With the last stretch of RGL Invite coming to a close, Season 5 playoffs are drawing near! Four of the top teams will be running the gauntlet to determine the league’s first champions of 2021. With so many close games during the regular season, these upcoming weeks of matches are due for exciting competition. Here’s the scoop on the current standings:
#1 froyotech (18-0)
- Scout: arekk
- Scout: slemnish
- Roamer: blaze
- Pocket: b4nny
- Demoman: habib
- Medic: skeez
The veterans of froyotech have maintained their well-known dominance, standing at a perfect 18 wins due to the extra matches played in the season’s 10-team structure. But despite their perfect streak, the NA titans have had a few close calls, with a shocking comeback against MyAnimeList After Dark and golden cap matches against GlobalClan Ice and Rebirth Esports. Although they’ve had some bumps, skeez reported their team is “absolutely” assured in closing out playoffs more decisively. When asked how the team dynamic with new pickup slemnish has been, the Medic responded:
fire. thats my baby
#2 GlobalClan Ice (15-3)
- Scout: yight
- Scout: branslam
- Roamer: Laz
- Pocket: ash
- Demoman: Alex.exe
- Medic: Phorofor
With the core of GlobalClan Ice coming from their second place finish as Corsia last season, the team has again demonstrated their ability to secure second seed. Despite some close matches against Rebirth Esports and MyAnimeList, their run has been impressive, only dropping matches against rivals froyotech and another to fifth place Witness Gaming. With the addition of longtime players phorofor and laz, spectators will be excited to see if they’ll come out on top this time around and achieve #GlobalDomination. Team leader ash shared his own insights:
checkmate
#3 Rebirth Esports (12-6)
- Scout: Shamoo
- Scout: yosh
- Roamer: mirrorman
- Pocket: Kryptonite
- Demoman: dingo
- Medic: virgil
On paper, Rebirth Esports may seem like an underdog compared to the rest of the teams locked in for playoffs. Their newly-formed roster hadn’t gone through the same wear and tear the others experienced through several seasons of Invite. But despite that, their performance has been phenomenal, trading maps with their rivals MyAnimeList and playing intense games against froyo and GCI to place for third seed. The team’s success is due in no small part to the leadership of virgil and yosh, who played together in Witness Gaming last season. Along with the combined Invite experience from the vets in the squad, it’s no surprise they’ve come so far.
Team leader virgil had lots of positives to say about their experience:
I'm really happy with our performance this season. We definitely had a bit of a rough week and a half mid season, but I think we pulled it back together. Everyone on the team gives and receives criticism really well, so I think a lot of the issues we've had have been improved upon greatly.
Her teammates also shared some words of wisdom when reached for comment:
Kryptonite: I'm sus on virgil
Shamoo: I'm voting virgil this round
mirrorman: My team won't stop saying among us references
#4 MyAnimeList After Dark (12-6)
- Scout: alfa
- Scout: kev
- Roamer: tripbwai
- Pocket: glimmer
- Demoman: sighguy
- Medic: aZn
MyAnimeList After Dark was one of the teams slated to make playoffs since the beginning of the season, and they didn’t disappoint. The roster is full of Invite mainstays, with most players returning from their Season 3 iteration (sans “After Dark") and/or Season 4’s Morning Light. Pocket Soldier glimmer rounds out the team, having played for MAL during their ESEA days, and together they make a serious contender for the podium.
After their unfortunate 4-5 loss to froyotech on Gullywash, fans are hoping for a stronger story arc come playoffs. Roamer tripbwai told us he’s confident in his team’s ability, though his expectations aren’t the most optimistic:
we're going to be looking forward mostly to our match in the lower bracket, so that i can get 3rd again VoHiYo
Round 1: froyotech vs MyAnimeList After Dark
Previous encounters - W4A: 4-0 froyotech (KOTH) | W8B: 4-5 froyotech
Although MyAnimeList pushed froyotech to the limit on Gully, their matchup is less favorable in a best-of-3. The results of this round are skewed toward froyotech, but there’s always a chance for redemption. Time will tell whether MyAnimeList can finally pull off an upset or secure tripbwai his bronze medal.
Round 1: GlobalClan Ice vs Rebirth Esports
Previous encounters - W5A: 5-2 GlobalClan Ice | W9B: 4-5 GlobalClan Ice
The gap between second and third seed is noticeable, but if any clutch wins happen, this is the season for them. When weighing the two rosters against each other, GlobalClan Ice is likely to take the lead, though Rebirth Esports won’t go down without a fight.