Today was a bit out of the ordinary, as the Armitra Esports players – who usually compete on the underground scene – took part in the EDU Esports university tournament, representing Poznań University of Technology. The competition was full of excitement, and after a series of intense matches, the team made it through to the grand final, where they faced off against WSB Merito Poznań. This clash not only brought the tournament to a spectacular close, but also proved that academic esports in Poland is gaining ever more momentum.
A thrilling final! Who emerged victorious?
Poznań University of Technology 2:3 Merito Poznań
The final clash between Poznań University of Technology (Armitra Esports) and WSB Merito Poznań University had everything we expect from a grand tournament finale: excitement, twists and turns, and a closely fought battle right to the very end. The five-map thriller ended 2:3 in Merito’s favour, but what happened on the server deserves a story of its own.
10:13 | Dust 2
The final kicked off on the classic Dust 2 map, where the Poznań University of Technology players started on the CT side. The early rounds gave cause for optimism; a successful pistol round and a smooth execution in the next round quickly translated into a 2:0 lead.
Unfortunately, from the third round onwards, things hit a snag; Merito Poznań began to play their offensive with surgical precision, punishing their opponents’ slightest mistakes. A run of lost rounds led to a worrying 2–7 scoreline. It was only then that Politechnika broke their losing streak, regaining their rhythm.
Politechnika’s players slowly regained control of the map, levelling the score at 7–7, which promised a closely fought finish. Unfortunately, it was Merito who made better use of the crucial rounds, winning several key exchanges and taking control of the economy.
Despite a point-for-point battle and several brilliant individual moments from Politechnika, the map ultimately went to Merito, who closed out Dust 2 with a score of 10–13. A solid start to the competition, but it was merely a warm-up for what was to come later.
13:3 | Train
Following their defeat on Dust 2, the Armitra Esports players returned to the server with renewed energy and complete focus. Train, a tactical, closed map of immense importance for the CT side, went Politechnika Poznańska’s way from the very start.
The start was nothing short of textbook: a won pistol round, a comfortable 2:0 lead and complete control of the map. The Poznań University of Technology defenders positioned themselves impeccably, rotated flawlessly and read their opponents’ every move. Up to 9–0, Merito looked as though they couldn’t find their way to any of the bombsites. Their attacks were nipped in the bud, and every attempt at a clutch ended in failure, with one exception.
In one round, a Merito player pulled off a spectacular 1v2 clutch, breaking Politechnika’s near ten-round dominance. Although Merito managed to snatch one more round before the sides switched, the half ended with Politechnika holding a commanding 10–2 lead.
After the break, Politechnika continued their excellent form, once again winning the pistol round and securing the subsequent rounds with little trouble, quickly closing out the map with a score of 13–3. It was a complete redemption following the start of the final and a clear signal that this match was far from over.
19:16 | Anubis
The third map of the final took the players to Anubis, where the tension reached its peak. It was here that both teams showcased the full extent of their skills, with the outcome hanging in the balance in almost every round.
This time, it was Merito Poznań who got off to a better start, securing their first pistol round victory of the entire final. Politechnika tried to respond with a quick force-buy, but lost and had to settle for an eco-game in the next round, giving their opponents a 0–3 lead.
Despite this, the Politechnika team quickly shook it off. Winning a round with inferior equipment provided the impetus to level the score; a series of good decisions, excellent rotations and flashes of individual brilliance meant that, shortly afterwards, the scoreboard showed a 3:3 draw. From that moment on, the match turned into a fierce back-and-forth battle, with rounds being won almost point for point. At half-time, the 6–6 score perfectly reflected just how evenly matched the contest was.
After the break, it was Armitra who returned to their rhythm; another victory in the opening face-off and a quick surge to an 8–6 lead gave them hope of controlling the second half. However, Merito had no intention of giving up; they levelled the score again at 8–8, and the game then took on a frenetic pace. Round after round, spectacular plays, clutch moments and a relentless battle for every millimetre of the map – that’s how the final moments of regular time played out.
