Despite coming up short against PSG Talon in a thrilling upper bracket semi-final, Machi Esports didn’t let the 2–3 defeat stop them, as they routed J Team 3–0 in the lower bracket final to lock in their rematch with PSG Talon. This time, Machi got their revenge, quickly rolling over PSG over in a 3–0 demolition to win their first ever PCS title.
There weren’t many who expected Machi Esports to take the title heading into the PCS Summer Playoffs, as their fourth-place seeding put them behind J Team (formerly Season 2 world champions Taipei Assassins), ahq eSports Club and PSG Talon.
However, they started their playoff run with a bang, knocking over fifth seed Alpha Esports before stunning regular season champions J Team to send them tumbling to the loser’s bracket and setting up Machi for a tilt at their main PCS rivals, Talon.
No series between these two teams had gone less than five games, and with each team claiming eight victories against the other over the course of the year, there was no clear indicator of who would lock in their spot at Worlds and condemn the other to face the waiting J Team in the loser’s bracket.
PSG started off strong and quickly went 2–0 up in the series. Machi responded by subbing in bot laner Sung “Atlen” Ya-Lung, who helped them force a deciding game five. Despite a heroic Baron steal in the dying moment of the game, Machi couldn’t overcome PSG, and dropped to face J Team the next day.
It didn’t take long for Machi to book their rematch with PSG Talon, as they cleanly swept J Team. Each of the three games lasted less than thirty minutes, setting a PCS record in the process. Having already played eight games in two days, Machi would need to find the strength to win three more the next day if they were to take their maiden title.
Congratulations on winning the PCS Summer Season Championship!!!!! #PCSLOL @MachiEsports #lolesports 🥳🥳🥳 pic.twitter.com/PuYHAji8aR
— Patty Yu (@Patty_Esports) August 30, 2020
After falling to his former Hong Kong Attitude teammates Kaiwing and Unified in their first series against PSG, Chen “M1ssion” Hsiao-Hsien stepped up on his favoured Orianna in the first game, making PSG mid laner Tank’s life a misery en route to a comprehensive win.
The second game of the final looked all but over as a close game was blown wide open when Kim “River” Dong-woo snuck away the Infernal Soul point for PSG, and it definitely looked like PSG Talon were going to tie up the series.
Looking to turn the tide of the game, Hsieh “PK” Yu-Ting’s Ornn used his ult to snag a pick on to Hanabi’s Gangplank, but more importantly set up M1ssion’s Orianna to land a three-man Shockwave and eviscerate the defending champions in the process. Machi wasted no time charging down the top lane and destroying the Nexus to leap to match point.
Heading into the third game with momentum firmly on their side, Machi played extremely aggressively, placing PSG Talon on the back foot almost immediately. It paid off, as they crushed their opposition for the final time to lift the PCS trophy
With their first title under their belt and without the pressure of having to fight through the Play-In stage, Machi Esports will be looking to make some waves when the Group Stage of the 2020 World Championship kicks off on Saturday, October 3.
