'ENCEKI' named IIHF eWorld Championship MVP

Erik 'ENCEKI' Tammenpää is MVP of an #IIHFGaming tournament for the second time, as the Finn has been declared the best player of the 2022 IIHF eWorld Championship.

The return of 'ENCEKI' alone made the Finland top favourites at the IIHF eWorld Championship from the very beginning. He is one of the best virtual ice hockey players on the planet, a four-time European Champion – and had already won the IIHF Esports Fan Championship in 2020.

Two years ago he was awarded as MVP of the tournament, in 2022 he repeats this success after scoring the golden goal to win the final against USA (8-7 in overtime).

Impressive 30-5 goals in the group stage

'ENCEKI' led the Finns to triumph, losing only one of his ten games.

Tammenpää marched through the group stage in his usual superior manner. Kevin 'Kevinator-373' Würterle (7-2), Beres 'Beres Boldizsar' Boldizsar (16-1) and Martin 'Venomenyce' Perenz (5-1) did not stand a chance.

Martin 'xProAm69x' Vibholm Nielsen from Denmark, on the other hand, forced 'ENCEKI' into overtime in the last group game, which the Finn won 2-1. The end result was a goal difference of 30-5 and the Finnish entry into the quarter-finals.

Tammenpää lifts Finland into semi-finals

There, 'ENCEKI' made the difference for the first time: While his teammate Valtteri 'Vattuyy' Virtanen had problems with his Swiss opponent Sven 'OriginaL-SnuS' Julmi (2-1 and 1-5), Tammenpää secured his spot in the semi-finals with two wins against Mirco 'Tron1x90' Salvi (4-0 and 4-2).

The semi-final didn’t pose any challenge as Latvia was beaten 12-6. Again it was 'ENCEKI' who left no real doubts on the Xbox against Juris 'snipencelly8' Lopatko (4-1 and 3-2).

Clear 5-2 win in Game 2 against 'Jos'

Awaiting Finland in the final was the United States, who had also been impressive in the tournament. After the 0-1 defeat of 'Vattuyy' against David 'JrPens' Roebuck, the pressure was already on 'ENCEKI' before the second game.

Tammenpää withstood this pressure and defeated Joseph 'Jos' Olmstead 5-2. The only defeat he had to accept was in the fourth game: 'Jos' fought against 'ENCEKI' into the overtime, which the US American won 3-2.

'ENCEKI' decides the final in overtime

The final came to a dramatic climax following a 7-7 aggregate tie that led to double overtime. And 'ENCEKI' stayed cool once again: He scored barely three minutes into the extra frame with an open shot straight into the left corner of the US goal.

Tammenpää carried Team Finland to their second #IIHFGaming title after 2020. In total, 'ENCEKI' scored 53 goals while conceding only 15. The Finn is a worthy MVP.

And there are no signs that 'ENCEKI' could weaken in the near future. "I just want to do this as long as possible," he said in the interview after the final. "Winning feels good every time. It's like a drug, you need more of it."