Taking place in the brand-spanking new Esports Broadcast Center unveiled by EA Sports this last week, the Madden19 Challenge gave sport simulation fans a heaping cleat-full of tense matches this weekend.
With invitations sent out to 16 of the best Madden19 players in the league, the Madden19 Challenge kicked off with a round robin play involving four groups. Each group consisted of four players, and each would play the other in a single match, with the top three in each group advancing.
This year’s Madden19 Challenge used the very popular MUT Draft tournament game type, which in and of itself is the most exciting and wide-open competitive Madden19 mode to play in events. It’s the perfect mode for one-shot events like the Madden19 Challenge and is the favored tournament format for many pros, and fantasy football fanatics worldwide.
Chritobin’s Rise
Fighting out of a savage Group A, Christian 'Chritobin’ Lomenzo had to push past notable Madden players like BeastModeMac, Siah, and Pavan, in order to earn a berth into the elimination round. Through three group stage matches, Chritobin built up a 2-1 record that saw him advance straight through to the quarterfinals, bypassing the wild card round entirely.
Gg’s to Drini and all my opponents, thanks to everyone who supports me and thanks to EA for the incredible event... Let’s go!!! Can’t wait to be at the Madden Bowl next month! pic.twitter.com/r0wuJ2OKid
— Christian (@Chritobin) March 18, 2019
Chritobin ultimately beat out Spoto in the quarters, but the game was a pretty tight one to call all the way to the final whistle, ending in a final score of 13-7. Dawning the New York Giants’ sweaters, Chritobin’s squad then went head-to-head with Boogz in the semis. Chritobin would win that game, but head into the Madden19 Challenge championship match a little shaken, after nearly forfeiting a 16-0 lead over Boogz to win his spot in the final game.
The championship game would be a tightly contested battle on the gridiron, but it was ultimately a missed field-goal by Chritobin himself that would see the match head into overtime. In that fateful extra inning, it would be a sweet juke by Chritobin (controlling Joe Mixon), and a miss-step by his opponent Drini, that would see a 65-yard catch and run for a touchdown, sealing his victory and a spot in the “where did he this guy come from?” hall-of-fame.
Repeat Foiled
Going up against the underdog Chritobin was the complete opposite in Drini ‘Drini’ Gjoka, who came into this year’s Madden Challenge after winning this exact tournament last year.
The defending champ would swing up to play Chritobin in the finals for a chance to repeat his performance from last year, but squandered opportunities and a single glaring defensive mistake in overtime would be his downfall.
Drini looks to remain the favorite to win it all heading into the remaining schedule in the Madden Championship Series, with the penultimate Madden19 Bowl taking place in late April.
The Madden19 Challenge tournament brought a whole new flavor of Esports action from EA Sports this weekend, debuting their amazing new facility and broadcasting center in Southern California. This event had a very large turnout, both live in person (thanks to that new spectacular arena) and on live-stream.
Next up for the Madden19 Championship Series is the Last Chance Qualifying period, which will see competitors fighting in their last chance to earn enough league points to qualify for the Madden19 Bowl.
