RLCS 2021/22 Spring Major preview

Next week, the Rocket League Championship Series begins its final Major of the season. With the Spring Split coming to an end, all participants of the Major have been announced. Team BDS, the winners of the first Major of the season are returning along with G2 Esports, the winners of the Winter Major, and other top Rocket League teams. 

During the 2021/22 RLCS spring split, a total of sixteen teams qualified for the Major in London through three regional competitions. The teams will be battling for a share of the $300,000 prize pool along with points towards qualification for the World Championships later in the season.

Spring Major to take place in London

Just like the first Major of this RLCS season, the Spring Major will also take place in Europe. Back then it was in Stockholm, but now, it’s London’s turn to will host some of the best Rocket League teams in the world. The event will take place in London’s Copper Box Arena from June 29 to July 3.

Attendees

Just like in the previous tournaments, Europe and North America send by far the most teams to the Major — five teams from both regions will take part in the final event of the Spring Split. Europe will be represented by Team Liquid, Moist Esports, Karmine Corp, Endpoint CeX and Team BDS. In the finals of the last regional tournament, Moist Esports won 4-2 against Team BDS, who were very dominant during the split, making both teams favourites for this Major. 

Coming to Europe from North America are Team Envy, FaZe Clan, Version 1, Spacestation Gaming and G2 Esports. The finals of America’s last regional tournament were hard-fought, as G2 Esports managed to qualify from the Loser Bracket and forced a bracket reset with a dominant 4-0. However, FaZe Clan bounced back and narrowly won the rematch 4-3, claiming the event. Nevertheless, G2 has maintained good form after winning the second Major and is a formidable opponent for any Spring Major contestant.

The rest of the qualifying teams are Oceania’s Pioneers and PWR, South America’s Furia Esports and Team Secret, Asia’s Gaimin Gladiators, and Africa’s Team Falcons.

Spring Major format and schedule

For its last Major of the season, the RLCS has decided to change the tournament format. Unlike the two previous Majors, this time there will be no pool phase and the entire tournament will consist of a double-elimination bracket. All sixteen participating teams will be assigned to Upper Bracket 1, where they will compete in best-of-five rounds.

The upper semi-final and the final will be best-of-seven. This also applies to the lower quarter-final, semi-final and final. The two teams that eventually reach the Grand Final will also play a best-of-seven series with a bracket reset, which provides a safety net to the team that qualifies via the upper bracket.

If the team from the winning bracket loses the Grand Final, another best-of-seven will be played. Or, in other words, the team that qualifies for the Grand Final via the Loser Bracket must win two best-of-sevens.

The first round games have been already been revealed by the organizer. Here’s the schedule for the RLCS 2021/22 Spring Split Major opening day — June 29:

• G2 Esports — Gladiators (5 pm CEST)
• Moist Esports — Team Envy (5 pm CEST)
• Karmine Corp — Furia (6 pm CEST)
• Team Secret —Team BDS (6 pm CEST)
• Version1 — Endpoint CeX (7 pm CEST) 
• FaZe Clan—PWR (7 pm CEST)
• Team Liquid —Team Falcon (8 pm CEST)
• Pioneers — Space Station (8 pm CEST)

One of these teams will walk away with the main prize pool of $90,000 and 801 RLCS Circuit Ranking Points.

World Championship chances

The Spring Major is the last chance for teams to earn qualifying points for the RLCS World Championship, making it even more important to perform well. Currently, only FaZe Clan and G2 Esports have secured a spot at the World Championship, but much more will be clear after the event concludes. 

This year’s World Championship will be held in Fort Worth, United States, from August 4 to 14. The winner can look forward to prize money of up to $600,000.

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