Blacklist Rivalry continued to prove that it belongs with the best, forcing powerhouse OG as well as fellow play-in survivor Aurora to a pair of 1-1 draws to open its group stage campaign in the Riyadh Masters at the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, July 10.

The all-Filipino crew spearheaded by Abed “Abed” Yusopp came out as the second best team in its group during the play-in after toting 3-1-1 record (7-3 overall) and only to be thrusted into what seemed to be the pool of death in the Group stage.

Blacklist was actually given a rude welcome by OG which dominated them in just 22 minutes in their series opener to come out with a wire-to-wire 22-4 win. But the Filipinos were not easily discouraged and grinded out a 40-24 win in Game 2 to force the draw.

Blacklist bucked a slow start and needed a massive clash at the 32-minute mark, taking down three heroes on the side of OG to turn things around and march to victory.

John Anthony “Natsumi” Vargas had a 12-4-10 KDA on his Troll Warlord while Kim “Gabbi” Santos backstopped him with a 10-4–21 tally on the Centaur Warrunner.

It was pretty much the same story in the second game for Blacklist as it saw itself trailing by a game anew against Aurora before pulling off all the necessary stops to force another draw.

Blacklist led at the onset of Game 1 but a 14th minute skirmish put the Filipinos on a disadvantage. Aurora steamrolled from there and just drew first blood behind a tight 21-16 win.

Undeterred as usual were the Filipinos as they made sure to not waste a big lead in the early goings this time around to essay a dominant 26-5 win. Abed shone with a 10-2-11 line on the Storm Spirit.