ESEA Invite Season 22 recap

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Snivy

August 19, 2016

After twenty-eight off-season roster change articles, seven dead teams, and five new teams, North America was ready for the 22nd season of ESEA Invite. And with all the roster changes, Season 22 looked to become the most competitive season of ESEA in the history of TF2.

Another season, another run (picture by Austen "tagg" Wade)

Season 22 kicked off with the regular season, where each team would face off against every other team in a double round robin. froyotech topped the regular season standings in 1st place, with rivals Ronin trailing behind in 2nd. froyotech's sister team FROYO BLACK and EVL Gaming's new rookie squadron took 3rd and 4th respectively.

With the regular season wrapped up, the top four teams were locked in for the playoffs and seeded into the double elimination bracket. In the First Round of playoffs, froyotech dominated in their series against EVL Gaming in a 2-0 sweep, while Ronin held on and won a close 2-1 series against FROYO BLACK.

A classy match-up (picture by Austen "tagg" Wade)

With the First Round of playoffs concluded, the El Clásico between froyotech and Ronin in the upper bracket finals was set. The series began on Gullywash, and in the usual Gullywash fashion, it was slow business. But froyotech managed to break through the samurais' defenses and take the first game. Ronin attempted to fight back on Process, but it was too much to handle, as the boys in green swept their rivals in under thirty minutes to send Ronin to the lower bracket while moving on to the grand finals.

Meanwhile in the playoffs, the lower bracket began, with FROYO BLACK and EVL Gaming fighting for their tournament lives. The first map on Gullywash went back and forth, and it would eventually lead to a golden cap, with both teams tied 3-3. After a twenty-eight minute round, FROYO BLACK came out on top and took the first map of the series. The series then went to Process, where FROYO BLACK scored only one round in the first half due to a resilient EVL. Things changed however in the second half, as the black eyed froyotech took a commanding lead over EVL to take the map plus the series and eliminate their foes from the playoffs.

"Be right back making some pancakes" (picture by Getawhale)

Thus, the lower bracket finals would be between Ronin and FROYO BLACK, with Ronin looking to meet up with froyotech in the grand finals, while FROYO BLACK looked to make the finals an all froyo affair. The series kicked off on Badlands, where Ronin charged straight on with their katanas and completed the first half with a 3-0 in under ten minutes. FROYO BLACK tried to make a comeback on the second half, but they only scored one round, and Ronin closed out the first map 5-1 to bring the series one to zero. Moving to Metalworks, both teams struggled to push into a last point. With only three minutes left in the first half, Ronin finally managed to put one round on the board. Ronin kept their posture firm in the second half, and they ended the map 5-2 to take the series and move on to meet froyotech in the grand finals.

The end of Season 22 would be a rematch of the upper bracket finals, with froyotech only needing to win one best of three, while Ronin needed two. It would be the most important series for both of these teams, as froyotech wanted to prove themselves as contenders for the Insomnia58 title, while a few members of Ronin would be playing their last TF2 match in their careers.

The 1st best of three started on Product, and the King of the Hill map saw froyotech and Ronin trade blow for blow, with Ronin holding the lead 3-2 at the end of the first half. The second half looked scary, as froyotech looked like they were going to tie up the scoreline 3-3. Ronin held it together however, and they were able to close out Product 4-2 and bring the series 1-0. Things got more interesting on the 2nd map of the series on Process, where Ronin cruised through their rivals in the 1st half with a convincing 3-0. The second half started to look bleak for froyo, as Ronin were at match point and looked poised to take the series. After a brief pause and some psychological warfare, froyotech started to mount a comeback, making the scoreline 3-4 with only four minutes left. Despite almost having their backs against the wall, Ronin held on, and they ran the clock down to zero to take the map and series. But most importantly, they reset the bracket, meaning their chances of getting revenge looked possible.

Going out with a bang (picture by Austen "tagg" Wade)

The second best of three started on Snakewater, and Ronin kept their momentum going from the last series, cruising through the first half and and putting the score at 3-0 in only fifteen minutes. The second half saw froyotech getting a round on the board for themselves, but it would be the only round that they would get, as Ronin crushed their rivals 5-1, putting the series in their favor. The teams then headed to Gullywash, where froyotech needed to win the map to keep their hopes alive. The first half was a barn-burner, but froyo held on and reached halftime with a 3-2 lead. Ronin gave it their all in taking the lead on the second half, but failed last pushes allowed froyotech to conquer and take Gullywash 5-3, bringing the series to the final map: Sunshine. In a scenario just like Gullywash, froyotech took the first half 3-2, poised to take another ESEA title. The second half saw the lead go to and fro, and with twenty minutes left, both teams were tied 4-4 - one point away from winning the entire season. In the last round of the season, froyotech emerged from the battlefield as the winners, taking Sunshine 5-4 to take the map, the series, and a well-earned ESEA championship.

