The weekend of the ArrMY finals has come to an end, and with it another series of matches featuring teams well known to the underground community. In the ArrMY Open and ARRMY Masters tournaments, we saw a total of four teams from our partner programme in action. These were Constrict Gaming, Nisla Rakov, Vandals Clan and Gloris eSports.
The most thrilling action came in the Open division, where two of our partners went head-to-head as early as the first round. Nisla Rakov and Constrict Gaming faced off in a match that promised to be incredibly exciting right from the start. Ultimately, it was Nisła who came out on top, and they later came very close to reaching the grand final.
In the Masters division, the bar was set significantly higher. Both Vandals Clan and Gloris eSports faced exceptionally tough opponents as early as the semi-finals. Although both teams finished the tournament in 3rd and 4th place, simply reaching the finals of this division can be considered a commendable achievement, particularly given the calibre of the teams present at the LAN event.
ArrMY Open — a fratricidal clash and the battle for the final
The Open Division provided plenty of excitement right from the very first match. As we’ve already mentioned, as fate would have it, Constrict Gaming and Nisla Rakov were drawn against each other straight away in the quarter-finals, meaning one of the teams had to bid farewell to the tournament very quickly. However, the match turned out to be much more evenly matched than the final score might suggest.
Following their victory, Nisla Rakov advanced to the semi-finals, where 4wb were already waiting. There was no shortage of action there either, and the series was only decided after three maps. After a very strong start and a win on Mirage, it looked as though Nisła might spring a surprise… However, their rivals managed to turn the match around.
Nisła Raków beat Constrict Gaming
The quarter-final clash between Nisla Rakov and Constrict Gaming ended 2–0. However, the series was far more closely fought than the result alone suggests. The first map, in particular, provided plenty of excitement.
The contest began on Anubis, selected by Nisla Rakov. From the outset, both teams were practically neck and neck, with neither side able to establish a clear advantage. The match very quickly turned into a closely fought battle for every point, which ultimately led to extra time. Nisła kept their cool better in extra time, performing more effectively in the crucial rounds and closing out the map 16–14 to take the lead in the series.
After such a gruelling start, Constrict Gaming had to respond on their own pick, Overpass. This time, however, Nisła looked far more confident. The team got off to a better start on the map and gradually took control of the match. Constrict tried to get back into the game and managed to reduce the deficit at times. However, their opponents controlled the pace of the match very well and did not allow themselves to make any major mistakes.
Ultimately, Overpass ended with a score of 13–7 in favour of Nisla Rakov, who thereby secured their place in the ArrMY Open semi-finals. For Constrict Gaming, this marked the end of their tournament run, although their performance was by no means a failure. The first map in particular showed that the team was capable of making life very difficult for one of the strongest sides in the entire division and, for a long time, remained in genuine contention to progress further.
Nisła Raków stopped one step away from the ArrMY Open final
Following their victory over Constrict Gaming, Nisla Rakov faced an even tougher challenge. In the ArrMY Open semi-finals, their opponents were 4wb. From the outset, the entire match looked set to be one of the most exciting series of this stage of the tournament.
The first map was Mirage, selected by 4wb. Despite their opponents’ choice, it was Nisla Rakov who adapted better to the map. The team put in a very solid performance both on the terrorist side and in defence, allowing them to maintain control of the score for most of the match. 4wb tried to fight their way back into the game and closed the gap on their opponents on several occasions, but Nisła kept their cool in the closing stages and closed out the map with a 13–10 victory.
After such a strong start, it seemed that a place in the final was truly within reach. The second map, Overpass – chosen by Nisła – proved to be far more demanding, however. This time, the match was once again very evenly matched, with both teams regularly trading rounds. The result remained in the balance for practically the entire match. However, at the crucial moments, 4wb proved more clinical, winning 11–13 and forcing a decisive match on Anubis.
