Group B of the ESL Atlantic Showdown appeared to be a wide open field at first glance, with most people only seeing compLexity as an underdog out of the four. The group contained current European number one team REUNITED along with Cloud9, a team that most would rate as the second best North American side. Rounding out Group B were the wildcards of Rogue, a team who have the ability to surprise at any time.

If you’re looking to get more familiar with the teams and understand their storylines, take a look at the viewer’s guide written yesterday for this tournament. The four teams in each group played in a GSL-style format, running a mini double-elimination bracket. Teams with two losses would be eliminated, while those with two wins would qualify to the knockout bracket.

Round 1: REUNITED vs. compLexity

The group kicked off with the top European team taking on a shaky compLexity side. The North American team had battled its way up into a top three rank in the region after good performances in July and early August but many felt that compLexity were the most likely team to go out early in groups. With the earlier games in Group A showing that North American teams were able to go toe-to-toe with the best European sides, it was widely predicted by the analyst desk that the game would be closely fought with the edge to REUNITED.

The first map was King’s Row. Instantly REUNITED came out of the gates with Kyb on Hanzo, committing to find two early picks and instantly open up the first checkpoint for his team. Kyb carried on with Hanzo as they began to enter the streets, triggering a re-engagement from compLexity that was funnelled into the arch chokepoint and crushed to easily give REUNITED the space to fight at the second checkpoint. Another hastily assembled attempt to defend was brushed aside by the European dps players; if Kyb was role-playing as Robin Hood then Kruise was his beatboxing Little John, collectively robbing the rich of their lives to feed the growing ultimate advantage.

They rolled an ultimate advantage into another teamfight victory as they slammed the door in compLexity’s face to finish King’s Row in an incredible 3:01 with Kyb still on Hanzo and most of the team without a death to their name.

It was an impossible time for compLexity to replicate and they failed completely in their attempt. An aggressive offensive team composition was countered right off the bat by players pushing behind and counter-aggressing from REUNITED, cleaning up players at the back and ruining the North American team’s best chance at replying. When they wiped once again with only a minute left on the clock, “gg” was called and compLexity looked devastated.

The second map was even more brutal. compLexity chose Watchpoint: Gibraltar, the longest map in the pool but one with history for REUNITED - in the recent qualifiers they had been able to slam NiP in under three minutes, a record time. They were out to beat their own record as they began on offense with Kyb on Genji and Winghaven on Winston. A badly positioned passive hold on checkpoint two was obliterated and REUNITED stormed through the hangar as well. They waltzed through the final section again without a scratch to set a ridiculous time of 3:39.

Again REUNITED’s defense was just as good as their attack and they isolated, picked off, and humiliated their opponents in truly unbelievable levels of domination. They easily secured their spot in the Winner’s Match with two games that were over before they had even begun. The first series of the day also showed compLexity’s apparent terrible form, as they rolled over and were walked on by the European side.

REUNITED take their first game with ease. Photo credit: ESL

REUNITED secured their spot in the Winner's Match, with the winner of Rogue vs. Cloud9 to face them. For compLexity, they had to gather themselves and be ready to face the losers in a gruelling fight back to save any face they could.