Blacklist, Smart Omega set up titanic clash in CODM Garena Masters III Playoffs
Garena Masters I champions Blacklist Ultimate have set up a titanic clash against Garena Masters II and reigning title-holders Smart Omega after both teams’ epic performance yesterday on Day 2 of the Garena Masters III playoffs at Manila Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom.
This upper bracket battle will be a rematch of the Garena Masters II grand final where Smart Omega defeated Blacklist twice to win the title. This will also be the first time the two teams meet since their roster shakeups with Blacklist adding Shan Rouise “FDx” Mateo and Smart Omega’s acquisition of Nel “R1SKY” Buemio.
The heavyweight matchup came through after Blacklist’s and Smart Omega’s impressive performance in their respective semifinals matchups yesterday. Blacklist International Ultimate overcame a five-game thriller against ALMGHTY of Singapore 3-2 after a phenomenal display of showmanship between the two squads.
The rematch of the Garena Masters I finals and the CODM 2021 Eastern World Championship was as good as advertised as both teams went back and forth at each other. Blacklist struck first, winning in Hardpoint at Takeoff 250-180. The agents in black and white then clutched up to win Search and Destroy at Firing Range 7-6, taking an early 2-0 lead.
BLCK vs AMT (Photo by Mon Anthony Valmoria)
However, the Singaporeans bounced back, dominating Control at Standoff 3-1 and then Hardpoint at Slums 250-163 to tie the series up at 2-2.
In Game 5, Blacklist exhibited immense focus and showed why they were 5-time major champions by winning an intense Search and Destroy at Raid 7-4 to win the series and avoiding a reverse sweep in the process.
If one thought that would be the most intense series of the day, Smart Omega and WPM LowKings had other things in mind.
OMG vs WPM (Photo by Mon Anthony Valmoria)
The defending Garena Masters champions went to war against the biggest threat of Season 3 as both teams traded blows, going back and forth against each other. The LowKings started the match off by winning Hardpoint at Hacienda 250-239, but then Smart Omega turned around and won Search and Destroy at Raid 7-5.
The LowKings went at Smart Omega again, blanking them in Control at Standoff 3-0 yet Smart Omega had another answer winning in Hardpoint at Firing Range 250-178 to send the series to a deciding game 5.
In game 5 in Search and Destroy at Takeoff, Smart Omega jumped out to an early lead 5-1 and seemingly ending the game right there and then. However, WPM LowKings flexed why they are ready for the biggest stage by winning 5 straight rounds to take the lead 6-5 with 2 match points to save.
But in the end, experience and the heart of a champion prevailed for Smart Omega as they won the next two rounds including a heart-stopping round 13. With the score tied at 6-6, the squad in black and green showed nerves of steel as R1sky and OG player Kennedy “iDra” Mondoy clutched up a 2v4 situation to end the game with Smart Omega coming out as victors.
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Watch Blacklist Ultimate and Smart Omega’s matchup on the final day of the Garena Masters live at Manila Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom in Newport World Resorts or in the livestream of all Garena CODM’s official social media pages starting 3 PM. The game will be preceded by the lower bracket matchup between the LowKings and ALMGHTY at 1 PM.
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