From 08f9c2ba136c4d498824a638a733a7023a8dd7a3 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Great-Hero-YELLOW Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:25:34 -0400 Subject: [PATCH] Stronghold Article "20XX Series 6 Recap" (#2887) --- content/articles/20xx-series-6-recap.md | 153 ++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 153 insertions(+) create mode 100644 content/articles/20xx-series-6-recap.md diff --git a/content/articles/20xx-series-6-recap.md b/content/articles/20xx-series-6-recap.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..96826037a --- /dev/null +++ b/content/articles/20xx-series-6-recap.md @@ -0,0 +1,153 @@ +--- +title: "20XX Series 6 Recap" +date: 2026-03-17 +author: + - name: YELLOW + link: https://sendou.ink/u/great-hero-yellow +--- + +#### *Dapple Productions brings back the 20XX major for the first time since 2024, attracting top talent from across the West* + +20XX-series-6-recap + +On Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15, 2026, Dapple Productions held its first 20XX major since 2024, 20XX Series 6\. With a prize pool of $400, promise of high production value, and investment in event promotion, Dapple Productions pulled out all the stops to ensure 20XX was the place to be that weekend. + +Day One of the event started with 50 teams split into nine groups playing out Best of 5 sets in a double-elimination bracket to determine seeding for Day Two. First and second placing teams per group made it to Alpha Bracket on Day Two, third and fourth to the Beta Bracket, and the rest to Gamma Bracket. + +Day Two was double elimination with a pre-determined map and mode pool, starting with Bo3 sets until Winner’s Quarterfinals, where it shifted to a Bo5, and starting with Winner’s Semifinals, counterpicks took over for the pre-determined maps. Additionally, after each set, an analysis panel was brought in to cover the previous set’s action\! + +The Day One [commentators](https://bsky.app/profile/dappleprod.bsky.social/post/3mgs23nqqic25) included Nox, Vicvillon, Sasu, and Matt, and on Day Two, Fufu and Dark picked up the action, and Pat and Hat closed out the event. Joryan and Ckk were on the spectator camera. The [analysis desk](https://bsky.app/profile/dappleprod.bsky.social/post/3mguzh7dfdk2x) was hosted by Rissa, Neato, Sapph, Hammy, and Fusion. + +To promote the event, Dapple Productions collaborated with the self-proclaimed “Splatoon Interview Addict”, Radha, to provide a handful of interviews with both players and teams participating in 20XX Series 6\. Those can be found on [Dapple Productions’ YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@DappleProductions/featured) and also [Radha’s YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@IsMiseRadha/featured) under Collaborations. + +You can find Dapple Productions’ 20XX Series 6 credits roll on their [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/dappleprod.bsky.social/post/3mh4yvpjm6k2i). + +## **Day Two Streamed Matches** + +Day One bounced between groups to highlight action, but Day Two focused on the Alpha Bracket, where the top two teams per group on Day One were all sent. The action was sure to be intense as the best teams around clashed for the 20XX champion title\! + +### **Early Winner’s Bracket Sets** +**Round 1:** 王KING王 vs. Syzygie (0-2) +**Round 2:** Ascension vs. Apocalyptic (2-0) +**Quarterfinals:** ezmd vs. Moonlight (3-0) + +bonkkraken + +*The analysis desk discusses Ascension’s Bonk surviving after charging into the water while in Kraken Royale form during Winner’s Bracket Round 2, Ascension vs. Apocalyptic.* + +### **Winner’s Semifinals: Ascension vs. Azure (0-3)** + +By the time Winner’s Semifinals rolled around, neither Ascension or Azure had lost a single game *the entire event*, across days one and two. In order to proceed, one team had to fall\! Counterpicks were now in effect, no longer a predetermined map/mode. + +Game one was Splat Zones at MakoMart. The two teams were evenly matched for most of the game, trading the lead back and forth as neither team was able to get a breakaway in points… until Azure took the lead one last time and secured their lockout by keeping Ascension down one less player until they knocked out at 1:21. + +Ascension counterpicked to