Team Pandemic - News - Michs09 versus Peekay in WCG FIFA

Action began today in the World Cyber Games US Final, and Pandemic.FIFA wasted no time taking center stage. The early morning group was headlined by some of the game's most prominent American stars: KreeganBG (LAComplexity), Zanzibar (CGS Bridge Champion), and Pandemic's Nick "Peekay" DePalmer and Michael "Michs09" Labelle. The catch? Only two could advance from this 'group of death' into bracket play.

Peekay came into day one on fire.

Michs and Peekay, both of whom came into the event as strong favorites for the finals, would make quick work of their other opponents before meeting up with CGS' KreeganBG. Despite having overwhelming control, Michs' first best-of-three with Kreegan came down to a narrow 2-3 loss. Labelle's 17 shots on goal simply could not find their mark, and Kreegan's mere 4 were enough to take game one. Game two was another story entirely as Kreegan cruised to the victory and endangered Labelle's tournament hopes. Peekay also would get his turn at Kreegan, but likewise could not overcome the veteran. The teammates were now left in a tie for the second and final slot to advance.

It's a rarity in esports to face a teammate as is. For the two go head to head in the last match of the day, and for it to decide who moves on and who doesn't, was something even more special. The winner would be assured a top four placing and have a legitimate shot to qualify for team USA, while the loser would go home emptyhanded at the hands of his very own practice partner.

Game one of the best-of-three series began as a defensive standoff. Knowing each other's style and tendencies inside out, it appeared as if neither would ever break through the other's back line. Peekay was able to strike first in the 50th minute after an offensive change, and his lone goal would prove to be decisive as he took match one by an uncharacteristic 1-0 margin.

Game two began much like the first, but just before halftime the pair began to light up the day's only featured FIFA stage match. Mich's goal in the 40th was quickly followed by a Peekay answer, and then yet another by Michs before the break. Once behind 2-1, Peekay began to press, and the game immediately took an entirely different shape.

The second half produced an onslaught of goals. Michs widened to a 3-1 lead with an early cross, and made an impossible fourth from just inside the midfield mark. To the crowd's delight, Peekay followed with a half-field goal of his own off the ensuing kickoff. Michs would hold on, however, and take game two by a score of 5-2.

Michs emerges victorious, and flaunts the jersey.

Deservedly, game three would determine our winner. Though Peekay would see an early goal, Michs' momentum was too strong from game two and he was able to continue pouring balls into the net. A late red card for Peekay sealed his fate, and Michs would wrap up a 4-1 win and ultimately take the series and advance.

Teammate Isidro "Novusnaim" Fuentes begins his group Saturday morning, and if he advances, we will almost assuredly see one more of these inter-squad matchups. Be sure to follow Pandemic.FIFA, as well as our other teams in competition this weekend, throughout their route to the MLG, ESL, and WCG finals.

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