Nissan Classic Recap
FaZe Clan Bookend the Season
FaZe Clan opened the RLCS 2021-22 season with a bang, winning the very first event. They had been marked as a contender, but proved it right off the bat, staking their claim as the best in North America. They failed to win again in the Fall Split, but the RLCS is full of contenders and nobody can win everything. A strong top four finish at the Fall Major further cemented FaZe Clan, but they were unsatisfied. They dropped Allushin from the roster, adding Sypical, one of the region’s premier talents. The move allowed them to still make it to the Winter Major, where they finished fourth, but FaZe Clan had not made a grand finals since the inaugural event of the season.
That streak continued in the first two events of the Spring Split, but FaZe Clan still locked up a spot at the World Championship due to their consistent top four finishes. The Nissan Classic saw FaZe Clan come up against The General NRG in the second round, a team they had failed to defeat since that first regional win. This time, they came out on top with a 3-1 victory. Next up was G2 Esports, another team they had failed to beat since the beginning of the season. They took a hardfought 4-3 series win, and were suddenly a win away from their first grand final in 10 events.
Version1 stood in the way, but FaZe Clan had only lost to Version1 once this season, a stark contrast to their previous two opponents. FaZe Clan dispatched Version1 in a quick 4-0 sweep, and their curse was broken. G2 Esports stormed through the lower bracket after their earlier matchup, and met FaZe Clan in the grand finals. G2 Esports had won three events in a row, and four of five. They had won every event where they reached the grand finals this season, and it seemed like that would continue after G2 Esports won the first series in a 4-0 sweep. But FaZe Clan fought back, and took the Nissan Classic in a game seven overtime win, bookending the season with wins. FaZe Clan also became the second team in the world - after G2 Esports - to secure a berth directly to the World Championship Main Event.
North America goes to London
(Spring Split standings - courtesy of Rocket League Esports)
FaZe Clan grabbed their spot in London Spring Major during the Nissan Classic, as did three other teams. Team Envy secured it with their top six finish, Spacestation Gaming clinched a spot by finishing fourth, and Version1 finished third to lock up their place in London. G2 Esports had already clinched after winning the first two events, of the Spring Split, so those five teams will be heading to London to compete in the Spring Major.
G2 Esports were left one goal from history as they looked to complete the first ever regional sweep in North America or Europe, but instead they have the #1 seed from North America. G2 Esports also won the Winter Major, and had the most successful regional split in North American history with two wins and a second place finish. They’ll be among the strong favorites going into London. FaZe Clan clinched North America’s #2 seed on the back of their Nissan Classic victory, and should also be considered strong contenders to win the event after breaking their grand finals curse.
Version1 are North America’s #3 seed after two top three finishes in the final two events of the season. They opened the Winter Major on a tear, dominating their group and locking up a top six finish early. They failed to win another series, however, losing close sets to both Spacestation Gaming and FaZe Clan. With more experience as a roster, they’ll be looking to make a deeper run this time out. Spacestation Gaming took the #4 seed in North America, having reached the grand finals early in the split before doing just enough to make it. They finished third at the Winter Major, and fan favorite Daniel should only perform better with even more experience under his belt. Both Spacestation Gaming and Version1 will also be looking to perform well in London to secure their spot at the World Championship.
North America is only currently guaranteed five spots in Dallas, and their fifth seed for the Spring Major, Team Envy, is currently sixth in the rankings. North America should be awarded a sixth spot, but it would require their third place team to perform well based on the Worlds Regions spots that are awarded. Team Envy will be looking to perform well in order to make sure they can reach Dallas. A strong performance from these five North American teams could also see Complexity Gaming and Oxygen Esports reach the World Championship.
Missing Out
(Nissan Classic bracket - courtesy of Rocket League Esports)
Complexity Gaming and Oxygen Esports will be watching closely to see if their regionmates can send them to the World Championship, while Rogue only just missed out on having the same hope. Instead, their season is done. The General NRG will also be watching from home, shockingly, but their spot in Dallas is already secure. The Spring Major will be the first RLCS LAN ever without GarrettG, as The General NRG struggled through the Spring Split. They mustered a fourth place finish in the second event, but that still wasn’t enough to send them through. Ghost Gaming also got to fourth in the opening event, and missed out. The combination of these two results was shocking, as coming into the split, 88% of teams who had finished in the top four in North America and Europe had qualified for the Major.
The Susquehanna Soniqs and Akrew both entered the Nissan Classic with their chances to make the Spring Major and World Championship still alive, but both went out early and fell short in their efforts. Now, only eight teams are alive in North America, but two of them are sitting at home and do not control their own destiny. Three more have clinched, and the last three will all be battling to secure their fate in London.
North America’s Spring Major teams have been decided, as are the only ones that can make it to Dallas. Next weekend, Europe will do the same, and Team BDS will try to do what G2 Esports could not and sweep a split. Until then, keep up with Shift for all your Rocket League news!
