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The 2021 Online Championship Series came to a conclusion this past Thursday when Matthew Harrison-Trainor (MatthewHT) defeated Justin Branch (Silverglen) in the final of the 16-player playoff that began in October. This is MHT’s fourth major title (2012 San Diego Grand Prix, 2014 US Nationals, 2020 Texas Mini-Worlds Players Championship) and Justin’s second OCS runner-up performance (2019). Congratulations to Matt and Justin for their performances!
MHT qualified for the Top 16 by obtaining the first Season 1 at-large bid, going 28-8 in February, March and May (and edging Joe Olson in SOS%, who got the second Season 1 at-large). Silverglen likewise obtained a half-seasonal at-large bid, but in Season 2 – going 29-7 in June, August and September. MHT defeated Brad Kippel in the Round of 16 and played Carbon Chamber Testing and Quiet Mining Colony; then Drew Lichtenstein in the Quarterfinals (Hunt Down, Qui-Gon Communing) and subsequently Charlie Arlandson in the Semifinals (as ISB Operations and They Have No Idea We’re Coming).
Silverglen defeated Brian Fred (as He Is The Chosen One with a Game 2 Concession) in the Round of 16, Paul Myers in the Quarterfinals (using Hunt Down (V) and Echo Base Operations), and then Chris Hull in the Final Four (ISB Operations, Yoda Communing). Silverglen is one of only three players to have reached the Top 16 in the OCS’ first four years (Olson, Bastian Winkelhaus).
Matt and Justin finished the 2021 qualifying period as 6th and 4th in the cumulative OCS Ratings, respectively, which do not include Playoff performance.
Match replays may be found on the Players Committee’s YouTube Channel. The Top 16 bracket is available here (congratulations to Ryan Sersen for winning the prediction contest).
Special thanks to OCS Tournament Director Chris Gogolen, Streaming Lead Dan Tartaglione and Prize Support Lead Chris Menzel for their help for the fourth year of the Online Championship Series. Over 100 players played at least one game, 76 players purchased the Season Pass, and 29 players had “perfect attendance” (72 games played – 12 per month for 6 months).
Year 5 – 2022 – is expected to kick off around February 1, 2022, and may include some refinements based on participant feedback.
