RLCS 22-23 Winter Split Major Review

Group A

The first group of the Winter Major was arguably the most unpredictable, other groups seemed to have one team that was quite clearly the weak link. Group A was different. FaZe Clan, G2 Esports, G1 and KRÜ Esports all turned up ready to make waves, demonstrating the highest level of gameplay in every series. But only three could advance to the next stage. The group started with a classic NA versus EU match. NA represented by their first seed, FaZe Clan, while EU’s representation came in the form of Spain’s most valued squad, G1. A much weaker team than FaZe Clan, coming into the event as EU’s fifth seed. On paper, this match was an easy win for North America. However, the Spaniards had other plans.

The series began with the first two games being won in dominant fashion by G1, looking to finish it in a sweep. Heroics from FaZe Clan kept them in the series and sent the teams into to a deciding game five, here G1 were able to close out the series in comfortable fashion. A huge blow for NA fans as their best team takes an early loss in the event. Match two was a sweep for G2 Esports over KRÜ Esports. The South Americans making their LAN debut taking the expected loss to the previous Winter Major champions. Unfortunately for them this was followed by a second sweep to a FaZe Clan looking to regain after their early loss.

Now it was time for the highly anticipated matchup of G1 versus G2. The fans had been waiting for this game since G1 formed at the start of the season. The Europeans seemed to be in the drivers seat until game four where they had the opportunity to close out the match. Instead, they crumbled. Letting G2 Esports back into the series and losing their chance of taking the first spot in Group A. A heartbreaker for G1, but the only one to blame was themselves.

Day Two brought us the final games in Group A, the big question was who would we see topping the group and who would we see taking an early trip home. KRÜ Esports took a surprise win over G1 in game five, meaning that we would have to wait for the G2 Esports against FaZe Clan match to find out who would go out in the group stage. The series was eventually taken by FaZe Clan in four games. This result meant they topped the group and G1 were eliminated from the event despite their early brilliance. A crazy result that nobody would have predicted after these teams played at the start of the tournament. G2 Esports and KRÜ Esports take second and third respectively making Group A a wrap. What a rollercoaster it had been and what more could the three teams advancing show?

Group B

This Group was labelled by many fans as the ‘death group’ and by the time it had wrapped up, you could really see why. Karmine Corp, Team Vitality, Team Falcons and Dignitas all looked strong throughout the group stage, but only three would be able to advance. Who’s story would have an early ending?

Karmine Corp and Dignitas were first up. Another match between the first and last seeds of the two major regions. However, this time we saw no heroics from the underdog. European giant Karmine Corp made quick work of the struggling Dignitas rookies. A quick 3-0 left no one surprised and we moved onto the second matchup of Group B. Here we found the all-star battle of Team Falcons and Team Vitality was ready and set to go. This was the middle eastern superteam’s time to show the world that they could still compete at the top level despite performing poorly at international events. But the Frenchmen weren’t ready to let that happen. The series started poorly for the MENA representatives as Team Vitality secured a dominant 2-0 lead. But Team Falcons weren’t done. They came flying back into the series with pace, stealing two games back and utilizing they’re incredible kickoff strategy in the final match to make the series theirs and go 1-0 up in the Group B.

Both round two matches in this group were fairly quick. Despite Team Falcons’ strong turn around in the last series they were still no match for Europe’s goliath that is Karmine Corp. They were handily swept meaning they would have to beat Dignitas the next day to continue in the tournament. Team Vitality versus Dignitas was slightly closer with multiple overtimes and close games but the Europeans were able to close it out in four games. Pushing the Americans further into the gutter and dragging Team Vitality back out of it after their reverse sweep disaster.

The final day of groups rolled around and we were ready to find out who would be bowing out of the tournament and who would get their buy into the quarterfinals. Dignitas had the chance to turn things around. The only thing standing in their way was Team Falcons. This proved to be quite the obstacle for the North American fifth seed. It was not close. Arguably the most uneven series we had seen in Group B. Team Falcons took it in three games, scoring a total of fifteen goals and sending Dignitas straight home. Team Vitality were actually able to take the first game over Karmine Corp. Unfortunately, this did not last and Europe’s number one seed took the next three and the whole group. That was the end for Group B and the end of the road for Dignitas, while the other three were granted pass into the playoff bracket. Would they be able to put up wins against the rest of the teams or would they follow in Dignitas’ footsteps?

Group C

While Group B was labelled the ‘death group’ Group C was seen as the polar opposite. With three of the four teams being from ‘minor’ regions it’s certainly understandable that it was looked down upon. Team Liquid, Team Secret, Ground Zero Gaming and Gaimin Gladiators were the teams in question and you don’t need to look too hard to see the potential for chaos in this group.

