Drini Gjoka Wins the Madden 19 Bowl

The Madden Championship Series reached new heights at the Madden 19 Bowl as Drini “Drini” Gjoka toughed out the most stacked field of any EA Major all season to earn his second-career MCS belt and $40,000. The championship game was a lopsided affair; Drini was in the zone, entering halftime with a 31-0 lead over runner-up Michael “Spoto” Spoto.

The second half was merely a formality. Drini chewed up the clock, daydreaming of hoisting that belt that lay in front of him and donning the exclusive New Era 'Madden Bowl Champion' cap.

A crown for the Madden 19 king. 

Drini's win at the Madden 19 Bowl caps what has been an unprecidented run at MCS EA Major events dating back to the Madden 18 Challenge.

Since he won that event over a year ago, he's qualified for every EA Major, has appeared in three championship games (Madden 18 Bowl, Madden 19 Challenge, Madden 19 Bowl), and has earned over $200,000 in MCS tournaments.

In what was arguably the greatest first half of competitive Madden of all-time, Michael Skimbo and Spoto faced off in a rematch from their Group Stage game earlier in the tournament. In that Group Stage matchup, Spoto came out on top, but he committed a critical error, showboating after an interception, which Skimbo took advantage of by causing a fumble.

But Spoto got the last laugh with a 38-31 win on Day 1 of the tournament.

In the Semifinals, the two faced-off again. This time, big plays, turnovers, and energetic capping made the first-half one of the most entertaining games of the year, and maybe of all-time.

Spoto got the last laugh yet again as he defeated Skimbo to move on to the Championship game where he was defeated by Drini.

Although Skimbo was knocked out of the Madden Bowl by Spoto in the Semifinals, he did walk away with another honor. We let fans vote on the Snickers Most Satisfying Moment of the Year from the Madden 19 Championship Series. And Skimbo's moment, his victory at the Madden 19 Classic, won the poll by a landslide.

The win at the Classic made Skimbo the first-ever MCS-era competitor to win three championship belts, and the first to win back-to-back tournament tiles (two-straight Madden Classic championships). Congrats on a heck of a season, Skimbo. And enjoy that year's supply of Snickers.

That does it for the Madden 19 Championship Series.

This season has been a journey, and we couldn’t have done it without the support from the competitors, the community, and the fans!

— Matt Franciscovich (Follow Matt on Twitter @MattFranchise)

For more information on the Madden Championship Series and how to compete in future events, visit the Madden NFL 19 compete homepage. Keep it locked on the @MaddenLeagueOps Twitter handle for content, news updates, tournament coverage, and more.