Review of ESL One Hamburg 2019

ESL One Hamburg 2019 has recently finished and presented us new winners - TNC Predator that beat Gambit Esports 3:2 at the grand final. March got the status of the best player of the event while the team earned $125,000 of the prize money. We will remind you how it was going on and which teams showed either their best or worst sides. 

Surprising teams

TNC Predator, Gambit Esports, Virtus.Pro

Probably, many people expected TNC Predator to show a good game as the guys finished the previous season pretty well and kept their skeleton having only two replacements, but nobody could even imagine such a great performance. The team from South-East Asia proceeded to the grand final easily and won there and the whole championship resulted in only three lost maps for them.

Virtus.Pro also played quite well at the event taking the 5-6 place. Yes, it is not the result we should expect from such a tag, especially after two last seasons, however, this championship became the first LAN tournament for two newcomers of the team and  Resolut1on has not adapted to the new role yet.

The true breakthrough of the championship is Gambit Esports. The team was formed during the transfer window and it turned to be rather strong which is proven by the win at the qualifiers for the Major and ESL One itself. At the ver LAN final, the roster showed only its best side and was one step away from victory. We should clarify that it was the first major championship in gpK’s career. As a result, the second place is a fantastic result.

Disappointing teams 

Team Liquid, Quincy Crew, NiP, Vici Gaming

There are not only surprising teams but disappointing ones among the participants in any tournament. Now, this list is represented by Team Liquid, Quincy Crew, NiP, and Vici Gaming - the North American team looked rather weak and the substitutes at the first match affected the performance negatively, however, people expect something more from the team that has recently performed at The International 2019. Meanwhile, NiP has been looking rather moderate since the new roster was formed and this event proved that they are not ready to fight for the highest awards yet.

We should also pay special attention to the favorites of the tournament, Vici Gaming, as the guys showed a great performance during the last season and won two majors and at this event, they lost the first two matches of the playoff and left the championship. 

Another team that did not justify its level is Team Liquid. The guys have recently performed at many rating tournaments and got qualified for The Internationalб afterward they signed contracts with one of the most famous organizations in the world and now we cannot recognize them - the guys took fourth place at the first LAN tournament among six participants and at ESL One Hamburg 2019 they got the last position and this very roster can be called the main disappointment of the tournament.

Teams performing on their level 

Vikin.gg, Fighting PandaS, Wind and Rain, Alliance, beastcoast

The rest of the participants performed the way it was expected - Alliance and beastcoast entered Four Best,Vikin.gg, that has recently received a new player, and the team with EternalEnvy were not even able to overcome the group stage while Wind and Rain were fighting in the group but did not manage to defeat the Peruvians at the playoff.