It’s semi-finals time for the Gfinity Elite Series Australia, presented by Alienware. With four clubs left in each game, players will be fighting for their lives to win through the single elimination bracket, their last hurdle before their chance at a slice of the $225,000 prize pool.
Every club in the Elite Series has a squad representing them this week, giving any club the chance to climb to next week’s finals, possibly causing a few upsets on the way. Melbourne ORDER, Season one’s champions across all three games, have a shot at making the repeat dream a reality if they can find a win in all three semis. It’s do or die time, and the heat is on as clubs clash, maybe for the last time this year.
Here are this week’s matchups:
Saturday: CS:GO
Perth Ground Zero v Sydney Chiefs
Melbourne ORDER v Melbourne Avant
Sunday: Rocket League
Brisbane Deceptors v Sydney Chiefs
Sydney Roar v Melbourne ORDER
Sunday: Street Fighter V
Melbourne ORDER v Perth ground Zero
Melbourne Avant v Sydney Chiefs
ANYONE’S GAME
With a team from every club in the semi-finals, this week really is anyone’s game. These squads have played together for the last five weeks, proving themselves worthy of the top four, so they’ll be sure to deliver exciting and close games. The time for an upset is now, with underdogs getting this one shot to knock out their strongest foes in one shot.
Seeding from the regular season set the matchups for the semi-finals. First seed will face fourth seed, then second and third face off. With as little as a single win deciding who placed first and fourth at the close of regular season, this week presents a level playing ground for teams ahead of the Grand Finals.
ORDER UP
Despite sitting at the top of the club standings, holding that spot precariously by a single win, the chances of a Melbourne ORDER total victory look slim. Last week they narrowly qualified for their toughest semi-finals spot, Rocket League, and this week the stakes are even higher. Their foes will be gunning for them, hoping to be the ones to punch their finals ticket and shatter the ORDER dream in one go.
If they do manage to pull off the impossible and make finals in all three games, they’ll go into finals with a commanding confidence. The other remaining clubs are sure to feel extra pressure to stop the powerful esports force that is ORDER. With ROF and the Street Fighter crew already affectionately seen as villains, 3 wins this week would cement them as the Elite Series’ true final boss.
WHERE TO WATCH
For the first time ever, tune in on Twitch, Youtube, Twitter, and Facebook to watch every game live. CS:GO kicks off at 3PM Saturdays, with Rocket League starting at 11AM Sunday and Street Fighter V at 4PM Sundays. Rocket League will also be live on 10Peach from 11AM-1PM every Sunday.