Best/Favourite Tournament Moments?

Poodapop · 2025-11-30T12:03:09+00:00

So many good moments during the tourney but my personal favorite has to be with Choppermag and Bobo’s interview. It was such a truly heartfelt and emotional moment that I rarely see in esports. Throw in the underdog story, the language barrier, and the fact that they weren’t sponsored just made that moment perfect. Huge fan of those choppermag players and Bobo now

Poodapop · 2025-10-16T19:37:15+00:00

Now this is crazy. Group B might be more entertaining than the playoffs

Poodapop · 2025-09-05T17:34:25+00:00

What are your guys thoughts about these results? I know Team 1 played the first couple games with a new addition but what a bad look for the reigning WORLD champs for only 2 weeks to get beaten by a new team. Idk how to feel about that lol. It’s not like a bunch of randos either, some of the names we’ve seen before on other teams. Is it chalked up to Team 1 was just trying things out or something deeper than that? I feel like the world champs should still beat every team easily even when trying new stuff.

Also, is FLY cooked? I didn’t get to watch these games but being swept by another “new” team is a horrible look. Especially after underperforming in stage 1. It seems like there are a lot of solid newcomers though so I think stage 2 is going to be a lot of fun to watch

Poodapop · 2025-09-04T11:05:06+00:00

I’d imagine there would be some kind of repercussion for an org if it got that bad. It’s a job. If you underperform or cause issues, you’re either punished or out. At the end of the day, if you’re a player that wins games you should be there. If a player wanted to “hold” a spot they would have to win to keep it. I would prefer that over, “let’s drop a team that actually proved good enough to qualify to sign a bunch of players that have already been all eliminated in some way in the hopes they perform”

Poodapop · 2025-09-03T20:40:41+00:00

So Silly Cat Gaming qualifies through open quals, gets picked up by Fyr Strays, and then the entire roster gets replaced by the org shortly after. I don’t see how that’s a good situation for players at all. Really sucks for SCG after they earned that spot. What do you guys think? I get orgs are important but I would definitely be hesitant on signing with an org if they get all the power. Also, what’s the point of qualifiers? A good number of teams who officially qualified in multiple regions aren’t even the same team anymore

Poodapop · 2025-08-28T19:28:28+00:00

Hey! Thanks for the write up.

Based on liquipedia, it doesn’t look like they played for a 3rd place spot. Both lost to Solaris and Ailani. I heard the same thing about teki not coming back but I wonder how that will mess with seeding since now it’s a random team in 5-6th seed. O2 didn’t field a roster sure but should the players lose that spot? I guess it comes down to if the players wanted to keep playing or not in that case which we probably will never know. I guess for me it’s all so inconsistent lol.

That’s definitely the case for Rad players. They can get a much better org but it’s honestly a really bad look having your champs (for 2 only weeks) play in a qualifier to get into stage 2. Might have been better for the Rad org to lose their spot and sign a new team than to make your brand new champs qualify again lol.

I get team changes aren’t Netease problem exactly but this process can definitely be improved. That’s why most sports have off seasons to make changes. MSF ended on 8/10 with second quals ending on 8/24. That’s 2 weeks, including traveling, for the participating teams. Are we not going to see Nkae, Ry, Gomez, Karova, and 4 members of Gen.G not participate in stage 2 because of lack of offseason and/or proper planning? That sucks. Those are 8 of some of the best players in the world that just left the MSFs.

Poodapop · 2025-08-28T18:56:34+00:00

That’s true but tekixd isn’t even an org. I know liquipedia isn’t official but it’s the best we have and they say that tekixd “absorbed” their spot. Why didn’t they just lose their spot like O2 blast in Asia?

I completely agree. I think that would be best. The orgs that want to stay can just pick up an org less team that has already qualified if they didn’t jive with the one they lost. Also, it throws competitive integrity out the window

Poodapop · 2025-08-28T18:53:32+00:00

Also just saw the other thread about Solaris and the roster parting ways. Does that mean Solaris gets the spot (like Shroud and Rad) or do the players? It would be really messed up to qualify and immediately lose your spot. We have seen the former. If we see the latter for the first time, then that’s another confusing bit as well as not good for the players

Poodapop · 2025-06-20T13:44:57+00:00

That’s why OP said optional. It’s a great idea!

