Champions return to reclaim their throne

EMEA produced some special moments this month as we saw revenge exalted, sweeps, ping-pong-like matches, and the return of champions to their throne. Let's have a look at what went down last weekend.

First up was a grudge match, between SK Gaming and Reply Totem. Last month, when these two teams clashed, it was a resounding victory for SK Gaming. This time around, it was a bit closer, but SK still came comfortably on top, closing the match in the 4th set, and dropping no games in the sets that they lost. It seems SK had picked up where they left off last month.

At the same time, HMBLE played F/A Kebap in the B Stream. The Italian org were the heavy favourites in this matchup, with the Turkish team debuting in the Monthly Finals. Kebap are a very promising F/A team, and this could've been a potential banana skin for last month's silver medallists, but they avoided a slipup and progressed to the semis after sweeping the rookies.

Next up was ZETA DIVISION vs BC* Gaming. BC* made it one step further than ZETA in March, but fell in the semifinals. Nevertheless, the world champions were favourites in this match, and showed why, as they dropped just one game in their 3-0 victory on the way to the semifinals, where they would face one of Oceanus Gaming and Eclipsar Esport.

Oceanus Gaming and Eclipsar Esport was another matchup which on paper, seemed heavily one-sided towards the upper-bracket team in OCG. After OCG won the first set, ECP showed that they weren't going to roll over, and equalised the scores in Bounty. However, they weren't able to build on that as OCG took the next 2 sets to set up an enticing match vs ZETA DIVISION.

The semifinals were a much tighter affair than the quarters. The first of the two was a rematch of March's Grand Finals, as SK faced HMB. In a match with the highest level of both gameplay and draft, it was impossible to predict the winner until the very last second, where HMBLE got their revenge. Every set finished in a 2-1 scoreline, displaying just how close each and every game was.

On the other side of the bracket, OCG faced ZETA in another close match. OCG took the early lead, but they were halted by ZETA in the second set, making the game even once again. OCG took the 3rd, and got to matchpoint in Goalkeeper's Dream, only for the set to be snatched away by the Poles, as well as the 5th and final set, meaning they reached their 5th Grand Finals in 8 Monthly Finals.

Last, but by no means least: HMBLE vs ZETA DIVISION. The former looking for their first Monthly Final victory with this exciting new roster, the latter looking to reclaim what they held for so long last year. The first blood was drawn by HMBLE, but just like the semifinals ZETA clawed one back. It was deja vu for the World Champs, as their opponents took the 3rd set, only for them to take back the 4th. It all came down to Center Stage, Brawl Ball. ZETA's experience in these situations came through, and the clinched the set, not only making them champions once more, but avenging themselves for the quarter-final defeat against HMBLE in March.

So ZETA showed precisely why they are the reigning World Champions, and HMBLE showed why they are one of the favourites for the Worlds spots. No doubt they will be back and will have another opportunity to become champions themselves. Another point to mention is that 4/8 teams - HMB, TTM, ECP, and ZETA - were all at the same bootcamp in Stuttgart. Is there a chance of LAN Monthly Finals? We shall have to wait and see.