knocked out in groups is crazy.
It is insane.
I think a lot of people were kind of curious how this team would look coming into this year.
But there's no Gu Shuai, although he was there.
I think Sun Zou has been performing better this year and Gu Shuai has been.
But there's no Shaanxi.
And that is like the big kind of elephant in the room right now.
They are the superstar Chinese DPS have been for ever.
and them not being here has really put a dent into how they want to do it.
Yeah, and potentially, you know, China might have been able to overcome the lack of DPS by being able to like a hard carry with the tank.
And Salsa has been trying to go for things like that demon, but when we saw his performance at, you know, mid-season at EWC, his best heroes were things like the Sigma.
Yeah.
And again, lower compositions.
And his team, the best map by far, Neon Junction, where they were able to just slow attacking teams down.
But now you're losing that downtime, you're not able to just hold teams off at the pass.
You're always having to play to be the faster team instead of having to react
because you're just always going to be down one person if you do it.
Yeah, I mean look, China is 0-2.
Like, they are getting up the grey, getting dragged down by the Balrog.
But unfortunately, they're getting up the grey and winning that fight, at least in China's case.
It's been a rough shine for the team.
And I think especially the Chinese fans,
some of them showing up and they always do in BlizzCon,
by the way, there's so many Chinese fans of BlizzCon
every single year because of how well they do
and how much pride they have for the team.
Yeah, it's just a shame they're not making this time.
It definitely is a shame,
but we still do have the predictions
to get into for this matchup,
which honestly, the fact that both these teams
aren't really looking to play into that demon,
I think it should be a much more comfortable
head to head going into this.
Granted, I still gotta go with China on this one.
Okay.
I still gotta go with Japan on this one.
I've been voting the entire time.
I vote Barrel every single time we were in EWC as well.
So, yeah, I went with Japan.
I'm with Ash on this one.
I'm Team China.
I rate them.
I rate SunZo as a tank.
I think he's been one of the players that we all have to watch out for.
After EWC, he really stepped it up.
So, I've been high on the hopes that Team China would do well.
This BlizzCon, but sadly that will be denied, but they can still find the win here.
They absolutely can. Still an opportunity for Team China to prove what they have and be able to show up here for this squad.
It is a battle of pride for the last matchup of today. Let's get straight into Team China versus Japan.
Thank you very much, Ash. Yeah, Nepal. Time is picked.
This first map, like was mentioned here, no chance for either team to qualify for BlizzCon.
The group set in stone are pretty much here not.
What will the ban be now as Finn's been trying to get this anna for the band draft multiple times
but China will deny that entirely by removing it from the hero tour.
That does mean that Finn will have access to it for all of the maps afterwards.
Japan could ban out the demon here if they want to but instead they opt for the malware.
So potentially KSG actually moving away from a preference for the diva
and going to the demon himself.
I like it.
A lot more practice with the hero, especially in like an official setting.
I think it's always going to be good and they get to tank as strong as Sun Zou and I'm with that.
I'm with you on that train, Moxie. I bought a ticket because yeah, I do think Sun Zou especially
almost overtaking Gushua a little bit, especially that mid-season. I think he's been pulling very well
for China.
Yeah, fresh as well for trying to work out how to counter this demon.
So instead sons are not opting for the Zarya opting for the mirror match instead
Final match which with Nico Alphari and Qql the only real difference between both these teams are she on be able to have that range
But not quite as deep Alphari able to go one much deeper connections onto the back line
It's good to see TF either way back in the team
Obviously it's been around since what like 2017 on the old G
And my dragons as well played a lady think Ellie value at some point to I mean again another kind of big legend
In the in the China scene
You get out trying to find this opportunity to fight far
But he's being seen off like right on the other side
I have to set up some points. I guess he just goes away for the back one. That's Susan forced
Yes, he's anti-king. Look at that. I switch that board even you get here right into the lap of Nico. All right
First kill, going to a way of Niko, however, I mean China is still kind of positioned in a way that if they get another ping, they could be an easy way back into the fight. Point cap for Japan though.
Yep, stand able to box out Team China, but Dia has rejoined the fight. Rush will be available to both teams currently as the passports fight to...
Sorry! He pancaked it on the floor as well, they were just too grouped up as a double kill.
Ah, no Suzu available, that of him was entirely out of position, playing much closer to his tank and punished for it.
Japan might have won the first fight at Albury with a scunner of a pulse bomb.
Is able to let China flip back.
That's gotta be so bad too, he's dropped on the floor.
Alright Sunzo, limit break in the back pocket, we do have to deal with a really early rush too.
So even playing, just waiting for KSG to push in, hit the rush and then push the kind of the map.
would be a nice little play, however, Pineapple starts to melt, with a nice kill on it, you keep it.
I mean, everyone though, from the time Team Japan tries to disengage, Pinsir has rush,
he's not matching, but they lose players on the kite, so it won't be a fast reset into second
better rush, and Sunzo still has the limit rate to be able to blank out the impact of that.
That or Pineapple just picks someone up as they try to walk towards him.
They're going to have to use brush now to play with such as you can now to play in space
right in this very section here, then brush up onto the high ground or even around the
side.
It's like QT sending the bike straight towards Sunza.
He's trying to lock both sides down, he's saying hi here now, he's a big one too,
that's his straight through QT.
He's still even picking up a kill on the shield.
Pineapple kind of locked him down thanks to the other side as well.
See Japan currently completely split.
KSG fighting for his life on the point all alone while he hopes Brazen begs
that the rest of his team can join it in any meaningful way.
Limit Break dodge as well as Pineapple just shuts off for a bit.
Siphon Blaster Mobility, Niko now looking to open up the fight for Japan
with the Udoi protocol, but everyone trying to just kite south the Enareal.
And now it's done.
They still have control of the point, by the way.
Jack no flip just yet.
I feel like Sunzo's basically doing everything himself.
Look how Croc's out there!
He's freeing himself!
Alright, QQ-
Ah, haha, I'm not flying!
Catmobility, a lift a bit too strong there.
They flip back!
We're about to hit OT!
Japan don't have ult!
A round!
Chorley!
Chorley!
I mean, QQ's head's been gone.
White Art is going to struggle to even get to the point.
