Settling into the routine of the Guild Wars 2 Pro League? Don’t get too comfortable! Diving headlong into week three, we saw total domination by the top-performing players in Europe - despite some roster changes shaking things up. But, over in North America, some incredible upsets completely levelled the playing field, with only one team coming out undefeated. Check out how all of this week’s action unfolded below!

Europe

Rank Fifty Five Dragons vs. Car Crashed

Car Crashed had their first win in week two, but this week saw them pitted against one of the strongest teams in Europe. Losing just one game against TCG last week, Rank Fifty Five Dragons came into this set confident - especially with the addition of Texbi, formerly of TCG, to their roster.

Rank Fifty Five Dragons started strong, taking the cap at mid before engaging in a massive teamfight. Getting the kills they needed for map control and keeping Car Crashed busy in 2v2s, Rank Fifty Five’s unchecked caps gave them a massive point advantage. Taking a double and keeping at least one cap under their control at all times, Rank Fifty Five pushed their lead. With a massive triple cap with just a minute on the clock, Rank Fifty Five Dragons hit 500 points.

After taking the first kill, Rank Fifty Five maintained the only points on the board for almost 4 minutes. However, taking out two Car Crashed players opened the map for Rank Fifty Five to take a triple cap, giving them a massive 150-point lead. Car Crashed put the pressure on Tranquility but left the map open for Rank Fifty Five to get a foothold once more. With just 2 minutes remaining, Car Crashed managed to clear the board - but it just wasn’t enough to overtake Rank Fifty Five Dragons.
Vermillion vs. Purple Noise
On paper, this matchup looked one-sided. With two wins under their belts already, Vermillion are proving themselves masters. And, after such a close final game last week, Purple Noise underperformed in these two very quick games.

It was a slow start for game one, with no points on the board for 2 minutes. However, Vermillion started the ball rolling with a kill and a double. With Purple Noise dropping like flies, Vermillion had the opening for a triple cap. From there, it was only a matter of time - Vermillion took the game 500-0.

Purple Noise came out of the gate swinging, getting two kills and a double cap - but they overextended, and Vermillion took out three players and cleared the board. Taking Stillness in addition to a double cap, Vermillion’s lead only grew. With Purple Noise preoccupied with defending another Stillness, Vermillion managed a triple cap and secured their win.

Orange Logo vs. More Guns Than Roses

Taking on Farror to replace Tage in this week’s matchup was set to shake things up, but WTS contenders Orange Logo have had a rocky introduction to the Pro League. More Guns Than Roses have been rising through the ranks, proving themselves last week against Purple Noise.

First: a three-minute stalemate. More Guns Than Roses got the ball rolling with a kill and a cap, but the early game was completely up in the air. Even so, GnR completely decimated oRNG in teamfights, holding on to their caps to extend their lead. Dragging the timer out, GnR took the game by over 300 points.

Game two was a desperate neck-and-neck fight. oRNG held the initial advantage with a comfortable 100 point lead - but not for long. GnR took out three oRNG players one after the other, getting a double and evening the score. It was down to the timer with Orange Logo in the lead by only 6 points - which took us to game three.

This saw another close start, with both teams trading kills and caps to keep points even - until GnR found an opening for a decap and took the lead. A disconnect by R O M was honored by Guns N Tools, and despite the sportsmanship GnR managed to take a double cap. oRNG pushed back N Tools, switching control to close the gap. However, with just 20 seconds on the clock, GnR killed Svanir for a 25-point lead.

The Civilized Gentlemen vs. Chaotic Contingency

After a hard-fought loss last week, The Civilized Gentlemen were back with a vengeance this week against underdog Chaotic Contingency. With new addition El Presidente, ChC were lacking the polish they needed to put up a good fight.

Chaotic Contingency took the first cap, but that was their only advantage. Taking three men down in the first 2 minutes, TCG had the opening for a triple - and they maintained it throughout the whole match. The Civilized Gentlemen took the game in just 9 minutes.

The next game saw an aggressive opening for TCG, who knocked out all five Chaotic Contingency players at once and took full map control. Rallying from spawn, ChC managed to clear the map - but they weren’t able to close the 200-point gap. TCG cleaned up, taking caps and buffs to boost their points over 500.

