Photo from Esports World Cup |
by Drew Malihan
RIYADH - The Hive may be the Alpha, but the Empress is the Omega.
Smart Omega Empress etch their names into MLBB history as they bring down Indonesian powerhouse club Team Vitality with a 3-0 sweep to claim the MLBB Women's Invitational 2024 trophy inside the Amazon Arena on Sunday midnight (Manila time).
The Filipina side became the inaugural world champions of women's professional MLBB as they upset the tournament favorites, who haven't tasted defeat since September 9 last year.
Omega Empress came into the Grand Finals after dominating Russian side Victory Song Gamers, buffed with two Filipina players from ONIC ZOL, while Vitality needed four games against Indonesian rivals Team Falcons Vega.
The Empress needed only 11 minutes to win Game 1, as Gwyneth "not ayanami" Diagon's Edith led the charge with a 4/1/2 performance from her Edith.
Cindy Laurent "CINNY" Siswanto's mid lane Ruby had a forgettable Game as he fell three times while Vivi "V1VIAN" Indrawaty and Viorelle Valencia "VIVAL" Chen became non-factors as they tallied 0/0/0 with the Angela and Roger.
Cinny had a better Game 2 with a 4/1/2 Yve output but it was not enough as the Filipinas grabbed Game 2 thanks to Kaye Maerylle "Keishi" Alpuerto's Roger getting seven kills and two assists.
Sheen "Shinoa" Perez's Melissa put up 2/2/5 while keeping Michelle Denise "CHEL" Siswanto's Harith at bay, while V1VIAN and VIVAL continued their struggles to get things going in the main objectives.
It was not ayanami again who shone in the final match with her Barats putting up two kills and six assists and limiting Venny "FUMI EKO" Lim's effect on the game, while the duo of Mery Christine "Meraaay" Vivero and Rica Fatima "Amoreee" Amores combined for 16 assists.
Despite CHEL's Brody getting unscathed in the 26-minute game, it was not ayanami, who had stolen the lord away from V1VIAN's grasp, that led the charge and finished the series for the Cebu-based team.
Shinoa was named the Tournament MVP, getting the nod after having the only Savage in the entire campaign against Gaimin Gladiators HomeGirls in the quarterfinals, and will take USD50,000 in cash prize.
Smart Omega will also get USD180,000 in the prize pool and 1,000 points in the EWC Club Championship standings.
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