i38: Recap - Reason Gaming vs Infinitus

The next game I chose to watch was Reason Gaming against Infinitus.QPAD. This was a game that, on the surface seemed ordinary enough, but underneath was a dramatic story. It all started off last night,  where PC problems and issues with the game itself meant Reason were unable to play their scheduled matches against i.QPAD and one of the other teams in their group - X.eVo. The team were thus left with 2 default losses, and there was not muchthey could do about it. However, today they talked to the admins and were told that they would be allowed to replay their matches, as long as the other teams agreed and it didn't disrupt the schedule too much.

They talked to i.QPAD, who had already won their two other matches (the group consisted of four teams, one of which has defaulted all their matches after their loss to i.QPAD last night). This meant that, as it stands, they would top the group and so have an easier ride in the playoffs. However, they agreed to replay on the condition that X.eVo were also prepared to replay and so wouldn't retain their default over i.QPAD. However, X.eVo were tired and had only played one game of MW2 in the tournament due to their defaults, and were rather looking forward to the double elimination playoffs, which would guarantee them another 2 games. Reason then talked to i.QPAD again, who showed admirable sportsmanship and agreeing to play a game which, on paper at least, seemed to be an almost certain defeat. So the situation was as follows going into the game. Reason had 1 default win, and 1 default loss. This gave them 3 points and a round difference of 0. X.evo had 2 default wins and a loss of 7-0 to i.QPAD, giving them 6 points and a round difference of -5. i.QPAD had 2 wins of 7-0 and 13-1, giving them 6 points and a round difference of +19.

So if Reason win, they will have 6 points and a round difference greater than 0, putting them ahead of X.evo and second in the grup. However, if they beat i.QPAD by 10 rounds or more, then their round difference will be large enough to put them over i.QPAD and gain them the much sought-after first place in the group. So you can see that there was a lot riding on this game. Three teams had the potential to qualify, and it all goes down to the round difference in the game.

Reason Gaming Chris "Lighters" Lightburn revoltz Tom "D1ablo" Newman Danny "SoCLoN" Perez O'Connor Ryan "dUffER" Duffy

Infinitus.QPAD Peter "PtEerR" Mathers Nick "Jonesy" Jones Chris "D3TH" Mcafferty Andy "Andehh" Yates Stuart "StuwOw" Jackson

So onto the match itself. The game was played on Quarry. This map has a large open area in the middle but round the edges it gets very up-close-and-personal, particularly around the areas where the teams' flags are. The game started off with Reason pushing hard and fast into the i.QPAD defence. Infinitus were clearly not prepared for such an agressive attack so early on, and Reason took the flag with relative ease. Reason took this as a sign of things to come, and seemed to become very confident. Infinitus opted for a more passive approach to the game, perhaps as a damage limitation strategy for what they saw as an inevitable defeat.

Ptr from Infinitus was the main driving force stopping Reason's attacks. Pushing round the back he kept causing problems at Reason's base which prevented them from putting their full impetus into their attacks. Suddenly, Infinitus sprung into action with a concerted push on Reason round the right hand side of the map. They were met with very little opposition, for the simple reason that their opponents had the same idea, but for the left hand side. On the return to their bases the teams met in the middle and a huge firefight ensued, with Infinitus coming out on top. D3th sprinted back to base under cover from his team and captured to make it all even once more. Once again he managed the same feat, although this time it was a stealthy flag steal whilst Reason were distracted attacking.

With the score now at 2-1 in Infinitus' favour, Reason looked disorganised and confused. D1ablo was consitently getting into the Infinitus base and getting his hands on the flag, but a lack of support meant that he was shut down all too easily before he could make it back to base. With perhaps a few sharp words from their manager, Reason moved up a gear and their talented players decided to work as a team for a change. D1ablo took the flag but was shut down, except this time Lighters was there to pick it up. He made it roughly 3/4 of the way to the Reason base before being killed, but Duffer was on hand to pick it up and capture it to level the scores at 2-2.

Following up this move came D1ablo and Soclon to take the Infinitus flag and capture it, covering each other to bring the score to 3-2 at half time. While still a winning score, Reason would not have been properly happy with this as they could have had at least 2 or 3 more captures if they had worked better as a team. The first few minutes of the second half are very hectic. Reason are really getting into their stride now and are repeatedly threatening a flag capture as they push Infinitus right back into their base. Eventually they make it through their lines and get the flag, but not before Infinitus rotate and take the Reason flag. The sides meet and both flags end up loose in the middle of the map. The flags are in open ground, and anyone who tries to get one is gunned down in the crossfire. This perpetual cycle of moving the flag about a meter then dieing continues for some time is only broken by some excellent play from Reason, who wipe out pretty much the entire Infinitus team to capture their flag.

As D1ablo reaches his base to make it 4-2, he is jumped by 2 Infinitus players and only just makes the capture. They pick up the Reason flag and sprint it back to open the game back up at 4-3, only seconds after Reason widened their lead. Infinitus know that if they keep the score close they will stay top of the group, and so play extremely defensively. Reason are getting close to the flag but can't seem to actually pick it up due to the strength of the Infinitus defence. Lighters suddenly opens things up by dropping 2 Infinitus defenders in quick succession and Reason are able to finally get another point on the board. It's 5-3 and with about a minute left, each team has ended up with the other's flag. It's a deadlock and it doesn't look like it will end before the game does. However, Infinitus did not reckon with D1ablo coming racing through behind them to drop two players and return the flag, allowing another Reason player to capture their flag comfortably. It's 6-3 and with 30 seconds left on the clock, bopth teams just rush into the middle without any real purpose.

Final Score: Reason Gaming 6 - 3 Infinitus.QPAD

After the match I spoke to Peter "PTR" Mathers of Team Infinitus.QPAD: "We played well. We were unlucky at some points and maybe on another day could have done better, but that's life. That said, I definitely won't be playing this game again after LAN. Everyone just uses the same gun! So yeah, if you want to buy 5 MW2 keys then come over and find Team Infinitus - we'll pay you!"

So it's all over, Reason win 6-3 and as such come second. Their round difference of +3 beats X.eVo's -5 but is not sufficient to place them over Infinitus and their +16 score. Both teams will be in the next round, but Infinitus can hold their heads high as they played very well in a game that many expected to be a one sided affair. They are definitely a team to watch out for in the upcoming playoffs.

Stay tuned to TEK-9 for all your LIVE coverage straight from Multiplay's i38 LAN event here in Newbury, including news, articles, interviews score updates and coverage posts!