The group began with two sweeps going in favor of Team Liquid and Team Secret. Expected, but some may have hoped to see more from the underdogs. Hope would maybe be found in the second round, or not. Two more sweeps from the same two teams teed up Round 3 with a clash of the titans that so far, could not be stopped. But first we were treated with a lower skilled match of the OCE and APAC number one seeds.

Unfortunately for everyone except Ground Zero Gaming fans, we were given another sweep. Meaning Gaimin Gladiators and the APAC region were eliminated from the Winter Major without a game win for their second event in a row. Now it was time for the all-star matchup of the chaotic Team Liquid versus the Brazilian heroes in Team Secret. A 2-0 start for the Europeans had everyone thinking we were going to witness yet another sweep. Luckily Team Secret had other plans and utilized their world class defence to take us to game five. An early goal from Team Liquid left the South Americans scrambling and led to a huge crumble. The EU #2 seed took the group and advance to the playoff quarterfinals.

Group D

Storylines are a massive part of any kind of competitive event and this group certainly gave us a few. We had the Pioneers looking to make a comeback after their appalling Fall Major and Complexity Gaming coming into there first major since Fall 21-22 with high expectations. But these were both heavily overshadowed by arguably the greatest narrative coming into the event, would Gen.G Mobil1 Racing be able to get their revenge on Oxygen Esports? The team that had embarrassed the North American top dogs at the last international event. We would be forced to wait for the end of the group stage to find out.

The first match we were treated to was Gen.G up against the Pioneers. As much as we would have loved to kick off the group with a close match, we weren’t quite so lucky. The NA #2 seed made quick work of the Australian young guns. Sending us on to the next matchup of Complexity Gaming versus Oxygen Esports. This game managed to make itself a little closer than the last one, as you would expect with two teams of such caliber. After a long series with many close games, Complexity Gaming were able to take it in five and go 1-0 up in the group.

Round two kicked off with another episode of the poor Pioneers being destroyed by a major region superteam. Oxygen Esports took the win with ease, meaning they were out of elimination territory and the Pioneers had fallen deep into it. They now relied on Gen.G taking down Complexity Gaming. Unfortunately for the OCE rookies, it did not go as planned. It started off close but North Americas fourth team took down the number two in four games. This meant the Pioneers were out before they even got to play their last match and with Complexity Gaming knocking down the two giants with their lawless brilliance they had managed to book an early spot in the quarterfinals.

Complexity Gaming versus the Pioneers was a match with little eyes on it. Mostly due to the fact that it meant absolutely nothing, due the results the group had already given us. This series went a similar fashion to all the Pioneers’ games so far. Very much favored against them. The only difference being they were able to win a game, breaking their nineteen game loss streak on LAN! Hopefully something to hold onto as a victory at this event. Finally it was time for the renowned rematch taking place at the end of the group. Gen.G Mobil1 Racing versus Oxygen Esports. This series was far closer than the last time these monstrous squads played. Games went back and forth and multiple blowouts were awarded on both sides. But in the end Gen.G could not face their demons and were forced into submission. Settling on the third spot in Group D. As the dust settled after that final battle, the group stage was found to be over with four teams eliminated. Playoffs loomed and we were ready to find out who would fall down the same path.

Playoffs

Finally it was time for the big games, the playoffs. Four teams were already locked into the quarterfinals but the rest would have to battle it out in the four Round 1 matches. Who would make it through and who would falter under the pressure of the big stage?

The day kicked off with a matchup seen many times before. The infamous South American brawl of Team Secret versus KRÜ Esports. The last seven times these teams played it had gone Team Secret’s way, would the tides change this time around? It started off looking like a resounding no, with the #1 SAM team taking the first two games, but KRÜ Esports were not done by any stretch. They win three games in a row to take the series and knock Team Secret out with a reverse sweep.

Gen.G Mobil1 Racing against Team Falcons proved to be one of the greatest series’ we were treated to all event. Gen.G took the first two games and Team Falcons looked down and out. But they found the same fire they had against Team Vitality and won two games in a row to tee up their second reverse sweep of the tournament. It was unfortunately not enough for the Middle Eastern heroes and they faltered in game five, meaning Gen.G won the match and advanced to the top eight.

Finally we had arrived at our first playoff match featuring a European team, two in fact. Oxygen Esports versus Team Vitality. This game was hyped up to be a close one, though this assumption turned out to be a poor one. The Frenchmen won the series with ease and Oxygen Esports were eliminated 9-12th. An early exit for them and a disappointing end to their split. The next series took a similar turn. G2 Esports dealt with Ground Zero Gaming quickly and mechanically, showing no mercy and closing it out in just three games.