The final standings for ESEA Invite Season 22 are:

1st: froyotech ($5,600)
2nd: Ronin ($3,500)
3rd: FROYO BLACK ($2,800)
4th: EVL Gaming ($2,100)

Oasis

28 Frags – +

Good Write up and congrats froyo!

cleanbuddy

23 Frags – +

very nice writeup, if these were more common that would be very cool

Stevie

2 Frags – +

Good conclusion to a good season!
GG!

rocketslay

8 Frags – +

psychological warfare

LUL

[quote] psychological warfare[/quote]
LUL

Melonss

2 Frags – +

What a close final, jesus christ.

Shpeeisme

-5 Frags – +

original postsecond half saw the lead go to and fro, and at twenty minutes left, both

Small mistake in the article

[quote=original post]second half saw the lead go to and fro, and at twenty minutes left, both[/quote]
Small mistake in the article

supersub

13 Frags – +

Unfortunate for Ronin, they tried in the finals but Shrugger and ma3la couldn't get a champion send off. Hope the team can continue in some sort of capacity. Congrats to froyo, at least we can rest easy knowing we are sending the best NA team to i58

Wholegrain

8 Frags – +

supersubUnfortunate for Ronin, they tried in the finals but Shrugger and ma3la couldn't get a champion send off. Hope the team can continue in some sort of capacity. Congrats to froyo, at least we can rest easy knowing we are sending the best NA team to i58

ma3la is still playing iirc

[quote=supersub]Unfortunate for Ronin, they tried in the finals but Shrugger and ma3la couldn't get a champion send off. Hope the team can continue in some sort of capacity. Congrats to froyo, at least we can rest easy knowing we are sending the best NA team to i58[/quote]
ma3la is still playing iirc

kimbi

14 Frags – +

yeah only nursey and shrugs are leaving

#10

yuice

14 Frags – +

pretty sure nursey is playing with habib?

#11

EoN

9 Frags – +

I asked nursey on stream and she said that ma3la rando and shrugged were leaving tf2 (not sure who is going to overwatch) she wasn't sure about bdonski, yomps is playing for cafe monster and she's playing for Luca goers

#12

Dolly

8 Frags – +

If you win the upper bracket, the MOST you should be rewarded with is 1 map advantage in a bo5 or map ban advantage where froyo gets to ban the maps, going into the finals with a 3 map advantage so that the team who won more maps in the final doesn't win the final is really dumb.

Dude congrats to froyo but the one bo3 advantage for winning the upper bracket finals is way too generous, ronin dominated most of that final and although interesting to watch they were honestly performing better (why they took more maps).

If you win the upper bracket, the MOST you should be rewarded with is 1 map advantage in a bo5 or map ban advantage where froyo gets to ban the maps, going into the finals with a 3 map advantage so that the team who won [b]more[/b] maps in the [b]final[/b] doesn't win the [b]final[/b] is really dumb.

#13

crackbabydumpster

3 Frags – +

It's a double elim bracket so you have to lose two matches to be knocked out. That can't really be that hard to understand right? If you take into account upper bracket finals it was a bo7 with froyo winning 4 maps

#14

Dolly

12 Frags – +

I understand it, you don't need to patronize me, but I think it's a mildly flawed system that is too generous, the ubf shouldn't be part of the final, it should be a separate entity in a different environment that provides better stakes for the winner going into the final, I can't see any reason to run double elim over bo5 final with small advantages going into it for the higher seeded team.

#15

shoras

0 Frags – +

I agree with Dolly. Was pretty upset when found out froyo "stole" the championship title in 2 maps of last bo3 despite losing 3 in a row previously.

#16

phorofor

27 Frags – +

shorasI agree with Dolly. Was pretty upset when found out froyo "stole" the championship title in 2 maps of last bo3 despite losing 3 in a row previously.

this would have never happend if ronin didnt throw the first upper bracket match we had against them.

[quote=shoras]I agree with Dolly. Was pretty upset when found out froyo "stole" the championship title in 2 maps of last bo3 despite losing 3 in a row previously.[/quote]
this would have never happend if ronin didnt throw the first upper bracket match we had against them.

#17

Muma

22 Frags – +

it wasnt a problem for us s21 where we rolled them both best of 3s tho...

#18

Dolly

0 Frags – +

Mumait wasnt a problem for us s21 where we rolled them both best of 3s tho...

If you're winning nothing is a problem :)

[quote=Muma]it wasnt a problem for us s21 where we rolled them both best of 3s tho...[/quote]

If you're winning nothing is a problem :)

#19

Kylo_ren

9 Frags – +

DollyMumait wasnt a problem for us s21 where we rolled them both best of 3s tho...
If you're winning nothing is a problem :)

I don't think nobody would have complained if they lost. You win UBF you have advantage whether you use it (S22 Froyo) or blow it (S21 Ronin) its up to you.

