Maximum Effort managed to defend their ESEA title after defeating UMX.us in the grand final in two straight best-of-three series, a total of 4 maps.

The first of the two series started on de_nuke, were UMX.us took the lead winning the pistol round and the next two rounds, but with a consistent and strong gameplay from Christian "sobo" Soboleske they managed to end the first half with a score of 8-7.

In the second half, was Maximum Effort who instantly started pulling away from UMX and put the score 13-7 in their favor. Cutting a five round streak Nazar "steno" Vynnytsky's team won the next two rounds, but Maximum Effort secured the three next rounds they needed to win the map with a final score of 16-9.

In the second map, the Maximum Effort dominance went bigger when took the lead quickly and finished the first half as counter-terrorists with a score of 12-3.

UMX won the second half pistol round, but with the three AK frags from Sean "sgares" Gares in the third round made the score 13-5. Soboleske's squad failed to win the forced buy round and Gilbert and company won the second map, de_train 16-5 and the first series.


UMX unable to capitalize in final once again

Second series commenced on de_forge with UMX losing three rounds in a row, and after subsecuent rounds they went up 7-4 before Christian "sobo" Soboleske's UMX, helped by his 20 frag effort, and finishing the half 7-8.

UMX's leader Nazar "steno" Vynnytsky and Paul "pauLy" Guerboyan USP frags gave
their team the second pistol round. Maximum Effort won the fourth round, but in the fifth UMX managed to force a saving round breaking Gilbert's team money to go up 5-1, 13-8 in overall score.
Maximum Effort managed to lead a comeback in time winning the eight rounds they needed to win the map, with a final score of 16-13.


Gilbert's squad managed to get the title and the $10.000

UMX as terrorists started winning the pistol round on de_inferno as well as Maximum Effort's two consecutive save rounds. Sean 'sgares' Gares team showed their strongest gameplay to win seven of the next eight rounds to make it 7-4. UMX good strategy gave them the twelfth round but Maximum Effort won two of the
next three rounds to finish the half leading 9-6.

Maximum Effort won their terrorist pistol round and next three rounds to went up 4-0, and forcing UMX to save once again. When the score was 14-6 UMX managed to make a comeback putting the score in 14-12, but they faced a tournament point in favor of the rival team in the next round.That wasn't enough though, as UMX tied the game and forced an overtime.

UMX didn't ressist the opposing force and the Maximum Effort's strategies made it possible to win three rounds in a row as terrorists , and setting the final score to 19-15 in the next round playing as counter-terrorists as Kory "semphis" Friesen took the last frag to secure their ESEA championship and $10,000 first place prize.

Final standings of ESEA Invite Season 11 finals:


The next season of ESEA Invite will once again feature Counter-Strike 1.6 and is set to begin in August.

Source: HLTV.org.
Images courtesy of ESEA news.