NRG defeat G2 Esports 4-2 in an exhilarating grand final to win the final event of the regular season, the RLCS X NA Spring Major.
After already taking the crown in the Winter Major, NRG played in all three Major grand finals of the season. With wins against two other top contenders in the Spring Major, NRG also claimed the number one seed going into the RLCS X Championships. G2 Esports played their first final of the season and secured one of the two open top six spots. FaZe Clan claimed the other spot.
THAT WAS SO MESSY AND CHAOTIC BUT BACK TO BACK MAJOR CHAMPIONS LETS GOOOO
— GarrettG (@GarrettG) May 24, 2021
NRG rules the NA regular season
NRG came out strong throughout the RLCS X NA Spring Major. Going 3-1 in the group stage, they finished in second place below G2 Esports, who also finished 3-1. The two would not meet again until the grand final on Day 2.
NRG started Day 2 by sweeping four-time world champion Pierre “Turbopolsa” Silfver’s Team Envy. That result also secured NRG the number one seed, as they earned enough points to make it impossible to be overtaken.
Rogue was NRG’s next opponent, but after a slightly rougher start, it started to click in the fourth game. NRG did not let up the pressure from that moment on. While Rogue’s defense was impressive, it ultimately buckled under the pressure. NRG took the series 4-2 and moved on to their third RLCS X NA Major grand final.
The RLCS X NA Spring Major grand final
G2 Esports has had a rough season, with disappointing results across the board. Their best finish was third-fourth place at various RLCS X events, but they mostly dropped out even earlier. This ultimately led to the retirement of fan-favorite veteran Dillon “Rizzo” Rizzo and forced G2 to play the spring split with their substitute player, Andres “Dreaz” Jordan.
It took a few events to get going, but the sub showed the potential was there. At the last event of the regular RLCS X season, G2 finally made it to a grand final.
Despite winning 4-2, NRG did not have it easy. After losing the first game, they picked up the slack and won the following three, but G2 was no pushover. After G2 brought the score back to 3-2, NRG had to pull out all the stops to prevent the series going to Game 7.
It led to an intense Game 6, riddled with goal line saves and a 10 minutes 22 second overtime. One goal separated NRG from winning it all, but it took them over three games’ worth of playtime to secure it.
GAME. SERIES. MAJOR.@NRGgg survive the 10 minute overtime!#RLCSX pic.twitter.com/jBkIYSfZZJ
— Rocket League Esports (@RLEsports) May 24, 2021
“It’s hard to not be panicked in a situation like that,” said NRG’s Mariano “Squishy” Arruda. “Obviously we’re trying to stay calm and there’s a lot of really close saves. So after we had a little break, like two-second clears, we tried to relax, to control the ball and calm down a bit. Because it’s a lot. I didn’t realize it was 10 minutes until the last goal went in… If we had lost that game, we might have lost the next one.”
While G2 may have missed out on winning their first, and only event of the RLCS X NA regular season, they can take solace in how promising the roster looks heading into the RLCS X Championships next month.
NRG continues to be a world-class team and the favorite to win it all. There may not be an RLCS X LAN, but NRG remains poised to take that final trophy of the season.
“It’s hard to stay hungry with no LANs,” Squishy said. “But I just want to win as much as possible. That’s always been the goal, I never play to lose. When LANs come back around, our motivation is going to go through the roof. It’s gonna be so fun to play with [GarrettG and Jstn] on stage for the first time. I think we’re gonna do amazing.”
The RLCS X North American Championships will take place on June 15-20.
