For this virtual bout most had C9 as the slight to clear favorite. However, AF Blue had a very realistic chance of beating them, as they’re better on the CP maps and in the past have been able to overcome teams that are better in theory, despite poor payload play and glaring weaknesses in individual performances.

The series started on Night Market, Lijiang Tower. Blue opened on Lucio, Ana, Reinhardt, Zarya, McCree, Genji versus C9’s Lucio, Ana, Reinhardt, Zarya, Roadhog, Tracer. In a prolonged brawl the North American squad took control of the point initially and got up to 34% and Recry changed to Roadhog. At the end of the fight though, it was the Koreans who were victorious and secured the CP for themselves. They built up their score to 70%, until C9 retook it on the back of a penta kill from Mendo. They defended successfully and took 1–0 section lead.

On Control Center both teams continued running same set-ups; Lucio, Ana, Reinhardt, Zarya, Roadhog with Mendo’s Tracer for C9 and ArHaN’s Genji for Afreeca. It was the Korean team squad that took the lead first this time, but C9 claimed the CP for themselves quickly, allowing only 26% to build up for Blue. They built up to 60%, at which point Afreeca reclaimed the point and defended up until 100%, equalizing the section score to 1–1.

For Garden the Freecs started on Lucio, Ana, Reinhardt, Zarya, Roadhog, Pharah against C9’s Lucio, Ana, Reinhardt, Roadhog, Tracer, Pharah. The Koreans secured the CP first again, but this time, after a misplay by C9, they ran away with it 100–0. That put them at a 1–0 lead into the series.

As tournament rules dictate that the loser of a map selects the next one Mendo and co. selected Numbani as the second map. They opened their offense on Mercy, Lucio, Winston, D.Va, Genji, Pharah versus Afreeca’s Ana, Symmetra, Reinhardt, Zarya, Soldier 76, Genji. The Pharmercy combo quickly devastated Blue’s defense and the North American squad started pushing the cart, having 5:35 on the clock. In an attempt to stop the push Mano and Arhan swapped Symmetra and Genji for Lucio and Reaper, but C9 continued pushing strong as they had 4:18 left, while moving past the second point. They continued at similar pace and on the back of great Nano-Visor play by Mendo finished their run, having 3:30 in the time bank.

On the defense C9 started on Ana, Winston, Roadhog, Mei, Torbjorn, Soldier 76. Afreeca read their set-up like a book and quickly rolled over them on Mercy, Lucio, Winston, Zarya, Reaper, Pharah, starting the cart push with the slightly better 5:37 in the bank. As a result C9 changed quickly to Lucio, Ana, Reinhardt, Zarya, Roadhog, Soldier 76. Initially that worked, but Recry changing to Widowmaker and Blue pushed the payload past the second point, having 2:15 left. After initial failure ArHaN switched to Roadhog and Recry back to 76, but it wasn’t enough for them to deliver the payload and C9 equalized the map score to 1–1.

For the third map we had Volskaya Industries. C9 started on the offense with Lucio, Ana, Reinhardt, Soldier 76, McCree, Genji against Afreeca’s Lucio, Ana, Reinhardt, D.Va, Soldier 76, Genji. The North Americans’ triple DPS rolled over A and they were heading toward B, having 6:44 left on the clock. They got the first two ticks of B within a minute, but Blue managed to defend with Recry changed from 76 to McCree. As their subsequent pushes got repelled Gods and ArHaN got off the Genji in favor of Roadhog and Bastion, respectively. That eventually lead to C9 securing B, but did so having only 47 seconds left in the time bank.

For the defense C9 returned to the triple dps, as Afreeca attacked on Lucio, Ana, Winston, D.Va, Widowmaker, Genji. Blue secured A, similarly quickly to C9 and after Recry ditched the sniper for McCree they quickly collapsed on B and secured that as well, finishing their offense having 6:09 in the bank.

As per rules both teams received extra 13 seconds so C9 got up to a minute, compared to Afreeca’s 6:21.

C9 continued running the same triple DPS on their second attack, whereas Blue returned to Lucio, Ana, Reinhardt, D.Va, McCree, Genji. In overtime Mendo and co. secured A, but had only 30 seconds for B and despite a good start the time wasn’t enough to secure the second point.

After changing sides Afreeca attacked on Lucio, Ana, Reinhardt, D.Va, Roadhog, Genji, whereas C9 continued using the triple DPS. As the defense held strong Recry and adam ditched Roadhog and Reinhardt for McCree and Winston. Eventually that worked out, but they had only 1:36 left on the clock as they were heading toward B. For the defense on the second point Gods and Surefour changed to Roadhog and Zarya, for a 2–3–1 around Mendo’s 76. On Blue’s side ArHaN swapped Genji for 76 and after a brief overtime they his team secured B and a 2 to 1 lead in the series.

The fourth map, selected by C9 was Watchpoint: Gibraltar. They started on the offense on Lucio, Ana, Winston, D.Va, Tracer, Genji as Blue picked Lucio, Ana, Reinhardt, D.Va, Soldier 76, Genji. They got to the first point quickly, having just over 5 minutes on the clock to reach the second.

Afreeca however, put up a great defense on shuttle whidling down the timer. This caused Surefour and Mendo to change to Zarya and Soldier 76, but ArHaN had just ditched his ninja for Bastion. The changes benefited the Korean side, as the managed to stop the cart at 73m past the first point.

After switching sides Afreeca picked Lucio, Ana, Winston, D.Va, McCree, Genji against C9’s Lucio, Ana, Reinhardt. Roadhog, Soldier 76, Genji. Recry and co. rolled quickly through the first portion of the map, besting C9’s time. They continued pushing strong and reached C9’s distance similarly easy, taking the map and the series and keeping their playoff hopes very much alive.