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The summerhole is real: the Premiership Division has crowned its kings for Season 21 already, the Highlander Nationscup did not start yet… so we thought for the end of our DeutschLAN 2015 Fundraiser we would go big! You could call this a small preview to what expects us in the cup as well as a hint of i55, as we are happy to announce an NA vs. EU showdown!

 This sunday, July 19th, 20:30 CEST:

Dunning-Kruger Effect (NA)  vs Samsung Galaxy Gang (EU)

This time it is for real, guys: an intercontinental brawl awaits us! Samsung Galaxy Gang unfortunately could not make it to our last showmatch, so they agreed, as the 1st place holder of the European UGC Platinum divison, to take on their North American counterparts!
The Galaxy Gang looks really strong on paper with multiple ETF2L Season 8 award winners on their roster. But will it be enough to defeat the US-boys? They themselves have some familiar names on their roster, such as karl, sigafoo (he will be casting this game though) and of course i52-champion and legend b4nny!

Surely a lot of these players will have a showing in the upcoming Nationscup for their respective countries, so do not miss this battle of the Atlantic, when BlackoutTV once again goes live at 20:30 CEST on sunday!
The long anticipated NA vs. EU with Heavy Is GPS,  sigafoo on the microphones and camera.

DONATE TO DEUTSCHLAN!

One last time you will have the opportunity to donate to our DeutschLAN 2015 Fundraiser or donate on stream to get your message/question shown live on air as well as a chance to win an unusual hat! The Fundraiser closes on July 28th, so hurry up if you want to claim some of these sweet, sweet perks!
We are also accepting item donations!
We will set up a bet at Saloon.tf as well for everyone who is looking for even more thrill while watching. Bet on this match to contribute to DeutschLAN- a cut goes towards our fundraiser!

Announcing a new sponsor: TF2pickup.net

After a fair share of drama in the past weeks, we have had constructive conversations with sponsors and are happy to announce that TF2Pickup.net will support the DeutschLAN 2015 to partly fill the gap left by our former partner. Make sure to checkout their fantastic website and play advanced 6v6, 9v9, Ultiduo and BBall everyday!

DeutschLAN.tf on the way

We have secured a domain to develope an own website for the LAN including pictures, streams, news and schedules. The domain DeutschLAN.tf currently redirects to the fundraiser, but we will be working on it to provide all infos you need on one page!

LAN singups still open!

You can still sign up your team for LAN! To do so, or if you want to go to DeutschLAN 2015 but not play in a team, please add me. Do not just use the signup link that we provided you with previously!
Any Highlander-, LAN- or Funteam of any skill-level is welcome!

As you already know: to successfully register your team you only need to transfer 50% of the singup fee right now. Many players approached us asking when the rest of the amount would be due. After talking to our tenants, we agreed this deadline would be 2 weeks prior to your arrival at LAN, the 28th of August 2015. 

DEUTSCHLAN? WHAT IS THIS?

For those of you new to and interested in this event, check out our official announcement post, the previous fundraiser announcement and, most importantly, the official DeutschLAN forum thread here on ETF2L.org. Spread the word and let the world know!

Season 21 powered by Tt eSPORTS: Award Polls

Same procedure as every year, you should know the drill by now. All Premiership players nominate, the community votes and eventually the winners emerge.

The top players will be crowned on Sunday, July 19th 23:00CET over at TEAMFORTRESS.TV

Highlander Nations Cup #4: Current Applications

So far we have received applications for:

• Austria*
• Belgium*
• Bulgaria*
• Croatia
• Czech Republic*
• Denmark*
• England
• Estonia*
• Finland
• France
• Germany*
• Hungary*
• Israel
• Italy
• Lithuania
• Netherlands
• Poland*
• Portugal
• Romania
• Russia
• Scotland
• Slovakia*
• Spain
• Sweden*
• Switzerland
• Turkey
• Ukraine*
• United Arab Emirates
• United States of America*
• Wales*

* Most recent additions after the newspost went live

Highlander Nations Cup #4 powered by Tt eSPORTS: Announcement

Now that most of Season 21 is over, except for High, Mid and Open Playoffs and the obligatory awards poll, we’ve finally got some room to announce the Highlander Nations Cup #4 powered by Tt eSPORTS and supported by TF2Pickup.net and TF2Connexion.fr.

This Nations Cup will once again feature a Group Stage with the top teams of each group advancing into a single elimination knock-out stage.

Highlander Nations Cup #4 powered by Tt eSPORTS: Schedule

• Captains Applications: 13.07. – 22.07.
• Announce Captains & Groups: 23.07.
• Group Stage Round 1: 26.07.-30.07.
• Group Stage Round 2: 02.08.-06.08.
• Group Stage Round 3: 09.08.-13.08.
• Round of 16: 16.08.-20.08.
• Quarterfinals: 23.08.-27.08.
• Semifinals: 30.08.-09.09.
• Grand Finals: 13.09.-20.09.