Gets one touch initially there.
The KSG sent in again.
He's going to be able to hide under the point here
I was gonna try and join him, but he desperately needs heels. Here we go
Can he actually get the match back up the bullet speed? No quite and there it is team China
I'm gonna claim that first one. It just feels like Japan were fighting so split even though they're not playing the anacomposition
It's still the same issue right they're not coordinated when we see things like the Kitsune Rush
Where's KSG? He's on the point
He's not there to be able to create space for the rest of his team to play off of the rush the impact and how strong the demon
Met can be you literally turn into a beast when you have access to just swinging your saber charging through
Everyone like you're just going ten pin bowling and he's being totally cleared out of even finding the flip
I came chased down by Alphory on the tracer
Who gets
Here we go, can't bash a TP here.
Oh, I feel it.
Concerned, Jack. KSG's back on the diva. This has not worked out in the past.
D1 mech melts through him.
Oh, fine, that was already found.
Y.finals are low too.
We're really going to have to retake control of this airspace.
Niko's found a good timing though with the turret form.
It's gonna get dropped off by why not near the point to join KSG
He's just going to try to bully past KSG look
I'm gonna be honest I don't like it as a guy. He's just running in. He's just putting some of his face for himself
Just working out for it. It's not even not caring. Sorry. Just disrespect it
But as I'm getting to you next so hang on a second kind of also pretty light healed up by length sir
Suzu in from Dia too, but they're on the wrong side of the map
They could have linked to a pineapple get out of the flight here in DP
TPs away
Raffari also contesting the point currently or nice matrix though coming through from KSG
Guarantees the killer finder that is the one benefit you have with the either with that fashion versus that in the ability to
Sub some of those shots sons are also being bullied out
Length of disengages alongside his Japan should be able to find the flint to have to deal with Sunsas baby
You won't be able to throw himself onto point in time, so no more stall as now Niko can take to the skies
and try to poke the demon neck down before Sunset can punch the distance.
And to see if Kha'Zix can again kind of help Niko secure that kill, because with a Cat Bastion it's like,
okay, once we kill the Cat or the Bastion, your Cat Bastion is just so great as the D.Va is very much there to only enable that.
not flying the truck.
Yeah, and also not being able to enable the demon, right?
Because if the cat's playing on the grass again, Sunzo has no mobility.
The pineapple is able to find Niko, which is starting to go on the right, but you can't...
Oh, there's a giant cat now. Sunzo, all turds!
Nice little 180 there.
Took the lock, however, doesn't matter.
Still get dragged off the edge of the map.
So they do end up losing their tank.
Looks like Japan are gonna come out on top.
Yeah, this should be...
maybe taking Deer down, but no.
the Kyuriko dodges away thanks to Lenx's mobility, and Pan will be able to surpass 50%
Fane also has one-sided Rush, Sunzo with the limit break, but it's Q key I that we're looking at
right now. Who can he hit the possible Monty?
Well, the pair sheet, it looks like it's gonna be here, excuse me. Okay, now wait until
you get an easy kill, maybe. Pash not even thrown in by Niko, and here comes the Rush,
they're on the wrong side here, now they're looking straight towards Sunzo there,
They ended up getting the D-Shoot as well.
Now this bash is quite bumpable on the floor.
Pineapple sent RHP and Niko.
Just clicked through the back of their head.
All right, T-Japan, up to 80% now.
A desperate rush from Dia to try and targetize this fight,
but completely fought it.
Oh, so many people already dead on the side of Team China
when the rush comes out.
Now you don't have it for the regroup.
Like to desperately force your way onto overtime,
so T-Japan don't have to respect anything
that China can do to get past them to get on to point.
They can just play so aggressively forward with the Tracer and the D. The Neck.
Ooty triggered, some of those bot lane are great, but it's not an instant teamfight win,
especially against this Catt fashion.
So tough to try and find a couple of targets to get.
Looks like it's just going to settle for KSG.
The KSG says no, absolutely not.
Dips out, I'm not going to get blown up.
Here comes the Catt now from Lingson,
who's got one Niko dangled off and yet an instant kill on the Bastion.
Team Japan are still with 99% so they can afford to lose this fight.
Not like they're gonna give it up without a fight though.
And Sunzone, D-Mex, but still good.
China, they do have a point in control now.
What's so strange as well is that no one from Team Japan is able to find a kill
into the backline players of Team China.
Dia especially, right?
Sunzone's entire position is baited.
You have to remain on that point anchor for overtime,
which should mean that he's not there to peel his other players,
but no good kill comes through from Japan to be able to steal out the fight.
So even though they're at 99%, they're still not out of danger.
As the Sunzo is able to find the rematch and drop down.
There it goes. Niko on a decent angle here on the...
on the sidelines.
Now Diaz forced the TP. KSG's gonna call that one out, but Niko's already dead.
I cat that on to Sunzo!
Not quite! He tried! I saw the vision there, Sunzo, but unfortunately the terrain.
Not in his favour that time around. KSG picks off Pineapple and now Japan in a winning spot.
Alphari and Lenzer, last two team China players remaining on the point that Katzki clawed,
and that's the Katz for Team Japan.
Alphari is close enough though to go for the blind to keep Oji play.
They're gonna try, but yeah, Alphari shut down. Gizhu Blast is doing enough damage to KSG.
They both trade their chasers however, but KSG now trying to stop Pineapple from getting to the point.
Sando incredibly low, KSG's mech ends up getting deleted as China have found an
a miracle way back into this fight. The Bastion, artillery strike, ends up hitting
Sando but he quickly dips around the corner, not surviving. And well, now the
Rashmedeer, the pressure being mounted here by China, although they are low, it's so easy to
get hill-everry back up, limit break, doesn't connect with too much, but the
bullish Ralfari are. That's a double kill onto the back line as Team China
They've bought themselves a night life.
Finn matched the rush as well.
Team Japan without the Kuriko Ultimate
to secure themselves one side of control of this objective.
This has lost by territory and they have to walk directly in
when they don't have the time to clear out Alphary with the pulse bomb behind them.
They're gonna have to ignore him.
They're gonna have to run to the point.
He goes pretty low.
Oh, Pied Applecute.
Suzu's hiding.
