By Hoku
La Fine Équipe (1) vs FUNdamentals (8)
After earning the right to participate in the post-season, FUNdamentals now has their work cut out for them as they face the top dog. In their regular season matchup, La Fine Équipe took the series in a 2-0 domination, but our underdogs may have learned a few things since then. What to watch for: Both teams like to play tankbuster brawlers in the offlane, so we can expect smackings to happen when no one is looking, and the tanks to watch out for flanks.
Hot(s) Dads (2) vs Start Slow Then Taper Off (7)
This was another domination on the part of the favored team when they had their regular season matchup recently. But while the scoreboard read 2-0, don’t be fooled. The first map was an absolutely brutal 31 minute (!) Battlefield of Eternity, so don’t make any early assumptions about how this will turn out. What to watch for: The DPS players for both sides are capable of playing the sort of hypercarry that is just devestating to watch. If the ban prio goes to healers, we will see fireworks from the assassins, ranged or melee!
Braincellmates (3) vs Heavy Greg (6)
Didn’t we just do this? I could have sworn we just did this! Although this was a domination by the higher seed when they played a week ago, the underdog now knows what to look out for in draft. The Zeratul play was nasty, so that will likely figure into the calculations this go around. What to watch for: With the ban prio elsewhere, expect both tank players to have the luxury of choosing what they want. With a great deal of experience in competitive play, look for a chess match in the front line strategy.
Protectors of Aiur (4) vs Ground Up (5)
In our final matchup of the first round, we have two very well matched teams facing each other for the second time in a short period, so they know what to look for. Both teams have excellent healers, with deep hero pools, so it may come down to banning the ones that are least fun to play into. Stukov, Anduin, and Auriel banned? Time to break out the Lucio and Deckard Cain!
Wrap Up
So now that you know what to expect, check the calendar, make the popcorn, and get ready to cheer on all of our competitors in the playoffs.