Rich storyline in place for each matchup of the CODM Garena Masters 4 Playoffs
The race for the Call of Duty Mobile (CODM) Garena Masters 4 title is coming down to the wire.
With only eight teams left for the playoffs, there will be no shortage of top-tier CODM action. Garena CODM has officially released the brackets for the playoffs and there will be noteworthy matchups to keep an eye on.
All these teams that have battled for four grueling weeks will definitely bring their A-game to the biggest stage.
However, as history might suggest, there are favorites to win it all, as well as underdogs. For teams like Smart Omega and Blacklist Ultimate, championship expectations rise to the top of the table. These two title favorites will once again test their mettle against this pool of challengers.
On the other hand, the other six teams are looking to wrestle the title out from the two title holders for the past three seasons to make things more interesting.
Here’s every interesting storyline for each playoff matchup in the CODM Garena Masters 4:
WPM LowKings vs Broke Boys Club: Susanoo faces former teammates
Former teammates will collide as WPM’s Justin “Susanoo” Cecilio meets his former teammates at Broke Boys Club. The teammates-turned-rivals will face each other for the first time since their tenure at RTL and Tyrant Esports. “I am excited to play against them and to know how they are doing without me since we have been teammates for quite a long time,” Susanoo said.
Susanoo was famously picked up by the LowKings to boost their lineup and challenge the likes of Omega and Blacklist. The move paid dividends as Susanoo helped WPM to finish first in Group D and go undefeated. “I felt that I had to take better opportunities for myself and to find myself in a new environment for me to play in,” Susanoo shared when asked about the move. The so-called “uncrowned kings” are raring to show their fangs after falling short for the past three seasons of the tournament. With the prolific Susanoo now in the fold, anything is possible to achieve.
“I am confident with my team pushing through the playoffs but I won’t set the bar of expectations too high. I guess we’ll just see in the playoffs how we are going to perform,” Susanoo concluded.
ALMGHTY vs Huntsmen: Another chapter to the storied rivalry
Crosstown country rivals ALMGHTY and Huntsmen will gear up for yet another explosive matchup to their rivalry. The Singaporeans have had their fair share of battles against the Malaysians in over three years of competing. With the departure of some of the key figures on the Huntsmen’s side, ALMGHTY has won the last few matchups between the two.
However, the Malaysians hope to finally turn things around after bringing in two Filipino players Gerome “Vanloo” Alinas and Kristian Kyle “Wadu” Galve. Vanloo and Wadu have been with the team for about three months now and have seemingly meshed well with the core roster. “I was quite surprised when I was picked by HNT because it will be my first time to join a team that is not my own nationality. I immediately took the chance because I know this is a new journey for me and a big opportunity since I’m getting a chance to play and show my talent internationally,” Vanloo said.
The acquisition of both Filipino players has helped the Huntsmen secure second place in Group A behind only mighty Blacklist Ultimate. Now, they aim to help the Malaysian org to overcome its longtime rival in the playoffs. “I’m going to give my best in all aspects to help the Huntsmen in the playoffs against AMT. Playing my role (objective player) correctly is the best thing I could do to help and also coordinate with them (Huntsmen) as a team,” Vanloo said in an ending statement.
SKADI vs Smart Omega:
SKADI faces a mighty test against back-to-back Garena Masters champions Smart Omega in the third matchup. Perhaps the most surprising and underrated team in the tournament, SKADI are out to prove the doubters wrong. They are just coming off a dominant group stage where they saw themselves finish first in Group A. According to Garena CODM, SKADI obtained a map record of 91.66 win-rate percentage with a perfect 6-0 match win-loss tally.
They are led by their team captain and YouTuber Ralph Sisco “Sisco” Acol who’s ecstatic to go get right into the action. “I think Garena Masters: IV is going to be more interesting and exciting to watch compared to last year. There are more underrated teams that are now surfacing and making their presence known in the competition and giving the big names no room for complacency. I believe this tournament will start putting other players in the spotlight,” Sisco said.
Despite being the upper seed vs Smart Omega, most people treat SKADI as the underdog when compared to Smart Omega. With that being said, Sisco isn’t fazed at all and wishes all teams to have good games and showings when the playoffs start. “I hope the tournament is played well and everybody supports each other till the end. Win or lose, everyone’s participation is a huge contribution to the growth of the ‘CODMMUNITY’,” Sisco ended.
Blacklist Ultimate vs 4S Kings: A David vs Goliath battle
With how well Blacklist Ultimate performed in their group stage matches, it’s hard to think of any team to stop them at this point. The Garena Masters 1 champion finished with an astounding 6-0 record with 18 map wins against zero losses. Blacklist looks rejuvenated after the addition of some new and returning players which made the team look unbeatable.
On the other hand, facing Blacklist are complete underdogs in the 4S Kings. Among all the playoff teams, the Kings are the least experienced team with no Garena Masters appearance under their belt. Having their first game against the mighty Blacklist Ultimate squad doesn’t help either. In hindsight, this matchup promises to be a lopsided one in favor of Blacklist. But nevertheless, expect the 4S Kings to be prepared for the challenge.
— — —
The CODM Garena Masters 4 playoffs, which will be in a double elimination format, has a 25,000 USD prize pool. Watch all the games live on Garena CODM’s official Facebook and YouTube socials respectively.
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