Post supports our trap though.
How this could be?
She completely alone.
Luckily, self-destructs on the point.
But the baby D-Britain's up going down, Alphari clips him in the back of the head, and China
have found a ridiculous comeback in that last fight.
My word, it's 2-0 on control to start the series.
Alphari!
Oh, the Tracer blinking to Q-Po-T and play.
Insane!
Japan, they'll be kicking themselves for not denying that touch, for not being able
to take that hero out because they're just so close to those really impactful
ultimates and then the misplay of matching the rush or trying to win the
fight despite the fact that you still have the time to regroup and take one
more so you can't just go okay we have one side of the rush they can't stand
up to that or they have to burn ult like artillery strike from the
Bastion trying to disrupt it. Everyone has to stack. No one can stay behind if you split that fodder
for that Tracer from behind. That means that you're walking onto a point that has so many different
angles and you just have to accept you can't clear them. You don't have the time. It frees
up the Tracer, it frees up the Cap Bastion and it allows Sunzo absolute rampage on the
objective when the D.Va mech is forced in close and can't just
boost away when you run out of the defense matrix.
Yeah and if I was like this spot here it's like whoa we've got SunZo, like
we have one less thing to kind of worry about, Liko is going to be more free to
shoot, but yeah I mean Dia hitting this
rush here and look at the health bars right now.
SunZo, incredible, Dia the same they're just heartily
keeping this corner trying to stay alive and it was what? 27, 29 percent
Or something interesting, China? 99 for Japan?
Couldn't lock it down.
There's map number one.
Very close between the two teams.
That's one of the fallacies of the D.Va.
Even when, before we had the D.Va on, and D.Va was always like seen,
so many teams would talk about the fact that D.Va on defense was a lot easier to beat,
because you would just play objective, force her to have to come directly to you.
You'd be able to melt her down, you'd get her low enough that she'd have to
boost away to give up that objective space, or she'd have to hold her ground because objective-based
game, if she runs away you get free distance and the defense loses a tank, right? And that's sort
of what Team China do once they have been able to pull off that retake. They're able to bait
KSG's position so many times and then melt through. Right on the line here for China and Japan
is their chances at blizzcon now at a zero. It's like there's gonna be a sub for Japan here.
No subs of China, of course. I want to see how well they kind of bounce back into this because
Japan right now they've not actually taken a single map savvy. Yeah and also that's that's a
gut punch right coming so close to taking train one fight one fight and it just slipped through
your hands and you know like that's not on China being able to make an out play that's on you making
a misplay trying to use Katsune rush limit break was in effect so I'm so just stands there on point
swipes out the saber no one on the side of Japan can play within the rush on point because
they're all hit by the end it's kind of funny um kind of look at the heroes that have been
released uh after Kiriko it's like okay she's got this rush Kiriko still Kiriko still pretty
program. She's still one of the best supports and will continue to be unless she gets a crazy rework
or something and Tuzu gets changed. It's funny looking at the rush itself. It's like obviously big
open stretch of road that you play on and you do a lot of damage and you can just run people over.
First like hazard and now with limit break it's like... May wall as well. Sure may wall yeah. You
can just deny so much of that space and I think yeah it's funny that Sun's open just going
okay sounds good I'm gonna quickly shield and then boom hit the limit break into good luck.
You can't fight me. I'm gonna chase after you instead and just
Punches forward and you can almost one-shot somebody straight after that limit break connects with the squishy
Yeah, I'm telling you right now one of the first skins that demon will get like some against baseball. Oh
Baseball skin hit the home run for the limit break
And he hits an absolute home run right out of the park right out of Nepal as
as Team China will be able to turn epic will come in for why dot now before this
means that Japan plays the Mizuki is when usually they would bring epic in I
don't know how I feel about the Mizuki at the moment he does a lot of damage
Sanctuary's still a very good alt to be able to play defensively and absorb a lot
of outward pressure, but what it's not great for is denying D1, because shield and D propulsors
keep up with the shift, and what will chain hit? It's the same problem as a Rhyne, you're
always hitting the shield.
Yeah, and even if you're not, it's like, okay, I get chain, I hit my shield, and then
absorb some of the damage, and then I'm still barely close to you, you have to end up
kind of TPing away. Japan are going to take us to Surufusso's, their flashpoint. Oh
It's another kind of rare pick so a lot of new junk cities know all about this
So it's nice to see it sir of R2D and picked up here, too
What will the band be as well because usually we go like you said new junk city
Yeah, I just get that out of the way. I think you ban demon
I think the issue put your pan though is that demon will those then stay in the hero pool
Right for all of the maps
afterwards true and it feels like though they tried to match it
Oh, the cat. Alright. I don't hate that either. This maps also good with the cat, big sky boxes, etc.
Yeah, and it takes away some of the strength of Demon, right? You don't have to wall back here instantly.
The thing being dropped on your backline, Finn will have some levels of safety, the Ana band also already being removed.
So it will be easier for the Ana to be able to stay alive, and that was one of the main problems from Japan last time.
The fact that, oh, China will ban the Demon instead.
The issue for Japan was that even though they were running the Anna and you're looking for Nanoboosh to sort of be this
Oh, okay, we give this to our DPS, they become unkillable, they kill everything else
That was not happening for Japan's matches because Finn was having so much pressure put upon him quickly early on
by things like Demon or the Jetpack out-dropping the Tracer or the Cast or the Bastion on top of him
that he basically had to accept that he would die that push
and give Nanoboosh before he lost the ultimate,
which meant that everyone on the other side
was free to expect the ultimate
and kite away from it before it could kill any of them.
So Finn at least here, if he wants to play the Ana,
could go for it, or he could stick with the Kuriko
because again, I just feel like the Tampa of Meta
has evolved where Ana just can't keep up.
If it was such a tough pick, to say not quite the same as someone like a Zen, but like, if you don't have mobility at this point in a watch, it's you are reserved for very specific maps, and very specific, like, evenly.
Defensive sides, I think. It's the best way to say it, right? Ana feels fine, not great.