When the scoreboard showed 12–12, it was clear that we were in for extra time. And not just one! In the first extra time, neither team was able to tip the balance in their favour; everything was still up for grabs. It was only in the second overtime that Politechnika showed their character, experience and determination, pulling away from their opponents and closing out Anubis with a 19–16 victory.
It was a map full of twists and turns, a display of mental strength and the kind of excitement you’d expect from a final. Politechnika took a 2–1 lead in the series, putting themselves one step away from the championship.
12:16 | Mirage
Following their victory on Anubis, the Poznań University of Technology team were on a roll and brimming with confidence that they could seal the series on Mirage. Unfortunately, this plan quickly ran into trouble. WSB Merito once again secured the pistol round, and the attacking players, riding a wave of momentum, caught their opponents off guard with dynamic runs onto the bombsites. The score soon stood at 0–4 before Poznań University of Technology managed to find a response.
In the fifth round, they managed to break their losing streak; effective defence and good positioning allowed them to secure their first point, but Merito responded immediately. Despite this, the Politechnika players kept their heads up and began a comeback; round by round, they demonstrated increasingly better control of the map, winning successive rounds and levelling the score at 6–6 by half-time.
After the sides switched, Politechnika once again dominated the pistol round – their speciality in this final – and shortly afterwards took an 11–6 lead. It seemed as though everything was heading in the right direction. Unfortunately, that’s when things went awry. Merito began to read their opponents’ patterns and effectively capitalise on mistakes and isolated gaps in their defence.
The Polytechnic team began to lose their rhythm; individual lost rounds destabilised their economy, and Merito ruthlessly capitalised on their advantages. A run of points by the opponents led to a draw, and ultimately, in extra time, it was WSB Merito who closed out the map with a score of 12:16, levelling the final series at 2:2.
Mirage showed that even with a lead and control of the game, just a few mistakes are enough for everything to spiral out of control. Politechnika had to pull themselves together quickly, and the title would be decided by the fifth and final match on Inferno.
9:13 | Inferno
The decisive clash of the final took place on Inferno, which promised excitement right from the opening rounds right through to the very end. Politechnika started on the CT side and, in keeping with the tradition of this final, began with a bang, winning yet another pistol round. A quickly established 3:0 lead raised hopes of a repeat of the Train match.
Merito, however, had no intention of giving up this map without a fight. The players managed to level the score at 3–3, but it was Politechnika who once again seized the initiative. A few well-played rounds, well-thought-out rotations and effective defence allowed them to take a 6–3 lead.
Unfortunately, the end of the half did not go their way. Merito began to break through the defence and levelled the score at 6–6 before the break.
After the break, it was WSB Merito who once again won the pistol round – one of the few, as Poznań University of Technology had been the clear leader in these openings, winning as many as 7 out of 10 pistol rounds throughout the series. Unfortunately, this time it was Merito who seized the initiative, quickly winning consecutive rounds to take a 6–10 lead.
Despite their best efforts and a point-for-point battle in the closing stages, Poznań University of Technology were unable to turn the match around. Merito controlled the pace of the game and did not allow their opponents to equalise. Ultimately, the final ended with a score of 9–13 in favour of WSB Merito, who thus claimed the EDU Esports tournament championship.
The five-map final of the EDU Esports tournament was a real spectacle, full of excitement, twists and turns, and a battle right down to the last point. The Armitra Esports players, competing under the banner of Poznań University of Technology, put in a very strong performance, dominating on Train, securing a nail-biting victory on Anubis and impressing with their effectiveness in the pistol rounds.
Unfortunately, despite their tremendous commitment and solid team play, WSB Merito Poznań performed better at crucial moments on Mirage and Inferno, tipping the balance in their favour and winning the match 2–3.
For the Armitra players, this is not only a great result but also a sign that they have a real chance of competing with the best on the Polish scene. We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for their future performances, as their potential is truly immense.
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