Players competed against one another in two games: League of Legends and Counter Strike: Global Offensive. It is worth noting that the students organized a professional studio themselves, where they recorded everything. The finals marked the culmination of online matches that had been taking place since December. In the first, group stage, more than 200 players from across Poland took part, divided into 40 teams. The players competed for points in the standings, as only the two best teams from each group advanced to the quarterfinals. The matches were full of excitement and, because they were played in a Bo1 format, featured many unexpected and daring tactics and plays. By the halfway point of the competition, a certain group of teams had already stood out; thanks to their substantial number of points, they could begin thinking about the play-off stage. It began in February and was fully commentated from a professional studio, while before each game and also during it, for those who were somewhat less interested, our team from the fanpage prepared the most interesting information about the previous match in the form of a post on Facebook and Instagram.
In the quarterfinals, the matches were played in a Bo3 format, which allows teams to take a more tactical and measured approach to their opponents and the game itself. The quarterfinals were a real test for our studio, commentary and camera crews, as well as for the players themselves, because victory in the February quarterfinals guaranteed participation in the final stage held on May 25 and 26, 2019.
After the successful quarterfinals, it was finally time for the finals. The production team had prepared a surprise for viewers—a replay system allowing them to see the most crucial moments of the match once again. On Saturday, May 25, two semifinal matches in each game were played. The broadcast began at 10:30 a.m. and ended only at 1 a.m. The teams advancing to the finals and those who would compete for third place were determined then. On Sunday, the matches for the final place on the podium were played first. Only afterward did the players begin the final matches. The broadcast ended at around 10 p.m. Our team, consisting of commentators Jacek Myjkowski, Aleksander Filist, Oskar Piotrowski and Jakub Zmaczyński; broadcast operators Jan Kwiatkowski and Arkadiusz Fleszar; and social media managers Aleksandra Mernioz and Martyna Mrozik, was fairly tired after such a marathon, but also happy, because the finals provided plenty of positive emotions and the matches themselves represented a truly high level.
The teams that finished on the podium received prizes funded by the Bolesławiec City Office and the Bolesławiec County Office. The fans’ interest exceeded our expectations, and the finals themselves provided everyone with plenty of excitement.
We would like to thank our sponsors: the Bolesławiec County Office, County Head Tomasz Gabrysiak, the Bolesławiec City Office, Mayor Piotr Roman, Laboratorium Kreatywności and the Komputronik store in Bolesławiec. Great thanks are also due to Andrzej Leśniewski, director of the Electronic Schools Complex in Bolesławiec, without whom even online finals would not have made sense, and to Mariusz Potyszka for his involvement in organizing the entire project for several editions already. No less thanks go to the people who supported the League’s work at various stages— the fact that they are not named here does not mean that we do not remember them or that we are not grateful to them.
Once again, congratulations to the winners. If you would like to learn more about us, please visit our Facebook profile.