Defensive parry, sir, right? Defensive parry, sir?
being able to bunker up within a lot of those boldings on first and second be almost untouchable on third as well
forcing out a lot of overextension from the attacking side which you can then punish going fast with the rest of your comp
when your player's up. Flashpoint, there's a lot of flank opportunities and you can still get run down by something like Tracer or a Shion very easily.
to play it into the lobby and I was waiting on Epic to screen. He's booting up the game
right now and then he'll jump into Sura Vasa.
Is it now the mirror?
Um, yeah, I'd imagine so. I think Sunzo is more than happy with this. I think even the
Sigma, I think Sigma's decent on this map, especially first.
True.
Always fighting in the center of the point at first.
We're expecting KSG on the Diva as well, you could potentially break out the Sigma, try to use Rock to try and stop some of the boosters defense matrix.
Not bad chat.
The like of that, but again, slow moving, can be out-tempered, not the best into having to deal, especially because as we said, if Ethic's coming out, it's likely going to be the Mizuki.
Right.
So I think in that case, I mean, sometimes-
Would you play the Sigma?
Yeah, probably not.
I mean, I can also go diva to be fairs like diva vs. diva you play a little quicker
Probably on tracer Nico. I like I've been like in the Emory. Yeah, maybe Emory for Nico
If SunTor goes for the match on the diva that again is punished by the Mizuki where you
Chained through the matrix but Ryan wouldn't get stopped you the thing is right because big shield so SunTor run Ryan
Because that also you can have
Wow, when was Jake Replies for this shit?
I feel like you and Jake are always trying to talk about how strong Ryan could be.
Yeah, Jake's always going on. Yeah, true.
Come on. Every loves a bit of Ryan.
Yeah, I feel like every one of us does love Ryan, except when he's in my matches.
Trying to keep Ryan alive, solo cute support.
support me when I see cloudy in my game and he's doing the no shield to GM
challenge on Ryan without a sim
sometimes I wish I could play life weaver well Jack just grab people back
but now canceling yeah exactly confirmation so the right like no I will
I will be going in.
I don't care if you use your cooldown, I will be going in.
It's like, if you queue the Rhyme player instead of 3, 2, 1, go, they go, and then they 3, 2, 1 after.
Yeah, just make sure you're out of range, and then spam and cancel.
Alright, Epics and Lobby, let's get in.
Map 2, China and Japan, China taking a decently close burst map of Nepal.
Nice clutch at the very end. Alfari looks really good on Tracer, so let's see what Suravasa has to behold.
No Tracer ban as well. With how well Alfari was doing on that Tracer, you do have to worry that it will be brought back here as we won't see Demon that was banned.
It will be a read of what tank it will be, right? KSG, we're expecting to see on the D.Va epic we've already covered.
expecting that Mizuki, so it's all about Sun Zou's hero pool here.
What do you China try to risk this first fight on? Because it is really punishing if you misjudge the
composition that you're playing into on control and flashpoint. It almost always means that you
have to ult dump, like you literally lose so many fights, hold up, ult, use them all within one
to be able to get that flip, or you just get snowballed out, as it looks like he is going
to match the diva that should be punished by the mizuki within play.
You say match diva, I mean Kersh, he's hauling over the eraser right now.
They want static, you know, I think we both kind of expect it.
Obviously the 10 seconds might end up changing, they've got different ideas, but Niko on Soach too.
But he was on the diva earlier, so there must be a lot of debate about what direction
Team Japan want to field towards, as Sumetras both exchanged one for Tracer, one for Vendetta, so yeah, it feels like we're really expecting that Diva to come out from the side of Japan.
Oh boy, epic. Finn, you're gonna have to be rather careful. This is gonna be a very quick fight, if they managed to get on top of you, and yeah, they know it too.
Even kind of backing around this corner, they're gonna take a different angle of approach.
He'll cash you from the side to the right line of fire of pineapple either.
I mean he's already got full charge right? He's just waiting for someone to try to contest that angle.
Feminist says Albario, top no the head swing and there is the chain actually just kind of tanks
that one for Sunzo. Get down Mr President however I will end up perishing so this is
the comp for Japan they want to just basically play off of the chain pool now.
Yeah if FF lands a chain on someone expecting you could instantly turn the rail
that he has onto that poor soul as that one pick without that vendetta being able to go
for pressure on the backline or the tank will allow Japan to find the captain yet.
So here we go, our three onto the tracer as Sunzo is de-necked which will allow Japan
a little bit more lead a point percentage and also allow that poor squad to really
start heading towards fruition.
Here's my look. Nice force to recall though. Rary's got all his CDs as well.
Cute, you're not in the best of shapes. Need a Sunseye to be fair.
He's 65% towards mech. You've got to be building up that a little bit quicker.
They're not giving him too many opportunities to kind of shoot in, especially with that spear speed.
Eventually he's going to get it, but that's got 50% gone already at the point.
Yeah, and also look at how close Phinnis to having rushed.
KSG is at least rematching him, his son's was back in the mech, but no ultimate just yet, the team China will go down to potential loss by territory here, both of these teams having the rush available to match.
Yeah, I mean, Japan caught lots of play pretty slow around the chain, so this is going to be quite a punch.
Double rush and well, KSG's in good spot here. I saw that change fly past KSG's head and Pyroffle gets speed to the wall.
And KHG has already removed one major problem from China's cock.
And now they can basically coax China in.
Hey, you wanna come to us?
The sound barrier from Lexus is gonna hit four, but now we lay down the sanctuary.
A slow roll of ults for Japan.
Sonto gets onto the point again.
He's got a little bit of catcher time here.
Four team China, but Niko falling.
This might be what they need to open this one up.
Finn dead at KHG.
I'm willing to use the terraces to find something more here,
but China invests hands-milling.
China, with the overclock, utilizing it once epic sanctuary is seen out, but, like you said, heavy investment.
The bank almost broken, especially with Niko, creeping up to this overclock without a sign back to stop it,
so really, for Team China, they have to find fights here in mid, before Japan can watch that point.
If they can pick up the support, delay the fight, allow them to get closer to that rush,
They could be able to still like Japan's approach.
Don't let Japan get set up.
Aim for the game.
Niko's gonna be flicking heads in a moment.
PSG.
It's got this halt as well.
There's Terror Surge on the point.
Now Japan have set up. They're taking a little bit of time, but
time is good to pull their team comp.
Alright, fuck.
