14

The Guard (storytime)

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#1
zardinez

Throughout Stage 1, I never believed in TGRD. I first noticed the team in the NSG Open 14 event (Jan 17th), when they beat T1. This obviously isn't impressive in hindsight as that roster completely collapsed later on (help sewers!!), but at the time, T1 was in contention as a team that could make VCT groups, so I took note. I also vaguely remembered TGRD as an org from Plat Chat's champs stream.

Then the first map I ever watched of them was vs Faze's dysfunctional stage 1 roster, and the very first round was neT's iconic pistol ace. They made their way through the Stage 1 open qual beating Knights, LG, and Akrew before they got crushed by XSET. I sort of took that as their ceiling. They could easily beat Tier 2 teams, but they wouldn't be able to reach the top 4. But later, I saw them facing XSET again in NSG winter champs, and they completely defied my expectations by 2-0ing them, having a 13-4 scoreline on Split. I started to think, huh maybe they could do something.

After Stage 1 groups, I was a full fan of this team. They were all super motivated grinders and seemed really wholesome (Saya especially). Plus there were so many great clutch moments from Trent and Saya, and MCE seemed like an amazing coach. In groups, V1 and C9 absolutely dominated. Only Optic seemed like they could maybe compete, with that 13-2 bind score against V1 (before they got reverse swept), but they seemed inconsistent with super high peaks but also the ability to lose to teams like Rise (what even was that?). I didn't rate TGRD anywhere NEAR those three teams, but I thought they could beat everyone else and finish in a really good place considering they were nobodies before the event.

Then ofc, the upsets happened. V1 lost to LG and C9 lost to Optic, so they ended up facing each other early in the lowers. I was convinced whoever won that game would win the entire bracket. Optic rolled Guard in the uppers, and they were slated to face C9 in the lowers. I fully thought that was the end of TGRD's run. I was sure they had 0 chance. That was the second time they surpassed my expectations when they 3-0'd C9. Then they rematched Optic and AGAIN, I was sure they would lose. They proved me wrong there too, winning a nailbiter of a series. After that, I decided I was never going to bet against them.

Next was the rough patch. They played a super close match versus Optic in Iceland, but lost to a massive comeback on fracture. Then they played PRX and got stomped. People love to bring up THEY DIDN'T WIN A SINGLE SERIES yada yada, but they always discount the teams they went up against. I think they definitely played worse on LAN then online, but I chalked that up to inexperience, and I was sure they'd be back.

In Stage 2, they didn't even make it out of groups. They tried a really ambitious role change, and it simply didn't work. The players weren't comfortable, and they lost that incredible teamwork that granted them victory in Stage 1. TGRD was blown out by 100T, then 2-1'd by Ghost (including a crushing 13-1 scoreline on Haven). After that they just returned to their old roles. They beat TSM, and played two super close games vs XSET and NRG (two of the top 4 teams), but didn't make it in the end. People loved calling them frauds, flukes, etc after that. But I was still a Guard fan and believed they could definitely be on top again. They had the individual skill. They had the work ethic. They had the incredible coaching and structure of MCE.

This LCQ, TGRD have resurged and proved the haters wrong. People can make all the wishy washy claims of "oh SEN weren't that good" or "oh C9 got destroyed by 100T they were shit too," but I don't think anyone will deny that Faze was the MASSIVE favorite to win the upper finals and TGRD smashed them. I believed they could do it, and sure enough, they did. And I'm not losing faith in them for this final.

All this is to say:
#STANDGUARD

LETSGOOOOOOOOO

#2
Luck_
7
Frags
+

LETS GOOO GUARD FANS UNITE!
ZARDINEZ THE GIGACHAD

#StandGuard LETS GET IT AND REDEEM OURSELVES AT LAN!

#3
Subreezy
2
Frags
+

you've converted me dude, thank you for showing me the light

#4
zardinez
0
Frags
+

Welcome to the guardians

#5
h9zard
1
Frags
+

im not reading that but GL to the Guard

#6
zardinez
0
Frags
+

Valid tbh I just wanted to write it

#7
theosss
0
Frags
+

I also started being a big fan of the Guard since Stage 1 and continued believing even though all my friends who watch VCT deemed them as flukes after the PRX loss. I couldn't be happier seeing them almost qualifying for Champs again and defying expectations. Guess the rough patch was just to clearly show who were the fake fans and real supporters like you #STANDGUARD

#8
widepeepofrosty
6
Frags
+

can i use this for my essay assignment?

#19
zardinez
2
Frags
+

Fuck it, feel free to. You won’t pass but go ahead!

#35
widepeepofrosty
2
Frags
+

Appreciate that brotha, just got 100 on my assignment. #standguard

#9
Icysoda57
1
Frags
+

100T win anime weeb team buff

#10
NetVAL
0
Frags
+

Throughout Stage 1, I never believed in TGRD. I first noticed the team in the NSG Open 14 event (Jan 17th), when they beat T1. This obviously isn't impressive in hindsight as that roster completely collapsed later on (help sewers!!), but at the time, T1 was in contention as a team that could make VCT groups, so I took note. I also vaguely remembered TGRD as an org from Plat Chat's champs stream.

Then the first map I ever watched of them was vs Faze's dysfunctional stage 1 roster, and the very first round was neT's iconic pistol ace. They made their way through the Stage 1 open qual beating Knights, LG, and Akrew before they got crushed by XSET. I sort of took that as their ceiling. They could easily beat Tier 2 teams, but they wouldn't be able to reach the top 4. But later, I saw them facing XSET again in NSG winter champs, and they completely defied my expectations by 2-0ing them, having a 13-4 scoreline on Split. I started to think, huh maybe they could do something.

