Team BDS make statement with RLCS Fall Major win

If Team BDS were flying under the radar outside the European Rocket League scene, the secret is officially out after their convincing win at the RLCS 2020-21 Fall Major in Stockholm, Sweden.

The Swiss org knocked off NRG 4-1, 4-3 in the grand final to complete a nearly flawless run through the event which saw 16 squads from five different regions compete in a Swiss system tournament followed by an eight-team playoff.

Although a North American audience might not have recognized Team BDS as a favorite going in, this was no fluke or upset, as we’ll explore in a moment.

How they did it

Speaking of North America, Team BDS drew three straight opponents from the region during the Swiss portion of the proceedings, overtaking Complexity Gaming after a 1-2 start, then making short work of NRG in four games before taking their only L of the entire major, a 3-1 defeat at the hands of FaZe Clan.

Team BDS then advanced to the playoffs with a 3-2 win over Endpoint, who entered the tournament as the EU region points leaders.

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It proved to be a tough road to the playoff, as all four of Team BDS’s matchups in the Swiss stage advanced as well, setting up a pair of rematches in the bracket.

Complexity came back for seconds in the quarterfinals, followed by a familiar foe out of the EU, SMPR Esports, in the semis. Team BDS dispatched both squads in six games.

Photo credit: Epic Games

That set up the redo with NRG, who had to scratch and claw their way into the grand final after starting 1-2 in the Swiss rounds, but now had momentum on their side. Following losses to BDS and Endpoint, they swept both Team Vitality and Ground Zero to sneak into the playoffs, where they then advanced 4-2 over upstart Sandrock Gaming and 4-1 over a formidable FaZe squad.

NRG were 14-3 in their last 17 games heading into the final, but they weren’t ready for what awaited them. Team BDS cruised through the first best-of-seven set, dropping the opener then reeling off four straight.

Team BDS then got up 3-1 in the next series before finally finishing it off in seven.

Marc “Marc_By_8.” Domingo, a 20-year-old player from Spain, was named Fall Major MVP.

Team BDS is for real

It’s possible some Rocket League fans weren’t aware just how good Team BDS were coming into this tournament.

Comprised of Marc_By_8. along with Frenchmen Evan “M0nkey M00n” Rogez and Alex “Extra” Paoli, the trio previously competed for Spanish team ARG before joining Team BDS in 2020.

BDS went on to have an impressive season in RLCS X, winning all three EU majors, but ultimately they wound up finishing second in the regional championship at the end. That and the lack of international or LAN play due to COVID-19 made what would’ve been a coming out party any other year a much quieter story.

Team BDS also entered the Fall Major having not emerged victorious in any of the EU fall regional tournaments this season, though they finished strong in all three.

Now, with a major victory under their belts on LAN and in the most international tournament in RLCS history no less, it’s safe to say every competitive Rocket League fan will know who this team is now -- even if they probably should have already.

Lead photo credit: Epic Games