I'm waiting for Niko to pop his ult.
Lengster and Deer in a whole lot of trouble though.
Trouble though, all of a Niko wished the shot.
Niko has a bad one!
Eventually ends up tagging Pineapple, and Kuki around the corner to pick up the kill.
Self-destruct on the point of Sonzo, clears people out when KHG runs him down.
Niko might have not bore many fruit there, or much fruit, with his OC.
But is KHG doing a lot of the heavy lifting, another nice spear onto Lancer,
but KHG is losing the rest of his team around him.
KHG off HP, ends up getting tagged down by Dia.
Eventually Niko comes up with a kill required,
China end up sneaking the point away anyway.
Yes, the rush!
Dia lives the overclock!
Niko without finding those eliminations
does not find the full team kill,
so yes, you pick up one or two players,
but not enough to deter the confidence
of investing the one-sided Kiriko ult,
and 96% picked up the China.
They're able to sneak out the point.
They at least will have one-sided rush here
find out the closing up to the overclock
that Epic has the strategy to absorb the shots.
Japan should not have to break the banksfield to win at this fight.
Get your word of really low. Lita, fair amount of CDs actually to get to the point.
Niko's changed. It's almost Shion now, away from the so. She wouldn't be quite as successful as that old so.
And there is the sound barrier. Epic just ran over. They're playing in the sanctuary right now.
SunZo, spot to play out, slightly outside. Alon is still big, late down to rush 2.
Kind of a late defense here for Team Japan. It's the end of half at this point.
And with sons and losing men, as long as Pineapple doesn't find a couple of kills, it should be Japan's fight to lose.
Yeah, they've been able to see off the front of the overclock, just playing in his face with the Javelin spin as well as the Trace of the Lynx.
And Japan, pick up the fight and still have the Terror Surge.
Join up for that ultimate, going to lose more players here.
But that was a big investment of Terror Surge after you arguably either already won.
Oh, that was a nice spare.
Alright! Okay, Japan, same kind of Sipslide compared to, er, looking at 0.1 as well, Moxie.
They're up to half, but, China, they can come in, they can hit a rush.
Lang says on the Wu Yang as well for more poke.
Lots of pressure onto trying to boost KSG, out of holding up the space pineapple on the prior two.
Lodging shots onto that tank.
Just trying to melt through the slo-vre and heal up the Mizuki and the Kiriko.
Yeah, don't hate it at all.
Fungo Sigma. Okay, a complete con so far. We can also play this slow game but you'll be way more vulnerable to a poke, like you mentioned.
I think it goes down. TP away from deer. Makes it to safety too, is...
It's gonna be the point just being cat-phoed. Um, yeah. There's no touch at all from China.
Whoops.
Yeah, they took you on!
PENAPAL Tracer took the high ground approach from the right side, since there's no one
that can contest him.
Now they'll go for kills!
But for the next point on ROGZ, just stopping Team Japan from having the chance of regrouping
and contesting the cap.
I thought we touched guys?
Yeah!
Who's job would it have been?
Alphari?
Probably on the tracer, because PENAPAL set up for the poke window, Sons was trying
to cut the legs out between KSG and his supports with the Sigma shield.
Lancer on the Wu Yang with the shift.
Looks like Epic, I think, for Japan is called for the pause.
I will say though, the fact that Team China weren't able to get the touch onto the point,
the way that they were on the first map of Nepal, means that Dia does not get to use
one side of Kitsune Rush.
Finn now is close enough to be able to have that match.
The main difference could be Nico's spree, right that additional damage carving right through
the centre and not a lot of ways of mitigating it outside of everyone from China just huddling
behind Sun's O'Shift.
Should be too much longer now, I see tabbing back into Epic should be good to go.
Gonna get a final ready check from all the players and we should be in the match.
Yeah, yeah much slower calm and yeah like you said there was kind of an emphasis on one player's touch
It would be alfari in that instance no Lucio no like even at whatever like no nothing like too quick on the team apart from the tracer so
Definitely on alfari shoulders there
You're thinking now look
You're gonna get to the point at roughly the same time
If Japan can stall this one out although to be fair 13% for a Kiriko is your scoffing
like one. Yeah, that's like one headshot like and a little bit or like a little bit of healing.
So realistically, it has the matching is KSG is dead. Yeah, that's the main question right now.
Because yeah, Finn will be able to go the rush and have to match before dear uses the
alt but KSG is dead. Seeing the we are now actually will swap onto the either be able to
matrix some of those orbs deny some of that poke angle and shut down the bow.
Well, they're gonna get that first now as they actually switch to D4 and Lucio.
D4 and Lucio is also on their side of the map, closest ones. They're already back.
Gonna get in the Tarnitas.
Take a little bit of hope before we KSG, that's exactly what he's doing.
He's gonna get rush as soon as something's up over steps, we're gonna be good.
But I think it's gonna take off by Amari.
I'm just a straight solo kill.
There's the rush, they end up picking up the Lucio on the other side of things as well as Niko unleashes the spree.
Finds a bit of damage based on the regular D4, let's get shot to the double pistols, ends up killing Pineapple.
Rush from Vin, D.O. learns she's as well, so Japan are smiling at that fight with a point cap to boot.
They're very happy with that one as Sun Zou now sees the D.Va.
China, it feels, a constant rotating door of hero swaps.
Langzou was on the Wolf Yang, sees the D.Va, goes for the Lucio to match Epic.
Sun Zou sees the D.Va, Alpha read the D.Va and goes for the Vendetta.
There's this bubble engagement, trying to melt through the mech.
Okay, can't, nobody's facing, just kinda watching.
Little bit is, little bit of that, the vendetta.
Very good against the D.Va, and you can see how Alphari's, yeah, his focus very well placed onto KSG.
You're not surviving too long there, just no way.
Zarya plus is gonna get basically full energy off of Alphari, and then the D.Va mech is history.
We see if KSG switches, and he does yet.
We're going full circle.
Tank swap after tank swap after tank swap all good though
I mean Japan have got eighty nine percent on point after that first cap also the fact that team China had to go for so many
Hero resets look at the offcharges
They only had one fight to be able to charge them so no grav at all no sundering blade combo available
Epic could potentially build a sound barrier and send them forward
Aggressively since you can't use it defensively versus the Fandana
Oh wow, Bari narrowly escapes with his life, pineapple not so lucky on the other side of
things.
