It would be nice to say that this Semi-Final was competitive between two of the best teams in Europe and China, but it simply was not. Rogue did not look challenged at any point in the match and cruised through their three maps, shutting out NGA Club easily. They outclassed their opponents in preparation, execution, and raw ability, winning Hollywood, Hanamura, and Numbani for a Grand Finals place.

The home crowd at APAC Premier was cheering for NGA in this Semi, as their last hope for China in the tournament. They had rolled through ASG in the previous round but now faced European juggernauts Rogue. Rogue had beaten a strong side in AF.Blue to get to the Semi and were riding the momentum of that huge victory. Rogue were huge favourites coming into the game and were expected to waltz through the game and progress to the Grand Final.

Hollywood

Starting on Hollywood did not bode well for NGA. Their play against ASG had been very odd, with some strange support picks of Zenyatta and Ana, and Rogue historically had been very good on Hollywood. RLE and mAps would have to come out strong to shut down TviQ if they wanted any chance of winning.

In a change from the norm, Rogue decided not to use a Mei on the defense. akm picked up McCree and TviQ went Reaper, a combination not often seen for the two dps players. NGA were running Zenyatta and Lucio on attack with their own Winston, Tracer, and McCree to try and harass, but the composition played perfectly into akm and TviQ. akm shut down RLE with his stun while TviQ tore into the tanks, the whole of Rogue playing from cafe and giving NGA just enough rope to hang themselves.

A relaxed Rogue at APAC. Image credit: @Sylviainiyo

Rogue completely outclassed NGA and snowballed their fights into a huge ultimate advantage, annihilating the attack. They were caught in a moment of hubris however as, with only a few seconds left and Rogue in full control, they let NGA slip onto the point for a moment too long and they capped the checkpoint from right under their noses. Annoyed and frustrated at the extra two and a half minutes they had gifted to their Chinese opponents, they dropped down and wiped them for about the seventh time.

In the streets, winz went to Winston and TviQ to Genji, playing super aggressively without respect to stop NGA as far forward as they could. They were forced backward by the ultimates instantly though as NGA pushed into them, getting almost to the end of the streets before Rogue had their own to reply. As soon as the ults were up though it was impossible for NGA to gain traction, and Rogue stopped them at 105.06m.

Rogue looked the far better team, but had made it significantly more difficult for themselves and now seemed more focused as they realised the ease of slipping up. TviQ began with Mei as they pushed into the Zenyatta and Junkrat, but Rogue took out the defending Roadhog and McCree instantly. They strolled into the point and took it without a problem. Rogue now had over five minutes to push it to checkpoint two.

NGA tried to attack and slow Rogue down, but despite both teams trading three or four players the payload kept moving. The limousine’s brake cables appeared to have been cut; Rogue never slowed down and took the first map with ease.

Hanamura

Starting with Hollywood and Hanamura almost could not have been better for Rogue. NGA statistically had the fastest time in the tournament so far, but that was against a far worse Chinese team in the qualifiers. Against Rogue they were obliterated.

Rogue looking calm before their game. Image credit: @Sylviainiyo

Rogue began on defense, with TviQ of course on Mei and the team set up in perfect positions. Nothing NGA did ever got them into the first point - speedboosting into house saw them bunch up and die, sending a Tracer behind got the main force of their team slaughtered, walking in the front door they were met by a Graviton, running a Widowmaker got them engaged on, and with 40 seconds left they were walled out and Earthshattered onto. There was clearly a lack of preparation and execution from NGA, and Rogue made the Chinese team look foolish.

All Rogue had to do was take the first point to win the map, and it was all too easy. They waltzed to another dominant win to put themselves up 2-0 and one map away from a spot in the Grand Finals to meet back up with Lunatic-Hai.

Numbani

Rogue hadn’t played Numbani in APAC, and the Asian teams had been heavily favouring the pick over the tournament. NGA started with LittleCat on Zenyatta, pairing up with RLE on Genji. The Genji was taken out instantly by akm’s Roadhog though and TviQ had his own ninja on the scene to do damage. Rogue’s defense held strong for the first few fights as TviQ floated around, doing damage wherever he chose, and NGA looked clueless with their attack. LittleCat hadn’t done enough healing or damage to build his ultimate but they used a Sound Barrier to take the top left, bunching up perfectly for winz and a Dragon Blade to wipe them yet again.

A quick hook and another three kills from akm ruined NGA’s final attempt, and again they were shut out. Rogue could use their whole four minutes to capture the first point and win the Semi-Final, in a crazily mismatched series.

winz started on D.Va with a Roadhog, Winston, and Genji beside him and Rogue just dribbled into the point. They had no clear plan and were wiped, giving NGA an early ultimate advantage. winz stuck on his D.Va pick but they had no success in the next two fights, only building up ultimates. With five ults online they came in on the left and focused down the enemy Lucio, using their abilities to slay NGA and establish control on the point. mAps zipped in on Tracer to keep it alive and did a lot of work, letting his team have a final attempt to keep themselves in APAC. He did his best but they couldn’t possibly make it work, and Rogue cruised into the Grand Final.

Reinforce rubbing his hands in glee. Image credit: @Sylviainiyo