NA Winter Regional Event 1 Day 2 Highlights

After what looked like becoming a day of almost full sweeps, we finally got the series we wanted at the end, as well as some interesting results and two teams drawing the line in the sand with the rest of the competition. Here are our highlight's for the day's play.

The Two Kings Of NA

NRG and FaZe were top 2 in NA in Fall, and were NA's top 2 teams at the Major. Over the break between splits, FaZe removed Allushin for Sypical, whilst NRG stayed the same. Regardless of their different approaches, there's no question that these two teams are a step, or two, above the rest.

In winners bracket today, NRG and FaZe dominated Oxygen and V1 respectively, two teams in hot form, yet unable to take even a game. NRG and FaZe are both locked in for top 3, and it seems that everything points towards a grand final rematch after winners finals tomorrow.

Complexity Embarrassed

A top 8 team at the Major, Complexity would have come back to NA with high hopes for winter, but there have been worrying signs. Their day 1 performance was already shaky, with a shock loss to Oxygen and narrowly escaping a game 5 with Rogue, despite Gyro feeling ill.

However, nothing compares to today's disappointment. They were not only beat by G2, but straight up embarrassed. Complexity couldn't even find the back of the net once, and in game 3, had the entirety of G2 going into freestyle mode in a 6-0 demolition, with the game effectively over in the opening seconds.

It is still a top 8 performance for Complexity, which is nothing to laugh about, and they do have 2 more regionals to rebound, but there is going to need to be a change, and fast, because the Complexity we saw today completely lacked the speed, confidence and solo plays that we've come to love from the SAM phenoms.

Daniel Lights Up Field On Debut

This kid is going to be a star for years to come, mark my words. In the earlier series against Shopify Rebellion, Daniel may have been quieter than expected, with Arsenal and Retals playing like menaces to not give Rebellion a second to think in the near perfect sweep, but he rose to the occasion when required.

Going up against the in form Oxygen, who stunned two Fall major contestants yesterday, SSG had to be on from the beginning, and were, courtesy of a Daniel air dribble and Retals fake into another finish from Daniel. But the beautiful thing is that Daniel is seemingly enabling his team mates to shine, as SSG looked completely reborn, with a perfect flick from Retals icing the series 4-1.

SSG is not one to underestimate, and with the firepower Daniel brings to an already accomplished lineup, be sure that they'll be in heavy contention tomorrow.

Version1 Break Curse

Following their destruction at the hands of FaZe in winners, V1 were faced with the difficult task of taking down the in form G2 for a chance at returning to top 4. With almost every match on the day being one-sided affairs, this series promised to be nothing but tight from the get go, with an ice cold Beastmode finish locking in game 1, before Atomic, Chicago and JKnaps each dealt devastating blows to score 4 goals in 2 minutes and lock in game 2. The next two games were a back and forth, see saw affair, that saw the score tied at 2-2, before a rare horror game from JKnaps in defence left G2 destroyed, 5-0, and with their backs against the wall.

But they weren't finished just yet, with a high flying double tap from Atomic enough to secure a 1-0 game 6, tying the series up and sending us to game 7. Throughout their history, V1 have been notorious for losing game 5s and 7s, but today, that curse was put to bed, with a combination of 2 sniper shots from Comm, an unbelievable goal line save from Beastmode, and a clutch finish from Torment putting the series to bed in a nail biting overtime, eliminating G2 and solidifying V1 as a genuine contender, just as our predictions said they would.