The kings are back on their throne. Two cycles has stayGreen been absent from the HoN Tour Diamond Division crown, now the coronation was there again. A splendid cycle caps of three great and successful weeks for the most dominant team of 2013, now heading into the Winter break.
It was the Grand Finals we have come accustomed to seeing these days, another instant classic between Lions eSports and the stayGreen. Once again Lions eSports was the reigning champion and the hunted, while stayGreen, coming off their second consecutive DreamHack Championship, were in the position to hunt down their pray. They achieved that statement victory online on Saturday with a win over the Swedish powerhouse in the Upper Bracket Finals, snapping a three game losing streak against the Swedes online. This set them up for their 14th consecutive Grand Final appearance. The last time swindlemelonzz and his team were not gracing the headliner of Championship Sunday with their presence was in Cycle 2 of the first season. For Lions eSports it was their fifth consecutive appearance in the final game of the cycles, trying to complete the Hattrick - only to become the second team in history to get that.
It wasn't meant to be on this day though, as sG was still in splendid DHW form and took the fight straight to their opponents. Swindlemelonzz once again shone on his Wretched Hag, ZfreeK got the pleasure of supporting with Rhapsody once more and Lions eSports had not many answered for the good plays and coordination coming from the Champs. Starting with the 1-0 advantage, sG quickly widened the gap to a 2-0, before taking the foot of the gas a little bit in the second game of the series. Lions eSports was able to secure that victory and push it to a third map, but couldn't quite make it so that this Grand Final would see an entire four-map-series.
With this victory stayGreen wins the fifth Diamond Division cycle this season, boosting their total collection of Diamond jewelry to nine. In the all-time record list they are now five titles above Trademark eSports and six clear of their new rivals from Sweden - Lions eSports. No other team has ever won the title and given the way Lions eSports and stayGreen are toying with the other opposition these days make it tough to believe, that one of the rising teams will be able to challenge them any time soon. Denial eSports got stomped by stayGreen in the Upper Bracket Semifinals and then put up a decent fight against Lions in the Lower Bracket Finals, but not being able to get by them just yet. Other noticeable top teams like Internet Gangsters or Too Much Sugar are in deep trouble with roster changes and transitions - with their future hanging by a thread.
The HoN competitive circuit takes a break now in all regions for the holidays. NA/EU HoN Tour will resume at the beginning of January, CIS HoN Tour Grand Finals will take place January, 18th-19th in the Kiev eSports Arena in Ukranians capitals, while simultaneously Orange eSports, Neolution eSports.MRR, Made in Thailand.Sorry Sorry and Turtle Master are battling for the SEA HoN Tour crown.
| HoN Tour Diamond Division Cycle 8: Top 6 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Place | Team | Ranking Points | Earnings |
| 1. |  stayGreen | 3,500 | $ 5,000 USD |
| 2. |  Lions eSports | 2,700 | $ 3,000 USD |
| 3. |  Denial eSports | 2,300 | $ 1,000 USD |
| 4. |  Internet Gangster | 2,000 | $ 500 USD |
| 5.-6. | The Law | 1,750 | $ 250 USD |
| 5.-6. | Too Much Sugar | 1,750 | $ 250 USD |
