11 matches, and seemingly 11 months into the GOTN S1 playoffs, we have eliminated our first four teams. As cliche as it sounds, we truly have seen it all this playoffs. We’ve had great even matches, including some of NA’s heavyweights going toe to toe. We’ve also gotten some upsets in maps and matches, adding to the fun. Sure, maybe in the end some of the eliminations and placings were “expected”, but that does not diminish the way in which we got here.

UPSET OF THE PLAYOFFS

This one could have won a few awards. Upset of the playoffs, best series of the playoffs, best story of the playoffs, best…you get it. Nemesis, after losing Dawnville in heartbreaking fashion in triple overtime 22-19, was able to overcome Awakening in Round 1 of the playoffs winning Burgundy and Breakout 13-11. It was close, but it was enough, as they took care of business. Led by berry’s nades (and plants) on Burgundy and Breakout, and heatoo’s vision and fragging, the boys capped off an impressive season in their first stint together.

In what will almost surely stand as the longest series of these playoffs (even after the last few matches), it delivered everything and more for the neutrals. As a player, everyone felt all the tingles and feels. It’s about as intense a series that you can have. This sent Nemesis to UB2 to face Janitorz, and Awakening to LB 1 to face goons.

We’ve been a resilient team all season and we’ve always played with little to no pressure. We felt we had the mental advantage over Awakening, had scrimmed them multiple times over the last two months, and the work had been done to boil down their tendencies on Breakout and Burg. I thought we were going to get 13-7’d on Dawnville, so honestly, a triple overtime with a 45 bomb from Xlzz was a very good omen for us. Berry carried and gave us a win on a silver platter. – heatoo

Elsewhere in UB 1, Bricked Up came back to beat x6 on Carentan and Dawnville 13-7 each, after dropping Matmata 13-8. UP also took Plus Forward to 3 maps, winning Matmata in overtime 16-14, but losing Burgundy 13-5, and Carentan 13-7. Janitorz took care of business against group A’s 4 seed goons, winning 13-11 and 13-6 on the B’s, Breakout and Burgundy.

Upper Bracket 2 and 7-8th Matches

Upper Bracket 2 was much less intense than UB 1, with both series ending in 2-0’s. Bricked up took down Plus Forward 13-7 on both breakout and Matmata (including an incredible matmata stream screenshot looking at top apartments), while Janitorz took down a surprising Nemesis 13-9 on Matmata and 13-7 on Burgundy.

Down in LB1, Awakening took down goons 2-0, with a 13-5 on Toujane and 13-11 on Dawnville. With the season over, that leaves goons without Tripel, and a vacancy in the shotgun position. x6 took down UP 2-1, having to come back after losing Matmata 13-6, winning Carentan 13-7 and Breakout 13-5.

As a squad, we’ve (UP) been gaining more and more confidence that we can compete with the rest of the field as we’ve progressed through the season. Matmata is a map we feel confident on, not just strat wise, but teamwork and trade wise. We seem to be operating on the same wavelength on Mat, and we’re looking to expand that into more maps in the pool. Take breakout: a map we’ve never played as a team, and lost twice during groups. We’ve made it a goal to improve dramatically there.

Moving forward, we’re going to continue to work on different strats and plays to see what clicks and what doesn’t. The team feels good, and we’re going to do everything we can to cause a ruckus at LAN2 – trump

Upper Bracket Finals and 5-6th Matches

Despite taking much different routes to get there, it wound up being Janitorz vs Bricked Up in the UB Finals. Janitorz, after an almost perfect season, going 13-1, sailed through Group B, and their half of the bracket, going 4-0 on maps in the playoffs, the lone “unbeaten” squad. Bricked Up came into playoffs as the 3 seed from Group A, having faltered twice in the regular season, finishing 12-2. They then dropped their first map of playoffs to x6, before winning 4 straight to make it to the Upper Bracket Finals.

The two familiar foes did battle again, and although it wasn’t the Grand Finals, the hype around it sure made it seem like one, with one team getting a direct berth to it. In the end it did not disappoint, but Janitorz did stay perfect in the playoffs, with their 3rd consecutive 2-0.

Yeah we’re feeling good, we’re hot and vibes are on point. Right now it’s about keeping in shape with our aim, light scrimming to keep the flow, and internal practice for nades. We’re not changing our game and trying to keep in shape until grands by end of 2026. – harry

In the 5-6th place matches, Nemesis came in against x6 splitting the season series. The two faced off on Toujane and Burgundy during the regular season, with x6 taking Toujane, and Nemesis taking Burgundy. The two teams made sure neither of these maps were played during the picks/bans phase, and we ended up with three new maps; breakout, dawnville, matmata. Matmata, the decider, wasn’t needed, as x6 took down Nemesis 13-7 on Breakout, and 13-11 on Dawnville.

Last but not least, we had a battle between the top two seeds in Group A in the other LB2 match. Awakening took opening blood on Matmata, winning convincingly 13-7. Plus Forward was not to be denied, though, winning Burgundy 13-9, and then Dawnville 13-11 in what was another thrilling 3 map match.