On the third map, the momentum was clearly with the opponents. 4wb very quickly took control of the match and did not allow Nisła to get back into the game. The decisive Anubis map ended in a clear 5–13 victory for 4wb, signalling the end of Nisła Raków’s tournament run. Despite the defeat, their semi-final performance can be considered a truly solid one. Nisła were a step away from the grand final and, for a long time, looked like a team capable of progressing further.
ArrMY Masters — tough opponents right from the start
In the Masters division, the situation was slightly different, as the competition began with the semi-finals. Vandals Clan and Gloris eSports battled it out for a place in the final. However, both teams knew from the outset that they were facing an extremely difficult task. The level of competition in the Masters was significantly higher than in the Open, with the line-up featuring teams already known beyond the underground scene. The Night Club, which had recently been taken over by Project 91, attracted a great deal of attention in particular. Although both Vandals Clan and Gloris eSports were knocked out in the semi-finals, simply qualifying for this division and having the opportunity to play against such strong opponents can be seen as a valuable experience.
Gloris eSports stood no chance against The Night Club
In the ArrMY Masters semi-finals, Gloris eSports likely faced the toughest possible opponent. On the other side of the server was “Klub Nocny”, which, following recent organisational changes and its takeover by Project 91, is moving further and further away from the typical underground scene.
Unfortunately, the match itself didn’t provide much excitement. From the very first rounds, the opponents very quickly took control of the match and practically never relinquished the initiative. Gloris struggled immensely to find their rhythm and to respond effectively to their opponents’ aggressive play. The first map ended with a very one-sided score of 2:13 in favour of Project 91, who controlled the pace of the game from start to finish.
After the first map, the series was likely brought to a premature end by a walkover… At least, that is what the data visible in the match lobby suggests. As a result, the final score was recorded as 0–2. Thus, Gloris eSports were knocked out of the tournament at the semi-final stage. They finished their run at ArrMY Masters in 3rd–4th place.
Despite their LAN adventure coming to a swift end, simply qualifying for ArrMY Masters remains a valuable achievement. The opportunity to compete against teams of such a high standard could prove to be a very valuable experience for the Gloris players. Particularly in the context of future tournaments and the team’s continued development on the underground scene.
Vandals Clan put up a fight against Fang Esport
The semi-final between Vandals Clan and Fang Esport was a much more evenly matched affair. Although the series ultimately ended 0–2, the Vandals managed to stay in contention with their opponents for a long time, particularly on the first map.
The match began on Nuke, selected by Vandals Clan. For much of the map, the match remained relatively even, with both teams regularly responding to the rounds won by their opponents. Neither side was able to build a clear lead, meaning the outcome remained in the balance for a long time. However, Fang Esport proved more effective at crucial moments and performed better in the closing stages of the map, eventually closing it out with a score of 9–13.
After losing their own pick, the Vandals’ situation became considerably more complicated. The second map, Mirage – chosen by Fang Esport – went far more in their opponents’ favour right from the start. Fang quickly seized the initiative and began to build an ever-increasing lead, preventing Vandals Clan from finding their feet. Vandals Clan tried to fight their way back into the match, but their rivals controlled the pace of the game for virtually the entire duration of the map.
Ultimately, Mirage ended with a score of 4–13, sealing Fang Esport’s place in the ArrMY Masters final. For Vandals Clan, this meant finishing the tournament in 3rd–4th place. However, the match itself against one of the strongest teams in the entire division can be seen as a valuable experience for the team.
Four teams, plenty of valuable experience
Although none of the partner teams managed to claim the ultimate victory, simply taking part in the ArrMY LAN event can be considered valuable for all the teams present. Nisla Rakov came very close to the Open grand final. Constrict Gaming showed flashes of excellent play at times. Meanwhile, Vandals Clan and Gloris eSports were able to test themselves against exceptionally tough opponents in the Masters. Tournaments like these are not just about competing for trophies, but also about gaining further experience on the LAN scene. For many players, these were further important offline matches that could pay dividends in future competitions.
Constrict Gaming
Nisla Rakov
Gloris eSports
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