In the upper bracket finals of the ESEA Season 19 Invite playoffs, Ascent narrowly beat froyotech 2-0 (5-4 Snakewater, 5-4 Badlands) to guarantee themselves a spot in the grand final.
The two giants of the Invite division meet in the upper bracket finals, having split the regular season series 1-1 (froyotech having taken Badlands in Week 3 5-3, Ascent having taken Sunshine in Week 7 5-3).
The series began on Snakewater. FROYO took the first mid handily due to clockwork taking four kills. However, they fail their last push and Ascent manages to push all the way into mid and then keep their uber advantage intact after a failed push onto second to set up a push onto last and take the first round. FROYO then take the next mid, and this time are able to force TheFragile and then push straight into last to tie the game 1-1.
Ascent then take their first mid by wiping froyotech on mid, highlighted by a giant bomb by Ma3la resulting in three kills. However, Ascent lose three coming into last and waste the uber, allowing FROYO to push all the way back to mid, and after a few attempts at pushing manage to take second and last for the round. For the fourth round, FROYO takes a close mid, but fail last pushes. Ascent, however, is unable to move past their second point, and FROYO takes the last point on their third try to end the first half up 3-1.
The second half begins with Ascent taking a clinical mid and extending quickly into last in an attempt to pick off more players before being forced to retreat. FROYO attempts to push back onto second but get destroyed by an Ascent uber, allowing Ascent to take the round. A slow start marks the next round, but FROYO are eventually forced to retreat based on their health. b4nny and clockwork attempt to push back into mid, but are picked off, allowing Ascent to roll right into last and take the round to tie the score at 3-3.
FROYO then surge back to take the next mid. A great play by blaze manages to drop TheFragile, but shade is forced as the team pushes into second and the rest of his team dies on the last push, leaving Ascent to push all the way to FROYO's last. FROYO manages to defend their last from one push, but fall on the second attempt to put Ascent on match point. The eighth round begins with FROYO taking another mid, and a messy fight allows them to take second as well. Ascent attempts to repush second for an uber trade after a failed force attempt by FROYO, but b4nny and ash sneak behind and get the backcap to tie the score.
In the final round, three players go down for both sides, but shrugger cleans up the remaining players of FROYO to give Ascent mid and a huge advantage. They take the huge advantage into last and clean up the remaining players to take the round, giving them the victory on Snakewater 5-4.
After a brief break, the series continues on Badlands. FROYO dominates the first mid, keeping all of their players alive while wiping Ascent. FROYO gets denied on their attempt to push last, but manage to take the backcap as Ascent push back onto second. The next mid proceeds similarly, but TheFragile gets out and has an uber to defend last. Ascent loses too many players and eventually is forced to pop uber to defend the point as FROYO sacrifices players in, allowing FROYO to push back in with a full advantage, giving them another round. The third mid proceeds much more slowly, but FROYO once again takes mid. They yet again fail to take last with an uber advantage but succeed in the backcap when Ascent pushes out to take the round and end the half in a very commanding lead of 3-0.
The first round of the second half begins with FROYO winning another mid and attempting to take second for free, but Ascent arrives in time to stop it and wipes FROYO before pushing all the way to FROYO's second. FROYO attempts a forward hold to stop Ascent, but it is soon broken and Ascent takes the round. On the next mid, TheFragile goes down and Ascent wipes to kill shade, giving FROYO the mid. They briefly fight over mid with ubers, but FROYO hold and push through choke to wipe Ascent and easily take the round, putting them on match point at 4-1.
FROYO get off to a great start in the next round, but crucially shade is replaced by serv0 due to connection issues. Ascent manage to repush and drive FROYO all the way back to last, but lose several people on the last push. FROYO pushes out, but are drawn back by a backcap attempt and collapsed on by Ascent, who take the round. Ascent take the next mid based on positioning, forcing FROYO back, but an initial fight on FROYO's second doesn't go their way. However, they pick shade and manage to push back into second despite having their uber forced. Baiting FROYO allows them to rush in, get the picks, and run to last to pull within one with the score at 4-3.
FROYO come back and win another mid, but both teams fail pushes onto second a couple of times and trade the mid point as a result. Eventually, Ascent wins a fight to grab second and set up for last, but fail the first push despite having advantage. A great flank from shrugger gets serv0 on the repush, however, and Ascent converts the second push to tie the game up. In the final round, Ascent wipes FROYO on mid and storm into last, taking it easily, winning Badlands 5-4 with an amazing second half comeback.