THUNDER dOWNUNDER has demolished Ground Zero 2-0 (13-8, 13-1) to make a return to the top step of the ESL Challenger League in S52 Cup 1 — and all with two stand-ins through this past week's playoffs.
Sean "Gratisfaction" Kaiwai stepped in following Alistair "aliStair" Johnston's exit from the squad last week, while coach Eddie "viridian" Azzi subbed in for Chris "dexter" Nong who was unavailable to play the remainder of the event's playoffs.
It didn't stop TdU from a near-clean sweep of the upper bracket, defeating Mindfreak and GZ twice on their way to their first ECL OCE Cup win since May. The victory locks TdU in for the OCE Regional Final, currently set to close the season on December 15.
The grand final in particular was a beatdown; GZ split the difference at 6-6 in the first half of opening map Dust 2, but TdU then went 20-3 in rounds to shut out the boys in green.
Inferno as a whole was particularly brutal; Gratisfaction (2.41, 19-4, 120 ADR) was unstoppable as TdU strung together an 11-1 T-side, before he and Tynan "TjP" Purtell (1.61, 12-7) ended affairs early.
TdU was afforded an upper-bracket bye, while GZ took down Rooster and surprise lower-bracket finalists Arcade on their way to the grand final. Arcade managed back-to-back wins over Mindfreak (2-1) and Rooster (2-1) in the lower bracket, finding revenge against the former for their opening round loss.
It's an important win for TdU ahead of a packed calendar which includes three DFRAG-hosted LAN events in Brisbane in October.
ECL Season 52 OCE Cup #1 - Final Results
- 1st: THUNDER dOWNUNDER ($1,500 USD, Regional Final qualification)
- 2nd: Ground Zero ($1,000 USD)
- 3rd: Arcade Esports
- 4th: Rooster
- 5th-6th: Mindfreak, MARKnLARRY
- 7th: Orgless