Splat Zones at Um’ami Ruins, where Azure wiped out their opponent just 40 seconds into the game. From this, they took the zone, and in a massive 100-0 push, had another knockout in hand before two minutes had passed. + +azureleadvsASC + +*Azure takes the lead from Ascension during their 100-0 push in game two* + +Clam Blitz at Scorch Gorge was Ascension’s last try to stay in the set. Paying Azure back, Ascension wiped out their opponent in the first 30 seconds and made the first score, just one Power Clam. Azure scored next, getting all the way down to 30, and Ascension’s next push wasn’t enough to outpace Azure, who won 81-30 after overtime. + +Azure would be making their way to face PxG in Winner’s Finals, still remaining undefeated in 20XX Series 6\. Ascension, meanwhile, would be sent to the Loser’s Bracket to fight Moonlight. + +### **Winner’s Finals: PxG vs. Azure (3-1)** + +Winner’s Finals, another clash between two teams who had yet to lose a game in this event. Like the last set, one of the two would be losing their streak momentarily—the question is, which would it be? + +Game one began on Splat Zones at Hagglefish Market. Azure came in with a .96 Gal, giving PxG an endless amount of trouble with its Ink Vac. PxG had to use their specials to paint the zone, only able to inch their score forward to try to surpass Azure, who was in the lead, and had been, for a while. + +As the final five seconds ticked down, PxG was out of penalty points and only 10 ticks from passing Azure. Both teams went down two players; the zone flashed, and the winner was decided only by the final second: PxG was the team with their undefeated streak broken, as Azure took game one 66-60\! + +azurevictoryscreenWF + +*Azure’s victory screen after breaking PxG’s winning streak; from left to right: Xenith, y0shell, Thunder, and Volty* + +Splat Zones at Um’ami Ruins—a very popular game two choice—was next, and the game was rough for PxG, constantly down two or three players at a time. The first time they got the zone, Azure was already at 14 ticks remaining. Then, stopping Azure again at 8, PxG, revitalized, locked in to lock Azure out, and took the game in a knockout with less than a minute remaining, ending Azure’s undefeated streak\! + +Both teams were tied in the set, each now having one loss tarnishing their lossless tournament run. New question: which team would be the first to lose a set? + +Game three was Rainmaker at Humpback Pump Track. PxG moved fast, taking the first checkpoint at 4:14. They pushed the Rainmaker to 20\. Then 7\. As their players went down, they kept jumping back in to Azure’s spawn over the span of a minute, eventually wearing down their opponent to earn another KO with two minutes remaining. + +souljaThisWay + +*Soulja signals “This way\!” to PxG teammates while taking Azure’s attention off of the Rainmaker.* + +Clam Blitz at Museum d’Alfonsino was the opposite of the previous game, taking three and a half minutes for anyone to score; after many near-tries, PxG finally got clams in the basket. Azure made a last-ditch effort, but their final two pushes ended with little result, and PxG took game four 52-20 after overtime, advancing to Grand Finals. + +### **Loser’s Finals: Azure vs. ezmd (3-0)** + +After repeating their Winner’s Quarterfinals result against Moonlight and going 3-0 in Loser’s Semifinals, ezmd pressed forward to meet Azure in Loser’s Finals. Azure, finally having lost their first games and set against PxG in Winner’s Finals, wanted the runback in Grand Finals, and this set showed it. + +Game one went to Splat Zones at Mahi-Mahi Resort; Azure already had the zone 10 seconds in. Azure’s timer ticked down and down, until a Triple Splashdown from ezmd stopped Azure at 7\. Less than a minute later, ezmd had to do it again, stopping Azure at 2, but it wasn’t enough to stop Azure from getting the knockout win at 1:31. + +Splat Zones again, to Hagglefish Market, where it was now ezmd controlling the game, with Azure finally getting the zone after ezmd had gotten to 24\. After spending almost a minute living rent-free in ezmd’s spawn, Azure took the lead, and just shortly after, another knockout, just over two minutes in. + +ezmdBooyahs + +*Every member of ezmd hypes up kiki for a Booyah Bomb\!