[i45] Network Out

TCM bring a different aura to Call of Duty. Rather than your typical, get hyped up, shout, start to lose, shout kind of mentality, instead they bring a calming approach to their game. When they're winning they're calm and collected. When they're losing they remain relaxed and just do their best to pull it back. If they can't, they can't. They'll try to do it on the next map instead.

This mentality helps to propel the side further through the tournaments they enter and, as well as skill, they have continued to achieve highly. Their recent addition, Mohog, fits perfectly in with the team and new boy Hammers looks extremely at home among the former XP world finalists. Hammers has in fact adopted the role as in game leader, while Rich pushes the boundaries of relaxed Call of Duty, opting to play with his legs crossed most of the time.

This approach to gaming definitely helped the team in their loser bracket semi final show down with Network. The dark horses lived up to their billing and shot into the top 4 with relative ease, only losing to pMp before facing off with TCM. The match turned out to be something of an epic.

The first map was Bootleg CTF and turned out to be extremely close. Countless flags were pulled and returned with neither team really being able to achieve dominance over the other. A low scoring round ended in a tie and forced the first stop watch show down. Network again started on the front foot and actually achieved a fairly quick flag capture, putting the pressure on the TCM side to react.

Network were by no means done either, and as the sides switched, they again pulled the TCM flag, much to the alarm of the TCM team. In the end it became rather easy for Network to hold out and they took the game to 1-0 maps.

The Search and Destroy game including much back and forth. While Network started the strongest, TCM seemed to adapt well and pulled the map back in their favour. With the rounds tied at three a piece, TCM were on defence on the all important seventh round. The round itself turned out to be a little bit anticlimactic, with the TCM defence holding out well and taking the round without losing a man. The score were now tied at 1-1.

Lockdown CTF was the next show down point and again, both teams were extremely even in their opening exchanges. This time however, TCM began to find their rhyme and Mohog in particularly was impressive, picking up a stream of kills as TCM ran in a number of flags in quick succession. Network tried to reply but strong TCM defence prevented them from getting back into the contest. TCM saw out the round to move within one map of tournament victory.

Underground SnD is a map we've seen very little of in this tournament, and was a welcome change from the familiar faces we've seen over the weekend. Neither team seemed prepared for the challenge that lay ahead on this map, and it was more a case of think on your feet, than employing well rehearsed tactics. Network continued to surprise and another good performance saw them tie the map score up at 2-2.

So the final map was to decide who would move on, place within the money, and have a shot at pMp. The losers would go home empty handed. Arkaden CTF was to be the final resting place for one of these two teams.

Network got off to another quick start and looked to take a 2-1 lead into the break. With little time left on the close, TCM made a swift flag grab and managed to tie things up just before half time. The second half commenced much in the same vein. It was TCM this time who put in the first flag though. Network then tied things up again at 3 a piece. A few close flag runs were halted before the two teams had to settle for a tie and stop watch to decide the show down.

Stop watch begin well for TCM who took control of the map and got four down. At around the half way point of the round, they began to move the flag. Network killed the carrier, only to have another member of TCM continue the run and put the flag in to set a time of 2:40. On the reverse side, Network pushed well but strong play by a few TCM players helped keep the contest close. TCM attempted a flag cap of their own but were shut down close to the finishing line. Again, a few clutch flashes and grenades, along with some solid shooting from Rich meant that TCM were able to stop Network in their tracks. As the time ticked ever closer, Network pushed but to no avail. It would be TCM who would advance. Network on the other hand, would be going home with mixed emotions. A solid showing for a mix team, but after such a quality performance again good opponents, they will surely be left thinking of what could have been.

You can follow and all the teams competing at i45 here on Decerto. You can find all our coverage over the weekend on the following link: i45 Coverage Thread