Tempo Storm repeats as back-to-back NPL Champions

As the number of matches remaining in Phase 2 dwindled, the leaderboard was poised for a chaotic final day. In the end, Tempo Storm peaked at the perfect time to claim back-to-back NPL Championships.

Entering the final day of NPL Phase 2, each top 5 team was within reach of first-place. With only four matches to be played, a minuscule twelve points separated fifth place from first. Sitting in fifth place was the defending NPL Champions of Phase 1, Tempo Storm.

In the matches leading up, Tempo Storm hadn’t displayed much of the dominant play style we’ve come to expect from them. A lot of the attention was on The Rumblers, a recently promoted team from Contenders who held the first place position for the majority of Phase 2. Perhaps it’s due to the fashion in which Tempo Storm won Phase 1, but heading into the final weekend, predictions rolled in for the other top 4 teams.

As Sunday began, the closely-ranked top 5 teams dropped into Erangel for Match 1. This match was won by Ghost Gaming, who was already sitting in second place to start the day. Winning the opening match pushed Ghost into first place, but just to keep things interesting, another top 5 team won Match 2.

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The third match was won by Simplicity, who wouldn’t be a factor in the top ten rankings. Setting up a fourth and final match to determine who would be crowned as Champions of NPL Phase 2.

Match 4 was played on Erangel where multiple top teams were eliminated early. Setting up an intense final zone between Tempo Storm and eUnited. At this point, calculators in hand, it became clear that the boys in blue would be crowned back-to-back NPL Champions.

Apart from the NPL Royale this phase, Tempo Storm has claimed every NPL tournament since the pro league’s commencement. The roster is a perfect mix of great decision-making and aggressive play, led by Michael “Sharky” Gariti who contributed 57 Kills, around 30% of the team’s total throughout Phase 2. Once again, Tempo Storm has proven to be the best team in North America.

Speaking of back-to-back’s, Cloud 9 finished both Phase 1 and Phase 2 in second-place. Ghost Gaming was able to claim third place, which easily puts them into the “Most Improved” category. Placing in fourth is The Rumblers, who unfortunately played their best matches too soon.

The Rumblers controlled the leaderboard for a large portion of the phase, exceeding all expectations and earning themselves an invitation to Stockholm. The ex-Optic, ex-Why Tempt Fate, now Spacestation Gaming guys round out the top-five. Another team that made huge improvements during the phase that I’m excited to see at GLL Grand Slam: PUBG Classic.

Looking ahead, the top five teams will be preparing to represent the league in the GLL: Grand Slam. Teams placed from sixth to tenth have earned themselves a pass into NPL Phase 3. And the teams placed from 11th to 16th will prepare for NPL Relegations.

This is a best of 12 tournament for the bottom six teams from NPL and the top ten teams from Contenders. At the conclusion, the teams who place in the top six are promoted to NPL Phase 3. The other ten teams will move back down to Contenders for the duration of Phase 3.