One DPS now down, Port China, Postbomb, Port QQ, hopefully kind of baiting some bubbles
out first and then going for a stick, or just doing that, just shooting him in the
back there, no problem for QQ.
That's before the block from one side, narrowly you take your time killing the Zarya,
as overtime has been forced.
Yeah, the soundbar is forced to get used here, and now Sando has got enough time to put up to a misgrabber from the search.
He's going to have to be careful, Brad ends up hitting, hits Niko too, actually gets three.
Could beat those from Epic. Okay, pins in trouble, TP's away.
Basically a pixel of HP chased down by Al-Bari, but dear Al-Bari alive, just escorting pineapple to the front of the fight.
The scream from Niko though shuts him down in his tracks.
And that's going to be Japan picking up a second point on Suravasa.
You have a Suzu as well from Finn through that Graviton to stop Alpharie's overhead strike,
taking the team down, forcing Pineapple to burn out the Overclock to find the kills instead,
and allows Niko with that spree to have the ultimate Vantage and shred through the presence of China on the point.
KSG too, he'll have annihilation, but I just signed back to go kite it,
Niko won't be bad for Team Japan!
A very early pick, fire-advantaged Tundra and Blade, and Hand goes over the top!
That felt real personal, I can't lie!
After that fight, yeah, so much damage with Fendetta!
You're playing like that with the support of Dere and Santo, you're big chillin'.
Also, if you're going for the overhead strike over the top,
Lengzer can save the speed boost to have to push you forward into the backline.
means that you also have the Zarya bubble still available. It won't be broken. The Fendetta will
not be vulnerable within the line of sight. So, they'll get to go as fast as they want with this
comp. It will only work out once though. Now you have to worry about caiting that annihilation
once you can try to make a move onto point.
Alright. Oh! Something in play. There she's in trouble. On the other side of the fight,
but it's all good. It's got the annihilation to back him up. And now the Fendetta is
going to be pretty useless in the front line. Length that gets booted up to the sky too.
They should be a trivial kill for KSG, but they still lose Epic and QT.
That annihilation was just so good for KSG, but the rest of the team just weren't able to pick up kills.
They spent so long trying to kill this pesky Lucio, which should have been a freebie.
Yeah, Langson was just playing War Rider.
Up in that corner, Elias the rest of the team disengaged.
They don't even give up the point for it, Jack.
This is last fight territory someone desperately has to try to go for the touch that will fall onto Kuki
As Sun Toe just runs forward, pineapple in tow and takes the shion dan. That's point cap. We go to 2-2
Oh man that point was just a another burger honestly from Team Japan
Double support outs as well, 4-4 China
I mean, well it's even like 4 outs, I mean Pyro was 10% and Sun Toe was at 5, 6-5, 6%
I mean Kuki's trying to get something done here, be that presence, be that flank threatening the backlines that Dio can't ascend the team board with once I rush.
Wait for his vortex to go. He's just gonna rip off. Tuna pop off the point, here we go. Sun's go stepping up already. Rush for Dio.
I see they don't use the V here for them, so maybe you do. Again, just one support ult spot might be enough.
Well, they're actually gonna let Japan go first this time around.
Pineapple on the other side, and well, there's the double sound barrier.
Kukido, Snipe. What a clean rail from Pineapple.
And now trying to track Epic.
Spree is gonna use my Niko.
It was a different fake than before, but now is trapped in the grab.
Sonto, with a perfectly timed ult, is gonna eliminate both Niko and Finn.
And KSG's days were numbered.
Alphrey has Sundering Blade as well. No sound barrier in response to Epic to be able to use.
Plus look at how close Team China can hold since they have the Sorrow, they have that Vendetta,
they can engage on forward within these trucks instead of allowing Team Japan to walk on to
that point. As Nico, he's had enough of the Vendetta, he's onto the Gaffey. If Alphrey tries
to get aggressive, tries to overextend, it will be flashbang, take away the movement,
and take away the disengage.
Might as well try and line up for a shot on Team Japan
who is slowly kind of transitioning
to the outside the map there.
You go very low.
Stand them a lot of time to set up here,
even with this Lucio.
Vendetta's just gonna go for the little slash in,
no problem, and a hundred energy,
the sundering plate, Alphari,
kind of fretting on the side right now.
And you hear that old voice line,
you're like, I've got a scatter,
we have to get out of the point.
It's going to burn down some of this annihilation time from KSG and that's already gone.
Trying to force the issue again, Niko as well is on a flank with his tracer player.
Everybody from Japan split up to try and find their wands.
Dear and epic end up going down, the point is we can't touch Japan, don't touch!
And that will be Matt Point for Jaina.
Oh, the point, Jack.
They were trying to find their wands.
Yeah, they went for kills. It's so sad too because honestly the way that they approach that last fight
It's so clean within the method. They go for the Cassidy
Which gives pause for that vendetta to push forward allows them to get out of choke
Into wider space closer to the point stalls out any early kills any early pressure on that
you
you
you
you
you
you
you
I'm just setting up the last point and getting perks and all the tanks, then I can take the
variant.
What's it doing there?
What's wrong with this guy?
It's rough for sure, because yeah, like when you're doing your comms, right, you win a
fight, then you go into your alt-track, you say, okay, so-and-so is this close.
And if you're a support player, and you know a tank is like 80% Graviton, and you're
on Lucio, you're having to save Sion Barrier to be able to respond to that grab.
Unless there's vendetta in play, at which point, you know, Sion Barrier, worthless
investment because it will just be shredded off by sundering. You just have to take the
last or the hope that you can heal through as we will head to Esperanza push map in play
and likely a demon head to head here. Yeah trying to ban the last one. Yeah. I'm not
sure of last one so. Yeah we'll do charge. I don't believe we're seeing any substitutions
from Japan either so we do see ethics staying in. Yes. For the team. Seen a couple of
full caps on Esperanza. Definitely the favorite of the two. Even after the changes, Colosseo,
I think a lot of people prefer Esperanza. Yeah, Colosseo is just sort of reset central.
