If you’re just catching up on the 2018 FIFA eWorld Cup Grand Final, well, you have a lot to catch up on. The gameplay intensified on Day 2 of the event as competitors finished up group stage play, grinded out the knockout stage, and only a few remained to duke it out in the quarterfinals to try and earn a seat in Saturday’s final two rounds of the tournament.
The stage is set for the final four competitors in the 2018 FIFA eWorld Cup at the O2 Arena in London. And quite shockingly, not a single competitor remaining is from Germany after the event kicked off with eight German competitors out of 32. Five of them advanced to the knockout stage, but none made it through to the final day of competition. The countries being represented in the final four include Belgium, Denmark, Malta, and Saudi Arabia. So strap in, because this is about to get real.
First things first, here are your official semi-finalists for Saturday’s action.
SEMI-FINALS – XBOX ONE MATCHUPS
kurt0411 vs Msdossary
SEMI-FINALS – PS4 MATCHUPS
Marcuzo vs StefanoPinna
QUARTERFINAL RESULTS – XBOX ONE
kurt0411 vs Gorilla
Kurt0411 was absolutely locked-in on Day 2 and he rode a wave of confidence into his match against Gorilla in the quarter finals. He won the first leg of the series by a score of 4-1 putting the defending champion in a tough spot heading into leg two of the series. Unable to stage a comeback, Gorilla was eliminated from the tournament and his bid to repeat as back-to-back world champion was foiled.
The self-proclaimed “Greatest FIFA Player Of All Time,” kurt0411 backed up his statement by scoring more goals than any other competitor in the group stage (59). He translated that focus into huge victories in the knockout stage and quarterfinals in London but will have to remain focused if he wants to win it all on the final day.
MegaBit vs Msdossary
Msdossary continued his excellent Day 2 FIFA 18 gameplay to start of his quarterfinal matchup against heavy favorite MegaBit. When the curtain closed on the first leg of their match, Msdossary was up by a score of 3-1. The Saudi Arabian competitor remained focused during the second leg and won his quarterfinal bout against MegaBit who looked unstoppable on Day 1 but clearly lost his edge on Day 2. After taking home the FUT Champions Cup Manchester trophy earlier this season, Msdossary will make a push to win it all during the Grand Final on Day 3 in London, becoming the second Saudi Arabian in history to accomplish the feat.
QUARTERFINAL RESULTS– PLAYSTATION 4
nicolas99fc vs Marcuzo
After plowing through the group stage with ease, the PlayStation 4 Global Playoff Series champion from Amsterdam’s event and heavy favorite in the Grand Final nicolas99fc looked poised for a run to the semi’s after a 5-2 aggregate victory in the knockout stage. Alas, he ran into the buzzsaw known as Mr. Friday 40-0, Marcuzo. The Denmark native representing Manchester City went up 2-0 early, but the Argentinian climbed back into the contest, forcing the match into extra time. But the comeback proved to be too little too late, as Marcuzo scored in the extra period and nicolas99fc couldn’t muster another successful attack.
With his competitive FIFA career on an upward trajectory after bursting onto the scene in 2017, Marcuzo will look to show the world that he need not be underrated any longer. He’ll have a tough road, but anything is possible when the final four competitors take the stage on the final day of the tournament.
MoAubameyang vs StefanoPinna
One of only two competitors to go undefeated in group stage play, StefanoPinna eked out a victory by a small one-goal margin against MoAubameyang to move on to the semi-final round of the FIFA eWorld Cup Grand Final. Neck-and-neck the entire match, this was a quarterfinal to remember as the competitors traded goals throughout both legs of the match.
Riding a wave of confidence following an 8-4 aggregate victory over Agge in the quarterfinals, the ECV Esports competitor hailing from Belgium has had a solid run in competitive FIFA play this season. StefanoPinna finished Top 4 in the PS4 division at the FUT Champions Cup in Manchester and made Top 8 in Amsterdam’s Global Series Playoff just a couple of months ago. The Belgian will look to make a serious statement for his country on the final day of competition.
Kurt0411 continued his Day 2 hot streak and eliminated GoalMachine21 in the knockout stage with a 9-7 aggregate victory. The competitors were knotted up at four goals apiece in the first game of the series, and despite one of the most beautiful goals of the day by GoalMachine21, kurt0411 won the second game by a score of 5-3, eliminating the Canadian budding star.
Speaking of staying hot, a Day 1 favorite and tournament heavyweight MegaBit beat out Nraseck by one goal in the knockout stage. He actually lost the first game of the series by a score of 3-2 and made a comeback in the second match, winning 3-1 for a 5-4 aggregate victory. He remained a favorite on the Xbox One side of the bracket but has showed some real vulnerability on Day 2.
The 2017 FIFA Interactive World Cup champion, Gorilla, also advanced to the knockout stage which came as no surprise. Looking to become the first back-to-back world champion in tournament history, Gorilla beat out Dani in a close 3-2 knockout round match to move on to the quarterfinals.
Another FIFA 18 eWorld Cup heavyweight, Msdossary, had himself a great Day 2 and slid up to the top of his group stage bracket with 18 points. He went head-to-head against RESENDE7 in the knockout stage and emerged victorious with a 5-1 aggregate victory, making it look easy.
For the most part, many of the FIFA 18 eWorld Cup Grand Final favorites advanced to the knockout stage and that includes the man who recorded some impressive stats in the group stage, Nicolas nicolas99fc. After winning the PlayStation 4 Global Playoff Series in Amsterdam, the Argentinian left several opponents in his wake on the banks of the Thames River in London, easily advancing to the Round of 16. He beat out TheStrxngeR by an aggregate score of 5-2 and earned a well-deserved seat in the quarterfinals.
Eisvogel came into this tournament as a consistent strong finisher but as a competitor who had yet to earn himself a trophy. Unfortunately, 2018 would not be his year either. The German lost out to Marcuzo in the knockout stage by just one goal. Marcouzo made the Top 4 in Amsterdam and qualified for the Grand Final in London after a 40-0 record in the Last Chance Qualifying weekend. The Manchester City esports competitor from Denmark advanced to the quarterfinal on Day 2 despite losing three matches in the group stage.
After just sneaking into the knockout round, New Zealander competitor HoneyBadger put up a fight against MoAubameyang but ultimately was defeated by an aggregate score of 5-4. He actually won the first leg by one goal but dropped the second leg (and dropped his head in disappointment) by two scores. Another competitor representing Germany, MoAubameyang finished Top 4 back in the FUT Champions Cup in Barcelona on PS4 and moved on to face StefanoPinna in the quarterfinals.
Standing as one of only two competitors to go undefeated in group stage play, StefanoPinna rocked Hashtag United’s Agge in the knockout round with an 8-4 aggregate win and moved on with confidence into the quarterfinals.
Check out this full breakdown of what went down during the group stage by the numbers.
-Matt Franciscovich (@MattFranchise on Twitter)
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