Rcadia 2022 grand finals was a nail biter until the end, a must watch

sitting behind tf2easy was a surreal experience, very exciting atmosphere

i see you with that nerd star grind #respect

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwpBiEaIxIs
i63 groups FROYO vs Se7en map 1
one of the best process matches I've seen

cp_process was map 1 again in the grand finals iirc
So in hindsight cp_process was important for the initial momentum in the finals and reviewing this game was the key to that

I always remember this game when this question gets asked, it's maybe not the "best" but it's insane in it's own right.

https://youtu.be/iPGQEuw7Nxc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eSj_EP_LAI

this whole tournament was wild

i think honestly it objectively just has to be rcadia grand finals
5 golden caps in a row between such close rivals is something idt we will ever see again (but imagine if we did we would be so blessed)

MAL vs Running with Scizors on gully was the most memorable match I've watched live
s6 grands is also historic, with artists bomb being the cherry on top

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkf_duowRrE

TCM vs iM @ i49, specifically Granary. One of the craziest comebacks I've ever watched.

pound for pound i've never seen anything like the i55 ubf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fo3iriSj9w

I know this is recency bias and it also doesn't count because any froyo loss counts as a good match but I never had more fun watching tf2 than seeing wG roll froyo on bagel in season 6 grands

golden cap on process here is the best single round in tf2 history

/thread

i52 immunity vs Mix^ Snakewater (and tbh the rest of the series) has pretty much been my answer for ages, but Mix^/Epsilon from the same event deserves recognition.

The most fun game has to be Mix^ vs Ducks

The last two maps from S15 LAN Finals between Mix^ and iT (B4nny Team) are what got me into following invite TF2. Also created the flocked by a seagull memes.
Badlands (Map 2), Process (Map 3)

Season 16 LAN had some good ones, but Street Hoops vs Exertus was a standout. Feel like this series doesn't get mentioned enough/ever. Best of all time? No, but still worth noting IMO.
Map 1 Map 2 Part 1 Map 2 Part 2

Xensity vs Chess Club on Metalworks was saved in a great matches to watch playlist I had. Usually means it was recommended by someone like Marxist who has been around for ages and seen his fair share of great matches.

Ozfortress S15 finals, I think it was Granary was pretty insane. Mightve been process, but I want to say Granary was a GC comeback. Stakes were pretty high for an ozf series too, because if ego(ex immunity) or Jasmine Tea won and committed to attending i58, they got 100% of the prize pot as opposed to sharing a split. This is the first really stand out series I casted.

Continuing with stuff I casted, these dont necessarilly belong in a best matches category, but they're games I casted that I remember standing out as good games:
Crowns vs Jasmine Tea from i58 Groups on Product
Se7en vs EVL Map 2 (Gully) from Rewind 1
Black Swan vs Kings Crew Lower Bracket from Rewind 2
Se7en vs Ascent Rewind 2 Groups
ESEA S27 Running with Scizors vs Velocity Esports, Badlands. Wild comeback.

I'm sure I'll think of more matches at some point. It's been a while since I've used the deep cut great matches part of my TF2 brain. Hope this gives

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTKZJADKfmnThdOC1rJrhhC-hXdzvOZV-

Gaz' POV with comms from the entire final

RGL Prolander - Season 6 Grand Finals.
Truly a great game, insanely close. Both teams had their own preferred classes/playstyles, and you can see how they adjusted their strategies in the moment/throughout the games.

Such a good game.

So many playmakers on both teams. Legendary stuff. That Froyo roster was stacked but arguably so was Nerd Rage. A bit before Stark's peak but he was always good value in the big games.

Forgot how impactful Tek was too. Just watching it again now.

so true

Classic trad 6s players thinking its the only competitive and relevant game mode. Arena respawn had some of the hypest matches ever.

These finals were also crazy given that Mix^ came from the lower bracket and at the time that meant a full Bo3 advantage so to win two Bo3s was crazy, can't think of another time that happened

I couldn't find the vod when I searched and I hadn't seen it but here it is for anyone interested (ty kermit)
https://youtu.be/wBy3-Jx1IBM?t=12888

https://etf2l.org/matches/75736/
lock the thread

https://youtu.be/LSpTVF11QtA?t=7340
Truly a great game, insanely close. Both teams had their own preferred classes/playstyles, and you can see how they adjusted their strategies in the moment/throughout the games.

best match in my opinion (I Am Heavily Biased)
show airshotting skye in trash for the drop to make it into golden cap is just so clean

The one where Sideshow died 43 times on Viaduct

Love that you think this is legit one of the best games. It's literally the first game I think of when I think of worst games I've ever had to sit through

my friend

U changed kyle…

did anyone defending that match actually click on sigafoo's link? it's literally timestamped to an insanely long and boring stalemate with corba playing a single spy life that lasted over 7 minutes

fucking resident sleeper

Two viaduct matches come to mind:
TFTV Zowie invitational finals : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBm6IZwqPf0 : this was my favorite mixup roster and i loved their active playstyle and how they managed to turn viaduct's chaos to their advantage

And the ESEA S16 retaliation by the arch nemesis b4nny : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBwKBDJy484

Big lover of koth since then.