UPDATE: 20id prevails over Eximius and will face Pandemic in the CEVO-P Grand Finals!

North America - The Finals are almost set as we are down to just three teams in the CEVO-P TF2 Season 1 Playoffs. Eximius Gaming, who narrowly scraped by Devastation in a hellish ctf_mach4 tout, will square off against 20id, who've been waiting in the wings since getting rather thoroughly beaten by Pandemic in the UB Finals. To lose means being out of the playoffs and having to face that respectable, yet perhaps dissapointing status of being 3rd best. To win means facing an even greater opponent with even more on the line.. not to mention a pretty good prize boost :)

Predictions
20id v Eximius Gaming
I really can't say enough about Eximius' match against Devastation last week. Both rounds, Devastation went up 3-1, and both rounds, Dev was hauled in by Exi, including a last-minute cap in RND2 to force overtime. I'm sure Dev is still fuming from that OT.. having the winning cap in their reach, only to have an uber-ready glue get backstabed at the worst possible moment (or best, depending on your point of view). Hats off to the sb-boys, the bastards took out my darkhorse pick.. and did it in style.

I won't dwell on 20id's last match, which was less than encouraging for them - Pandemic just seems to own cp_dustbowl for now, and 20id's just gonna have to put it behind them. What is encouraging is 20id's track record - ie., having yet to lose to mSHIFT/Eximius this season, including a thrilling cp_granary playoff win.

The ammo-nerf on soldiers and demos significantly changed how this map is played (on defence, anyways), so it'll be interesting to see how teams have adjusted at the highest level. Personally, I think the change just puts more pressure on the soldiers/demos to hit make the stop when they need to, since they can't rely on spam to divert attacks. As far as classes go, I think Exi has the stronger soldiers, but ginc's scout (and perhaps Heavy on D?) and alex's demo (unless kb has to step in again) are some major strength's on 20id's side - and Motard's no slouch, either. In the end, it'll come down to how safe blackstar and ashenhaste can keep Havoc, and how well Eximius times their pushes.. but I think after that win on ctf_mach4, they've got the momentum and the confidence to carry them through this one.
[20id] [0:2] Eximius

CEVO-P TF2 S1 Playoffs - Consolation Finals on cp_gravelpit


Previous rounds can be found on the next pages while GotFrag Brackets are on the last page. Official CEVO Brackets can be found here.