The Update: March 25
By: Zachary Lange
Here is TheUpdate for March 25.
PUBG qualifies for NPL Phase 2
This weekend was a chance for the eUnited PUBG team to prove why they belong, and they delivered.
Needing to place inside the top-6 to remain in the NPL, the squad claimed a chicken dinner in the final match on Sunday to finish fourth in the standings and punch its ticket to the second season of NPL play which begins on May 1.
Andrew “GICE” Geisinger was able to clutch a one-versus-two situation against Spacestation Gaming in the final game victory. eUnited also finished fourth in total kills through all 12 games played. He said that with his favorite gun in the AUG in his hands, all it came down to was a matter of positioning, maintaining patience and winning his gunfights.
After the first four games on Friday, the team found themselves on the outside looking in. But more consistent play during the final two days allowed the team to claw up the standings. All matches were played at OGN Studios in Manhattan Beach, California.
With NPL Phase 2 booked, the squad will have a few weeks to reset at home with friends and family before returning to California.
Call of Duty returns to pro league action
Locked and loaded, the eUnited Call of Duty team is set to get back on track during cross-division play in the CWL Pro League.
Instead of taking on their usual Division B foes, the team will play four matches against teams in the other division for a chance to improve in the overall standings.
As noted, it will be the first week of pro league action for submachine gun player Chris “Simp” Lehr, who comes in off the bench as a starter following the benching of Jordan “JKap” Kaplan.
Here is a breakdown of matches this week: (All times Eastern)
Monday: Evil Geniuses, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday: UYU, 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday: Luminosity Gaming, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday: Red Reserve, 6 p.m.
Counter Strike falls in grand finals of DreamHack Masters Dallas qualifier
eUnited fought through the losers bracket in a double elimination format, but ultimately came up just short against FURIA Esports, losing 3-0 in the grand finals of the DreamHack Masters Dallas qualifier.
As a result of coming through the winners bracket, FURIA was granted a one-map advantage in the series. They won on Nuke by a final of 16-6 and Inferno 16-3 to close out the best-of-five series. Earlier in the winners finals, eUnited also fell to FURIA by a final of 2-0.
The team did however pick up wins against Team Envy and Denial Esports (twice) earlier in the bracket.
While the outcome wasn’t what the team was looking for, it served as quality practice for Season 9 of the ESL Pro League which begins April 12.