Home Gaming How did Team Rize do at the COD Championships?

How did Team Rize do at the COD Championships?

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Team rize

It was an exciting day at LA Live on Friday as the group stage got underway. Team Rize, the UK-player-filled South African team was placed in a difficult group – facing up against tournament favourites Strictly Business as well as French Vitality Returns. In the darkened venue, lit up by rotating spots ala sports arenas, the top 32 CoD teams prepared to face off.

So how did Team Rize stack up in Group A?

Team Rize vs Sublime

The first match up of the day for Team Rize was against Sublime, the Italian team. In the first match, Domination Strikezone, Team Rize dominated. This is despite lobby issues and confusion that meant one team member wasn’t in the game at the start. In fact, during this first pairing, both teams gave the ref the thumbs up sign, only to later complain that they weren’t ready, weren’t in game, or had the wrong load outs. Hard to tell if these were just excuses or legitimate issues. Realistically, it was their own faults – you don’t give the thumbs up if you’re having technical issues.

In domination, Team Rize managed 82-72, 85-69 victories, taking the first point against Sublime. Next up was Search and Destory on Sovereign. Here, communication and team work seemed to fall apart as Rize was demolished, losing 6-1. The Blitz match took place on the Freight map, where Team Rize took an early lead. Thanks to excellent team work and some fantastic plays, they took the match 24-17.

This meant Team Rize was 2-1 going into the second domination match. Once again they showed their strength in domination, but not to the same degree. They also showed their innumeracy as they declared their win after the 80-77, 74-77 games – they even shook hands with the Italian team, insisting to the referee they’d won before running off in perceived victory (when in fact it was a draw).

Upon their return, Rize seemed to have lost focus, unable to show that same teamwork and coordination. They lost the domination match 86-66, 78-74, bringing the two teams to a 2-2 match draw. Finally, a deciding head to head clash: Search and Destroy Warhawk. There, Team Rize managed a clean sweep, taking the map 6-0. This meant the South African team beat the Italians 3-2.

Team Rize vs Strictly Business

Without any time for a break, it was time for the match up against Strictly Business. Having swept the US champs, it was clear that Strictly Business were primed to show Team Rize a whole new level of CoD. That is exactly what happened – Strictly Business wiped the floor with Rize, winning the Domination Strikezone match 93-62, 94-51. Don’t let the closeness of the scores deceive you – there was no contest as the American team dominated the team representing South Africa.

Going into Search and Destroy, Team Rize gave a strong showing, before succumbing to Strictly Business 4-6. This left just Blitz to see if Strictly Busienss would sweep Team Rize. Warhawk was the battleground, and again there was absolutely no contest as Strictly Business destroyed Team Rize 23-2. Unlike the whiny end of the match up against Sublime, Team Rize and Strictly Business showed excellent sportsmanship – not just shaking hands but also chatting about the match with Team Rize getting some invaluable advice from the American champs.

Team Rize vs Vitality Returns

This left a nice afternoon gap for Rize before they had to take on the French team, Vitality Returns. While the French team was strong, there was still hope that a strong performance from Team Rize could see them through the group stage. Unfortunately, it was not to be.

Domination Strikezone was fairly close, although it was clear that Vitality Returns was the more coordinated team as they took the match 85-67, 90-57.During Search and Destroy on Freight, Team Rize had some excellent come backs following a strong showing from Vitality Returns. Despite some really impressive plays, Vitality Returns was just that little bit stronger. They took the match 6-4.

At this point, there was an inorganic break – the shoutcasters disappeared and the players had to wait for their return before they could play their match. Here, it became obvious just how disjointed Team Rize was. Rather than taking the time to strategize, or even just joke and keep spirits or focus up, they sat sullenly in their seats, waiting for the lobby to reopen. Eventually it was time for the next match, the last chance for Team Rize to redeem themselves and fight for their spot in the top 16. But it was not to be.

Blitz Freight was clearly in Victory Returns’ court the whole time as they simply dominated over the less focused or coordinated Team Rize. With a final score of 24-14, Team Rize was knocked out of the running, or the chance to win their share of $1 million.

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Last Updated: March 29, 2014

23 Comments

  1. Ultimo_Cleric N7

    March 29, 2014 at 08:53

    Also, this event seems to have been sponsored by Cerberus. Please see logo above.

