Wings Took Flight, Wins ESL One Manila
With an unexpected 3-0 victory against Team Liquid, the Chinese underdogs, Wings, bags the championship at the ESL One Manila Grand Finals.
It was a well-timed revenge against Liquid who defeated them in the Group Stage. Wings started their journey in the Chinese Qualifiers and beaten other chinese teams like Vici Gaming (VG), LGD Gaming and IG Vitality. They knocked out Fnatic in the semi-finals and broken the team’s winning streak.
Following Wings and Liquid are Team Empire and Fnatic who will take home $25,000 (Php 1.1 million~) each. Wings, on the other hand, will take home $100,000 (Php 4.6 million~).
Year of the Underdogs?
It was no longer a surprise that an underdog showed their prowess in the stage much like how David defeated the mighty Goliath: CDEC placing 2nd in the previous The International, OG winning the Frankfurt Major and Vici Gaming Reborn winning the Starladder championship. It has become a pattern in the competitive scene.
The diversity of talent is much bigger than before and fans are starting to find it difficult to predict who will become victors of a tournament.
Manila Majors
ESL One Manila is just the start. In more than a month from now, the last Major before the much-awaited The International will bring back the best teams to the country to fight once more and share the passion of the Filipino crowd.
The start of the open qualifiers will be on April 29 and tickets are already on sale.
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