World Championship Day One
(image courtesy of Rocket League Esports)
The Main Event of the biggest and best tournament in Rocket League history has finally arrived, with sixteen teams competing across three days in Dickies Arena for the title of World Champion. Four teams have already qualified for the playoffs through the upper bracket: Moist Esports, Team BDS, G2 Esports, and FaZe Clan. Four more will be joining them for Championship Sunday, where the final eight will compete in a single elimination bracket with the winner crowned as World Champion. Here’s a breakdown of the scores, sights, and sounds from today’s matches at Dickies Arena:
Dignitas vs. The Club
The opening match of the World Championship Main Event was Dignitas vs. The Club, a European - South American showdown. Dignitas entered as the favorites, but The Club quickly overturned that narrative with a stunning 3-2 win in Game 1. They came back from 2-0 down with three quick goals, exciting the crowd and grabbing momentum. Dignitas responded with a 3-0 win in Game 2, highlighted by a monstrous dunk from Joreuz to open the scoring. The Club took Game 3 via 1-0 scoreline, as Aztromick’s tally with 1:10 left proved to be the difference.
The Club celebrate the win over Dignitas (image courtesy of Rocket League Esports)
Game 4 went to Dignitas, as a close 1-1 game turned into a 4-1 blowout thanks to a Joreuz hat trick, with all three goals coming in the final minute. The Club unusually took their tactical timeout to refocus, a rare timeout taken at 2-2 in the series. The move payed off, as the South American trio took Game 5 in overtime thanks to Aztromick’s well placed shot. Dignitas took their timeout in return, now facing elimination from the tournament. The move initially worked, as Dignitas led 1-0 for most of Game 6, but The Club found their way back into and closed out the series with four goals in the final minute and a half. The Club showed a level few expected them to reach in this tournament, and earned themselves a South American showdown with FURIA tomorrow for a playoff spot.
OpTic Gaming vs. Karmine Corp
Match number two of the day was a rematch from the wildcard, as the Green and Blue Walls of OpTic Gaming and Karmine Corp went head to head. Karmine Corp had won via sweep last time out, shutting out OpTic Gaming in Game 4 to win that series. This time, OpTic Gaming opened with a shutout, winning Game 1 2-0 to take an early lead. The crowd was heavily in OpTic Gaming’s favor, with cheers of “Let’s go OpTic” reverberating within Dickies Arena throughout the match. The crowd even started the wave after Game 1, but it came back to haunt them as Karmine Corp took Game 2 with a commanding 4-1 scoreline.
Karmine Corp’s Blue Wall in the crowd (image courtesy of Rocket League Esports)
OpTic Gaming bounced back to win Game 3 3-1, with each player getting on the scoresheet. Karmine Corp took a tactical timeout after falling behind 2-1 in the series, a great decision based on the results. Itachi won the 2-1 game with a shot in overtime, tying up the series for Karmine Corp at 2-2. OpTic Gaming wouldn’t score again in the series, as Karmine Corp took Games 5 and 6 1-0 and 3-0, respectively. Itachi led the way for Karmine Corp, scoring five goals and registering a goal participation rate of over 80% through the six games. Karmine Corp’s reward is a matchup with Team Falcons tomorrow afternoon.
Spacestation Gaming vs. Endpoint CeX
Spacestation Gaming entered the third matchup of the day, a series against Endpoint CeX, surrounded by questions. They had narrowly escaped the Wildcard, finishing 3-2, before getting beaten 4-2 by Moist Esports in the first round of the Group Stage. Arsenal hadn’t been healthy all week, and the fan favorites needed a spark. They walked out before the match to shouts of “S-S-G! S-S-G!” as the crowd was at its loudest yet for the day. That, and a delay during which Endpoint CeX’s archie was facing technical difficulties, seemed to warm up Spacestation Gaming perfectly. They won Game 1 3-1, with all three players notching a goal, with the crowd going wild for each goal. Game 2 was a 4-0 smackdown, as Arsenal scored all four goals in a dominant performance, announcing his return to health.
The raucous crowd during SSG vs. Endpoint (image courtesy of Rocket League Esports)
Endpoint CeX took a timeout to slow Spacestation Gaming’s momentum, but nothing was stopping the North American trio today. They won 2-0 in Game 3, with Arsenal scoring yet again and the fans’ favorite player, Daniel, also knocking one home. Chants of “Dan-iel! Dan-iel!” erupted after his goal, just as they had when he scored in Game 1. Spacestation brought it home with a fourth consecutive multi-goal victory in Game 4, winning 3-1 to eliminate Endpoint CeX. Spacestation Gaming will play Version1 tomorrow with the playoffs on the line, a rematch from the Wildcard which Spacestation won via sweep.
The General NRG vs. Renegades
If the crowd was happy to see Spacestation Gaming play, they were absolutely ecstatic to see The General NRG take the stage for their series against Renegades. Feeding off of the energy of the crowd, The General NRG got off to a blazing start, winning the first two games 1-0 and 6-1. Renegades took their tactical timeout to regather, and the timeout paid immediate dividends for the Oceanic trio. They won Games 3 and 4 2-0 and 3-2, at one point scoring five consecutive goals before staving off a late NRG comeback attempt in Game 4.
Renegades’ CJCJ during his retirement speech (image courtesy of Rocket League Esports)
The General NRG’s wealth of experience began to show in Game 5, however, and they won a tightly contested 2-1 game thanks to goals from GarrettG and SquishyMuffinz. Fan-favorite superstar jstn won Game 6 for The General NRG, scoring a hat trick in the 3-1 clincher. The crowd was absolutely wild to see a return to form for one of North America’s favorite teams, and will likely be just as loud tomorrow when The General NRG face SMPR Esports. The crowd was quickly just as loud for Renegades legend CJCJ, as he announced his retirement from the esport after the game. CJCJ was a fan favorite for nearly six years in the scene, highlighted by his regional domination of Oceania throughout the past two years with the new format.
Make sure to keep up with Shift for all of your Rocket League news, and we’ll also be covering tomorrow’s matches live on site!
