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R6 NAL: SSG Secure Major Slot

After just six match days, Spacestation Gaming are already confirmed for the upcoming August Major. Their lead is so... Fabio | 8. July 2021

After just six match days, Spacestation Gaming are already confirmed for the upcoming August Major. Their lead is so high that it’s impossible for them to actually exit the Top 4 now.

TSM and Soniqs have both acquired 10 points in the standings. Susquehanna Soniqs have managed to climb two entire spots after winning over Oxygen Esports on a 7-3 scoreline. Due to their loss to SSG, TSM have been stuck in place, but the team wouldn’t be able to reach them anyways. Disrupt won over beastcoast, which still leaves them an entire match win away from making the Top 4.

Despite their win over Mirage, XSET are still second-to-last place. The upset isn’t that much of a success for them, but definitely puts their opponents to the edge. They only have two matches remaining to safely tuck themselves into the Top 4. Otherwise, DarkZero, who only have weaker opponents coming up, could still make the Major and push Mirage out of Major contention.

THE SPECIAL CASE OF SSG

As of now, Mirage are the gatekeepers of the Top 4. The other teams have to surpass them if they want to qualify for the upcoming August Major. There’s a seven point difference between them and SSG. But Mirage only have two more maps ahead of them. Soniqs and TSM have a shot at reaching 19 points, which would put them ahead of SSG, who are in first place with 16 points right now.

However, these two teams are facing each other on the eight day. So it’s impossible for both of them to secure 19 points each. In the best case, one will have 19, the other will have 16. At that point, the head-to-head comparison comes into effect, as SSG have already won over TSM and Soniqs. Even if Mirage drop down, TSM, Soniqs, and DarkZero win everything they can, Spacestation Gaming will still not leave the Top 4.

After Troy “Canadian” Jaroslawski had announced his departure prior to Stage 1, SSG appeared on site with their analyst turned IGL. This solution was less than perfect and they completed the last NAL stage well outside of the Top 4. Canadian’s return at the Six Invitational didn’t help them either. However, with their new roster and Javier “Thinkingnade” DeAndre Escamilla as the in-game-leader, they seem to be battling their way back to the top. It’s too early to determine whether they are actually the best in North America. If their performance worsens again, Mirage, TSM, and Soniqs can still surpass them. But they are confirmed for the Major anyways!

However, their upcoming matches should not be too difficult for them. Only beastcoast and XSET are left, who have been the bottom performers so far. For the other teams, things will get considerably more complex. DarkZero and Oxygen have to pull themselves together if they still want to have a shot at the Major. But after their most recent performances, it doesn’t look as though they’ll be able to make it past Soniqs, TSM, and Mirage.