Both Misfits and Rogue enter this Group B winners match looking for a real test having breezed through the opening round without dropping a map. Misfits throw down the gauntlet with a strong start on Gibraltar before Rogue duly beat them around the head with it, reminding us all why they are the momentum monsters. Misifts look broken on Hollywood and a Rogue full hold delivers a convincing 2-0.

Watchpoint: Gibraltar

Stylistic differences are apparent from the get-go, notably with Hidan's continued preference for Zenyetta which may be linked to Nevix love of Genji. Either way it's a rushdown composition that Misfits open with on attack, but they fail to gain any traction, losing the first engagement without getting a single frag. In a later push Hidan delivers some big shiny balls to deny aKm mid-Deadeye and finally capture first.

SoOn's Tracer harass is savage throughout the round, opening the flank up and distracting supports, but aKm is unperturbed; an ever watchful sentry on the gantry spitting hot lead as his team mates are stretched thin below the shuttle. Eventually Misfits force the payload through the hangar, completing the round with a minute to spare.

Now on attack Rogue spend a long time posturing before committing to their opening push, taking some time to feel out the slightly unorthodox defensive Winston from ryb. They commit Nano and aKm's Reaper to the server room, but Hidan tucks him in to bed with a timely Sleep Dart and an ice kiss from Nevix's Mei. The rest of Rogue get slammed by Blizzard into Ice Wall setting up Kryw for a 3K on his trademark Zarya.

Rogue know it's only a matter of time versus this composition though as a Dragon Surge combo from TviQ and winz eventually opens the capture. The avalanche warnings are in full effect as arrowbot TviQ sets up more staggered spawn for Misfits. The defenders can barely contest until the payload is past the shuttle gantry at which point a beautiful kite and smash from Rogue wipes Misfits.

Rogue still have a leisurely 3:30 to push last, but they just big dick it and catch Zebbosai without Sound Barrier ready to deal with their initial Nano Reaper push past the top of the hill into the home stretch. Now on Tracer winz is also behind turning heads, but Misfits endure and manage to reset. Their respite is short lived though as a TviQ Dragon Blade finds three victims to clinch completion for Rogue.

Attacking again Rogue find themselves with a solitary minute in the timebank, but it seems like anyone's game as Misfits only have an addition 17 seconds. Abandoning the slow burning Hanzo, TviQ opens with Tracer this time and immediately hits pay dirt. Coming in behind from the left stairs he peppers ryb who inexplicably leaps away leaving the backline exposed for TviQ to slay Hidan's Ana on the slope. Rogue slaughter everyone.

The payload is in a permanent state of overtime, but Misfits are on full tilt, feeding repeatedly from a forward spawn in the hangar to sound the team kill horn. Sensing the panic aKm monopolises with an epic 4 kill Nano Blossom from atop the shuttle catching more spawners on catwalk. Rogue continue to stagger the enemy spawns with aggressive pokes from TviQ on T-Racer; the kid is absolutely beasting it. Eventually Misfits recompose themselves and the round comes to a halt barely a payload's length from the end.

Roles reversed and Misfits attack soon falters. They find themselves with the clock ticking down past ten seconds attempting a Nano Reaper play, but aKm gets the jump on them with his own whirling dervish as an Ice Wall cuts off their retreat - I can't look, or I can't look away… it's car crash payload. #RogueWin.

Hollywood

Big primate plays are on display from ryb's as Winston the Misfit's attack gets under way, but a drought of frags following his monkey business makes it look like there is lack of burst damage or sustain from their composition that features neither the Repear nor the Reinhardt of the defenders. Misfits are looking reliant on ultimate combos to break the defence and Rogue seem very aware, holding solidly with a very frugal approach to ult expenditure.

Ten seconds remain and Kryw arcs a glowing Graviton ball toward the tiny café door just as ryb comes crashing down to earth, spewing lightning like a furry Zeus. A vigilant KnOxXx sees it coming though and reacts with defensive Sound Barrier before winz lassos the attackers with his own Graviton, setting big Reinforce up for the Earthshatter into Nano Hammer Time (Can't Touch This) – cue the team kill horn, cue the round. Rogue full hold on Objective A.

With the hard part already done TviQ brings out Hanzo again on attack. The inevitability of a Graviton Surge into Dragon Strike should be enough to take the round, especially with Ana being favoured over the lifesaving Zenyatta. However, the compositional considerations barely even come in to play as Rogue proceed to bully ryb's Reinhardt, arrow spam cracking the shield first, then later isolating him as his teammates cower behind the limo. KnOxXx claims the first three frags as Lucio before Reinforce lands an early Earthshatter built from systematically abusing ryb, snowballing the fight and putting Misfits out of their misery. The Dragon Strike didn't even matter.

Rogue take the series in a convincing 2-0. Misfits opened strong, but Rogue opened stronger. Misfits must now play the winner of losers on Thursday morning to stay in the tournament, whilst Rogue progress the playoffs bracket where they will face either Team Dignitas or FaZe Clan in a best-of-five.