[quote=Dolly][quote=Muma]it wasnt a problem for us s21 where we rolled them both best of 3s tho...[/quote]

If you're winning nothing is a problem :)[/quote]

I don't think nobody would have complained if they lost. You win UBF you have advantage whether you use it (S22 Froyo) or blow it (S21 Ronin) its up to you.

#20

SwantanamoJ

2 Frags – +

Nice write-up!

#21

itsgalf

2 Frags – +

The advantage is only a problem if you look at it as an 'advantage'. It really is just a team needs to lose twice to be knocked out of the tournament. Ronin lost twice. Froyotech lost once.

Its just like having a bo3 game again, but just in case the underdog team wins, then they can play the second game immediately after. If the second bo3 had been scheduled for the following night and then Ronin won the first map again and Froyo the next two, I doubt you would even raise an issue since you wouldn't be looking at it as "Ronin won 3 maps, Froyo won 2 maps"

The advantage is only a problem if you look at it as an 'advantage'. It really is just a team needs to lose twice to be knocked out of the tournament. Ronin lost twice. Froyotech lost once.

Its just like having a bo3 game again, but just in case the underdog team wins, then they can play the second game immediately after. If the second bo3 had been scheduled for the following night and then Ronin won the first map again and Froyo the next two, I doubt you would even raise an issue since you wouldn't be looking at it as "Ronin won 3 maps, Froyo won 2 maps"

#22

Geel9

marketplace.tf

1 Frags – +

It's not an advantage in any way. You just need to lose twice to be knocked out.

Froyotech only ever lost one game, and Ronin lost two. How is this hard to understand?

It's not an advantage in any way. You just need to lose twice to be knocked out.

Froyotech only ever lost one game, and Ronin lost two. How is this hard to understand?

#23

flatline

2 Frags – +

since froyo is still in winners losing the first bo3 knocks them into losers to play ronin again

#24

KevinIsPwn

newbie.tf

11 Frags – +

Definitely not too generous. Giving anything less would be punishing a team for winning early in the playoff upper brackets, which (obviously) doesn't make sense.

#25

Kylo_ren

-1 Frags – +

KevinIsPwnDefinitely not too generous. Giving anything less would be punishing a team for winning early in the playoff upper brackets, which (obviously) doesn't make sense.

I can see what Dolly above us is getting at. He means that if you win the UBF it is much easier to win the Grand Final because you are already 1-0 in bo3's . I can relate to that but ESEA has been running like this forever and nobody has ever complained because it is only right to give the team who won the UBF an advantage. It is up to the team who has the advantage whether they are gonna cherish it or throw it away. The underdog team having lost the UBF has to fight if it wants to win. We have seen that both scenarios can happen in the last 2 seasons. Froyo won both but it was in two different situations.

[quote=KevinIsPwn]Definitely not too generous. Giving anything less would be punishing a team for winning early in the playoff upper brackets, which (obviously) doesn't make sense.[/quote]

I can see what Dolly above us is getting at. He means that if you win the UBF it is much easier to win the Grand Final because you are already 1-0 in bo3's . I can relate to that but ESEA has been running like this forever and nobody has ever complained because it is only right to give the team who won the UBF an advantage. It is up to the team who has the advantage whether they are gonna cherish it or throw it away. The underdog team having lost the UBF has to fight if it wants to win. We have seen that both scenarios can happen in the last 2 seasons. Froyo won both but it was in two different situations.

#26

MR_SLIN

-1 Frags – +

Another way you can do that makes it a little more balanced is to give the UBF winning team (i.e. froyo) a 1-0 lead in the first bo3. It's an advantage that isn't too large to overcome. The downside is that it puts less emphasis on winning the UBFs, but you still get an advantage.

#27

Kylo_ren

-1 Frags – +

MR_SLINAnother way you can do that makes it a little more balanced is to give the UBF winning team (i.e. froyo) a 1-0 lead in the first bo3. It's an advantage that isn't too large to overcome. The downside is that it puts less emphasis on winning the UBFs, but you still get an advantage.

one map advantage isn't a very big advantage because if the next map favours the underdog team there is the UBF final advantage gone. I think it is pretty fair and balanced as it is now

[quote=MR_SLIN]Another way you can do that makes it a little more balanced is to give the UBF winning team (i.e. froyo) a 1-0 lead in the first bo3. It's an advantage that isn't too large to overcome. The downside is that it puts less emphasis on winning the UBFs, but you still get an advantage.[/quote]

one map advantage isn't a very big advantage because if the next map favours the underdog team there is the UBF final advantage gone. I think it is pretty fair and balanced as it is now

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