In the Group B elimination match, First Family and White Water battled to determine who would challenge L5 for the final playoff spot.
The best-of-five match between the two underdogs of the tournament went down to the wire as First Family narrowly defeated White Water, 3-2. The two teams traded victories, but First Family secured the final game on Battlefield of Eternity with a strong team fighting composition.
While many believe neither First Family nor White Walker represent credible threats to win the Korean Super League, both teams are known for unique drafts. In their previous match against MVP Black, White Water drafted Gul’dan and Medivh. On the other hand, First Family showed an unusual interest in Lunara, a hero that does not see much play in Korea.
In game 1 on Sky Temple, the two teams battled toe-to-toe. However, in the final team fight, First Family’s Illidan and Greymane wreaked havoc on White Water’s fragile backline, securing a narrow victory.
The most surprising pick of the series occurred in game 2 on Infernal Shrines. After selecting Auriel and Tyrael, First Family rounded out their squad with the Butcher. The Butcher, who will be receiving a significant rework in the next patch (which you can try on the PTR), had not made an appearance this tournament. Although Tyrael and Auriel attempted to empower the Butcher, First Family was unable to secure the kills they needed, allowing White Water to control each Punisher. The match illustrated why Blizzard chose to revamp the Butcher’s talents and abilities. Although we likely will not see the Butcher again this week, perhaps he will return to the competitive scene after his upcoming rework.
With momentum on their side, White Water took a commanding 2-1 lead after dominating game 3. However, in game 4 on Dragon Shire, First Family returned the favor, tying the series 2-2.
In the fifth and final game on Battlefield of Eternity, First Family drafted a strong team fighting squad with Li-Ming, Falstad, E.T.C., Tyrael, and Rehgar. Conversely, White Water’s lineup focused on the map’s objective with Greymane, Tyrande, and Sylvanas highlighting their composition. During each Immortal phase, First Family forced and won team fights. As a result, they secured each Immortal. Unable to effectively use Sylvanas’s trait, White Water eventually succumbed to First Family’s pressure.
Although many thought Greymane’s prevalence in the competitive scene would decline, Greymane appeared in every game of the series. Despite his recent nerfs, some Korean teams still highly value the burst damage assassin.
With the victory, First Family will play L5 for the last playoff spot. The winner of the series will face MVP Miracle in the upper bracket semifinals, while MVP Black will rematch Tempo Storm in the other semifinals. Tune in to OGN Global on Sunday, September 4 at 11:00 CEST (2am PT, 5am ET) to watch First Family take on L5.
You can view the most current results of Super League here.
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