The quarterfinals took a hot start with two teams coming off big wins earlier in the tournament. Team Vitality, who had upset Oxygen Esports earlier in the day, and the terrifying Team Liquid, who had slaughtered Group C to make it into playoffs. The series was one of the closest we were treated to all event with wonder plays being pulled out at both ends of the field. Eventually Team Liquid managed to book their spot in the semifinals after a gruelling overtime win on Neo Tokyo. A huge win for them as they had finally beaten their top eight curse at majors.

After watching their French brethren lose to the wonder kids at Team Liquid, Karmine Corp were out for revenge. The only thing standing in their way was North America’s G2 Esports. Karmine Corp took the six game series in fairly dominant fashion, sending the previous Winter Major champions home. As sweeps went, the next series was quite a close one. Complexity Gaming swept KRÜ Esports out of the event, despite zero second heroics from the Brazilians in game one, leading to a stunning four minute overtime, Complexity Gaming proved to be to much for them. But top eight was certainly an amazing LAN debut for South America’s new best team.

The final quarterfinal match we were treated to was a North American classic. We had watched it play out many times throughout this season, never failing to entertain. It was of course the battle of North America’s greats, FaZe Clan going up against Gen.G Mobil1 Racing. The last few times these giants played, FaZe Clan had had Gen.G’s number, would the tides change in a LAN setting or would we see yet another FaZe Clan win? The series went back and forth between the two powerhouse teams with many games being won with huge goal differentials and many being won after long overtimes. Eventually FaZe Clan took the painfully close game six overtime to win the series and send Gen.G Mobil1 Racing home after yet another loss to North America’s best team.

Just two more series’ to go until the grand final. These two would decide who of the four remaining teams we would see compete for the trophy. First up were the two best teams Europe could produce. Karmine Corp and Team Liquid, the two dominant forces of the European region. This series was a meant to be a close one as the teams usually went head to head in regionals. Yet that was certainly not how the series began. Team Liquid could find no holes in the Karmine Corp defence. Resulting in just one goal to Karmine Corp’s eight in two games.

Game three had to be the turning point for Team Liquid, though it really didn’t start off like that. Three goals down they looked to be out of the game but brilliance in the form of mechanical masterclasses took them to overtime. This had to be the moment where the rookies found a way back into the series. But an early goal just twenty second into the overtime crushed their hopes and dreams. If they wanted to make the final they would now have to win four games in a row against arguably the best team in the tournament, an almost impossible task. Even after two game wins in a row for Team Liquid, Karmine Corp’s timeout was too strong and the series was closed out in game six. A strong showing from Europe’s second best team but it simply wasn’t meant to be.

The last series was a showing of Europe’s best but now it was time for North America to show that they could compete to the same level. FaZe Clan and Complexity Gaming were ready to put on a show and make their mark in the Winter Major semifinals. The previous match was incredibly one sided, this time we were treated to one of the closest series’ to date. It went back and forth with both teams biting chunks out of each other in the form of high flying mechanics and genius outplays. This continued all the way to game seven, our first of the event. This was where FaZe Clan shone and they took the game, three to zero. With this massive win they had locked themselves into the final where Karmine Corp waited. Despite being eliminated, Complexity Gaming had shown that they were one of the top teams in the world and that they truly could compete at the highest level, proving all the doubters wrong.

Now the moment the whole event had led up to. What fans across the world had been waiting for. The grand final between Europe and North America’s finest. Karmine Corp versus FaZe Clan. The two major regions’ number one seeds were prepared to go head to head to lift that trophy. And they certainly did.

Once again back and forth games. Karmine Corp win game one. FaZe Clan claim two back to take the lead. Karmine Corp take a timeout and win two more. Three to two. Karmine Corp on match point. FaZe Clan in a position where they will have to win two in a row to take the championship. It had all led up to this. The final fight. Early brilliance from Karmine Corp gives them the lead which they hold until FaZe Clan reach deep into their play book to bring out a masterful physical play to even out the score. Both teams keep their foot on the pedal. High octane and dangerous. One mistake will be the end of it all. Unfortunately for FaZe Clan, that one mistake came at the worst time. A poor clearance sent the ball straight to the Karmine Corp offence and left the net wide open. Two to one. Five seconds left. FaZe Clan would need a miracle to keep themselves in the event, but a miracle was simply to much to ask for. Karmine Corp held their lead and took the tournament in strong fashion, not once had a team sent them to an elimination game. An unbelievable feat. Heartbreak for FaZe Clan but elation for Europe’s heroes. The trophy was theirs and so was the hefty prize money that came with it.

Overview

Overall this event had been a spectacle. One of the greatest to ever be played in the history of the RLCS. Reverse sweeps, shutouts, nail biters and all the storylines you could ask for. It was hard to walk away disappointed, even when your favourite team had been knocked out. Now it was over and done with, all the teams could rest. But not for long. The Spring Split looms and the world is ready to see who the next great superpower will be.

Written by @typo_yk