You have to win two fights. No, no more vendetta for you. No vendetta. Okay, so I like this because
it means that you can play the demon, but it also means that if you feel like you have to
to swap KSG onto the diva or you want to start with the diva. You are taking out one of the
main counters to that tank. We did see when we forward vendetta POV, for who that one point
of time was.
You were here in the diva.
KSG, the only thing that vendetta was looking at.
Everybody else was invisible. And KSG was right there, shining beacon of alt charge.
For the vendetta.
So what did China ban in response to, as we said, they can't cram the demon?
The Ramatraa.
It's that interesting, okay.
So taking away some of the tank options that KSG had started to feel towards.
Yeah, the Ramatraa was working for them shutting down a lot of that mobility with things like
the vortex as well.
I think KSG probably wants to just pay the demon though.
Yeah.
Again, if we do, to be fair, I'll try some of the things, if you want to go counter-swapping again, we can just, like, remove...
I'd go through all of the different things.
Yeah, exactly. So you'll...
It leaves your backline open as well, right?
Yeah. Yeah.
So you still have all of the options of being able to play things like the Curie, the Cat,
plus you've already burned the Anavan all the way back on control.
So that would probably what be one of the difference in compositions
If Japan wanted to try to go for this slow burn set up and anodefensively on high ground out of the main focus of the fight,
play for first nanoboos, just battery it up within the neutral stage of first, then expend it to overwhelm your opponent.
We'll see what Finn decides to opt for.
I'm trying to think if we've seen... Have we seen Epic on anything? Well, we saw him go
for a few swaps on the flashpoint, so yeah, he could go for Mizuki. But it feels, for
sure, a preference for the Mizuki, and it also feels like there's more structure within
the team Japan of responding to the call of, hey, someone's chained, follow up with
me.
Let's have a look. We're jumping in, map number three. China and Japan, China leading a 2,
a clean 2-0. It felt like that first map on the board, it was pretty close. It's now
Japan kind of, it's getting away from them. I think Esperanza, oh sorry not Esperanza,
Suravasu was way more one sided on China's side of things.
You also have to reset very quickly, right?
You have to basically just memory wipe the eloster of Asa.
You can't let the bad vibes sit within the team when First Fight on this map type is
so important.
As we say, winning First Fight on Esperanza secures you that prior position for the
high ground, which is so hard for that retaking team to have to overcome, especially
with the vendetta out of play.
Don't have ease of access of that overhead sawing slice to be able to cut a slob through the support line playing safe within
Almost looks like my breakfast order
You didn't know Moxie has the sweetest two-sided ever seen
It's a miracle and this spin
It's crazy. I mean like it see
The chocolate cake she ate earlier.
I'm like, how many grabbers should we do that?
Incredibly sweet, too.
Alright.
Let's have a look how KSG again kind of matches up against SunZo.
Because on this first map, it was fairly close.
We are seeing again the cat-bashing for China, but Epic now playing cat himself,
but Niko and Juki, who didn't really stand up kind of to the test against Pyrable,
are just perverting completely.
I think Niko is going to be much more at home here on the Shion, but unfortunately it's
Epic that goes down first to find out.
Also, Epic's not lifting KSG behind enemy lines, so the demon has not been able to close
the distance and go for pressure on recall.
And now, he seems very low, fully split from his team and totally de-mexed because the
Shion just come through to block any support.
That's a little rough there for KSG losing Epic, because as well you can kind of grab
Pay HG away and obviously, like you mentioned, extra healing and the lifeline could be so imperative there to stop your tank instantly blowing up.
Also, look how hard it is now to pilot anything the cat lifts through these chokes onto the high ground where the backbone from Trinus is.
Sure.
Well, Pay HG is gonna try his dandest to shoot Pineapple, but barely been scratching with your armor.
And Niko ends up going down to him, so, I mean, Pineapple right now, these really early pigs,
There's something that's fairly easy to tell about.
You know that Japan wants to get on top of you.
So, Blanks is also kind of waiting and going,
Okay, well, here they come. Pineapple come with me,
and now you can shoot them for free.
Yeah, and also forcing Finn out very early with the Swift Step,
then everyone's dog piling on KSG.
We've got Jetpack out in play,
but it's really everyone looking at the tank
the moment the Kiriko is extracted from the fight,
and that demon becomes vulnerable.
So that's already first checkpoint picked up on the side of China
And pineapple's already got the old two. All right, Nico is to come
It is time to play a love action with the cat already going low though. Okay, three fights in a row here for pineapple
opening it up
This is the cherry on top
Everyone dies
Nah, KSG gets staggered.
They definitely could have staggered KSG. They put him out of his misery. They get staggered in for a little longer.
Mercy! At least for that part of the fight. Look at how close China is.
To the spot already, they've seen the split. There's no contest on the objective. I'm curious he's dead.
The Japan really have lost their way here. Our fiery discreet from behind him. It's just so much damage.
damage moxie this is yeah this is this is overwatch okay well that was very
ultimate though well four actually I like the pope factor in the catnap has
been now goes for the Anna there's no way of getting on top of another secret
within the confines of sport
please don't say around too long here get a shot in the face this has to be a
huge limit right from KS3 but no one's gonna line up from that's the
No, I think it's gonna be the main problem there, Moxie.
Make the swing in, there's a graphic on the wrong side of the teamfight.
Ah, completely.
It's just no team to support KSG as well.
Look at how low he's got in here.
Zero confidence to invest that limit break.
Jumps on the vibe, QQ really low.
So, like, he barely escapes with his life.
As Sunza was touched the spawn door,
KSG got one.
Pineapple though, limit break, don't matter.
Straight to another spawn door.
There's another one just now, by the way, so two players are already small already, Moxi.
KSG has finally found Assemblers to control, but that's 137 meters in four minutes.
Yeah.
In four minutes.
That's insane.
This has to be a huge temporal.
Okay, KSG, wow, this is very risky.
Onto the Diva, so we're putting a lot of stock and being able to protect Abassian.
Also have the boosters to go put Contest on the fly ground.
Sunzone now has right of way in the tank matchup.
Oh, Terry me.
Uh, let's see if SG can, uh, kind of be active in this fight.
How far in Neko trade?
