Rocket Surgery made the trip down to PAX Australia for the Throwdown Rocket League finals last weekend, and it was such a momentous occasion it deserves a special report. Normal Rocket Surgery will resume next week with a massive preview of the RLCS World Championships, but for now enjoy a recap of how the two squads that will be representing OCE in Washington D.C earned their spots.
Absolute intensity from both @ScyllaEsports and @palehorseesport as we go into a game 5! Who will win? #TDRL
LIVE 🔴 https://t.co/N9InaJtrSE pic.twitter.com/NysXV81PhR
— Throwdown Esports (@ThrowdownTV) October 29, 2017
“Nothing can stop us now.”
Speaking post the lower bracket qualifier, CJCJ and his Pale Horse Esports teammates had every reason to be confident. They had just pulled off the reverse sweep against Scylla Esports to stay alive in the Throwdown Season 4 OCE Rocket League championship, at one stage being only some desperation zero second defense away from elimination. Already known as a confidence squad, Pale Horse had just added clutch to their resume and would prove a stern challenge for their eventual opponent in the lower bracket finals.
CJCJ wouldn’t quite prove prophetic, Pale Horse fell to Chiefs Esports Club in the grand final, but that was the major prize only on paper. The upper and lower bracket finals were the real main events, where the two Oceania representatives for the world championships in Washington D.C later this month would be decided. In that lower final Pale Horse indeed could not be stopped, continuing their dominance over JAM Gaming with a commanding series victory. After dropping their first five games for the day Pale Horse then took down seven of their next eight and in the process booked tickets to RLCS.
Top 5 highlights from the @RocketLeague OCE Championship Finals, proudly supported by @Maccas. pic.twitter.com/QFgyNnj7Yt
— Throwdown Esports (@ThrowdownTV) November 2, 2017
The magnitude of the prize was best expressed not by the jubilation of the winners but by the despondence of the vanquished JAM Gaming squad, who looked as good as they have in the last three months in beating Scylla in the opening round, but couldn’t get over Chiefs in the upper final then never really got into the hunt against their bogey side Pale Horse. JAM made a quiet exit to the pub to drown their sorrows, left to rue a low impact offense and some accuracy issues that resulted in only three goals in five games against Pale Horse and cost them several potentially series turning chances. Despite a player of the day worthy performance, JAM’s Shadey could not earn his first RLCS appearance.
Pale Horse were the feel good story of the day, but Chiefs emerged as both the Throwdown champions and the undisputed best Rocket League team in Oceania. They are the regions best chance at making some noise in the RLCS bracket, and their demeanour throughout the day indicated this was just the beginning of their journey. Pale Horse could not best them in six attempts, the two games they lost to JAM were the only two Chiefs lost all day. While Jake from Chiefs took the finals MVP award, Drippay could feel hard done by, responsible for so many crucial goals throughout the day.
What a play! @JAMGamingAU bringing it to @ChiefsESC right now! #TDRL @PAXAus
LIVE 🔴 https://t.co/N9InaJtrSE pic.twitter.com/qH2SnRPv6o
— Throwdown Esports (@ThrowdownTV) October 29, 2017
For how close these three teams are in online results (and how tight the top seven teams are in general), the Chiefs complete and total dominance of LAN play is astounding. They rise to the occasion, present a tough defensive challenge and each member possesses the touches of individual brilliance that can break open a series. League play MVP Torsos had a quiet weekend by his standards and Chiefs didn’t miss a beat, and post tournament Torsos could only dwell on his own efforts. Chiefs clearly have higher ambitions than mere Oceanic dominance, holding the confidence that they belong at the upper echelons of Rocket League and this Throwdown victory is just the first step. They are already in Washington for boot camp at the time of writing, with Pale Horse to join them early next week before RLCS play begins Saturday 11 November at 5:00AM AEDT.
Pale Horse will make fine account of themselves over at LAN. While CJCJ admitted their grand final performance was a bit flat after winning their top two finish, with both emotional and physical fatigue setting in, they won’t be happy just to make up the numbers in Washington D.C. This is a squad that has a classic fighting spirit, rising to the occasion in the face of adversity, of which there will be plenty seeing their placement in the “bracket of death” alongside PSG, Method, NRG and Cloud9. Chiefs are without doubt the favourites to take a series or two from their more fancied rivals, but Pale Horse are quick studies and have a knack for adapting to their opponents’ style, traits that will serve them well in international competition.
Almost flawless today from @ChiefsESC as they go to @RLCS as #1 OCE seed and play their first match against @G2esports! #TDRL @PAXAus pic.twitter.com/e5mHaVsLBy
— Throwdown Esports (@ThrowdownTV) October 29, 2017
Once again Rocket League proved its worth as a spectator sport. The Throwdown PAX Arena was standing room only for most of the day, drawing the passionate community of fellow pros, tournament and community organisers, parents, friends and well wishers, along with passers by drawn in with dubstep, flying cars and free Big Macs. This was also the biggest prize pool in Oceania Rocket League history, $25,000 USD with the top two guaranteed a further payout at RLCS. Regardless of our results over at the World Championships, you can’t help but feel the best is yet to come for Rocket League in Oceania.
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