THE R0NIN vs Circle-Of-Two

Finals - Sunday 20th September - 16:20

Circle-Of-Two Take Narrow Win On Points Against THE R0NIN

Reported by: Clarity Brown

This match was brutally fought right down to its last seconds. It could have swung either way at any point, but in the end, Circle-Of-Two [CO2] just scraped through as the victors with 68 points to THE R0NIN's [47R] 66.



THE R0NIN team split into two groups before the match, one sitting right on the arena beacon (2 Proteus and a Damnation) and the other, comprising their 2 Tengu, Guardian and 4 destroyers hovering a little way off. CO2 were more spread out; 2 Abaddons and a Damnation were only a little back from the beacon, making a good front-line engagement team, with their Sabre, 2 Thrashers and a pair of Hurricanes just behind them and their Guardian lurking far to the rear.

The fight kicked off with a speed and brutality that would typify this match. 47R's slayer CZ pounced on Joshimo's Abaddon in his Proteus - some determined fire stripped the Abaddon down to its armour, but the Proteus was taking damage as well. CO2 poured combat drones into the arena, but it was 47R who took first blood, picking off 2hertz's Sabre. CO2 retaliated swiftly, sniping Palolko Dwimer's Thrasher. 47R set their sights on Ignann's Sabre for their second kill, but the little interdictor took off at 2.6 km/s, leading its pursuers in a long sweep around the main battle. Meanwhile, Shivaja's Proteus (47R) was vanishing behind a curtain of drones both friendly and hostile, each trying to undo the other's work. gigX, one of CO2's Hurricane pilots, was also taking a lot of damage - Proteus and Hurricane eventually folded together, keeping the scores close.

Bragi of 47R had his Catalyst eradicated by a swift volley from CO2 as they grabbed every drone they could find and smothered TuLak's Guardian with them. THE R0NIN seemed to have the same idea, however, tearing up zemljoradnik's Guardian mere seconds after losing their own. CO2 very quickly picked off another of 47R's Catalysts, flown by Jarek Konecnik, keeping themselves a few points ahead, then finished the sweep by taking down Charakterowitch's Catalyst. slayer CZ, meanwhile, was leading 47R's push for more significant points, tackling Sidzo's Hurricane. The Hurricane slowly tried to back away from the formidable damage being put out by the Proteus but without a microwarpdrive, it was doomed, perishing swiftly, but Sidzo managed to take his attacker with him, plucking the Proteus out of the sky and grinding it to powder with his autocannons.

The R0NIN now had 2 Tengu and a Damnation on the field, facing 2 Abaddons, a Damnation and two Thrashers from CO2. 47R sent their Tengu out, taking up positions some 40km from the centre of the arena, while Sairait, their Damnation pilot, found himself taking heavy fire from CO2's Abaddons. He returned fire on Joshimo's Abaddon, but the Damnation was folding faster than the heavy battleship and looked like it would be next to go. CO2's two Thrashers, flown by mario p and Ugrus, started to fly back in towards the main scrum as Sairait started to repair himself, and a swift switch in target for the 47R ships took them an extra kill in the shape of mario p. Ugrus twisted and turned to evade his pursuers, but three minutes later, his Thrasher, too, fell.

Sarait's Damnation fell to fire from the twin Abaddons and it looked like things were all over for 47R, but the twin Tengu put in a valiant effort and managed to take down Joshimo's Abaddon, bringing the two scores almost level - one more kill would put victory in the hands of THE R0NIN, but time was running out and CO2 still had that two-point lead and a nasty flock of drones descending on Princess Koumee's Tengu. Joshimo, however, was the last casualty of the match. Time was called with Princess Koumee and Elsinaril, both in Tengus, surviving for 47R, while CO2 still had Mrav's Damnation and Jowan's Abaddon.

Circle-Of-Two progress into the next round with 68 points to 66, to fight The Wrong Alliance at 18:40 today.