ACS Season 2 Finals Highlights: Kings Reign Supreme

After 3 weeks of regular season competition, tonight saw 8 of OCE’s best bubble and rising RLCS teams go head to head for the pride of being ACS champions, as well as the $330 AUD prize pool.

Trident Out Early

Coming into the event as the #1 seed, with a top 12 in their pocket from the weekend, there were high expectations about the later blooming Trident lineup.

Unfortunately, it just wasn’t to be for Trident tonight. In the first round, they were a no show due to unforeseen reasons, before receiving a shock 1-2 loss to bubble team Levitate, to send them home in 7th-8th. Although I’m unaware of the full information behind the surprising loss and result, which I’m sure there’s valid reasoning behind, it still worked a shock loss from one of the tournament’s best.

Altered Edge Take Advantage Of Situation

Having not originally qualified for the event, missing out by a mere point, Altered Edge could be considered by many to just be filling up the numbers, but they quickly displayed that they were here for more than just to show.

After a round 1 dq from Trident granted them an upper bracket semi final, Altered Edge grasped the chance with both hands, producing a 3-2 victory over week 3 champions Buncha Hunkas to lock in their spot in top 3 overall.

Although they were outpaced by 1620 Kings and couldn’t find the clutch gene against Collateral, where they lost back to back overtimes, despite an unbelievable angle shot from Freeze, to send them home in two sweeps, they still got valuable practice against two of the region’s rising lineups, as well as $60 AUD for their troubles.

Potential Return To Form For Collateral

After failing to qualify for both regional event 2 and 3 following their first event playoffs berth, a perhaps frustrated Collateral lineup was tonight out for blood. Their day begun with a tight, 3-2 nail biter over Tisi, and after falling to the Kings in uppers, produced a great lower bracket run to remind everyone of why they achieved top 12 in event 1.

They dismantled Levitate, edged out Grass Touchers, and were clinical when it was needed against Altered Edge, despite some wayward game 3 shooting, to lock in a grand finals finish. Even with the loss to 1620 Kings, they showed promising signs, and with $90 AUD in their pockets, will be looking to translate the night’s performance to the Spring Split of RLCS.

Kings Dominate

Arguably the best out of the rest in OCE, 1620 Kings came into the event as major favourites to take out the whole thing, and certainly didn’t disappoint. After a close first round win over the experienced ‘Grass Touchers’, 1620 Kings turned the screws with a 3-0 sweep over former top 12 lineup Collateral and rising stars over at Altered Edge to secure a grands appearance.

Here, they put on a show of why they’re one of OCE’s dark horse contenders heading into the Spring split, with methodical passing plays, smart aggressive bumping, and pristine shooting from Baked Potato leading them to a 4-1 finals win, taking home $180 AUD for their troubles and proving their worth as a while above OCE’s bubble scene.