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The Smoke Clears: OWL Countdown Cup Play-Ins Finals Recap
Play-Ins are Over, and the Winners are Declared
The Overwatch League (OWL) Countdown Cup Play-Ins have just concluded, with Florida Mayhem and Toronto Defiant emerging as the final two qualifiers for the OWL annual prestigious Play-Offs.
Here is everything you might have missed from yesterday’s Countdown Cup matches:
Florida Mayhem vs. Toronto Defiant (3-1)
Winner: Florida Mayhem
First up in the upper bracket finals, titans clashed as Florida Mayhem and Toronto Defiant fought for the first qualifier spot. Despite the scoreline, it was a close battle of tug war between the two teams across all 4 maps.
Toronto would pull ahead with an early lead map, however a closely contested second map would result in an equalizer for the American side. Florida would go on to take map 3 thanks in large part to the stellar defense of front liner Ham “SOMEONE” Jeong-wan on the Zarya.
Map 4 was another hard-fought battle over control of the robot, with Florida in control in the last moments of the game. A concerted last defense attempt by Toronto would be interrupted by Baek “Checkmate” Seung-hun’s impressive Dragonblade 4k, ensuring Florida’s victory.
Boston Uprising vs. Washington Justice (3-0)
Winner: Boston Uprising
A clash for tournament survival would find Boston Uprising take on Washington Justice in a Bo5 series that was surprisingly one-sided. Despite ending at the bottom of the list of qualified teams, Boston had a strong showing against the Washington side.
With their backs against the wall, Boston would come out swinging, with DPS star rookie Alex “Seeker” Taylor and Leyton “Punk” Gilchrist of particular note taking to the fore. Shredding Washington’s lines, Boston would glide to a 2-1 victory on map 1 over Washington.
Washington would bite back on map 2 with an early point grab off a successful push, thanks to Gui-un “Decay” Jang on the Sojourn and Shin “Kalios” Woo-yeol on the Zarya. However, Boston was quick to respond with an equalizer in record time of 4.50 mins left, before securing the map 4-3.
Nonetheless, the game would end on map 4 after Boston finally managed isolate tank Shin “Kalios” Woo-yeol from his squad and cut down the rest in a devastating last push.
Toronto Defiant vs. Boston Uprising (3-0)
Winner: Toronto Defiant
A pissed-off Toronto Defiant would unleash their frustrations on an unwitting Boston Uprising after the former fell in the upper finals match.
Blitzing Boston in map 1, the Canadian squad grabbed a 2-0 point lead to secure map advantage. This would be followed by an incredible defense by Toronto on map 2, including an outplay by Toronto DPS Jung-woo “Finale” Lim on Alex “Seeker” Taylor.
Nonetheless, a final defense attempt by Boston would be overturned in an outmaneuver by Toronto, turning the tables on the American squad in the last moments of the map.
This would be followed in the final map by Jung-woo “Finale” Lim ending Boston’s dreams then and there. With incredible Genji mechanics, he tore apart the Boston defense. The final map would end 2-1.
Play-Offs Bound
Finally, with the conclusion of the Countdown Cup series, the final teams have been locked in for Play-Offs. The grand finale to the OWL year will be happening from the 30th of Oct- 4th of Nov at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA.
Featured image credit: Blizzard Entertainment