We are well aware of the ongoing i55 LAN and DeutschLAN during this period and we will accomodate matches accordingly if there will be any conflicts between them.

Highlander Nations Cup #4 powered by Tt eSPORTS: Captains Applications

National teams are created and managed by Captains chosen out of submitted applications. Each Captain will pick the best possible roster from amongst their countrymen and lead their glorious squadron to victory. There are no restrictions on which players you can field in your team, so long as they are of your country’s nationality and are eligible to play in ETF2L.

To apply, send an email to staff@etf2l.org, explaining why you should be your country’s captain and describe your planned national roster. Applicants who have experience leading successful ETF2L teams and a good reputation in the scene will be given priority. This should be self explanatory  but you should include at least your nickname and your ETF2L profile link in the application letter. Also please use the pre-fix [ETF2L] in your email’s subject, for example [ETF2L] HLNC4 Captain’s Application Germany.

Captain Applications will close on Wednesday, July 22nd at 23:59 CEST. Only approved Captains and their National Teams will be added to the competition.

Highlander Nations Cup #4 powered by Tt eSPORTS: Everything else

More informations regarding maps, unlocks and prizes will follow soon.

High Tier Playoffs

For the High Tier we have decided to go with 6 teams this time.

Seedings:

1. Hello Kitteh Ninjas!
   • 35 Pts.
2. top5rocket
   • 32 Pts.
3. Animate
   • 31 Pts.
4. Foreskings
   • 30 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 15.13
5. TwistedPlay
   • 30 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 14.13
6. Turbo Teammates
   • 28 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 17.81
7. Gamsjaga eSports
   • 28 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 9.39

Matches

Quarter Final 1: Animate vs   Turbo Teammates – Tuesday, July 14th

Quarter Final 2: Foreskings vs  TwistedPlay – Wednesday, July 15th

Hello Kitteh Ninjas! and top5rocket will join the playoffs once these Quarter Finals have finished.

Mid Tier Playoffs

For the Mid Tier we have decided to once again go with 8 teams. This time and for the future this will be a straight up single elimination 8 team knock out playoff.

Seedings:

1. HELP HELPERS
   • 37 Pts.
2. Strykers
   • 34 Pts.
3. Twenty-Seven
   • 32 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 18.31
4. Sprinkler Kids
   • 32 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 18.11
5. czuraci
   • 30 Pts.
6. Karibou.tf
   • 29 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 18.74
7. FG eSports
   • 29 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 14.19
8. Gardienii Fortei Mistice
   • 28 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 15.06
9. International Oral Sex
   • 28 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 12.86
10. Psychology Help Center
    • 28 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 11.80

Matches

Quarter Finals 1: HELP HELPERS vs   Gardienii Fortei Mistice – Monday, July 13th

Quarter Finals 2: Sprinkler Kids vs   czuraci – Tuesday, July 14th

Quarter Finals 3: Strykers vs   FG eSports – Tuesday, July 14th

Quarter Finals 4: Twenty-Seven vs   Karibou.tf – Wednesday, July 15th

Open Tier Playoffs

For the Open Tier we are sticking to what we have begun in Season 20. 16 teams in a single elimination knock out playoffs.

Seedings:

1. Coffee Shop™
   • 39 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 28.92
2. Kansanelakelaitos
   • 39 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 25.50
3. Systematic Chaos
   • 36 Pts.
4. blue
   • 35 Pts.
5. Bullet!Club
   • 33 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 20.88
6. котята (ﾉ◕◡◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
   • 33 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 20.33
7. 6 man salt
   • 32 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 19.60
8. candy sticks
   • 32 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 18.78
9. The Broken Gitans
   • 32 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 18.12
10. Monkey-Gamers
    • 32 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 17.14
11. Per aspera ad astra
    • 32 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 15.22
12. Digital Athletes
    • 31 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 18.48
13. exitus
    • 31 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 16.81
14. No Diggity
    • 30 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 23.50
15. Barmatuhi reborn
    • 30 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 16.67
16. High Flyers
    • 30 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 16.64
17. KiVaKoulu.tf
    • 30 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 14.42
18. eXtremists.
    • 30 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 13.10
19. 100% SUN BEARS
    • 30 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 11.88
20. No Effort Gaming
    • 30 Pts. Tiebreaker Score: 0.00

Matches:

Ro16.1: Coffee Shop™ vs   High Flyers – Tuesday, July 14th

Ro16.2: candy sticks vs   The Broken Gitans – Tuesday, July 14th

Ro16.3: blue vs   exitus – Tuesday, July 14th

Ro16.4: Bullet!Club vs   Digital Athletes – Tuesday, July 14th

Ro16.5: Kansanelakelaitos vs   Barmatuhi reborn – Tuesday, July 14th

Ro16.6: 6 man salt vs   Monkey-Gamers – Wednesday, July 15th

Ro16.7: Systematic Chaos vs   No Diggity – Tuesday, July 14th

Ro16.8: котята (ﾉ◕◡◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ vs   Per aspera ad astra – Tuesday, July 14th

Tiebreaker Score Calculation

We’ve decided to release the formula by which we are breaking ties so it will not be this dubious number everyone complains about, while nobody actually knows how to calculate it or where we are getting it from. We are currently looking at implementing this into the tables so you can see the score heading towards the end of the season without waiting until admins confirm whether you have a good enough tiebreaker score.

Previously for Season 20 we were using the Sonneborn-Berger Score, however we have come to realise this is not a good representation of what we want to achieve – an accurate value that can compare the difficulty of opponents faced throughout the season. We have modified this system ourselves to suit ETF2L’s specific needs compared to Chess (which is what the Sonneborn-Berger score is intended for).

1. For each match, calculate the ratio of points the team earned compared to the maximum, and multiply this by the opponent’s total score in the competition. Use only scores and opponents from “valid” matches  (matches that were not default wins and were not against dropped opponents).
2. Calculate the sum of all scores calculated via the above method.
3. Divide the sum by the number of “valid” matches played.

Here is an example from the Season 21 tiebreakers for FG eSports

• Week 1 vs Колумбийские наркобароны: 3-3 (3/6 * 20 = 10)
• Week 2 vs Gardienii Fortei Mistice: 3-3 (3/6 * 28 = 14)
• Week 3 vs MGE FAMILY: 3-3 (3/6 * 15 = 7.5)
• Week 4 vs Reverse Offence: Default Win
• Week 5 vs Fakin Ritar eSports: 6-0 (6/6 * 19 = 19)
• Week 6 vs Ohnive Prdele: 6-0 (6/6 * 24 = 24)
• Week 7 vs Twenty-Seven 2-4 (2/6 * 32 = 10.66)

Total score: 10+14+7.5+19+24+10.66 = 85.166..

Divided by the total valid matches played: 85.166/6 = 14.19

14.19 is their tiebreaker score, which is an indication of both the difficulty of opponents, and their performances against them.

Medigun Update

With the recent patch is it now possible to pick up other players weapons. Clearly this has a huge impact on the game, particularly when it comes to ubers. Thus we have decided to prohibit picking up dropped weapons for the remainder of Season 21. This includes all weapons. We will reconsider the changes post season for the upcoming Seasons and Cups.

If you think that your opponent has picked up a weapon, please contact an admin on IRC. The punishments may range depending on the severity of the rule break and based on admin discretion.

Hello friends we have come a long way since embarking on this season and a lot has happened. Teams have formed, reformed and finished out the 21st season of ETF2L. But for some there is yet battle to be done, a last stand for glory and some money prizes. Many teams have reached their respective playoffs but for the Premiership tier there are only three left. Three teams that have weathered the storm and emerged ahead of the pack.

In our first bout of the evening we have in the red or blue corner (can’t tell you ahead of time) weighing in at a combined 39 medals for individual skill: Se7en! Se7en is the only returning team from Season 20 where they finished third, but after some roster changes they now have a plethora of past gold medalists on their side to help them reach first place. Which came in handy a few days ago when they defeated nerdRage.tf2, in one of the most highly anticipated fixtures of the season. One which we will have a repeat of tonight. Will KnOxXx and his Epsilon comrades be enough to echo that performance and secure the gold as well?

And in the other corner the Frankenstein super team of rollerblading-baguettes and newly made underdogs: nerdRage.tf2. They may not have the quantity in medals but there is no doubting their skills. Zebbosai alone has finished second in Prem countless times and achieved the same at i49. Backed up by another i-series silver medalist in Tek these boys are looking for the big prize this time and they won’t let Se7en get in their way to the Grand Finals.

Tune in at 19 CEST to see this semi-final.

Waiting in the grand finals is The Last Resort, boasting a near perfect record only losing a single map throughout the season. There still seems to be doubt about HYS’ crafty team. They have attempted several different playstyles so far so there is no telling what they will bring on any given day. But this is the biggest game of the season and the sly strats may prove too high risk to execute when the pressure is on. Will they surprise the masses and earn the praise that’s been lacking? Only this game will tell.

Tune in with Sideshow and Gecks for the pinnacle of European TF2.

And if this text is not inspiring you to tune in, maybe Beater’s video will: