UTS Los Angeles Day 3 Preview: Action-packed day as Final Four do battle for place in final

The closing day of UTS5 contains three massive matches, as the final four do battle in two mouth-watering semi-finals, before the winners go toe-to-toe again in the showpiece match

Ben Shelton competes at UTS5 2023 Thierry Breton / Panoramic

Jamie Malachy

July 23, 2023

CLASH OF THE GROUP WINNERS

First up is the winner of Group A against the winner of Group B. Taylor “The Hotshot” Fritz takes on Gaël “La Monf” Monfils in what will be a thrilling encounter. In a clash between the two form players of UTS Los Angeles, the LA native and home favourite “The Hotshot” will be looking to make it four wins from four as he takes on a man who has electrified UTS.

Having won all three of his group matches, and with the vociferous support of a raucous LA crowd behind him, “The Hotshot” will be a slight favourite.

But “La Monf” has been a revelation throughout this tournament, only dropping one match en route to topping Group B, showing he is not in the least intimidated by a vocal crowd.

BEST OF THE REST DO BATTLE

Hot on the heels of that match comes the second semi-final.

It is Ben “The Mountain” Shelton up against Wu “The Great Wall” Yibing, in a clash of the group stage runners-up.

Each player has won two and lost one of the encounters so far, but “The Mountain” will again have an adoring American crowd on side as he seeks to reach a first ever UTS final.