Opening day Season 6

Season 6 got started quickly as just 1 day after the season kicked off SWAT vs Vice Tigers was ready to begin. This week 1 matchup featured the veteran SWAT roster featuring Foggle in his first start since winning season 5 with the undefeated Sandberg FC roster. The away team, Vice Tigers, is a new combination of players weve yet to see in the BCL. Stook has returned after making his last appearance in Season 3 with BBB. The European veteran has assembled Veggie, last consistent start in season 4 when he won the title with Mos Eisley Mandem, Early candidate for rookie of the year and newest Xbox to playstation convert, Gouda, and Puffy, who has been absent from the league for the past few seasons.

SWAT would host Vice Tigers on Jawa Refuge for the opening map of season 6 and this matchup did not disappoint. We have seen SWAT in the BCL before, but this season, with Foggle on the roster, they got off to their most explosive and dominant start yet. SWAT would start out jawa with a 3 pod run punctuated with outstanding cycler shots and shield play from Vic, exceptional chemistry and defensive expertise, and a dominant fragging performance from Foggle. SWAT seemed to stun Vice Tigers as they continued to force long spawns for Vice Tigers and show off their air tight defense. As Vice Tigers seemed to be reeling from the hot start from SWAT they would narrowly secure their first pod on the back of some close pod defense from Stook. Thats all Vice Tigers would need to start an impressive run of teamwork and momentum. They would very quickly secure their second pod before getting a chance for Gouda to find his footing with some outstanding cycler shots. Vic and Gouda would seem to duel with the cyclers for the remainder of the match, each one hitting another cycler shot on top of the other. As Gouda closed out pod 3 he would be a master survivalist and all momentum lied with Vice Tigers. It wouldn't be long however before SWAT would stand their ground and stop Vice Tigers in their track taking a 4-3 lead. With under 2 minutes left on map 1. Vice Tigers clawed their way into possession of the final pod of the map. Haztof and Foggle would both make an attempt for the claim but be met with some stone wall defense from Vice Tigers the map ended in a draw. The very first map of season 6 was headed to overtime.

Overtime would start slow and drawn out as neither team was willing to budge. The two team were evenly matched and continued to brawl for over half the map. By the time less than 5 minutes was left on the clock, both teams were locked in a deadlock 2-2 score. With under 5 minutes left SWAT would begin a defensive rally that would see them secure 3 pods in about 3 minutes. Foggle leading the way for SWAT with close to 50 kills and 10,000 score. 5-2 for SWAT.

After an exciting map 1, with an overtime, map 2 was setting up to be an even closer deadlock between 2 evenly matched teams. Dune sea was the map. A map known for back and forth pod play and hard to play defense. This game was setting up to be a slug fest. It was exactly that. SWAT and their elite pod player, Vic, would continue to harass the Vice Tigers defense but Vice Tigers took no steps back either and with over 2/3rds of the map finished, Vice Tigers would be holding a narrow lead 2-1 over SWAT. This is when the unfortunate exit of Veggie occurred. Reportedly, Veggie ran out of time to complete the map. It is possible that Vice Tigers was not expecting to go to overtime with SWAT on map 1. But with the 2 teams being so evenly matched it was impossible for either team to take advantage of momentum and make a short game. Instead the slug fest drew on and Veggie could not complete the map. Despite being up 2-1 Vice Tigers forfeited the map and SWAT took the win. Meanwhile we are left wondering what could have been if these 2 deadlocked teams might have seen a full 2 or even 3 maps. Will we see these 2 teams play again in the playoffs? I wouldn't be surprised despite how early it is.

Recap:

Jawa Refuge 5-2 SWAT

Dune Sea 5-0 SWAT (via ff)

Takeaways: In the preseason power rankings. Quitegone had Vice Tigers at #5 and SWAT at #7 meanwhile Envy had SWAT at #3 and Vice Tigers at #6. Despite this difference i think its clear to say that the 2 teams were far closer in skill than anyone could have predicted. Vice Tigers surprised many by not starting Lunster (their highest rated player) and i think that may have been what helped them play so close to SWAT. SWAT on the other hand had their most explosive and exciting start to a season ever. They were able to secure a win on both maps, they never lost control of the situation even on the Vice Tigers rally on map 1. The fragging power of Foggle and the obj play of Vic is a dangerous combination. Throw in Karnage and Haztof and you have a team that is gonna be competitive in every match. Vice Tigers likes what they have in Gouda and Stook and Puffy also performed above expectations, despite being gone for the past few seasons. Veggie leaving early on dune is an unfortunate event and you have to hope going forward that his schedule will be better, We wont know what would've happened if we saw a full series between these 2 teams. But both teams can rest easy knowing that they were competitive for the entire match and have a long week to prepare for their week 2 matchups. SWAT will be on the road against KSSZ, in which they are heavily favored to win. Meanwhile Vice Tigers will look to smooth out the rough edges of their game in week 2 while they are on Bye. We will see them next @ ZHU in week 3, also a game in which they are heavy favorites. Right now SWAT can rest easy being the #1 team in standings ahead of the other teams yet to play their week 1 matchup.