VCT Challengers 2 Playoffs EMEA Preview

The Challengers Playoffs for the EMEA region are just around the corner. G2, NaVi, Liquid… the list of high-profile teams just keeps going. But only four out of those 12 teams can actually make the cut and qualify for Masters in Berlin.

The playing field has changed a lot in comparison to Stage 1. The extra four slots have given teams like Natus Vincere and forZe an opportunity to qualify. But some of the old favorites failed to make it through entirely. Fnatic and BBL, for instance, were stopped in their local Challengers events already. This is a particularly bad showing for fnatic, considering they had stood in the Grand Finals of Masters Reykjavik just a little while ago. However, they won’t get another chance now.

The EMEA Finals have also been rearranged structurally. in April, we saw a GSL Group Stage, but now the team are entering a Double Elimination bracket immediately. Four participants are one match further up thanks to higher seeding.

THE OPENING MATCHES

Team Liquid are getting their money’s worth with Natus Vincere. The CIS teams are all famous for their insane upset potential. In Stage 1, Gambit managed to score a surprise victory over FunPlus Phoenix, and the same might be happening to Liquid with NaVi now. Guild also have to face an Eastern European competitor, but at least forZe are among the weaker teams in their region. They only managed to narrowly qualify via Challengers 2!

Last time, the Turkish teams proved they didn’t really need additional slots for the Playoffs. Two of the three Turkish participants bombed out in last place of their groups and only Oxygen got through into the Top 4. They’re back now and will bring the heat to Giants Gaming. But the European team now partially consists of FPX and G2 veterans, so they shouldn’t be underestimated either. However, they needed to go through Challengers 2 to qualify, just like Liquid. FunPlus Phoenix, on the other hand, made it through on the first try and have received one of the easiest opponents of the EMEA playoffs in the form of Fire Flux Esports.

THE HIGHEST SEEDS

Acend and G2 Esports have earned themselves higher seeds by making the Grand Finals of Challengers 1 EU. So they’re not starting out in the Opening Matches, but are waiting in the Upper Bracket for the eventual winners. It’s obviously a positive sign that they have performed better than anyone else in their local league. However, it’s nearly impossible to draw a comparison between the regions now. So are they really favorites? Sure, Acend managed to win Challengers 1 over G2, but does that really prepare them to go up against Natus Vincere? The same holds true for G2 Esports, who might be facing Oxygen.

Gambit might actually face some regional competition in the form of forZe. Supermassive Blaze, the newest Turkish superteam, might actually stand a chance against their opponents. Even though they’re bound to face FunPlus Phoenix, they have one of Heretics’ old performers on board.

Every team wants to win here. It’s obvious that only a select few will actually succeed. But the first place actually isn’t a necessity, since the entire Top 4 is heading to Berlin next. So prize money and seeding are the only reasons to make first place at the Challengers Playoffs EMEA. This should be motivation enough , but surely the team’s primary focus will be qualifying for the Masters event.