The FNCS Major 2 Day 1 has begun. Things started with an old favorite taking the first win, but looking at the overall scores there’s two teams who are already pushing ahead. The Trio everyone expected to dominate, and the one showing streamers can compete.
Last season’s champions are dropping behind, and big names have all collected wins so far. How are things looking now that our first day has concluded?
FNCS Major 2 Day 1
Bugha Breaks Out in Game 1 – FNCS Major 2 Day 1
The first game of the FNCS Major 2 Day 1 was a fun one, as Rapid, Bugha, and Threats took the first Victory Royale.
Bugha is obviously famous as the Fortnite player with the highest earnings, and a pro who has been at the game’s peak for most of its run. Fans often rule Bugha out, but we’ve seen Chapter after Chapter why that’s a mistake. Paired up with Threats and Rapid, they’re a strong team this major.
We saw in the Groups that this team had figured out the meta for surge right now. Amassing meds, building towers or ramps, really milking every damage point possible. Getting to the ater game without needing too many fights. In the Major, we’ve seen that strategy play out.
In the first game of Major 2 this lead in surge let them really set themselves up. By the time we got to the messy late game, they were sat out on height with a clear lead. Winning their first game. The surge tower heavy strategy has had criticism leading into the Major, but it’s clearly working.
Ritual and Cold Clutch it Up in FNCS Major 2 Day 1 Game 2
Game 2 of FNCS Major 2 Day 1 saw a lot of messy early fights in the storm. The player who has been the focus for the last year was part of the winning team, Peterbot. However, he wasn’t the one to get the win. While he’s often known for his clutch ups, it was Ritual and Cold who won things.
After Peterbot went down, the two kept their high ground and continued to play consistently. Amassing even more kills, managing to drop down and retake their high ground without being challenged. This maybe was the deciding factor in their survival despite being down to 2. As the moving circle closed in, it was a 2-v-2 against another of the best Trios at the FNCS.
Then Ritual and Cold clutched up.
Securing their first win for the weekend, and proving the two players are fantastic in their own right, not just Peterbot’s backup.
After all the drama with swapping teams, signing forms, and potentially dropping players, Ritual especially has proven he’s one of the best teams in the lobby. Peterbot’s playing more carefully than we’ve seen before, and the three seem to be coming together. In later games, they’ve had great consistency after the win.
Game 3 Sees Clix Take the Win
The first win of FNCS Major 1 Day 1 went to Clix. The long-time streamer has been having a fantastic year, with Higgs (formerly Batman Bugha, thankfully now with a proper name), and Eomzo. The trio have stuck to their tactics of dominating the low ground. The ending of this game saw Muz’s trio jump down for a direct 3-v-3 fight for the crown. Which narrowed to 2-v-2, then 1-v-1 before Clix secured the win. A stream-worthy moment of drama for the rare player broadcasting his entire tournament.
Pollo, Ajerss, and Acorn Lag Behind
So far, a number of the major names have gotten their wins in FNCS Major 2 Day 1. However, it’s the 4-in-a-row Champion Pollo who is missing so far. The winner of every FNCS since Chapter 5 Season 2, including last year with new teamamtes Ajerss and Acorn, Pollo’s squad has been a bit quieter this time. It’s not the huge lead they had in Major 1 Day 1.
They’re still in the competition, by no means too far behind. Just lingering in the top 10 after three games. However, compared to the runaway success last season it just doesn’t seem to be coming together. It could be that so much wasted time thinking they’d have new Trios this season might have set them back.
Clix and Peterbot Neck and Neck After Game 4
Game 4 has definitely helped two teams secure their positions on the leaderboard, as we saw a direct reversal of the standings we saw in Game 3! It was once the Muz and Clix Trios against each other, again. This time though, Higgs was pushing ahead as the last team member standing. If he was worried about losing recognizability after changing name, plays like this will make sure it’s not a problem.
It might have been Muz’s team who won, after they fought for high ground and got it. A move which is proving to be particularly effective in FNCS Major 2 Day 1. But both teams have gained significant points from this kind of consistency, first and second in two games back-to-back. Putting Clix and Peterbot directly tied.
Clix Rises (Briefly) to the Top in Game 5
Clix, Higgs, and Eomzo might be the defining story, at least if FNCS Major 2 Day 1 is anything to go by. First their rise, then a dramatic end.
The game began looking like it might be Peterbot’s return to his trademark pop offs. The trio were back to aggression. Peterbot alone picking off stragglers in Crime City and going as far as emoting on them. The trademark confidence we expect from him. While Ritual and Cold cleaned up trio of their own. What might have been their undoing was an attempt to take the high ground off last season’s champs in the late game.
Peterbot ran out of builds, but went back and forth to push the high ground multiple times. Bullied Pollo’s team off of it, but the cost proved too high. Peterbot crawled through the low ground with no heals for a while picking up kills, but couldn’t climb out of the hole from pushing his former Duos partner.
In the actual last zone, it was Clix’s team that took the actual win after more of the low ground play that’s worked so well in the FNCS Major 2 Day 1. A win, a second place, then a win, in three consecutive games. A fantastic turn of events that put Clix’ Trio on top. And by the looks of Game 6, annoyed Peterbot enough to make the last game personal.
Peterbot Griefs Clix Out of First Place in Game 6
Game 6 might be one of those games we remember. Clix went from top of the game, to a 0-point game.
Peterbot rushed Higgs early, trying to fix that little difference on the leaderboard. Higgs have shown fantastic performance, but Peterbot with an axe to grind is an absolute force of nature. His trio chased down any member of the Clix trio that fell behind. As they all ran, Clix was the slowest. He got caught in a building with Cold behind and Peterbot ahead. A panicing Clix stuck melee attacking in a doorway as they took him out too, followed by an emote.
One member of the squad might have survived, but Peterbot took the standings into his own hands. They then got chased again, since Peterbot wasn’t letting it go. Seemingly trying only to ensure the team couldn’t survive. Peterbot took out Higgs, once again hitting an emote on him. Borderline griefing. Making sure the Trio in number 1 wasted their last game’s first half.
It proved to be too much of a knock. Clix’ Trio was multiple reboots deep, with little surge, no meds, and an easy pick off for another team. Meaning they end Day 1 with 0 points. Peterbot’s team already had their LAN slot, but what does the prize matter when his ego as the game’s greatest player has been challenged?
After that 0 point game 6, Peterbot’s Trio took 1st place back before the game ended. They might not have won the game, but just as expected Peterbot isn’t going to let anyone beat him without a fight.
