We closed out the Halo Championship Series: Summer Pro League Summer 2017 Season Finals with an amazing last day of competition. Four teams remained at the start of Championship Sunday, and only one would emerge the Summer 2017 champions. Halo fans and teams alike have rallied all weekend in order to make the Halo debut at DreamHack Atlanta the biggest HCS event on record, and this Day 3 was the perfect way to close out an epic weekend of competition.
Our Championship Sunday Schedule! Kicking things off with @TeamEnVyUs vs. @EvilGeniuses. https://t.co/c6bMfA51co #HCS #DHATL17 pic.twitter.com/Qi50pNqCxQ
— ESL Halo (@ESLHalo) July 23, 2017
Splyce and OpTic Gaming move on to Grand Finals
Earlier in the day, Splyce defeated OpTic Gaming 4-1 in Semifinals to move onto the Grand Finals match. In the Elimination Bracket Semifinals, Team EnVyUs and Team Liquid fought for a chance to face off against OpTic and a shot at the Grand Finals match. Liquid have been playing so strong this Finals, and were able to take a 2-0 lead to start the series.
Strong start here for @TeamLiquid!! They win CTF 3-2. https://t.co/c6bMfA51co #HCS #DHATL17 pic.twitter.com/ylY5TNn1ay
— ESL Halo (@ESLHalo) July 23, 2017
Despite some fantastic plays from Stellur and the rest of Liquid, EnVy were not going to let Liquid take the sweep. Huke was having a great day for EnVy, and helped give the team the added push needed for them to take three consecutive wins and secure the reverse sweep.
THE COMEBACK!@TeamEnVyUs wins Game 3 to stay alive in this series. #HCS #DHATL17 pic.twitter.com/wPP88vwEUn
— ESL Halo (@ESLHalo) July 23, 2017
These matches are INSANE! @TeamEnVyUs completes the reverse sweep. #HCS pic.twitter.com/NMV57U2M6A
— ESL Halo (@ESLHalo) July 23, 2017
It looked like EnVy were on a roll, but they had one obstacle in between them and the Grand Finals match: OpTic Gaming. In the Elimination Finals match, OpTic––refusing to bow out––swept EnVyUs to move on to face Splyce again in the Grand Finals Match.
Grand Finals Match: Splyce vs. OpTic Gaming
OpTic were swift and aggressive in Game 1 on Plaza Strongholds where they took a 100-36 win against Splyce. Royal 2 had an impressive 12.0 KDA in this first game, clocking in at 12 kills, 6 assists, and just 5 deaths. Game 2 on Rig Slayer was neck and neck, and despite some great shooting from Shotzzy, OpTic were keeping things under control. It looked like OpTic were on their way to reset the bracket when Splyce managed to pull ahead in the last few minutes to win the game 50-44. Shotzzy finished the game with 17 kills and 13 assists. With the series tied 1-1, OpTic took their second win in heated CTF game on Fathom.
100-36 Game 1 win for @OpTicGaming!https://t.co/9sFCrBPzkX #DHATL17 pic.twitter.com/jeKofRn3n6
— ESL Halo (@ESLHalo) July 23, 2017
The series is now tied up 1-1!@OpTicGaming vs. @Splyce#HCS #DHATL17 pic.twitter.com/XebMH9Rukq
— ESL Halo (@ESLHalo) July 23, 2017
With OpTic in the lead, Splyce were looking to tie the series once again in Game 4 on Eden Strongholds. Splyce took control of Catwalk as Renegade unleashed a murderous Kill Spree on OpTic. Splyce managed to keep control of Catwalk as they led a decisive campaign to prevent a comeback and keep their points climbing until they won the game 100-71. It looked like OpTic might tie the series up in on Truth Slayer, but Splyce kept a hold of their series lead after a Game 5 win at 50-43.
@Renegade_JW#HCS pic.twitter.com/HdI1cBc3cY
— ESL Halo (@ESLHalo) July 23, 2017
Just one game away from winning the Grand Finals match and becoming the Summer 2017 Champions, the pressure was on Splyce to close the deal in Game 6. It was an action packed game on Coliseum CTF, both teams were trading kills in a fast-paced and aggressive first half. Splyce were up 2-1 at the second half after Lethul successfully prevented a third flag cap for Splyce and almost completed a flag return before being taken out.
WHAT??!!??!?!? #HCS pic.twitter.com/UPfV6YuaOd
— ESL Halo (@ESLHalo) July 24, 2017
Both teams were deadlocked in a heated second half, and neither team seemed to be able to move the flag without being taken out. Halo fans everywhere were on the edge of their seats as the game went into OT. OpTic were dropping left and right, when suddenly, in the first 10 seconds of OT, Renegade came out of nowhere to cap the last flag for Splyce and win the series.
REPLAY: Here are the final seconds of the Grand Finals, as @Splyce secured the win! #HCS #DHATL17 pic.twitter.com/dHuriwtnAt
— ESL Halo (@ESLHalo) July 24, 2017
Thank you for following the Summer 2017 Championship! Be sure to check back in for the next season of the Halo Championship Series: Pro League. In the meantime, be sure to follow the Twitter and Facebook for updates in the off season.
