The Gathering of the Nerds Season 1 Finals is finally here… and when I say finally here, I mean it is surprising there is anyone left to watch. These long and dreaded playoffs have been riddled with tornadoes, summer vacations, and the passage of time so long that 11.2 million people have died and 27.6 million have been born since they started. And somehow, someway, PlusForward snuck their way in.

They have done it while dragging Panther, the bald and old rusty anchor who stops contributing roughly ten seconds after strat time ends. Carrying him for a whole best-of-five is not just a challenge. It is almost impossible. Lucky for PlusForward, they have shuffled roles with Brian on scope, who can pop off and carry the 38-year-old man-baby, while Kosmo plays aggressively and touches pretty much every gun in the game. Rumors are that Panther is still offering him over 500 dollars cold hard cash to shotty for LAN 2.

On the other side, Janitorz have not dropped a map all playoffs, and honestly, it could stay that way. The winner’s bracket advantage already has them starting up 1-0. This finals could be a barn burner, or it could be over faster than Adeptz mood changes. If PlusForward wins, it is a Cinderella story for the ages. If Janitorz win, it is just another routine and expected mopping.

Predictions

zyk aka tomato

Unless Zack and Shell pull off the carry of a lifetime, Janitorz are making this a clean 3-1 at worst, but I predict a 3-0 sweep.

On a serious tactical note, Janitorz will most likely ban Carentan, and PlusForward will ban Toujane, which should bring Burgundy as the first map. This should be close depending on who is hot and who is not. PlusForward plays a heavy retake strategy and is not very aggressive, and Janitorz have a good record against these types of teams. With clear comms and solid site control, it will be hard for them to do worse than 8-4. If Hostage is rolling, PlusForward will not be able to stop him south, and Janitorz will go up 2-0. From there, Janitorz will most likely pick Dawnville for an easy 3-0. Worst case scenario, Janitorz lose Burgundy, win Dawnville, and finish PlusForward for the Season 1 championship trophy on Matmata.

Burgundy: 13-10 Janitorz

Dawnville: 13-11 Janitorz

redz aka tweeterman

Finally, the finals! Forward have surprised us every step of the way, can they pull off the upset of the season? Entering the series a map down, they’ll undoubtedly need their A game. I expect a Touj ban from forward and possibly Ctan from Janitorz, with Vallente being the “5th” map, which won’t be played regardless.

If this series starts with Burgundy, Forward has a very good chance to knot it up 1-1. From there, it’s tough sledding, with Janitorz getting the next map, and frankly having the deeper map pool. The biggest question for me is, did Forward improve their ctan and mat or did Bricked Up show up with rust, as well as have too many distractions (don’t have kids)? Brian prevailed over myLo, who was unlike himself in the lower bracket final, the next test for Brian to pass is Nytrix. Once again, the scope battle is where this Grand Final can be won or lost, can the twink emperor himself overcome the challenge once again? It’s been some time since Janitorz have played an official, but they’ve been lurking in the shadows watching these matches, while pointing and laughing at the “IGL” and bomb bitch paNther, but who will have the last laugh? There’s so much firepower in the server, we may need to send the demos to the “fragginlabbin” so it can relish in glory on YouTube. At the end of the day, I believe the 1 map advantage will be too much to overcome for Forward, or anyone for that matter with Janitorz form over the course of the season.

I’ll take Janitorz 3-2 POTM: Gl4d

lizard

I agree with both of these braindead bozos on the likely ban/map pool to take place in this match. In fact, I brought it up first! :angry:

Plus forward doing anything other than banning toujane would be the beginning and the end of their demise. They have no other choice. Janitorz would be wise to ban carentan, but I don’t think a burgundy ban would be too bad either. +Forward will choose the other and likely win either one.

At the end of the day, this format is bigger mentally more than anything. If Janitorz win the first map and go up 2-0, I don’t see any world where +Forward has a chance. So the first map is key. Whoever can come out of the gate hotter can have the chance to “control their destiny” in a way. If we do get to the final and fourth map, it will likely be either dawn or breakout, which at the end of the day can come down to either team. But they’ll have to get thru some of teach others strong maps to get there.

We’ve been wrong as a community about +Forward up to this point, and they deserve to be here. Can they prove us wrong one more time?

Janitorz 2(+1) – 1. POTM: Nytrix

Map 1: Matmata 13-7 J

Map 2: Ctan/Burg 13-11 [w]

Map 3: Break/Dawn 13-10 J