SEA Games 2019 Esports Day 6: Thailand take Tekken gold, Philippines down Singapore in Starcraft
The final day of the esports component of the SEA Games 2019 took place on Tuesday (10 December) at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan, Manila.
Yahoo Southeast Asia looks at the results of Day 6, which saw Singapore lose out to The Philippines in Starcraft II, the closest the republic got to a gold medal at this SEA Games, while Thailand reigned at Tekken.
Starcraft II
The Philippines’ Caviar Napoleon “EnDerr” Acampado faced Singapore’s Thomas “Blysk” Kopankiewicz in the grand finals, with both having met previously during the group stages where Acampado had a clean sweep.
Unfortunately for Singapore, the same result played out as Kopankiewicz’s Protoss were no match for Acampado’s Zerg and the home crowd, with the Filipino player getting two quick wins to take the best-of-7 series 4-1.
The Philippines claimed their third esports gold medal, while Singapore had to settle for silver for their maiden SEA Games esports journey.
Vietnam’s Tran "MeomaikA" Hong Phuc took home the bronze medal.
Tekken 7
Tekken 7 made its also debut in the SEA Games on the very last day of the esports component.
After an afternoon of group qualifications, Thailand and The Philippines’ representatives were the only ones left remaining in the top 4.
In the upper bracket finals, Thailand’s Nopparut “Book” Hempamorn won The Philippines’ Alexandre Gabrielle “AK” Laverez to secure a slot in the grand finals.
Meanwhile, in the lower bracket semi-finals, The Philippines’ Andreij Hosea “Doujin” Albar won the series against Thailand’s Rachawin “Shin Akuma” Tanasoontorngoon.
This meant that Albar would have to face fellow countryman Laverez in the lower bracket finals.
Both came very close to advancing to the grand finals in a close fight, but it was Laverez who was victorious with an extremely tight 3-2 win, while Albar was eliminated and got himself the bronze medal.
Laverez faced Nopparut in the finals, and would need to overcome the Thai player twice in two best-of-5 series to win the gold medal, while his opponent just needed to win one series.
Nopparut was able to narrowly overcome the challenge from Laverez, winning the series 3-2, and earned Thailand its second esports gold medal for the SEA Games 2019.
The Philippines, with both the silver and bronze for Tekken, would make SEA Games history too, as the first country to have two podium winners.