North America

Final Form vs. The Abjured

Over in North America, powerhouse The Abjured proved their mettle after dropping a map in last week’s games. Final Form suffered a loss last week but, being 1-1 for the Pro League, entered this match looking strong.

This first game saw a massive three-point play from both teams, with The Abjured coming out on top for an early lead. Despite some great portals by FF, The Abjured took the two cap early. With a huge teamfight at mid going in favor of The Abjured, Final Form bailed out to get decaps and switch map control. Maintaining a double, FF took the lead. However, The Abjured put the pressure on kills to take the game by just 17 points.

In game two, The Abjured demonstrated complete control, getting the first cap, and snowballing from there. When Final Form finally put points on the board, The Abjured were already 300 points into the lead. It was only a matter of time until a double cap and, with two buffs, The Abjured hit 500 points and took the set.

Team PZ vs. Spoookie

Spoookie came out on top in a hard-won three map set last week, but being 2-0 in the Pro League put them right at the top of the standings. Team PZ were sitting at the bottom of the ladder - until they unlocked their true potential and dominated in this week’s set.

A lack of communication by Team PZ meant that Spoookie dominated the early game. But, rallying together, Team PZ fought back to bring themselves back up to even points. With contestation on all nodes, giving up a single cap was a death sentence - and Spoookie sealed their fate by handing PZ a double cap. Over 200 points ahead at the final seconds, Team PZ took game one.

Spoookie took the first kill of the match - but that was all Team PZ would give them. Just 3 minutes in, Team PZ were sitting pretty with a double cap and Stillness. With a subsequent triple cap, Team PZ’s lead grew to 497 points, giving them the game.

Zero Counterplay vs. Ez Pz Lemon Squeezy

Zero Counterplay can’t catch a break. After their forfeit in the first week and a loss to Apex Prime in week two, Zero have much more to prove themselves real contenders in the Pro League. Ez Pz Lemon Squeezy had an easy win last week and, despite a hiccup in game one, really pushed their limits until the very end of this three-game set.

Ez Pz took the early lead, taking Zero Counterplay’s home node for a double cap. However, dominating the small scrims on the outer nodes opened mid for Zero Counterplay - and pushing for a double cap pushed them well into the lead. Ez Pz stole a cap a little too late in the game, with Zero’s map control keeping them well in the lead and pushing them to 500 points.

Zero Counterplay had a slight lead early on in game two, taking out Ez Pz players all over the map. Using their advantage, Zero pushed for a double cap, and this coupled with Stillness took the lead decisively. However, in a stunning turn of events, Ez Pz took Tranquility from under the nose of Zero’s Aeroxe, costing Zero Counterplay the game.

Game three looked to go to Zero Counterplay, with them having an early 100-point lead. However, as in the first two matches, all was not as it seemed. Using an opening in a 2v1, Ez Pz wrangled a double cap and, in a very slow burn, came out in front. Zero Counterplay could not get the decaps so went for boss kills instead - but it was not enough. Still holding that double cap, Ez Pz Lemon Squeezy took the final game in the set 501-490.

Never Lucky vs. Apex Prime

Apex Prime were the favorites coming into this matchup, being one of the strongest teams in the Pro League and previously undefeated. Newcomers Never Lucky had suffered from a severe bad luck streak, struggling for the past two weeks.

Both teams traded caps in an early game stalemate, only broken with a lucky mid cap giving Never Lucky the double. Apex Prime could not get a foothold from that point, with Never Lucky riding that initial double to 500 points.

Apex were out for revenge in game two, with an early two-cap advantage. However, Never Lucky wouldn’t give up that easy, switching map control in their favor and taking the lead. Tranquility went to Never Lucky, but Apex Prime quickly got a decap to keep themselves in the game. Taking Stillness wasn’t enough to bridge the 100-point gap, with Never Lucky hitting 500 points to take the set 2-0.

Join us for the next matches!

The Guild Wars 2 Pro League is back next Monday the 14th of December for the last show of the year. Be sure not to miss any of the exciting matches to come - visit the Pro League’s official website for all the latest information and follow ESL Guild Wars 2 on Twitter and Facebook for updates!