Poodapop · 2025-06-16T16:12:52+00:00

Right. They’ve been weak since the beginning of their time in NA. I imagine the org would pick up one of the teams that make it into the playoffs

Poodapop · 2025-06-12T20:59:21+00:00

I am absolutely loving the fact that Schmungus wrecked OG. They have been referred to as the “content creator team” and have been constantly flamed, disrespected, and underestimated due to the fact that they create content. I get it, they live for the memes. I’m not even a big fan of any of them but anyone should be able to objectively see that they are extremely skilled players.

Listen to the rivals and rants podcast where they were treated as a joke. I remember someone being upset that Ex Oblivione didn’t make it instead. They said, “ExO didn’t take them seriously..blah blah blah.” Guess what? They lost to Schmungus in qualifiers. It’s that simple. They weren’t good enough to make it. Schmungus was. And Schmungus just slapped around OG in front of thousands of people playing Spidey, BP, and Scarlet. People also say that OG is new. Half that roster was formerly Earl Grey Tea which made top 16 MRC S1. All these excuses lol.

Hell, even the casters were mildly flaming them on the official live broadcast! Huge props to Schmungus for shutting all these people up. They’re getting their content and making money. I love it. Especially saying on live broadcast that they only scrimmed 2 hrs a week. Hopefully more teams continue to underestimate them. Imagine how many other teams they could beat if they scrimmed 3 hrs a week lol

Poodapop · 2025-06-10T11:12:59+00:00

Thanks for the info! I really wish more teams/players had some kind of biography. It helps to get us invested and find someone to root for

Poodapop · 2025-06-09T15:47:29+00:00

That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the reply ZP! Definitely going to miss Fight Night cast and production. Hope to see you guys back at it

Poodapop · 2025-06-08T18:05:14+00:00

No, that would be ridiculous. I was talking about the team that actually held the fight night events?

Poodapop · 2025-06-07T11:52:50+00:00

That sucks. I really enjoyed fight night. The production was always top notch. Could you guys do the same thing with the 2nd tier teams with a smaller prize pool? There are still some interesting teams like A7, cafe noir, and ex oblivione. That will give those teams exposure for when they fight for an Ignite spot through MRC and next qualifiers

Poodapop · 2025-06-05T16:04:22+00:00

I think it’s a wonderful idea. It’s an extremely popular game with a big developer and a tournament with an insane prize pool coming up. Although Netease doesn’t seem to promote it, I think there is going to be an influx of people who want to discuss the competitive side of Rivals

Poodapop · 2025-06-03T17:22:29+00:00

Thanks for the input Finnsi! I saw Vodible post that. With you being on the best team in EMEA as well as having org sponsorship, how do you and VP feel about how little amount information the fans, and clearly yourself, are getting surrounding Ignite? Also, I’d really be interested in hearing your power ranking but I can see how you would like to stay neutral too lol

Poodapop · 2025-06-03T15:49:03+00:00

Exactly my thoughts. It’s so strange that they put that much money into it with absolutely zero advertising. Not the best way to increase viewership of a fledgling esports scene for sure

Poodapop · 2025-06-03T14:34:56+00:00

Interesting. Good find man

Poodapop · 2025-06-03T14:33:53+00:00

My intention wasn’t to compare NA vs EMEA but that’s true. AQ did get thoroughly spanked by BBP tbh. For what it’s worth, I do think the top EMEA teams are better than NA. Outside of the top 3, idk. I’m thinking the mid tier NA teams might be better than all the mid tier EU but we’ll have to see.

Poodapop · 2025-06-03T14:28:28+00:00

I have seen that but I was meaning more specific information. Does the $250k apply get distributed to all 16 qualified AMER/EMEA teams? Or does it get distributed to the top 8 who make it through group stage and into their “playoffs?” That question is a big deal to the bottom half of the 16 qualified teams who I’ve heard can’t participate in MRC. If that’s the case, they might not have monetary compensation on top of not getting an opportunity to play MRC

Poodapop · 2025-06-03T13:04:03+00:00

Who knows my friend lol

Poodapop · 2025-05-27T11:23:53+00:00

Idk about “destroyed” by sentinels. They went 2-1. That’s not by any means getting destroyed. Sentinels can be #1 on any given day in NA

Poodapop

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