MLG Anaheim Halo 3 Wrap Up
By blandestk | Published: November 11, 2009 11:01pm EST
 Halo 3 produced no shortage of memorable moments and story lines at Major League Gaming’s latest Pro Circuit event in Anaheim. The tournament seemed to have it all: upsets, newcomers, established teams making deep runs, all bracketed by a plethora of unbelievable plays. The first mention from the event has to go to top-seeded Triggers Down. The Dallas Champions repeated in Anaheim, becoming the first Halo 3 squad to capture back-to-back Pro Circuit titles. Other than the grand series with Str8 Rippin, Triggers Down had little trouble in any other match. They showed no rust or malaise after winning in Dallas, remaining focused and tight. In the Winners Bracket Finals, Triggers Down took a commanding 2-0 series lead over Str8 before needing a clutch Game 5 to secure a spot in the Championship Match. After Str8 emerged from the Losers Bracket, the two teams engaged in a titanic struggle for the ultimate prize. The series went the distance, with Triggers down prevailing 50-41 in Game 11 for a 6-5 triumph. It is hard to imagine it took so long for a repeat winner, but Triggers Down will go down as the first team to snag two consecutive titles. 
Heinz and SK helped put Triggers Down in prime position heading into Orlando.
Meanwhile, Str8 Rippin did not take the first place spot for which they had hoped, but they could not have come much closer. Str8 clearly positioned themselves with Triggers Down as the best two teams on the circuit. In two meetings with Carbon, Str8 dropped three games, which marked the nearest another team came to breaching the Top 2. ElamiteWarrior had a fantastic Sunday, often leading Str8 in kills. The team certainly seems poised to give Triggers Down a run in Orlando. They will look to keep the top seed from becoming the first team with three straight Halo 3 crowns, as they attempt to defend their National Championship title. Carbon, undervalued by many going into the previous tournament, showed their run at Dallas was no fluke. The fifth-rated squad finished third, while giving Str8 a decent run and obliterating a few teams seeded near them at the beginning of the event. Walshy seemed rejuvenated, compiling several nice games. Naded also played extremely well, showing that he's likely to go off at any time. If this team puts in the work, they seem to possess the best chance of cracking Str8 and Triggers Down. |