* + +One more time, the set went to Splat Zones, to Barnacle & Dime. If you didn’t think Azure could go any faster, you’d be mistaken. Ezmd had the zone once and got to 85, but that was curtains for them as Azure dominated the rest of the match, knocking out a third time in a row, as the clock read 3:23. + +With Moonlight in fourth place and ezmd at third, it was up to Azure to lock in, to either take first place from PxG, or sit down at second. Grand Finals was up next\! + +### **Grand Finals: PxG vs. Azure** + +Before the action began, a trailer announced the return collab between Dapple Productions, IPL, and Gamers Outreach for the Splatoon 3 charity tournament, Gamers for Giving 2026\! Once again, Dapple Productions and IPL will be co-streaming Gamers for Giving, with all donations used to help bring video games to children in hospitals. + +gfg + +The online tournament will take place on Saturday, April 4th at 1 PM ET / 7 PM CET. Registration is already open, and you can sign up at [Dapple.ink/gfg](http://dapple.ink/gfg)\! + +**March 17, 2026 Update:** the Splatoon 3 Gamers for Giving 2026 charity event has been **rescheduled to Sunday, April 5th**, to not clash with those playing in the newly-announced Splatoon 3 North American League 2026. It will be at the same time (1 PM ET / 7 PM CET). + +Returning to the action at hand, PxG and Azure were back at it, ready to settle who would be the 20XX Series 6 champions. A fitting test between teams who had not lost a single game to any team but each other. + +Azure had back-to-back Splat Zones at Barnacle & Dime battles, but this time they were in ezmd’s shoes. They were wiped out twice by PxG, managed to get the zone only once for a short time before losing it, and ultimately, lost the game just over two minutes in. + +For Tower Control at Inkblot Art Academy, Volty switched from Carbon Roller Deco to Sloshing Machine, making prime material for the commentators to make as many cleaning-related puns as they could. Azure’s furthest tower push ended at 41, which PxG tied, but in the last minute, got pushed back to 42, leading to Azure winning, 59-58. + +### *PxG ties their score 41-41 with Azure* + +Game three was Tower Control again, at Hagglefish Market. It took until 1:49 for either team to clear the first checkpoint, and would be done by PxG. Azure made a strong push in overtime, clearing their first checkpoint and getting close to PxG’s relatively-low score, but were stopped just shy. PxG took another game, 60-50. + +Game four shifted to Rainmaker at Undertow Spillway. PxG got their first checkpoint in 45 seconds as Azure went down three players. Azure responded with a check clear of their own, and was able to take the lead. Just 30 seconds later, a devastating wipeout on Azure let PxG get the lead all the way to 25\. + +Azure was wiped out once more. Things were looking dire for the team, but they rallied themselves, and a delayed wipeout on PxG as the clock dipped below the one minute mark let Azure get an Ink Vac-powered push to drive the lead to 23\! + +The game went into overtime with PxG holding the Rainmaker in mid. They fought their way up the left side, and one final wipeout on Azure let PxG run the Rainmaker ahead, securing the final game of the Grand Finals set in a 78-77 victory\! + +PxGvictory20XX + +*PxG celebrating their victory, from left to right: Grey, Noah, Gos, and soulja. Image source: [Grey’s Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/greyspl.bsky.social/post/3mh4xyvf7ms2o)* + +Day two of 20XX Series 6 concluded after a strong showing of talent from 50 teams, from all skill ranges. + +Congratulations to these teams: + +**Alpha Bracket** +**1st Place:** PxG +**2nd Place:** Azure +**3rd Place:** ezmd + +**Beta Bracket** +**1st Place:** So What +**2nd Place:** Fall Guys +**3rd Place:** Sanagi + +**Gamma Bracket** +**1st Place:** Nongshim Co., Ltd. +**2nd Place:** Unknown? +**3rd Place:** Bad Luck + +day2alphabracket + +*Alpha Winner’s Bracket from Sendou.ink* + +day2alphabracketL + +*Alpha Loser’s Bracket from Sendou.ink* + +Original Posting Date: March 17, 2026 at [Splatoon Stronghold](https://www.splatoonstronghold.com/news/20xx-series-6-recap) + +Written and formatted for publication by [YELLOW](https://bsky.app/profile/great-hero-yellow.bsky.social).