I know I am a bit late here but I just wanted a few opinions on the LCQs, the NA and APAC LCQs have already started and by the time this is released the APAC LCQ will only have 3 teams remaining, but we still have the SA, EMEA and EA LCQs yet to start with the NA LCQ only having finished Upper Round 1.
Asia-Pacific Last Chance Qualifier
At the time I am writing this the BLEED vs ONIC game is about to start with the winner of this game facing off against BOOM Esports tomorrow in the Grand Final for a position at Champions. BOOM has locked fantastic this year with a 4th place finish and 7th place finish in Stage 1 and Stage 2 respectfully. They have made work of the upper bracket this event, taking down giants such as Griffin, ONIC and BLEED. ONIC have had a pretty impressive season as well, placing 9th and 4th in Stage 1 and 2 respectfully. BLEED has a similar story as well, placing 3rd and 5th in Stage 1 and 2 respectfully. All these three teams have been great this season and I think all 3 of these will represent APAC amazingly alongside Paper Rex and XERXIA at Champions. Earlier in this tournament we had ORDER, the Oceanian representative make a underdog run, taking down Fancy United, CERBERUS and losing narrowly to Team Secret in a 5-13, 13-5 and 11-13 game, losing 2-1. While we talk about Team Secret, they were a favourite to take home the victory and return to the international stage but they narrowly loss to ONIC 11-13, 13-11 and 11-13, coming in fourth. I really think APAC will be one of the most entertaining and powerful regions next year with all these amazing teams.
North America Last Chance Qualifier
The North American LCQ has started with a bang with all four opening matches be extremely entertaining, starting off the tournament we had two former kings, The Guard and Sentinels, face off. Sentinels making shocking changes earlier in the month entered with a bang taking map 1, 15-13 but sadly loss the following two matches 13-10 and 15-13, eventually losing 2-1. We had Cloud9 knock Luminosity, now known as Shopify Rebellion, to the lower bracket 2-0, with a 13-10 and 17-15 win. FaZe took a narrow win over Evil Geniuses while 100 Thieves closed it out with a 2-1 win over NRG. FaZe is one of favourites to win the whole thing coming third in Stage 2, Cloud9 are also one of the favourites as they took the NA LCQ last year and came 3rd in Stage 1. Sentinels is definitely what most fans will be looking at, with Shroud and Zellsis coming in, they will definitely be a entertaining team but as they took an early loss they will need a streak of wins to return to the world stage. We will check back in with them soon, as we have The Guard vs Cloud9 and Sentinels vs Shopify Rebellion very soon.
South America Last Chance Qualifier
The South American LCQ is yet to start but as we have 8 teams enter to fight for a position at Champions only two will prevail. KRU is no doubt the favourite to take home the victory, being the only team in this LCQ and in fact any LCQ to qualify for both Master events but still have to participate in a LCQ, with two spots available, it is almost certain, KRU will take one of them. The other spot will probably be taken by Brazilian favourite Ninjas in Pyjamas, but with FURIA, Keyd Stars, E-Xolos LAZER all in for contention we never know. We'll check in on them in just a few hours.
East Asia Last Chance Qualifier
The East Asian LCQ will consist of 3 Japanese teams, 3 Korean teams and for the first time ever 2 Chinese teams. EDward Gaming and KONE will represent China while Maru Gaming, DAMWON Gaming and On Sla2ers will represent Korea. Northeption, Crazy Raccoon and REJECT will round out the 8 as they are your Japanese representatives. Really this spot if up for anyone to grab as this is the first time China is participating in a Riot event. Northeption and DAMWON are probably the favourites to qualify to Champions but we will have to wait and see who will come out on top,
Europe, Middle East, Africa Last Chance Qualifier
The EMEA Last Chance Qualifier will be one of the most closely contested tournaments all year as former Champions Finalists Acend and M3C (Gambit) compete in the first round, Team Liquid, G2 and Guild will also be fighting for the final spot at Champions for EMEA. G2 and Guild (and technically Liquid) are the only teams who qualified for Masters events this year so they will most likely be your tournament favourites. Although Acend and M3C will be hungry for redemption as former kings as EMEA they will have to make a strong early statement if they want to return to the spotlight.
Well thats that folks as we watch the LCQs all start and wrap up in the following weeks. Who will be the last six? And who will take this years final event.
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