In one of the most competitive seasons to date, Ascent has taken the crown, emerging on top of the other eight teams in the division.

Preseason

The season was billed to be one of the most competitive seasons to date. froyotech were the early favorites, coming into the season as the best in the world after winning Insomnia55. Ascent were going to be their biggest challenge, however, having knocked them down to the lower bracket last season. Team SoloUber and woodpig, reformulations of playoff teams Street Hoops eSports and The Five Dollar Club, also looked to shake up the totem pole. Several new Invite teams also looked to make the playoff race competitive, including Strawberry Mangoes and Getawhale Fanclub.

Regular Season

The season began with a showdown between froyotech and Ascent on Granary, which the world champions took very narrowly 2-0. The newly revamped rosters of Team SoloUber and woodpig also faced off, with the latter taking the game in a close 5-4 victory. Recent moveups Getawhale Fanclub made a splash when they took three 5-0 victories to open the season, including one game against woodpig.

After the first few weeks, froyotech and Ascent had settled into comfortable positions at the top of Invite, while several other teams were contesting the last two spots in playoffs. Team SoloUber, which had opened the season with three losses in their first five matches, managed to recover by taking six straight wins, including two against playoff contenders and two revenge victories against Ascent and woodpig. Three teams thus found themselves in the race for the final playoff spot: woodpig, Getwhale Fanclub, and Strawberry Mangoes.

In the end, Ascent managed to get ahead of froyotech on round difference after beating them in a very close match on Metalworks, and Team SoloUber held on to their third place spot. Strawberry Mangoes were eliminated after losing to Meat Market, and in the end Getawhale Fanclub fell too far behind after a loss to woodpig. Thus, the same four teams from last season would be contesting playoffs in some form.

Playoffs

Ascent, as first seed, started off strongly by defeating woodpig without dropping a single round. froyotech, meanwhile, struggled a bit against Team SoloUber, but ultimately were able to secure their place in the upper bracket final after winning in a close two maps.

woodpig forfeited their lower bracket match, leaving Team SoloUber waiting in the lower bracket final. In the upper bracket final, froyotech got off to a strong start by winning Badlands, but were not able to win on their more comfortable map of Product, setting up a decider on Process. Ascent took the lead at the end of the first half, setting them up for the win and booking their place in the grand finals.

froyotech were thus faced with a rematch against Team SoloUber. A questionable switch of roles allowed Team SoloUber to crush them in the first half of Sunshine, leaving them in a deficit they were unable to overcome anad giving Team SoloUber the map lead. They responded in strong fashion on Gullywash after subbing in a player, sending the series to a decisive third map. Granary would prove to be a tough map, with both teams unable to find a lead after the full sixty minutes of regulation, setting up overtime, which Team SoloUber managed to take, knocking froyotech out before the grand finals for the first time in their history.

Ascent awaited Team SoloUber in the grand finals, with a series advantage in their favor. It did not come to that, however, with Ascent dominating the first map of Process without dropping a round and then coming out on top on Product 4-1, thus securing the series and championship in two maps.

Final Standings