2-0s ALL AROUND: VCT Pacific League Week 7 Recap
VCT Pacific League week 7 action saw the crowning of new #2. Additionally, the two challengers in RRQ and GES faced each other to get ahead of each other. The playoff race remains strong, with only three teams currently fixed as the playoffs entrants. The race for second seed also enrages with the week.
VCT Pacific League Week 7 Recap:
Talon Esports vs. GenG:
GenG came into the week as the second seed. Talon currently has their backs against the walls, and losing a single game destroys their playoff dreams. The best-of-three series started on Fracture, picked by GenG. Despite the slow 2-4 start, Talon chose to attack and secured a two-round lead at halftime. Talon's defence with Cypher held strong. Talon started the half with equalising and converted the momentum into a 13-8 victory.
GenG chose to attack Lotus and started strong. But Talon's defence was strong, securing five rounds in a row. GenG and k1ng answered to salvage the half 5-7. Talon's attacks worked, and they secured the second game to win over GenG.
With the win, Talon keeps their playoff dream alive, and GenG is on the verge of losing their second seed.
ZETA DIVISION 0-2 Paper Rex:
The game was crucial for both teams, and the winner would become the second seed of VCT Pacific or atleast get close to closing it. ZETA started Split on Defence but had a rough time keeping the double-duelist attack of Paper Rex in check. f0rsaken's Skye plays oppressed the ZETA defence. But they held strong and closed the half 5-7. Paper Rex's proactive defence and anchoring put the pressure back on ZETA as they struggled to win rounds on the attack. The anchoring prowess of Paper Rex's players helped them secure a strong 13-5 win.
Paper Rex's attack led by something's Jett again gave ZETA a hard time. Despite the struggles, ZETA still secured four rounds. In the second half, Paper Rex's aggression on defence was punished by ZETA, helping them mount a comeback. But Paper Rex stayed strong and secured the map 13-10, winning the series 2-0. With the win, Paper Rex is now the second seed of VCT Pacific.
Rex Regum Qeon 2-0 Global Esports:
The RRQ - GES game was crucial for deciding which one of the teams had the higher chance of qualifying. The team winning here has a stronger chance of making it to the playoffs. Starting on Fracture, the GES attack started strong. RRQ adjusted back to equalise in the first half. In the second half, RRQ's attacks led by EJAY split open the GES defence, helping them secure their map choice.
The GES defence struggled to hold off RRQ. With their strong attack, RRQ secured a strong 8-4 half. GES closed down the lead to one. RRQ secured three rounds to reach eleven. GES’s attack secured four rounds in a row to equalise, mounting a comeback. Unfortunately for GES, RRQ secured the last two rounds to win the series 2-0.
With the win, RRQ's chances of qualifying for the playoffs increase greatly. GES, on the other hand, have only a small hope to make the playoffs.
Team Secret 0-2 T1:
Team Secret has been struggling recently to keep up with the competition. After the strong start to the tournament, Team Secret sits on 3W-4L. T1 struggled a little in the weeks following the Paper Rex loss but is currently on a two-game win streak.
Starting their opponent's map pick on Defense, T1 displayed masterclass in Lotus retakes. T1's defence helped them secure a strong 10-2 half. They extended the eight-round lead by two at the start of the second half and secured a 13-4 win on the opponent's map pick.
Bind saw T1's attack composition working wonders. They secured a 4-2 lead in the first six rounds. Team Secret adjusted back to salvage the half. They equalised the score in the second half. But the T1 defence held strong, securing the next six rounds out of seven. With the win, T1 moves up to the leaderboard's third position and secures playoffs.
DRX 2-0 Detonation FocusMe:
Both teams are currently on the opposite side of the spectrum, and the game's outcome does not affect the leaderboard. Starting on DFM's Fracture, DRX's attack struggled to avoid retake attempts. Despite the struggles, DRX won five rounds in the first half. The DFM retakes were positive for them as they secured the pistol round in the second half. But the DRX defence secured eight rounds in a row to win the first map 13-8.
The momentum from the first map continued in the second as the DRX attack secured the first half of Ascent 9-3. They secured the game 13-4.
The win solidifies DRX's #1 spot, and they will be the first seed going into the playoffs. The seeding after week 7 is as follows:
VCT Pacific will return with the Superweek starting 12th May. The first set of games in the Superweek will determine the playoff teams, with the second game solidifying the seeding. Follow VCT Pacific's Twitter for all the updates regarding VCT Pacific.