LOUD live on to fight another day.
The Brazilian contingent will be ecstatic to know that LOUD have lived on to fight another day after they eliminated FunPlus Phoenix from VCT Masters Madrid. FPX is the first team to get eliminated from the tournament but they will not be alone as the next series is another elimination match-up between Spain's very own Team Heretics against Paper Rex.
LOUD initially faltered in the opening series against Gen.G Esports but have seen found their footing with a dominant performance over FPX. The second seed from VCT China loss their opening game against Karmine Corp and will now be the first of two teams to depart from Madrid.
LOUD live long
This was only the third series of the tournament that didn't go to a third and final map and in two of the three occasions, FPX was unfortunately on the wrong side of both. The first game of the best-of-three series took place on Sunset with LOUD getting a quick two-round lead but was almost instantly cut short by a three-round streak from FPX. This was exemplified by a 4K from Qu “Life” Donghao, who also had to overcome a one-versus-three situation.
But LOUD was able to respond with a dominant first-half with six of the seven round wins before the break. The former world champions were able to keep its mentality locked in, despite losing a thrifty against FPX. LOUD came out of the break with even greater belief in taking the first game and proved just that with another quick two rounds with the second being a crisp 4K from Matias “Saadhak” Delipetro. While FPX managed to take one back, LOUD did not let up on the pressure and took three rounds in a row to seal the first game.
Game two was on FPX's pick of Breeze but it was LOUD who started on the front foot once more, winning the third pistol round in a row and taking the subsequent round after. However, FPX was able to respond in kind with two rounds of their own and would replicate that two more times that gave them a slim 7-5 lead after the first half. But for the fourth time in the series, LOUD would once again win the pistol round.
But this time, they followed it up with three more rounds to take a 9-7 lead in the second map. FPX would respond with four of their own in the next five rounds with LOUD only taking one to retake the lead at 11-10. And this time it was Connor “Autumn” Pallet who secured a 4K for himself in the 19th round that kickstarted FPX's mini resurgence. Unfortunately, their luck ran out as LOUD was able to compose themselves to take the last three rounds in a row to clean up the series for good.
LOUD will now join the likes of Karmine Corp and EDward Gaming in the final round of matches tomorrow to determine the last two teams that will make it to the playoffs.
