Półmetek 58. sezonu ESEA coraz bliżej

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The 58th ESEA season is really picking up pace. Most teams have already played several matches in the regular season. This means we can now attempt to draw some initial conclusions and assess the form of the individual teams. Although there are still a few rounds left until the end of this part of the season, the battle for the top spots in the tables is becoming increasingly fierce. Moreover, every subsequent match could prove crucial in terms of the final standings.

As we mentioned in our previous article, there is no shortage of teams from our partner programme at virtually every level of the competition. Our partners compete in divisions ranging from Open10 right up to Main, where the standard rises with every season. It is worth noting, however, that Constrict Gaming will be missing from this round-up. The organisation failed to field a full squad before the start of the season, meaning most of their matches end in walkovers. This time, therefore, we’ll focus on the teams that are regularly battling for victories and valuable points.

ESEA Main – Vandals Clan and Lunacy Gaming with identical records

Vandals Clan and Lunacy Gaming represent the top division amongst our partners. Interestingly, after the first five rounds, both teams boast exactly the same record of 3 wins and 2 defeats. Although the path to this result looked slightly different.

Vandals Clan

Vandals Clan kicked off the season with a tough clash against Cillerian on Ancient. It was a closely fought match, but ultimately the Vandals kept their cool in the closing stages and won 13–10. The second round went even better, although this time the point was awarded to the team without them even having to go online, thanks to a walkover from Huskies eSport. After two wins, however, their first serious challenge arrived. First, the Vandals had to concede defeat to egnum4games, losing 9–13 on Nuke. Shortly afterwards, on the same map, EXEN also proved the better side, winning 6–13.

Two defeats in a row could have shaken the team’s confidence, but their response came very quickly. In the fifth round, Vandals Clan showed much better form and left TukTuk Peek with virtually no chance. A commanding 13:3 victory on Ancient not only saw them return to winning ways but also allowed them to maintain a positive record ahead of the approaching halfway point of the season. If the team can maintain this form, they remain in a very strong position to challenge for a top spot in the table.

Lunacy Gaming

We saw a very similar scenario unfold for Lunacy Gaming. The team began the season with a walkover victory against VCGO. They then followed that up with a convincing 13–9 win over CSGOPOSITIVE on Anubis. The start looked very promising indeed. However, the next two rounds proved to be much tougher. First, BAKS Esports won 4–13 on Nuke, and then Xcity completely dominated Lunacy Gaming on Ancient, winning 1–13.

These two heavy defeats might have raised some concerns, but, much like Vandals Clan, the team managed to bounce back quickly. In their most recent match, Lunacy Gaming comfortably defeated TeamMischievous 13–6 on Mirage, returning to a positive win-loss record. After five of the fourteen scheduled rounds, both Lunacy Gaming and Vandals Clan therefore remain in contention for the top spots. The coming weeks should reveal whether they can maintain their strong position ahead of the decisive part of the season.

ESEA Intermediate – VoFoxen Esport quickly made up ground

In the Intermediate division, VoFoxen Esport are flying the flag for the teams from our partner programme. The start of the season wasn’t the most successful, as the team conceded a walkover to CS Lads in the very first round. It might have seemed that such a start would be difficult to recover from, but the subsequent matches revealed a completely different side to the team. Following their disappointing start, VoFoxen hit top gear. First, they completely dominated KUARA, winning 13–1 on Mirage. It was a match that clearly demonstrated the team’s potential and helped them regain their confidence.

However, their winning streak didn’t end there. In the following weeks, VoFoxen added two more victories. Impulse were defeated 13–6 on Ancient. Team Venture, on the other hand, couldn’t find a way past their in-form opponents and lost 13–5 on Anubis. This run of three convincing victories saw VoFoxen Esport quickly return to the fight for the top spots in their division. A 3–1 record after four rounds looks very solid, and if the team maintains its current form, it will certainly be a force to be reckoned with in the battle for promotion to a higher division.

ESEA Entry and Open10 – NPK Esport is gaining momentum with every round

Nisla Rakov

There is also plenty of cause for optimism in the lower tiers of the competition. Nisla Rakov are competing in the Entry division, where they have a 2–3 record after five matches. The season began with a comfortable 13–7 victory over Nexora on Mirage. However, the following weeks proved to be much tougher. First, Excalibur proved the better side, winning 10–13 on Nuke. Next, Nisła had to concede defeat to KiNgZ following a 7–13 loss on Mirage. Shortly afterwards, TheChampionForce were awarded a walkover. Despite this run, the team didn’t lose their motivation and, in their most recent match, responded in the best possible way, thrashing any baggers 13–2 on Dust 2. Perhaps this match will prove to be the turning point for the entire season.

Panico eSports

Panico eSports, our international partner competing in Open10, are performing very well. The team kicked off the competition with a 13–9 victory over Senior Fraggers on Inferno, and shortly afterwards picked up another point thanks to a walkover against Trash Island. Panico’s only defeat came against MELLSTROYGAME67, losing 5–13 on Mirage. However, the team did not let this setback affect their subsequent performances. In the following rounds, they confidently defeated STUMPs 13–7 on Dust 2 and xFive Club 13–2 on Inferno, ensuring they remain among the very top of their league.

NPK Esport

NPK Esport has played the most matches of all our partners so far. After six rounds, the team has racked up five wins and just one defeat. The start wasn’t the easiest, as the opening match ended in an 11–13 defeat to TurkMaxxing on Ancient. However, the team learnt its lesson very quickly. Since then, NPK has remained unbeaten. First, they defeated Vinigretiks 13–6 on Anubis, then won 13–10 against Djallas on Ancient. In the next round, however, they were awarded a walkover against Konspira. Their winning streak continued in the following matches. They lost 13–7 to Fidem In Teammate, whilst their most recent match against TEIKU ended in a 13–11 victory for NPK on Ancient. The team’s form is improving with every match, and all the signs suggest they will be one of the main contenders to finish the regular season at the very top of Open10.

Getting closer to the decisive part of the ESEA season

Although there are still a few rounds left until the end of the regular season, the first part of the season is already revealing clear trends. Vandals Clan and Lunacy Gaming are maintaining a positive record in the demanding Main division. VoFoxen Esport have very quickly made up for their poor start to the season. Meanwhile, Panico eSports and NPK Esport are among the highest-scoring teams in their respective leagues. Only Nisla Rakov are still searching for greater consistency, though their latest victory could prove to be the catalyst to turn their season around.

However, with almost half of the regular season still to go, the battle for promotion and the highest possible positions remains wide open. The coming weeks should reveal which of our partner organisations will maintain their form and secure a place in the decisive stage of the 58th ESEA season.