First of all, a small correction regarding my previous article on the ESEA competition. In that article, I overlooked a significant change concerning the current, 56th season. The regular season consists of 14 rounds, not 10. This means that teams have more matches ahead of them and, consequently, more chances to make up for lost ground or consolidate their position in the table.
This is particularly important for teams teetering on the edge of the play-off zone, who, with only ten rounds, might otherwise have had to practically kiss their hopes of progressing goodbye. The current format means the battle will last longer, and the end of the season could bring plenty of surprises. In today’s round-up, however, we’re focusing on the Open division.
ESEA Open – the crucial phase of the season is gathering pace
As you know, the regular season in the Open division is entering its decisive stage. Some teams are already very close to securing a comfortable position ahead of the playoffs, whilst others are desperately chasing points. Unfortunately, some seem to be slowly losing their organisational stability. In Open9, TW E-Sports continues its matches in excellent form. In Open10, the situation is much more varied… From the high-flying Lunacy NXT, through the stabilising Visionary, to teams experiencing a clear crisis such as YNG SKiLLZ or Carpathian Roja. Every match is becoming hugely important, and with 14 rounds to go, the season still leaves plenty of room for twists and turns. Let’s take a look at how the recent matches for each team went.
TW E-Sports (ESEA Open9)
TW E-Sports continues its excellent run in Open9 and, since our last update, has added two more victories to its tally. Both matches were played on the Anubis map, and in both cases the team demonstrated control over the flow of the game.
The first was a 13-8 win against ArcMonkey. From the outset, TW looked like the better-prepared team tactically. Although their opponents were able to respond at times and keep the score close, in the crucial rounds, TW’s individual superiority and better decision-making allowed them to gradually build a lead. The Polish side had the game fully under control by the end.
The second clash, this time against L2G, ended with a score of 13–9. The scenario was remarkably similar. TW did not dominate their opponents from the first to the last round, but maintained a steady pace of play. The key factors proved to be breaking the opponent’s economy and consistency in executing tactical plans. The current 8–2 record looks impressive and secures a very solid position in the table. Crucially, however, the team still has four matches remaining until the end of the regular season.
YNG SKiLLZ (ESEA Open10)
Unfortunately, YNG SKiLLZ’s situation in Open10 is far less optimistic. The team has played – or rather ‘gone through the motions’ – three consecutive matches, two of which ended in walkovers against them. First, a forfeited match against LumenVitae. Then another walkover, this time against Clyde. Everything suggests that there have been some squad issues within the team. With a 3–8 record and limited chances of a realistic return to the fight for the top spots, motivation may have clearly dropped.
Paradoxically, the third match also ended in a walkover. This time, however, in YNG SKiLLZ’s favour. Despite personnel shortages, it was the opponent who failed to show up on the server, allowing the team to add a victory to their tally. However, the current 3–8 record puts YNG in a very difficult position. With 14 rounds remaining, there is still a mathematical chance, but without squad stability and clear communication from the organisation, it is difficult to talk of a realistic fight for the playoffs. The coming weeks will show whether this is a temporary crisis or the definitive end of the project this season.
Lunacy NXT
Lunacy NXT remains one of the strongest teams in Open10, although the start of this series could be seen as a minor setback. The team lost 7-13 to X-CLAN on the Nuke map. The match certainly did not go their way. Their rivals capitalised effectively on their mistakes and confidently controlled the pace of the game. However, this was more of a one-off blip than the start of a run of poor form.
For the subsequent matches revealed a completely different side to the team. First came a 13:8 victory against MGB TV on Ancient. Lunacy NXT dictated the terms almost from the start, building a lead through solid play. Map control and patient round management allowed them to secure the result comfortably. Next came a 13-9 victory over Vortex Surge, once again on Nuke, the very map on which they had suffered defeat moments earlier. This time, however, they were far better prepared and had effectively learned from the previous match.
