The first day of the Rocket League Championship Series Season 2 Grand Finals between EU's and NA's top teams wrapped up today with some incredible upsets all around. Day 1 featured eight matches up to the upper bracket final and the lower bracket semifinal; the conclusion of the championship will be Dec. 4, as one of the eight teams will leave Amsterdam $50,000 richer.
RLCS Grand Finals Day 1 results
Match 1: Precision Z vs. NRG Esports
In the first match of the day European fourth seed Precision Z defeated North American first seed NRG Esports 3-2 and advanced to the upper bracket semifinals to face the winner of Northern Gaming and Genesis.
Match 2: Northern Gaming vs. Genesis
EU's Northern Gaming annihilated NA third seed Genesis 3-0 and made it look easy; this sets up a very interesting matchup vs. Precision Z in the upper bracket semifinal.
Match 3: FlipSid3 Tactics vs. Take 3
In what many expected to be the most one-sided matchup of the night, EU's FlipSid3 moved past NA's Take 3 only after a very surprising five-goal victory for Take 3 in Game 2. FlipSid3 still recovered to take the series comfortably and move on 3-1.
Match 4: Orbit Esports vs. Mockit Aces
North America's sadness is complete. Europe finishes the coup with Mockit Aces reverse-sweeping Orbit to move on and face FlipSid3 in the upper bracket semifinals.
Match 5: Precision Z vs. Northern Gaming
Northern Gaming moved past Precision Z 3-1, coming into the upper bracket finals as the first team to advance to one game away from the Grand Finals' grand finals. Precision Z, which looked relatively good in the defeat, seems poised to be a top contender in the lower bracket.
Match 6: FlipSid3 Tactics vs. Mockit Aces
No one saw this coming. Mockit Aces defeated FlipSid3 Tactics 3-1 to join Northern Gaming in the upper bracket finals. This upset changed the layout of the day as the lower bracket teams suddenly have FlipSid3 to fear as they look to make a deep run.
Match 7: NRG vs. Genesis
NRG defeated Genesis to send the latter out of the tournament on the first day, a very disappointing showing for the North American third seed. NRG will be happy to have already performed better than it did last season.
Match 8: Orbit vs. Take 3
In the upset of the tournament Take 3 defeated Orbit 3-1 to topple the North American giants. This leaves Orbit and Genesis -- the second and third seeds from North America -- out of the tournament.
Day 2 Preview
Match 1: Upper bracket final - Northern Gaming vs. Mockit Aces
The upper bracket final features two of the European big three and should be one of the best matchups of the tournament. Overall Northern looked better on the day and should come in as the favorite, but Mockit Aces should in no way be overlooked. Expect a solid match with two of the best teams in the world fighting for a guaranteed top-two finish.
Predicted winner: Northern Gaming
Match 2: Lower bracket semifinal - NRG vs. FlipSid3 Tactics
This match should not be close. FlipSid3, despite having a bad first day, is still a stellar team that should come out of this No. 1 seed matchup with flying colors and advance to the lower bracket finals. If NRG can overcome this challenge it should truly be considered to be the same high caliber as iBuyPower from last RLCS. If NRG wins this, be ready for an insane day.
Predicted winner: FlipSid3 Tactics
Match 3: Lower bracket semifinal - Precision Z vs. Take 3
In addition to a No. 1 seed duel, we also have a No. 4 seed matchup. If you had asked yesterday, the match would be insanely easy for Precision Z. Now that Take 3 has defeated Orbit it's all up in the air. Whichever team builds on the first day's momentum more for Day 2 should be the successful one and Precision Z has the more impressive results to go on.
Predicted winner: Precision Z