ETF2L Steelseries Season 9 Final Result

Last night’s Premier Division final between  TCM-Gaming and  Team Thermaltake proved to be one of the closest and most exciting matches seen in Team Fortress 2 for some time.

Unfortunately I missed the majority of the first map (badlands), but thanks to the miracle of technology and the wizards at VanillaTV, nobody needs to miss out on the action! You can watch and/or re-watch all of last night’s play at any time by going to their VODs section.

As I mentioned, Badlands was the first map, with Thermaltake taking a deciding round very late on to win 5-4. I say very late, this was actually the only map won within normal time.

The second map, Gullywash [Part 1] [Part 2], was an equally close affair, with Thermaltake 2-1 up for well over 10 minutes, eventually holding mid with less than 60 seconds to go. A truly Herculean push by  Byte‘s TCM seemed to defy time and space itself, securing an equalising round and forcing a golden cap with what must have been less than 00:01 on the clock. TCM gained heart and momentum from that astonishing play, winning the golden cap and forcing us to a third and final map.

Granary was yet again incredibly tight. Well over a thousand spectators looked on as both teams traded rounds – 1-0 Thermaltake, 2-1 TCM, 3-2 Thermaltake. Again TCM found the strength to secure an equaliser, but had to dig deep in the final minutes as TCM threw everything they had at Thermaltake’s last point, trying hard to finish the game within the standard 30 minutes. But Thermaltake held, it finished 3-3. The ETF2L Season 9 Final was going to be won and lost in the space of 10 minutes.

After 3 maps and 110 minutes of scheduled time, Thermaltake proved to be the mightier force by a margin of just one round, golden, like the pixel trophy adorning their page, showcasing their unbridled magnificence.

Had it been anyone other than TCM playing against them, the game could only have been less spectacular. TCM were magnanimous in defeat (no mention of broken toes), disappointed but acceptant of being the inferior team on the night and very happy for Thermaltake, as I think we all are.

Under the name FakkelBrigade and Thermaltake,  Exfane and his merry men have not only been at the top of the competitive scene, often the underdogs, but at the heart of the competitive community as well. Without their influence, their character, their skill and of course their internets, ETF2L and friends would be far smaller, quieter and generally less fun than it is today.

Many many congratulations to Season 9 Champions  Team Thermaltake!

Match Overview
TCM Gaming vs FakkelBrigade
Playoffs (Premier Division)
Sunday, July 3rd 21:15 CEST

cp_badlands

4 - 5

cp_gullywash

3 - 2 (golden cap)

cp_granary

3 - 4 (golden cap)

OVERALL
TCM Gaming [3:6] FakkelBrigade