    Reply

    • anouska

      March 31, 2014 at 20:50

      I did not see any SA companies jumping in to sponsor the SA team or the SA player , yet everyone has a lot to say against Team Rize.

      Reply

      • Ultimo_Cleric N7

        April 1, 2014 at 09:42

        True, but I suppose that’s probably because there were almost no ACTUAL South Africans in the team. Either way, to go get money from Cerberus is just too damn far. Cant believe they would do that……

        Reply

        • anouska

          April 1, 2014 at 16:11

          what/who is Cerberus?

          Reply

          • Ultimo_Cleric N7

            April 1, 2014 at 16:48

            AAh! Ok now this makes sense…….. Cerberus is a fictional pro-human group in the Mass Effect series.
            Their logo is very similar to the one above.

          • anouska

            April 1, 2014 at 16:53

            ok tks. I see now. as far as I know they had no sponsorship …?…

          • Ultimo_Cleric N7

            April 2, 2014 at 09:14

            No don’t think so, which is understandable given the situation.

  2. Admiral Chief of Auraxis

    March 29, 2014 at 08:53

    BWAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA….breathe breathe….BWHAHAHAHAHAHHAA.

    Never send a kid/foreigner to do a Saffa Man’s job

    Reply

    • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

      March 29, 2014 at 09:47

      Yeah man.

      I feel they have dishonored South Africa by sending a team comprised of only 1 SA player and that it happened because they had latency advantage in the qualifiers.

      I am happy that SA was able to represent overseas but I am unhappy that it wasn’t, in fact, South Africa. It was just a bunch of players from different countries who made a team and somehow got MSSA’s nod of approval to label themselves as the “official” SA team.

      Seriously upset about this

      Reply

    • Johan du Preez

      March 29, 2014 at 10:10

      Yeh they were there a few days I hope it was worth it cause they pretty much ruined their reputation.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief of Auraxis

        March 29, 2014 at 11:49

        Indeed, terribad

        Reply

  3. Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

    March 29, 2014 at 08:59

    I’d be upset if there were more South Africans on the Team….

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief of Auraxis

      March 29, 2014 at 09:53

      Or more mature people

      Reply

  4. Guild

    March 29, 2014 at 09:10

    I watched the live stream against sB. Rize were shocking. The team kills in SnD just showed how incompetent they were. The worst was the lack of respect when they won a round and a UK player proceeded to shoot Dedo’s dead body. Wasn’t impressed by it at all. Hopefully next year we have a true South African team, not this joke

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief of Auraxis

      March 29, 2014 at 09:53

      You said it man, sheesh, pathetic indeed

      Reply

    • Sk3tz0

      March 29, 2014 at 12:25

      Hahaha Tks on an International level.. Awesome..

      Reply

      • Guild

        March 29, 2014 at 13:30

        I couldn’t believe it and it happened twice. Worst was the first one which showed in the final killcam. Dunno which one it was but he shotgunned his team mate while he was being shot. The sB player got 2 for the price of 1. Absolutely pathetic

        Reply

        • Sk3tz0

          March 29, 2014 at 14:03

          I remember the Days me and My mates use to fk around on MW2 .. TK Tuesday we use to call it.. ran around just kill each other.. Maybe Rize saw it fit to have some fun 😛

          Reply

  5. Hammersteyn

    March 30, 2014 at 12:48

    Karma, beautiful karma

    Reply

  6. UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy

    March 31, 2014 at 08:45

    Kind of weird how people link teams to countries. I watch A LOT of pro DOTA2 matches and I rarely even care where they are from. In the end the winning or losing matters and well the teams are just companies really.

    Reply

    • anouska

      March 31, 2014 at 20:59

      we seem to have issues with “classification” in this country. I also watch a lot of tournaments and its all about the game and winning. Well done to the kid from SA that went there on his own and played as a proud south african!

      Reply

  7. Lost

    March 31, 2014 at 11:55

    So, got nowhere in other words.

    Reply

  8. anouska

    April 1, 2014 at 18:11

    listen guys! FACT: I have just had the pleasure of meeting the dudes from Activision, TEAM RIZE ZA had NO sponsorship whatsoever. Lets hope next year SA put their hands in their deep pockets and support the boys. going offline now, heading home …………..LA has been a jol!

    Reply

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