Red Reserve enter Stage 2 Playoffs as one of the crowd favourites, looking to bounce back from a 2nd place finish at CWL Anaheim. With the World Championship on the horizon, the $500,000 Playoffs offers an ideal opportunity to ensure they are well prepared.
Joseph “Joee” Pinnington, Rhys “Rated” Price, and Trei “Zer0” Morris have been in stellar form since the acquisition of Matthew “Skrapz” Marshall in May. They fell just short to a blistering Rise Nation at CWL Anaheim one month ago. That’s their second runner-up placing of the year, losing out to Rise’s old roster at CWL Atlanta (albeit with Joshh over Skrapz). Joee and Rated were also runners-up at CoD Champs 2016, but the heartbreak will be forgotten if they can go one better this year.
Red Reserve spent most of the year making up for lackluster slaying with phenomenal teamplay. Since Skrapz joined the team, sheer firepower replaced the inconsistency of Joshh. Joee’s unorthodox style now carries less risk as his teammates are consistently putting up numbers.
MVP Stage 1 Playoffs // mlg.com
Zer0, Splyce’s MVP Assault Rifle (AR) star at Stage 1 Playoffs last year, is now a full-time SMG. This has allowed Joee to take up the Flex role (map-dependent AR or SMG), ideal for the notoriously smart player. Zer0’s aggressive instincts can be fully harnessed with a PPSH in hand, forming a formidable front-line with Skrapz. Rated looks over his teammates with the AR, completing the ideal team composition. Red Reserve have nailed the role dynamics of this roster, and long-time duo Rated and Joee add the chemistry required to reach the top.
Rise win CWL Anaheim // mlg.com
However, glory will not come easy. A fantastic 11-3 record in the league will inspire confidence, granting them the 1st seed in Division A. This may be a curse in disguise, as they will face fierce rivals Rise Nation in the first round. Rise have struggled recently, but their potential should not be underestimated, winning three of the six open events this year. Rise lead the head-to-head seven wins and two losses in 2018 thus far, but the form book says Red have the edge. Rated’s boys will be hungrier than ever, looking for revenge from Atlanta and Anaheim.
If Red dispatch of Rise, they face the winner of eUnited and Echo Fox. Red overcame eUnited 3-1 at Anaheim pools, and lead the Stage 2 head-to-head map-count with Echo Fox 5-4. There is certainly room to be confident if you are a UK CoD fan, as Unilad could meet Red in winners’ finals. Red vs Unilad is the dream matchup for many, pitting Skrapz against former teammate and twin brother Bradley “Wuskinz” Marshall. There can be no foregone conclusions, but a struggling Rise Nation makes Red Reserve arguably favourites for their first ever championship.
Action at the Stage 2 Playoffs kicks off on July 27th! Catch it all on – http://twitch.tv/callofduty
S2 Playoffs Bracket // twitter.com/nlckarts
Featured image courtesy of: https://www.twitter.com/nlckarts
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