FURIA outlast BETBOOM in back-and-forth Thunderpick World Championship final
That was surprisingly enjoyable.
We're not sure how many people would have expected a five mapper - especially one of such quality - but we're certainly glad we got one. Five maps of Magnojez and KSCERATO teeing off and trying to drag their teams over the line was such a treat, and we're a bit gutted it's not seven maps.
FURIA won out in the end, but BETBOOM had the lead in the series after three maps and will be kicking themselves. Magnojez did what he could on Mirage to try and force BETBOOM's name onto the trophy, but FURIA held strong to force a fifth, and from there were comfortable.
It all began on Dust 2, where KSCERATO demolished BETBOOM. He was excellent throughout, but his triple to put FURIA on nine was probably the best round of the map. He's just a ridiculously good player; he makes no mistakes, and is completely unpunishable.
That seemed like an ominous sign for the series, but BB fought back on Ancient and ground out an overtime win by the smallest of margins. S1ren had a terrific map, dropping 29 in the 30 rounds, but most importantly getting BB to 14 with a monstrous triple in a 4v5 retake situation that never should have been a BB win. Magnojez, though quiet, picked up a double entry in the final round to seal the map win, and put the series into motion.
And then Magnojez decided he was going to win Nuke.
BB won the map 13-9, but Magnojez alone was worth three or four rounds. His quad in round 5 kept the BetBoom streak rolling, he got all three in a 3v3 to break FURIA back after they ended the early BB streak of rounds, and then an opener and closer a round later to pile the pressure on. BB went up 12-4 in this map, and it was only a cosmetic comeback from FURIA that made it look close at all.
Mirage was the map of the final, really, finishing 13-11 to FURIA with the title in the balance. Magnojez was phenomenal again, dragging BETBOOM back into what looked like a lost map with a series of wild rounds. From 11-2 down, BB won nine in a row, and Magnojez had four in a row where he just took over the map. KSCERATO was incredible in the first half to put FURIA in such a coveted position, but even he couldn't stop Magnojez from mowing down three in a 4v5 to keep BB in the game.
Sadly for BETBOOM, it was all in vain, as FalleN and molodoy pulled off a miraculous 2v4 to win Mirage in round 24.
It looked for all the world like overtime was on the cards, but the wily old FalleN found three kills in the clutch to turn the tides and earn his team a decider.
Cache, in the end, was anti-climactic, but it was still an enjoyable map, if only for FalleN rolling back the years.
He was magnificent in the biggest map of the tournament, constantly outthinking BB who seemed a bit broken after the heartbreak of Mirage.
KSCERATO took a backseat, but just as he did, the rest of his team rose to his level and dragged him over the line; yuurih and YEKINDAR played big parts, but it was FalleN's two clutches that put the nail in the coffin.
BETBOOM can leave Thunderpick with their heads held high - but that is no solace for losing a grand final that you were in touching distance of winning.
FURIA, on the other hand, get a massive win and seem to have found a bit of form just at the right time.
Could we see one last Major for FalleN this winter?
