Before losing to the newly sponsored team Trade Mark Gaming, formerly known as Str8 Rippin, Team 3D was riding an incredible win streak that included seven consecutive MLG Halo2 titles. This streak comes after a number of consecutive titles in Halo1.

Due to scheduling conflicts, 3D will not attempt to reclaim their crown for a few weeks. However, no worries for any 3D Halo2 fans as according to Dan “Ogre1” Ryan, “We are still robots; we just need a little oil here and there.”

Since beating Team 3D in Philadelphia, Trade Mark Gaming has gone on to win MLG Las Vegas after destroying team IGameSpot in the finals. Matthew “Zyos” Leto, Tom “Tsquared” Taylor, Alfonso “Fonzi” Chartier, and Peter “Foulacy” Dietrich finish out Trade Mark Gaming’s roster.

Team 3D’s absence at MLG Las Vegas was due to the decision for the team to attend the regional qualifier for the World Cyber Games. With a higher prize giveaway, WCG’s became priority over MLG Las Vegas. Team 3D won their qualifier easily, but had mixed feelings because they could not reclaim their throne as the MLG title holder.

I spoke with the Team 3D as they watched IGameSpot make a three game comeback in the MLG Las Vegas Finals but fell short in the end. Team 3D seemed disappointed that they could not attend the Las Vegas tournament and even more upset that TmG has now won two MLG tournaments in a row.

Two weeks prior, Team 3D was at the Philadelphia MLG, the largest Halo and Halo2 tournament to date. With ninety-eight teams competing in Halo2 alone, this event featured some of most fierce competition possible. After two days of non-stop Halo1 tournaments, Team3D sweeping all five competitions, the team began the all weekend long battle of Halo2 that would tear them off their thrones.

Team 3D was exhausted, their hands sore from, “Just playing hardcore for 20 hours a day and sleeping one-to-two hours per night,” as Ryan "Saiyan" Danford said. And yet, Dan “Ogre1” Ryan stormed through the FFA early Saturday, taking first place in the event.

Dan’s placing gave 3D a third place seeding going into the team event while TmG and RoC took first and second place seeding respectively.

TmG and 3D both dominated in group play, unfortunately for 3D, TmG was able to go 3-0 against them in the Winner Bracket Finals. It was a surprising turn of events, much different than what 3D, and most fans, were accustomed or expecting.

With six games needed for 3D to win Philadelphia, the crowd sat in anticipation as the two teams faced each other in the finals once again.

“There’s always time for a comeback,” Tom "Ogre2" Ryan maintained.

It was not until the final game, Colossus Snipers, where TmG was up 49-33 that Team 3D finally began to doubt their chances for a comeback.

Finally, it was all over.

Hundreds of fans in the crowd at MLG and at home on Video on Demand watched TmG finish off the once invulnerable-like team known as 3D. Everyone sat in shock still contemplating what had just happened after that final snipe.

“We felt like we could win, we just came up short,” said Dave "Hotshy" Walsh.

Most people thought 3D would be able to pull through and make an amazing comeback. Even though many believed and hoped that Team 3D would go undefeated this season, it seemed improbable and, as it turns out, just was not in the cards.

“It's hard to look past the loss, but overall I think it's good,” Walsh contends. Perhaps he is right to have a strange bit of optimism, even in defeat. Team 3D may have lost one tournament, but they have also made the MLG scene much more interesting. Fans can look forward to the next MLG where Team 3D, TmG, and IGameSpot will all battle it out for that top spot. Team 3D is far from out of it and can be that legendary team again. Many in the community hope Team 3D will reclaim what is rightfully theirs.

However, it will not just happen right away. Due to numerous other conflicting tournaments, Team 3D must wait until MLG Atlanta in late September to face off against TmG again.

Watching Vegas on Vidoe on Demand as TmG went 6-3 against IGS was tough enough. Now Team 3D will miss Nashville and Seattle because of the VGL tournament and WCG Nationals in September.

For now, TmG is hot and Team 3D is itching to take their title back.

"We aren't going to let one second place finish get us down,” Dan “Ogre1” Ryan says. “[This is] just more reason to practice harder and come back and win the next one."

Team 3D might be absent from the MLG scene for a few weeks, but they are definitely not out of the game yet.