Rooster reverse sweep new-look Ground Zero in DFRAG Open Series 5 romp

Rooster has done what they do best, stunning favourites Ground Zero 2-1 (2-13, 13-11, 13-11) to take home their first DFRAG Open Series title.

Rooster gave the boys in green trouble in the upper-bracket final on Tuesday in what was a precursor to tonight's marathon grand final, and while GZ coach tucks returned to the server for the absent vision, Rooster held their nerve as back-to-back maps went the distance.

It certainly wasn't looking like a great night for the Chooks; GZ got to work on the opener of Nuke, putting together a cohesive 10-2 T-half behind their "new" star sliimey (2.36, 16-5) and apocdud (2.11, 16-8).

The former linked with coach tucks (1.22, 9-8) to close the half with a 2v4, before climbing the ladder on A site alone to win a 1v3, ensuring talks of a comeback were swiftly shut down.

• Read more: HaZR, sliimey depart SemperFi for Ground Zero as off-season unravels

Rooster bit back on their pick of Anubis 13-11, although it was a shaky Chooks outfit to close it; after a 6-6 half off the back of chelleos (1.48, 23-18) and ju1ces (1.42, 20-13), GZ pulled back a lost pistol to eventually tie it at 10-10. Rooster would win three of the last four, however, pushing the series to three.

The momentum and confidence remained with Rooster as SkulL (1.20, 19-17) started strong on the CT side of Mirage with the Chooks flying at 8-4. Another pistol and conversion had GZ on the ropes at 10-5, but the boys in green rallied as each individual stepped up in round after round.

GZ managed to tie it at 10 a piece before a fast A site push saw Rooster break the streak, and while Omichella did his best to force the 24th round, a B apps play and four quick kills with minimal lost sealed the deal as chelleos (1.71, 23-13) stamped his authority on the series.

Rooster claimed two big scalps at DFRAG Open Series 5, opening their account after taking down dark horses Abyssal to qualify ahead in Group A, while GZ got through relatively unscathed in Group B over Masked Regime and Ding Cuts.

The Roflko-led MARKnLARRY shocked Abyssal in the Group A decider, sending foggers and co. tumbling out far earlier than anticipated. MARKnLARRY ultimately met their end to Group B's second qualifier DXA in the playoffs bracket, with the latter taking down Ding Cuts 2-1 to progress.

DFRAG Open Series 5 - Standings

• 1st: Rooster - $4,000 + Wildcard LAN
• 2nd: Ground Zero - $2,000 + Wildcard LAN
• 3rd: DXA - $1,000
• 4th: MARKnLARRY - $500
• 5th-6th: Abyssal, Ding Cuts
• 7th-8th: MGLBROS, Masked Regime

GZ will be ruing the grand final loss, but not all is doomed; they'll be joining Rooster for the DFRAG Wildcard LAN later in 2026 with both finalists securing invites.