But still, I gotta be, you gotta be worried.
I'm cause pineapple is just, yeah, okay, eventually shut down.
This is what SG is switching over to D before.
Yeah.
Making sure pineapple can't get first picks again.
Also protecting Finn, right?
So he does not have to panic.
He has to be either behind him or in front of him.
Right.
And he'll be able to hold onto the nanoboos to use it within an opportunity,
like China can't just kite it.
Oh man. Okay, she's taking a pokeload of damage, so we're not crafting off.
And here comes the problem.
Yeah, hi Dan.
We've got another kill.
Recall the rush.
You've still got five minutes, and you've done a hundred plays on this.
And you have no way of breaking corner, because the second you do, you get rushed.
Yeah, your son's out quickly ending QQ's live there.
Hit him with the AGS spec, insta-killing the she-off.
Oh Jack, they still have rush to break this form.
Foxy, I had to break to you, they might just fall down.
Yes.
They've got the rush.
Ah, who touches?
It's gonna be KSG, but...
Quickly D-Mex.
Kuki with a kill of a pineapple, though, hang on!
No, I was just... yeah!
They've managed to into air a couple more meters, though.
They are literally a meter away now from fall down.
But the regroup, the limit break, the amp damage
for the kill potential of the spree.
It's so dangerous!
They're playing within a knife's edge.
Right.
And at any point, China can twist it to stop the summer.
Alright, Sun Zou, playing him a little bit of respect here.
She'll have to get in delete of her hip,
he's fine with the swing again.
This guy is just unstoppable on the Bastion.
KSG's solo tier.
Oh, they can't nap Tim!
And they're gonna leave the baby D2 ideally.
Nicely from Finn.
But he's on his lonesome on the point easy clean up and team at China
Only really have to deal with anything now. His old gets cancelled by later, too. I mean, that's a cap jack surely and there it is
the full cap
From team China that is a 3-0 as well as Japan
End up falling at the final hurt
From the first fight really, it felt like Japan were just on the back foot.
Uncomfortable with the positions that they were playing, something that China punished.
Instantly, the fact that Kat of all things was the first to go down after how many maps do we see,
where players on the Jetpack Kat go deathless.
So split, not positioning the demon, not there to carry the demon out, afterwards not able
to help out with the cat bastion as well.
And then when the swaps came through from Japan, it just, it felt too late, right?
The ultimates had built up for the side of China.
They were just waiting for the moment to invest them.
Push in general very snowbally game mode, pineapple, how many first bloods and how many first picks do you have?
So many. I mean the first three you gave us where he gets it.
Yes.
And when that happens like that, you lose when it's DPS or like you mentioned like losing the cap.
Well there was no cap action, Jill.
Yeah, oh yeah there's that.
Because Giselle did not play the cap action, so there was no reason for pineapple to have to save the turret bomb.
just go when he chose. Big W for China though. I mean very much in ceiling
confidence in themselves. It's just a kind of a shame that LISCON not on the cards
anymore. Japan kind of likewise very unsuccessful in the OV12 Cup in 2026.
The reason that's still kind of growing as well. Growing into, growing into,
I was going to say, into the shoes almost, I think in general, like Vara have been doing,
kind of progressively better over the years, just a shame Japan can quite keep up with the rest of the regions here.
It has been tough there for Japan to be able to keep up with the competition.
Again though, just reiterating the changes to the game that have occurred,
the adjustment when it came down to the meta as well, having that demon in play,
we've seen a lot of teams struggling with it.
with it. Sunzo though today, definitely looked like he was starting to get a handle of that
demon. It was a matter of pride for this matchup, Moxie, at the end of the day.
Yeah, you can tell right positioning is so key at this part of the matter. How fast kills come
through when someone's out of position because of the speed. People can just get to spots now
with jetpack cap. You don't have those few seconds where you can tell your team,
Hey, I think I made a mistake. Can someone bail me out? You're just dead, even if you're a tank.
Yes, exactly. That's pretty quick. Sunzo, very good on the demon right now. I'm excited to see Sunzo
through the rest of this year or two. I'm curious if we're ever going to see kind of
Gushui step into that role for their team, but for Webo. But Sunzo has been, especially for
China and Chinese Overwatch has been such a big rising star for the region. It is a shame that
we're not seeing China or Japan at the BlizzCon, but you know what, good showing and yeah, I hope we
see more. And I'm glad to see him definitely stepping up a bit more today in the matchup here
for Team China, but let's take a look at our overall standing as we close out day three of
OWC group stage here. Guys, when it comes down to what we're seeing on our screens,
Group A that is locked and loaded there for USA and Sweden the rest of the groups though
We have those second place spots that are still wide open. I mean it group B
hmm, I have Australia beating Great Britain
and
KSA waiting in the wings that is gonna be an
Incredibly hard matchup like Brevin. I think literally have to be perfect. What's locking fat spot?
And people like Group B may be locked here, but you know, surprises can happen.
Yeah, for sure surprises can happen. We have to say that after every match night.
Yeah, there was a game in general.
Yeah.
That's the type line here for the OWWC 2026. Hey, surprises can happen.
They definitely can Group B and Group D there.
We do have Korea and Denmark as well as Australia and GBR fighting for that second spot.
But then that Group C is where things get really interesting
because all three teams are still in contention to try and make it to LISCON.
Yes, Thailand does still have technically an opportunity as well,
but I think that realistically from what we've seen from Canada, Germany and Spain,
they would have to really rely on some other teams to make this game.
Yeah, so Spain have been really impressed with me.
The Gala backline is just so nice.
I think that is where their strength really lies.
Group C is going to be a really fun one to watch.
Germany in general has always done decently well at the World Cups. I mean Canada too,
it's going to be good to see Canada back on the big stage.
Yeah, Canada has been popping off as to Germany. It's been wonderful to get to see those players
grow as well. I think we have talked about Accu as well. Accu's jetpacker has been one of the
best in the tournament so far. Like, she's so good at just living and surviving and being
really problematic for a lot of teams to have to deal with.
absolutely has been. It's been such a joy to watch our players grow throughout this week.
We do have one more day of OWC group stage in Busan waiting though tomorrow on Sunday.
For now, we are gonna say goodnight and we'll catch you guys later.