True Thunder wins ESEA Open S54: Asia

After going down to True Thunder in the upper-bracket final, The QUBE took down Change The Game in the lower-final to set up a rematch against True Thunder in the grand-final of ESEA Open Season 54: Asia. True Thunder were handed a map-advantage coming into the series for maintaining upper-bracket status throughout the playoffs, meaning which True Thunder would start the series at 1-0, needing two map wins to clear the bo5.

The first map took us to Ancient, one of True Thunder's stronger maps but void and solo's T-side masterclass, put True Thunder down to a 3-9 disadvantage. posting ADRs of 123 and 113 on the T-side, the void-solo duo toppled the CT-defense. Switching over, True Thunder nearly returned the favor with w1sely posting a 129 ADR half but void was still firing on all cylinders, taking The QUBE across the line with a 127-ADR game. The 13-9 win on Ancient saw the Mongolians level the series at 1-1, nullifying True Thunders'' advantage.

Starting on the T-side of Mirage, The QUBE got off to a solid start with void picking up right where he left on Ancient. Ph1NNN and waste fought valiantly to keep True Thunder in the game, salvaging a 5-7 half despite a questionable start. With Bhavi and DayMake disappearing on the T-side of Mirage, True Thunder managed to secure just three rounds in the half, conceding the map 8-13. The QUBE had now flipped the narrative, taking a map lead in the series at 2-1.

Nuke looked like a done deal for The QUBE and at 9-3, the Mongolians were a mere four rounds away from winning the series and the ESEA Open Season 54: Asian division but Bhavi and co. did the unthinkable after suffering a 3-9 disadvantage on the stronger side of Nuke. Going 14-3 at an ADR of 143, w1sely led the charge as True Thunder put ten rounds on the trot, pulling off a flawless T-side on Nuke to steal Nuke 13-9 and level the series at 2-2.

waste, DayMake and w1sely delivered a stunning CT-side performance on the decider Inferno, putting up 17, 12 and 10 frags respectively to take True Thunder to a 10-2 lead at halftime. Bhavi's reads were on point as True Thunder always ended up at the right place at the right time to spoil The QUBE's T-side plays. Dropping just a single round in the second half, True Thunder closed Inferno 13-3 and reverse swept the series 3-2, to win the ESEA Open Season 54: Asian division. This win gives True Thunder slots at all four ECL Season 51 Cups while The QUBE bags three tournament slots. True Thunder also walked away with a $500 USD cash prize.