After Stage 1 groups, I was a full fan of this team. They were all super motivated grinders and seemed really wholesome (Saya especially). Plus there were so many great clutch moments from Trent and Saya, and MCE seemed like an amazing coach. In groups, V1 and C9 absolutely dominated. Only Optic seemed like they could maybe compete, with that 13-2 bind score against V1 (before they got reversed swept), but they seemed inconsistent with super high peaks but also the ability to lose to teams like Rise (what even was that?). I didn't rate TGRD anywhere NEAR those three teams, but I thought they could beat everyone else and finish in a really good place considering they were nobodies before the event.

Then ofc, the upsets happened. V1 lost to LG and C9 lost to Optic, so they ended up facing each other early in the lowers. I was convinced whoever won that game would win the entire bracket. Optic rolled Guard in the uppers, and they were slated to face C9 in the lowers. I fully thought that was the end of TGRD's run. I was sure they had 0 chance. That was the second time they surpassed my expectations when they 3-0'd C9. Then they rematched Optic and AGAIN, I was sure they would lose. They proved me wrong there too, winning a nailbiter of a series. After that, I decided I was never going to bet against them.

Next was the rough patch. They played a super close match versus Optic in Iceland, but lost to a massive comeback on fracture. Then they played PRX and got stomped. People love to bring up THEY DIDN'T WIN A SINGLE SERIES yada yada, but they always discount the teams they went up against. I think they definitely played worse on LAN then online, but I chalked that up to inexperience, and I was sure they'd be back.

In Stage 2, they didn't even make it out of groups. They tried a really ambitious role change, and it simply didn't work. The players weren't comfortable, and they lost that incredible teamwork that granted them victory in Stage 1. TGRD was blown out by 100T, then 2-1'd by Ghost (including a crushing 13-1 scoreline on Haven). After that they just returned to their old roles. They beat TSM, and played two super close games vs XSET and NRG (two of the top 4 teams), but didn't make it in the end. People loved calling them frauds, flukes, etc after that. But I was still a Guard fan and believed they could definitely be on top again. They had the individual skill. They had the work ethic. They had the incredible coaching and structure of MCE.

This LCQ, TGRD have resurged and proved the haters wrong. People can make all the wishy washy claims of "oh SEN weren't that good" or "oh C9 got destroyed by 100T they were shit too," but I don't think anyone will deny that Faze was the MASSIVE favorite to win the upper finals and TGRD smashed them. I believed they could do it, and sure enough, they did. And I'm not losing faith in them for this final.

All this is to say:
#STANDGUARD

LETSGOOOOOOOOO

#22
zardinez
4
Frags
+

Too long to be a copypasta, just keep the #STANDGUARD LETSGOOOOOOOOO part, yeah?

#11
imperfecto
-8
Frags
+

Bunch of onliners kekw

#12
Mjtchell
2
Frags
+

Love you zardinez, but I'm rooting against you

#18
zardinez
1
Frags
+

Wouldn’t have it any other way

#13
Ullyr
5
Frags
+

Edg fans we need to make an edg version ...

#14
fourlvalorant
0
Frags
+

Not reading all that sorry
but good luck to both teams tomorrow!
#100TWin

#15
Zsaber
0
Frags
+

I actually did believe in this team when they beat faze in quals and somehow got into groups. I thought they would be a good contender and they were making to masters. Eventhough they didn’t perform well, I believe they can redeem themselves by winning this match and also redeeming themselves in champs. Ill put on my guard flair one last time. #STANDGUARD

#17
zardinez
0
Frags
+

We welcome the support!

#16
bonkashi
0
Frags
+

Great read, plus you managed to summon the 3 other Guard flairs to your thread!

#20
Plonkle
0
Frags
+

I’m convinced. Hopefully they win tomorrow

#23
zardinez
1
Frags
+

Win or lose, they've shown that they are a team to be respected this qualifier. That's what I wanted more than anything (although a LAN redemption arc would be phenomenal as well)

#21
BaboonBoy
-3
Frags
+

100T OWNS the Fraud

#24
MainlyMelon
-1
Frags
+

Unfortunately Guard Beats Your Merch Org.

#25
clocksky888
0
Frags
+

Excellent reading... Great supporter. Good luck tomorrow!

"They were all super motivated grinders and seemed really wholesome (Saya especially)." <3

#26
blazennn
0
Frags
+

#STANDGUARD LETSGOOOOOOOOOO

#27
minte
0
Frags
+

mCe come

#31
zardinez
0
Frags
+

He already saw my other thing, that’s more than good enough

#28
Sushi_
0
Frags
+

#StandGuard

#30
zardinez
0
Frags
+

Love your name and flair

#29
renywri
0
Frags
+

do you think the guard is very pronet?

#32
zardinez
0
Frags
+

Imma be honest, idk what this means

#33
TheBeanSmuggler
1
Frags
+

#GUARDWALL

#34
kushcash0331
0
Frags
+

I don't think anyone wants to see 100t get smashed at champs, Guard needs to win for NA.

#36
zardinez
0
Frags
+

#StandGuard!!

#37
chapati
0
Frags
+

you should be a writer yo

#38
zardinez
0
Frags
+

Im an engineer, I don’t have time for that

#39
chapati
0
Frags
+

i mean you did write an essay on guard so why not? im an engineering grad

#41
zardinez
0
Frags
+

Oh sick what field? I’m aero/mech

#42
chapati
0
Frags
+

mech/robotics lol

#43
zardinez
0
Frags
+

Nice nice

#40
nutab1e
0
Frags
+

didn't read but standguard

#44
zardinez
1
Frags
+

#StandGuard lets goooo

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