We recently reported on how POLteam dropped into the losers’ bracket after their first match and had to fight for their survival in every match from then on (read the article HERE). We now know how the subsequent matches played out and how our partner fared in the 53rd ESEA.
A battle for survival between Polish teams – POLteam vs Slusarze
After dropping into the losers’ bracket, POLteam were immediately awarded a walkover, but their opponent turned up for the very next match – and that opponent was the Polish team Slusarze. The match was, of course, played in a BO3 format, and the first map turned out to be Mirage, chosen by our partner. POLteam started the first half on the attacking side and found themselves trailing 0–1 right from the start. It didn’t last long, though, as they managed to win the force round and immediately went on a winning streak that saw them take an 8:1 lead. It was a very promising scenario, but they still needed to win five rounds to take a 1–0 lead in the match. Towards the end of the first half, our partner managed to get two rounds closer to that victory, and the half ended with a score of 10–2.
The second half began with the opponents winning the pistol round, and this time the force wasn’t successful, which immediately resulted in the opponents closing the gap to 10–6. POLteam won one round and lost the next two. Despite the score getting so close, our partner calmly closed out the map of their choice with a 13–9 victory.
MIRAGE
(POLteam’s pick)
POLteam 13–9 Slusarze
The next map was Slusarze’s pick: Ancient. Here, our partner started on the defending side, which many teams feel more comfortable on than the attacking side. POLteam took the pistol round, but the opponents won the force buy and went on a run that gave them a 3–1 lead. After a single reply from our partner, the opponents found their rhythm again, extending their lead to 5–2. Our partner had no intention of giving up, and after a further three rounds, the scoreboard showed a 5–5 draw. In the final two rounds, the teams split the rounds evenly, and the first half ended 6–6.
In the second half, POLteam started by winning the pistol round, and this time the opponents’ force buy posed no threat to them, which gave them a boost for the next couple of rounds. However, it wasn’t ‘just a couple of rounds’; the entire second half was dominated by our partner, who went on to win the second map 13–6 and the match 2–0, securing their place in the third round of the lower bracket.
ANCIENT
(Slusarze pick)
POLteam 13–6 Slusarze
| POLteam |  |
2:0 |  |
Slusarze | | | Mirage 13–9 | Ancient 13:6 |
The battle for survival continues – POLteam vs Falxn
The next opponent in the do-or-die playoff clash was the international team Falxn. This was an opponent who had only just been knocked out of the upper bracket, which speaks volumes about the calibre of the rival. This time, the first map was Anubis, selected by our opponents. Our partner started on the Terro side and had to work incredibly hard to stand a chance of winning on this map. However, the opponents began by winning the pistol round and taking a 2–0 lead. POLteam responded quickly, and by the fourth round the score was level. Our partner didn’t stop there and added two more rounds to their lead. Falxn tried to respond and managed to do so only once, after which the Poles bagged another point. Despite this, the international team didn’t give up, and by the 10th round we saw the score level for the second time in the match. The first half didn’t end like that, however, as the opponents won the last two rounds and finished the half leading 7–5.
In the second half, the pistol round went to our partner, but despite this, the opponents won the force buy, which allowed them to extend their lead to 10–6. Falxn also won the next two rounds, taking their map score to 6. They failed to capitalise on the first three opportunities, but succeeded on the fourth attempt, and the first map ended in a 9–13 defeat for our partner.
ANUBIS
(Falxn’s pick)
POLteam 9–13 Falxn
The second map chosen by our partner turned out to be none other than Mirage. Our partner once again started on the attacking side, though unlike the first map, the defending side is the stronger one here. The pistol round went to the opponents once more, and the Poles had to start by coming back from 0–2 down. Falxn weren’t about to let that happen so easily, and they won the next four rounds in a row, building an impressive 6–0 lead. Unfortunately, they didn’t stop there and added another two rounds. POLteam finally won their first round, and it wasn’t the only one, as they went on to win a further three; by half-time, the score wasn’t quite as bad as it could have been, standing at 4–8.
The pistol round was crucial in this situation, as it effectively decided whether we would see a comeback from the Poles or whether the match would end with a 2–0 result. As always, this crucial round went to the international side, and they added three more rounds to their lead. POLteam managed to win just one round in response, and their opponents capitalised on this fully, winning the second map 13–5 and the entire match 2–0.
MIRAGE
(POLteam’s pick)
POLteam 5–13 Falxn
| POLteam | |
0:2 | |
Falxn | | | Anubis 9–13 | Mirage 5:13 |
What lies ahead for POLteam?
Despite being knocked out of the play-offs, POLteam have still secured promotion to the Intermediate division, where they will compete next season. They now have a bit of a break ahead of them, combined with training and preparations for the next season.
POLteam (x.com — Facebook — website — team profile)
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