ANZBL Season 3 Playoffs Week 1: Let The Games Begin!

Originally published on GameOnAus.com in May 2022

World Of Tanks ANZBL Season 3 Playoffs Week 1 commenced last Monday with some dominant displays of tanking! Games moved to from a best of five format to best of seven. Teams now had to win four matches to progress.

ANZBL Season 3 Playoffs Week 1 Elimination Final
Wollongong Wolverines Vs Canberra Centurions

Stakes were high for the Centurions and the Wolverines. Winning meant progressing to the next round of finals. Losing meant it was all over.

Map Picks:

Himmelsdorf

The Wolverines opened on defence of their Himmelsdorf map pick. They set up for the 2 flag defence. The Centurions headed towards the 1 flag to scout out what was happening there. They crossed onto the 1 flag and were spotted by the Wolverines. The Wolverines rotated down the 8 line and crossed the courtyard to get the reset shots. Wolverine’s The_Forsaken_Army pushed too far forward without support. The Centurions were able to isolate and kill him before going on to isolate two other tanks. Taking a 4v2 tank advantage, the Centurions continued on and took the first game.

Moving to attack on the return leg, the Centurions were keen to continue as they started. The Wolverines rolled down the 7/8 line heading for the 2 flag. Centurion’s toddy339 was waiting but was trapped as the Wolverines put two tanks on the cap. The Centurions rotate in and engaged all of the Wolverine’s tanks at once. A brawl ensued but great focus fire (and an ignite) from the Centurions saw them go 2-0 up.

Sand River

The Centurions started on attack on their map pick of Sand River. The Wolverines moved quickly along the A line looking for a quick 2 flag cap. Wolverine’s haha-yes got spotted at D6 and was punished. With not a lot of other options the Wolverines pushed in to take the fight. The Centurions took their fights well, focusing the Wolverine’s tanks down and taking the win.

The Wolverines were in trouble. They needed to dig deep as a reverse sweep was now required for them to progress. The Centurions were looking to tie up the match now. The Centruions were running in numbers and isolated a 4v2 fight taking out two enemy tanks very quickly. They continued to roll on to the rest of the Wolverines, finding and isolating the Wolverines, and taking the win.

The Canberra Centurions defeat the Wollongong Wolverines 4-0 and advance in the finals.

ANZBL Season 3 Playoffs Week 1 Qualifying Final
Cairns Comets Vs Bundaberg Badgers

The much-anticipated match between the Comets and the Badgers was next. Both teams were keen to secure the win and go straight into the Grand Final. The loser would face the Centurions next week.

Map Picks:

Ghost Town

The Badgers started on attack of their map pick of Ghost Town. They grouped up south of the town. Meanwhile the Comets set up around the 1 flag to the north. The Comets realised that the Badgers weren’t making a 1 flag play and rotated into the town to protect the 2 flag. The Badgers got spotted out and ended up coming into the town from C4 and getting some good bleed damage. Once they had the knowledge of where the tanks were the Badgers rolled onto two of the Comet’s tanks. Some missed shots hurt them and the Comets were able to get the first kill. The brawl was very tight but the Badgers HP advantage. Comet’s Darkknight led the Badgers on chase away from the cap. With 30 seconds left the Badgers found him but it wasn’t enough. The Comets take the first game.

The Comets started their attack by moving down the 7 line. They were spotted rotated to the south of the town. Pushing onto the 2 flag, the Comets started a three tank cap. The Badgers tried to roll in but bled a lot of HP. It was a battle of focus fire and eventually the Comet’s emerged victorious and taking a 2-0 lead.

Cliff

The action moved to the Comet’s map pick of Cliff. The Badgers started their attack by heading to the middle of the map. The Comets took control of the donut and went to work. The Badgers spread to find angles onto the Comets. Not able to find the angles the Badgers grouped up and moved towards the donut. The Comets again emerged victorious and moved one step close to that Grand Final berth.

The Badgers moved to attack on the return leg and quickly moved their tanks to the middle. The Comets met them there. Badger’s BadBoiBuddles got on top of the hill as the Comets pushed over the ridge. The Badgers got the first kill but the HP was very close. The Badgers were able to isolate Comets’ tanks one by one, ending in a 1v3 tank advantage. After a tense battle the Badgers struck back taking the serious to 3-1.

Murovanka

Moving to Murovanka with Comets on defence, they spotted Badgers early going for a 1 flag play. The Badgers lost some HP early before moving three tanks onto the cap. The Comets got resets in but the Badgers poked out too far and lost a tank. Choosing to try and force a fight, the Badgers pushed forward. The Comets were ready for this and got two kills. They pressed that advantage and took the win on Murovanka.

The Cairns Comets defeat the Bundaberg Badgers 4-1 and move into the Grand Final. The Badgers get a second chance against the Canberra Centurions next week.

Tune in to https://twitch.tv/worldoftanksanz from 7pm AEST Monday to find out who will make it to the Grand Final!