Time is running out for Order in 2020 to best the Renegades in an event and end their winning streak.
For the most part of this year, Order have established themselves as one of the top four teams and in recent moves moved towards a consistent second best team, only below the Renegades.
IEM Beijing-Haidian will be the second-to-last regional tournament that Order has a chance to claim a trophy in what has been a year of constant runner’s up finishes.
Since finalising their roster with Jireh “J1rah” Youakim in March, Order have kept a stable roster together and dodged most of the roster-mania that constantly plagues Aussie teams. A combination of young, mouldable talent alongside veteran, experienced players, Order have the tools to contest and often outlast teams built around sharp, talented players.
In the last couple months, Order have demonstrated that they are a consistent step above Avant and Chiefs.
An inability for their peers to remain consistent with results and line-ups for a myriad of reasons has resulted in a drop in their rankings and performances while Order continues to build from strength to comparative strength. It is likely this event will once again be a repeat Order versus Renegades finals considering the form of the teams.
In their last two final showdowns in the ESL Pro League Finals and Perfect World League Fall finals, Renegades put their foot down on Order, dropping one map over the five played. Order has shown incredible growth across each event and strong performances on Inferno in particular.
A key for success for Order will begin before the finals, where they must aim to secure the upper bracket finals placement and unlock a one map advantage in the best of five final.
Against a team like Renegades who outshine the domestic competition in all regards, an advantage such as this will be a lifeline. Order has been one of the teams able to take a series off Renegades this year, in addition to a handful of close series and maps, but since that win in June, Order have not been able to replicate such victories.
“Unfortunately we don’t have access to a coach or analyst at the moment, unlike the other teams such as Renegades. With this additional help, we may be able to further contest in these series and make a push for number one in the region”
Ricardo “Rickeh” Mulholland
Despite their struggles in locking down games and maintaining dominance in a series, Order continues to impress with their ability to grind out matches and mentally reset between maps in a series. Their lack of a coach at the moment suggests this team has more room for improvement and with such an array of veteran players will be a force to be reckoned with on LAN play.
Until then, Order can only look forward and continue to hunt the Renegades in their quest to win a meaningful series over the squad who have left the Oceanic region scrambling for an answer to shut them down.
Order begin their IEM Beijing-Haidian journey against Avant Gaming on Friday 13th November at 5.30pm AEDT. Watch live on Twitch.
