EU Match 1 - Team Dignitas vs. Synergy, 3-0
Dignitas had a rough week 1 match up against a very motivated Misfits team that swept them, so for Dig to turn around and sweep a very game Synergy bodes well for their place at the the top of EU. Synergy was in every game, and at times, looked like they had Dig's number. Even when Dig was doing well and in control, Synergy was very close to being able to take the game:
Game 2 was strong for Synergy as they had the lead in tower shots, but even with a lead late into the game, the team play of Dignitas got them a wipe on Synergy and that was the theme of the match. Whenever Synergy was doing well, Dignitas had the answer.
At the end, Dignitas solidifies their position in the top four of EU with Misfits, Expert, and FNATIC, but Synergy's play shows that they are very close to being contenders, despite the sweep.
EU Match 2 - Playing Ducks vs. Be Genius, 3-1
Formerly Diamond Skin, Playing Ducks were signed between weeks 1 and 2, and that happened with a loss in week 1. They must have impressed the sponsors in some way, because that loss was a sweep by a very dominant Team Expert, and I said in my predictions that the sponsors wouldn't have signed them if they didn't see something. Well, there was something. The Ducks turned in a dominant performance on the Geniuses, and the match on Cursed Hallow showed just how dominant when the Ducks managed to get the first five tributes, dominate with Medivh play, and then win taking two bosses at once:
SportBily's Lay Line Boss steal here, led to a wipe, and ended the game. Even though Be Geniuses took a game in this series, they never felt in it. Playing Ducks look positioned to be in the 5/6 spot in EU, and should avoid relegation matches. If Be Geniuses don't figure something out and soon, they will be heading to a relegation match.
All this combined with the fact that Playing Ducks over came caster Trikslyr not being able to get their name right:
#HGC@Trikslyr: Playful Ducks@Kaelaris: Playing Ducks— Anne Elise Morrigan (@anne_elise) January 27, 2017
Name on Screen: Playing Ducks@Trikslyr (finally): Playing Ducks j/k PLAYFUL DUCKS!
Maybe it will be worked out by the next cast.
NA Match 1 - Tempo Storm vs. Team Freedom, 3-2
Team Freedom came in confident and basically called Tempo Storm out in the interview. It was shocking:
— Anne Elise Morrigan (@anne_elise) January 27, 2017
But what was more shocking was that they backed it up. At least early on. TF took game 1 in under 9 minutes and demonstrated that they were ready for Tempo, and reminder, TF looked like they couldn't handle Superstars, let alone the defending NA champions, last week:
To their credit, Tempo Storm figured it out, as they usually do, and stormed right back, getting games 2 and 3. What is troubling is that Freedom got game 4 and sent this to 5. If Tempo Storm expects to remain at the top, then they cannot have heart attack games like this against teams they are supposed to be beating. Right now, Tempo Storm is a top NA team, but they do not look as strong as the other undefeateds. Team Freedom, on the other hand, a team that looked ready for relegation last week, now looks like they might slot into the 5/6 slot in NA and avoid that fate, if they can beat the teams they are supposed to beat.
— Anne Elise Morrigan (@anne_elise) January 28, 2017
NA Match 2 - Superstars vs. No Tomorrow, 3-1
It's not a secret that I am a huge fan of Superstars; I have made that plain. This match was exactly as expected. It took two games for Srey to figure out exactly what No Tomorrow was up to, including a loss in game 1, but games 3 and 4, Superstars looked dominant. No Tomorrow is a team that a lot of other teams are high on, and for good reason, but it almost seems like everyone forgets about Superstars. The dominance for Superstars started in game 2 when they turned around early, and Goku, Faye, and Hosty just started racking up the kills and staggering NT:
The match just looked bad for No Tomorrow from that point on. Srey's moshes in game 3 just made it even worse:
Quietly, and without a lot of fanfare from anyone, Superstars is solidifying their place in NA top 4. Granted, beating TF last week and NT this week are matches they are supposed to win, but considering how much people were touting NT as contenders, why aren't more people on board with Superstars? Everyone should be much higher on Superstars and bring their expectations for No Tomorrow down a few notches. If No Tomorrow continues to play like this, they are heading for a relegation match. Superstars' core members, Srey, Iakona, and Faye, might be on their way to their first international event if this keeps up.
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