The first BO5 of the group stage day 1 is the long-awaited match between Sebastian and TheViper. After Vinchester not being able to get to London due to Visa issues, Viper replaced him after playing through the replacement qualifier.

More information is available on the Match Coverage Page!

Crownwood

Map 1 is played on Crownwood, and the match is an amazing nailbiter. While Sebastian always seems to have the upper hand as most of the match is played in Vipers base, he regulary manages to raid his opponents eco to counter the constant aggression.

Viper managed to take the first map after a constant fight in imperial age after 1:07h ingame time, starting the series with a 1-0.

Blue Wells

Blue wells is a uniquely newly added map after the recent Age of Empires naval update with the unique usage of whales to gather gold. Viper decided to go for extremely early aggression.

Both players manage to keep it even. Naval control is possible for both as the water areas are so far apart. However, Viper goes extremely aggressive Elephant Archers, essentially rendering any option for Sebastian currently not as useful.

As a result, Viper drops an aggressive castle, leading with 30 villagers after only 21 minutes ingame time, leading into a 2nd aggressive one, resulting in a cover for the middle oysters which Sebastian needs for late-game transition.

Viper wins map 2, leading the series 2 - 0, potentially finishing it off next match already.

Sebastian doing some pushups during a short break.

https://www.twitch.tv/t90official/clip/RelentlessAmusedBobaTF2John-FV7zhAPcINB-rabV

Thames

Sebastian decides to turn the tides around this map and starts as the aggressive party. Viper tried to wall himself off with houses as he has spot Sebastians stables way to late.

With an aggressive push through that initial walling, Sebastian manages to take an extremely fast Map 3, leading to a 2 - 1 in the series.

Loch Ness

Due to the map design and a central point of contact in the middle of the map, the game offers a bit more security in the early game. However, Sebastian manages to take early water control, leading to Viper falling behind early, as most of the ressources are around that.

Nessie was officially found! As part of the event, the team added a custom little gimmick, showing Nessie, the loch ness monster.

Speed was taken out as Sebastian is slowly growing his advantage due to his early water control, now both players in Imperial Age.

Sebastian used the water as a huge advantage, slowly chipping through his eco, as Viper did not have any chance of taking it back. However, after a major distraction viper managed to get a bunch of docks up, but his opponent prepared with 14 cannon galleons against potential upcoming docks. There was virtually no way for Viper to gain water access the whole game while getting raided in the base.

Sebastian takes this game as well, leading to a 2 - 2 in the series and the 5th and last map in the series.

Hengehold

Hengehold has absolutely no water, both players started with an extremely aggressive opening with scouts/archers for Viper and skirmishers/spears for Sebastian.

After a transition into scouts for both, Viper managed to get a raid in, killing 4 villagers. As a result, Sebastian has a 12 villager deficit including a second early town center as cumans for Viper.

Viper managed to find a hole with an unfinished house, leading to another huge loss for Sebastian. After just 20 minutes ingame, Viper has a 30 villager difference.

After a final push with Knights and Camels and a 50 villager lead, Viper takes the last map leading to his first win in the group!