Their 9–2 record speaks for itself. Lunacy NXT are right at the top of the table and, if they maintain their current pace, could finish the regular season as one of the main favourites for promotion.
Visionary
Visionary, on the other hand, can be described as a team that is slowly finding its feet. The series began with a 7–13 defeat against BoumBoumMalabar on Mirage. That match showed that the team still struggles to maintain a consistent level of play throughout the game, with individual mistakes being ruthlessly exploited by their opponents.
However, the response came very quickly. In the clash against Dopamine Maxing on Dust 2, we witnessed a much more evenly matched contest, which was only decided after overtime with a score of 16-14. Visionary showed character, managing to get back into the game at a difficult moment and keep their cool in the crucial rounds. Added to this was a walkover against Niedzielnigracz, which allowed the team to improve their record without any extra server effort.
The current 6–5 record gives Visionary a realistic chance of competing for a top-table spot. With fourteen rounds of the season remaining, everything remains open. However, consistency will be key, as will avoiding unnecessary point losses in matches against theoretically weaker opponents.
Carpathian Roja
Unfortunately, Carpathian Roja is clearly going through a difficult spell. Since the last round-up, the team has failed to win a single match, which severely complicates its position in the table. First came a 10–13 defeat to Team Yatzy on Anubis. The match was relatively even, but at the decisive moments, they lacked the effectiveness to close out rounds. The next clash ended with an 8-13 result against Nordic Reapers on Mirage. Perhaps the match was similar in nature, but here the opponents’ advantage was slightly more evident.
The final match ended in a walkover conceded to Baskemolla IF. Everything suggests that Carpathian Roja may already be thinking about squad changes and preparations for the next season. Such a decision at the end of the regular season suggests that the team’s priorities may have shifted. A 4–7 record does not yet mathematically rule out their chances, but the situation is very difficult. If the team wants to get back into the playoff race, it must not only win but also hope for slip-ups from its direct rivals.
PEST Esport
PEST Esport, on the other hand, has had a mixed run of form. They have recorded just one win and as many as two defeats, with all matches played on Mirage. This suggests that the problem may not lie with the map itself, but rather with consistency and maintaining a stable level of performance throughout the match. In the series described today, they first suffered an 8-13 defeat to MGB TV. The result suggests that the match was under their opponents’ control for the majority of the game. PEST managed to respond and stay within striking distance, but ultimately their opponents were more effective at the decisive moments, allowing them to comfortably close out the map.
This was followed by a 13-9 win against PNF Gaming. It was the only victory in the series and, at the same time, the match in which PEST performed significantly better. This time, they were able to dictate the pace and maintain the lead for most of the match. Their control of the score and a composed finish in the closing stages resulted in well-deserved points.
The series ended with a 10-13 defeat to fuefzaehstundimtoembler. It was the most evenly matched game of the three, but once again they came up just short of tipping the balance in their favour. Ultimately, their opponents proved to be marginally more effective. This fluctuation in form means the team still has to fight for stability. With the table so tight, every upcoming match will be of huge importance for their final position in the season.
The ESEA season is picking up pace – opportunities and crises across the divisions
The ESEA Open regular season still has a few rounds to go, and the gaps in the table remain narrow. Some teams, such as TW E-Sports and Lunacy NXT, are consolidating their positions and showing great consistency. Others, including YNG SKiLLZ and Carpathian Roja, are unfortunately struggling and trying to find a new rhythm. PEST Esport, meanwhile, is producing mixed results, meaning every match is crucial for them. The end of the season promises to be exciting, and there is still plenty that could happen in the battle for the ESEA playoffs, in both the Open9 and Open10 divisions.
TW E-sports (x.com — team profile)
Lunacy Gaming (x.com — Facebook — YouTube — Discord)
Visionary (x.com — team profile)
Carpathian Roja (x.com — TikTok — team profile)
PEST Esport (x.com – team profile)
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