We had some great wars this past week, and as theyre all finished for now, I might as well make the weekly post early. Just this evening we saw two amazingly close wars.
First, we had name rivals LaG and LG facing one another. LaG came out swinging, taking down 2 bo3s 2:0 before the war seemed to have even begun, but LG didn't take this lying down, as they immediately hit back with a 2:0 win of their own. Then both teams watched and waited as the series between LaG.TT.Reset and LG.MuTa went to a third and final game. To the excitement of all those watching, and to the dismay of LaG, MuTa came out victorious after a hard-fought game. So on to the 2v2, where LaG's champion JEcho teamed up with city-mate merLO to face off against the hero for LG: MuTa and LG's manager as well as the man who 2:0ed merLO, Retro. The first game was played on Arid Wastes, and immediately LaG grab a small lead with a nice reaper harass from merLO, while JEcho beings drilling the back door into Retro's base. But soon enough the tides turn, and the Argentinian team catches LaG off guard, and JEcho immediately retreats, while merLO's army is completely surrounded by a swarm of speedlings. With a great advantage now, LG converges on JEcho's base, with only a handful of speedlings standing in defense against banelings and stalkers. merLO stims his entire army over, and together the LaG team fends off the attack, and then press into Retro's base via the back door. After a first attack where they took out a large number of workers, the LaG duo are finally fought off, but they can tell that theyre in the driving seat now. MuTa tries a few desperate run-byes, but the base defenses of the LaG team are too strong, and when a second push comes, LG taps out. Game 2 was on Scorched Haven, and both teams open similarly, except 3 players take fast expansions. The LG team quickly takes control of the game, preparing for a baneling bust/4-gate attack, but sensing extreme danger, merLO throws down 6 bunkers and an engineering bay in front of the entrances to his and his teammates base. LG is hesitant to attack, and for minutes stand outside the LaG base, checking for any opening in the fortifications. After what seems like ages, the Argentinians retreat, and then JEcho and MuTa race for mutalisks. The LaG player gets there first, taking out numerous workers from the Argentinians. LG isnt done yet, as MuTa's mutalisks arrive in much greater number than JEcho's, who pulls a fast tech switch to roaches. The Argentinian's mutalisks arrive at merLO's base, but are held off by a well place turret. The Canadians take this opportunity to press, and with MuTa's army completely out of position, the LaG team crushes its way into the next round.
Final Result:
LaG [3:2] LG
4 hours later, the war between eP and MnM took place. MnM had started out the league very strong, but had lost their last 2 wars 4:1, and the only fault against eP was their penalty points. Both teams trade 2:0's, with NvU and Jacknife quickly taking a series for their respective teams. Then a tragedy strikes eP as one of their star players, Perfect disappears just prior to his series beginning. eP is forced to sub in TheWrecker, who falls under the strength and ingenuity of MnM star, Vadar. Now with the score 2:1 in favour of MnM, all members of both squads sit transfixed, waiting for the results from the 4th 1v1 series, StrifeX against LuckYnOOb. The series is tied at 1:1, and so with the result of the third game, the war could either end, or repeat the war from earlier that day, being decided by the 2v2 series. After what seems like ages, the result comes back, LuckYnOOb has triumphed, and MnM, finally free of their slump, is advancing in the playoffs.
Final Result:
MnM [3:1] eP
So the playoffs now look like this:
This week we have the following matches:
LaG v sC
xi [2:3] MnM
Once again, all teams will have 1 sub card, and no wild cards, both LaG and MnM didnt use their subcards from the first round, but they are not transferable.
The starting maps for the first round of the playoffs are:
Set 1: Blistering Sands - BS
Set 2: Scrap Station - SS
Set 3: Xel'Naga Caverns - XC
Set 4: Metalopolis - MT
2v2: High Orbit - HO
Remember theres a 50$ prize for the champion team!
Also I'd like to reiterate that applications for season 2 are open to any and all teams on the NA server. Applications will be open until Sunday February 27th at 11:59pm EST, after which we will begin qualifiers.
The top 2 teams from Nightmare Gaming Project's first season will receive auto-acceptance berths into the regular season of S2, while 3rd and 4th place will receive top seeds.
All the necessary information on season 2, including how to apply, the format, and the map pool, can be found here: https://ngproject.forumotion.com/t94-playoffs-and-season-2
So far, we have received applications from the following teams:
[N]zar's Kingdom ([N])
Proxiteam (prOxi)
xGames (xGs)
OverDosed (OD)
1nsanity (iNs)
Terror Australis (TA)
Beercrafters (40oz)
*Please note that if LG, eP, or Stoic wish to participate in season 2, they must email their application once more to the league. The 4 teams remaining need not reapply, as they are guaranteed at the very least top seeds in S2 qualifier. gTA is banned from season 2.