Introduction

In the first in the most recent string of Pre-Invite Qualifier Cups we saw Aetas face off against Refuse during tonight’s quarter finals. Both AETAS and Refuse had previously had a good run through the competition, defeating some well-known names within the community. With access to the prestigious Pre-Invite practise channel on the line, both teams had it all to play.

REFUSE has been doing well in recent online competitions, fighting their way confidently through the CEVO group brackets and becoming the only team to steal a map from the LowLandLion side but finally losing out against the tournament victor in a 2-1 score line. AETAS have also been putting in a positive performance at the recent local Benelux Gaming event defeating teams such as AT Gaming and n!faculty to place in a comfortable 4th place position.

10					13
Map: mp_backlot
AETAS Remy "jojootjeh" Hendrix Willem "WillRR" Breuls Yannick "dARKY" Nobless Lars "Rufuze" Van Elderen Tom "strove" Keyen					Refuse Mike "northzor" Kovbuz Tomas "zimbo" Ziembinski Michal "niska" Nisser Onrej "cero" Konecny Jan "dramf" Dolezel

AETAS win the Knife, mp_backlot is chosen for play.

REFUSE win the first knife round and take Attack.

At the start it was too close to call, both teams have impressive resumes, Refuse are definitely a personal favourite from their recent results against top European team LowLandLions, but with AETAS' recent LAN performances few people could call a final result. I will say this though, if a man, sorry, if somebody walked up to me with a gun and told me to make a prediction my money would be on a Refuse victory, a close victory, but a victory none the less.

Both teams showed equal knowledge and skill on backlot making it a tight game throughout, with score lines bouncing back and forwards at regular intervals. REFUSE kicked off with an impressive start, securing the first round in a blaze of glory but AETAS wasn’t planning on lying down and quickly demonstrated a seasoned ability to adapt, to perceive their enemies weaknesses and to be able to overcome their own flaws. This ability was demonstrated regularly, but particularly in the spectacular 5th round when they team found themselves in a 4v1 situation. Jojoooo, one of AETAS’ SMG’s was admittedly in a strong position on the A bomb site, but nobody of a sane mind would have predicted a single kill. He was inquisitive, determined and made calculated decisions to take down not one, target, not even two, but the entire Refuse armada. Spectacular.

I will say this for Refuse though, they may have had one bad round but from watching their playstyle for nearly an hour they show a definite ability to become a strong contender in a few months’ time, they show personal discipline, their aim is sharp but admittedly in some cases has room for improvement that should come with age. If anything I would say their major flaw is a lack of team work, they haven’t been together for too long a period and it does seem to show when they become pressured but fingers crossed they should be on the path to success once they’ve worked through all the little flaws.

With the first half over, despite early predictions AETAS find themselves in the lead with a solid two round lead, what went wrong for the refuse lads? I think a lack of momentum, after that Jo managed to clutch that fifth round so early in the game I saw them seem to lose the confidence they demonstrated so early on. But, moving onwards now, a new half, a new start. Let’s see what they can bring to the table.

The sides switch over and Refuse is back in the game taking the first round despite several small mistakes. AETAS once again demonstrate their ability to counteract to opposing forces and abuse the A site with a flash of power and dominance, bringing the game back into a two round lead in their favour, a lead refuse need to rein back in before the game progresses much further.

If I’m completely honest with you I’m not quite sure what happened from there onwards, Refuse seem to flick a switch, they go from an academy, future preinvite team into the very thing they are playing to be. They grasp their round deficit by the throat and throttle it into submission, encroaching into enemy territory to take the lead for the first time since their first round victory. It does say a lot about this team, to come from behind to take the lead after a demoralizing round shows great determination and perseverance something this community needs more of and, at the very least is something I hope to see more of in the future.

REFUSE are two rounds in the lead now. Impressive.

AETAS dig deep now, they want this victory, they need this match and they were on the road to success, they just need to find their way back.

It’s safe to say after watching these two teams battle it out for that top spot that they both really deserve it, at the least as much as each other. They may not have been heard of too much amongst the global community, but I’ll tell you this. Over the next few months I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of them, whether in an offline or online capacity so keep your ears to the ground for these two.

AETAS get two, they’re neck and neck once again. Could we be seeing an overtime? I hope so, but Refuse say NO. They take back two rounds taking them to match point. They just need one more precious round to move forward, but how much will they have to work to get it I’ll have to wait and see.

REFUSE find themselves in a two man advantage, then a one man, then it’s a two vs one. You can tell from watching both teams that the pressure is mounting, it could swing either way.

REFUSE sat in, they waited and they pounced taking that final round and moving themselves into the semi-finals.

Summary

Both teams played a blinder of a game, demonstrating a real bundle of potential orifices within the game that I never knew existed. The game is not dead; the game is not drying up. We have pools of potential just waiting to rear their heads, and just two of the streams that make up that greater pool are made up from these two great teams, teams that I am sure we will be hearing more from in the future.

Well played both teams, you both deserved to win.