The first indication that ESWC may not be random sounded just after 10pm CST. The shouts of excitement and shock reigned from a crowd watching NoA lose to TAU. TAU, who are they? Texas Area Untouchables. A long time CPL team with a lot of individual CS experience beat NoA with a strong first half of 9-3 as Terrorist, 13-11.

The cheers for a team most didn’t even know came as a surprise while the crowd waited around to see NoA exit the tournament area. The biggest story has to be the Dave “amic” Jacobson. Amic’s relationship with NoA’s member Griffin “ShaGuar” Bengar is almost legendary among the top players in North American. Having spent many days together and Amic even once being rumored as NoA’s 6th he strikes a surprising blow.

“I hate to tell you I told you so,” said Amic after the match. His conversation prior to the match with ShaGuar took the form more of a “don’t be surprised if…” with the outcome proving the prediction.

Early results show a massive following as TsN reports 4,500 listeners while almost the entire BYOC followed on the two big screens inside the event. NoA did try to make a match of it in the second half adding to the suspense. A seven to one round run by NoA after a 1-2 deficit to start the half resulted in a final deciding round. TAU, forced to play in almost a save buyout, won using mostly deagles and picked up guns.

TAU’s roster consisted of many CAL-I players and former members of top teams. Kevin "brzrk" Russell, Corey “sinyster” Deveraux, Benjamin “pb” Johns, Robert Irey and Amic made up the five for TAU. Both pb and Amic were initial members of iFate, a team created by Fatal1ty.

TAU now moves on to face CAL-I season 10 Champions, Rival. The Cinderella story could end against arguably one of the hottest teams in America coming of Lethal Gamer’s LAN win and a great run at the ESWC USA event. NoA on the other hand drops down into the loser’s bracket with a match against Evolution and assuming a win should face the winner of Gamewyze/Punto cL.