The recent Winline EPIC Standoff 2 PawPaw: Ep.1 online tournament culminated in a grand final showdown where **Virtus.pro** faced off against **CYBERSHOKE Esports**. Ultimately, VP was defeated with a 3:1 scoreline. Following the match, Virtus.pro`s player, Samir “**reason**” Kurbanov, offered his thoughts on the team`s performance and the nature of online competition via his personal Telegram channel.
Reflecting on the Maps
Reason provided a map-by-map perspective on the series. He commented that on “Prov” and “Dune,” both teams displayed commendable skill, managing to secure what he described as “impossible rounds” – moments where victory seemed unlikely but was achieved through exceptional play. This suggests a high level of competition and clutch factor on these maps.
However, the map “Sand” proved to be a point of significant difficulty. Reason admitted to feeling a sense of disappointment or poor performance during their play on this map, stating he “cringed” (a colloquial term expressing strong regret or awkwardness). This candid reflection highlights potential tactical or execution issues that contributed to their loss on this specific stage of the grand final.
Online vs. LAN: A Familiar Distinction
Expanding on the broader context, Reason touched upon the current state of competitive form among teams in the online environment. He noted that many teams, including Virtus.pro, are not necessarily at their absolute peak form when competing online.
Crucially, he drew a clear distinction between online tournaments and offline (LAN) events. This is a perennial topic in esports: whether performance translates directly between the two formats due to factors like ping, environment, and lack of crowd pressure online. Reason referenced their play at a recent Major (presumably a LAN event) as an example of their performance capabilities in an offline setting, implicitly contrasting it with their online showing at EPIC PawPaw. His comments serve as a reminder to observers and analysts alike to consider the format when evaluating team strength and results. Sometimes, the online arena simply tells a different story than the main stage.
The Winline EPIC Standoff 2 PawPaw: Ep.1 tournament took place online from late June to early July, featuring ten teams competing for a ₽2 million prize pool. CYBERSHOKE Esports ultimately claimed the title by defeating Virtus.pro in the final series. Reason`s insights provide valuable, albeit critical, feedback on VP`s performance and underscore the unique challenges inherent in high-stakes online esports competition.
Finley Holt