Jigsaw wins RvB Tyrian Trophy

Team Jigsaw has claimed bragging rights amongst the Elmos and Smurfs after winning top spot among the sixteen teams contesting the 45b ISK, 5v5 Tyrian Trophy tournament last weekend to cap off a month of RvB's fifth birthday celebrations.
Jigsaw consisted of Master Broski, Bob Mississippi, Joe Grayne and was skippered by Nylund. They defeated Will Dance For PLEX, represented by Shecky THCFan, Gomlee, Cheech Duff and reserve pilot Velosim, skippered by Scyleth. Jigsaw took the title 2-1 after losing the first round in the best of three finals.

The tournament was largely a drone fest, with the rules being brutally min-maxed by keen RvB pilots - leading to many teams fielding a core double VNI, Vexor composition. Will Dance For PLEX had brought out neut Myrmidons and Navitas logistics frigates to good effect in earlier rounds with Jigsaw banning the Navitas in the final two matches, forcing a major rethink on team composition for their opponents.
The tournament was the brainchild of RvB director and CSM representative Mangala Solaris who funded the bulk of the mammoth prize pool out of his own wallet.
The winning team took home a sweet billion ISK apiece along with a pirate battleship of choice. Second place earned themselves 750m ISK and a their choice of navy battleship. Bronze medallists took home 500m ISK and a pirate cruiser. RvB members also chipped in with a range of donations to the cause. In game medals were also handed out.
Corniel Azizora, skipper of Condor Under No Trouble and Will Dance For PLEX’s Scyleth both responded to TMC’s questions.
TMC: How was the tournament? Any particular moments you recall as being either hilarious or tragic or tragically hilarious?

“First match, when we landed our VNI right on top of the other team’s VNI (first match of the tourny) at that point we pretty much knew we would be fucked if they would go for the logis. We didn't managed to catch them, so yeah we got raped,” Corniel Azizora said.
“Other than that we had to go through the torment of MECHcore, one of our team members, singing every national anthem from every country while we where waiting for our next match,”
“The tournament was great fun, finishing in second place I was extremely happy with my team and what we managed to accomplish,” Scyleth said.
“Playing a total of 10 matches caused havoc with our logistics and player fatigue was a concern but we were up for the challenge.
“The tragic moment for me was reading in local that my teammate Shecky THCfan managed to lose his vexor navy issue to concord.
“Then finding out that it was Shecky's last vexor navy issue.”

TMC: What kind of weird ship fits and combinations did you come up with?

“We planned 5 concepts, one of them included a dual cyclone, we wanted to run a blackbird with dua moa and a thorax. But didn't get the chance to test it out,” Corniel Azizora said.
“I don't believe we made any weird setups that were out of the ordinary,” Scyleth said.
“Looking at the points system for the first time I knew I wanted to use logi frigates so they quickly became our core ships.”

TMC: What kind of team-bonding exercises did you get up to in the lead up to the tourney?

“None, we struggled to get a solid team from the start, so we only managed to confirm the full team on last wednesday before the tourny,” Corniel said.
“None, it was rare to see 3 or more members online at the same time to really do anything,” Scyleth said.

TMC: How was turnout and attendance from your team?

“100% we were the first team in system, I had hauled all our concept the night before, we just had to fiddle a few things (doing runs back and forth to jita to take booster pills). Everyone was there on time,” Corniel said.
“All of my pilots were online and active for the entire weekend. We did have a member disconnect during a match but thankfully we were out of danger by that point and just needed to clear up the remaining support ships,” Scyleth said.

TMC: Any ideas on future tourneys?

“Entrance fee of 50 mill would prevent players from signing up and then going afk when they are assigned to a team,” Cornel said.
“Ban the Gecko.” was Scyleth’s forthright response.

Mangala Solaris had the following thoughts on the event.

“I personally think it went well,” Mangala said.
“Like actual sporting events it had its drama, no matter how daft that looks in the light of day!
“Overall though good fights, great atmosphere and some brilliant publicity for RvB. I have to admit I do enjoy showing off that players can create things like this and in ways rival CCP by doing so.
“Any fight Scyleth captained seemed to end really close and really enjoyable.
“I tired of the VNI meta, so any team that brought something other than that grabbed my attention, Way Too Tight and again Will Dance for Plex with their Myrm setups had me screaming like a soccer mom.
“Huge shoutouts to the commentators, Sard Caid, Thecla Elarik, Ceofore Aideron and Julianus Soter.
“Show hosts were myself and Xan Drakov. Clean up crew was mostly my MTU, Thecla and the referee Ophelia Yotosala.
“Extra mention to our awesome camera crews, Tyrendian Biohazard, Boci, BlackwingDMG, Dale Gaterau and noXza.
“I like to think that by running such tournaments and doing so publicly via stream, I am helping to foster an environment that will encourage other player entities to do the same.
“This weekend we successfully demonstrated how a player event can be run without any interference from anyone, and if a big name like RvB can manage that, then Joe WannabePvPer can do the same with his corp/alliance.
“The more player run tournaments and events we see in New Eden, the better for all.”

Mangala Solaris has also announced he will not be standing for re-election to the CSM after this term, his second, finishes. He has not ruled out a return in the future. In a post on the RvB forums, Mangala said, in part:

“Its time I did more to reinvigorate my EVE experience, and that of others both inside and outside of RvB. So many projects I want to get off the ground. Things I cannot do while CSMing and working heavily in RL. Somethings gotta give, in this case my career in Space Politics has to make way for actually playing with spaceships.”

The complete set of tournament videos and commentary are available on YouTube.