The open qualifiers have ended, and the 8 teams heading for the playoffs are in! Unfortunately, teams such as Veronica7 and SPEAR GAMING did not make it, although they were placed in a brutal Group B in the Round of 24.
The teams heading into the Group Stage are:
DRX VS
DAMWON Gaming
Maru Gaming
World Game Star
Desperado
ESportsConnected
Team T5
Brimstone
The format will follow a BO3 single round robin, with a 4 week play period. BO2 is also on the table. The top 6 teams will qualify into the 6 team double-elimination playoffs, lasting for 3 weeks, competing for 1 Masters slot.
Additionally, Game Changers will also be coming to Korea soon, with slots towards the Game Changers international event.
For the teams, here is a brief overview for each team in the playoffs.
Who I think will qualify: DRX, DK, ESC, WGS, MG, T5 to playoffs, DK to Masters
DRX VS
The kings of Korea, with only 2 regional losses to their name since their inception as an organization. With the loss of Lakia, and the addition of Zest and possibly adding their stage 3 trainer, BeYN, role swaps have been seen on the side of DRX, although some of this might be troll picks leading into the CQ.
I expect them to atleast make top 4 in the Playoffs, considering the experience theyve gained from Champions and 3 months to prepare in the offseason.
Stax: Initiator
Rb: Flex/Duelist
BuZz: Sentinel/Duelist
MaKo: Controller
Zest: IGL/Flex (Initiator, Sentinel)
——
(?) BeYN: Duelist
(Inactive) k1Ng: Sentinel/Controller
DAMWON Gaming
The team that could never go all the way in 2021, is now back for vengeance with a new roster to compliment it. Picking up the pieces from the now-disbanded NUTURN, TNL Esports, and F4Q, 3 new members along with a new head coach have joined, being hyeoni, Esperanza, exy, and Solo as coach.
Considering that they beat ESC in a considerable way, they might just have what it takes to dethrone VS this year. The only concern I have with DWG is that their IGL in Secret left, leaving someone to pick up from there. It’s unknown who their IGL currently is.
t3xture: Duelist
iNTRO: Sentinel/Controller
Jeong Hi: Controller
exy: Flex
Esperanza: Controller
——
hyeoni: Duelist/Flex
Eugene: Initiator
ESports Connected
The rising team on the block, ESC made it out of the OQ and qualified as a second seed due to their loss against DWG. A pretty good roster overall, the only concern is a possible lack of firepower. Regardless, all the players are heavily skilled and the roster includes some of the region’s best at their respective roles.
Bazzi: Duelist
(Loan) k1Ng: Sentinel/Controller
Zunba: Controller/Sentinel
TS: Initiator/IGL
GodDead: Flex
Desperado
A team made of ex-org players and DRX content creators. For what its made of, the team looks to be pretty decent, although I’m not sure if they could make it all the way through the Group Stage.
guNkorea: Duelist
Godko: Sentinel
Secret: IGL/Flex
RyZzi: Initiator/Duelist
GOLD: Controller
——
KimGyuTae: Jett/Initiator
World Game Star
The underdog team for the group stage, WGS is back with a roster revamp after disappointing 2021 results. HANN is one of the best and most underrated players in the scene, and hopefully now is his time to shine. He also now has pretty good pieces around him, so hopefully WGS gets more spotlight this time around. Definitely can take maps off the top teams, such as DK and VS, but will they go the full way? Possibly
HANN: Duelist
iRdy: Initiator/Sentinel
GODLIKE: Initiator
Sylvan: Controller
Halbae: Sentinel
——
ClarK: Sentinel
Brimstone
The new Brimstone Gaming is here, and back than ever before. In seriousness though, this roster is pretty decent, consisting of multiple ex-signed players and some new talent. Consisting of players from ex-TNL (Harry, JinboongE), ex-NUTURN in 10X, Felix (ex-Hai, VVS), and an upcoming talent that was originally set to join ESC in Hermes. While I think they can compete at the top, they might be shut down by some of the upper teams.
Hermes: Duelist/Controller
JinboongE: Initiator
Felix: Initiator/Sentinel
Harry: Sentinel/Controller
10X: Flex
Maru Gaming
A roster consisting of good players from previous teams. Coached by ex-GNG Anaks and with multiple proven talents, this team can definitely go a long way. Maybe not at the highest level just yet, but has the potential to take sets off the top teams.
Chibab: Duelist
WIX: Initiator/Flex
NakJi: Chamber
Has1ra14: Initiator/Sentinel
Dec1de: Controller
Team T5
The final team, and the team with the most upset potential in Team T5. Consisting of primarily amateur talent, the team has the talent to make upsets in the coming group stage. Not too much I can say, as there haven’t been too many accomplishments yet other than beating the new GoNGo Prince.
Bangnan: Duelist
Vow: Sentinel/Controller
이토히로부비부빗: Controller
Moves: Flex
redwater877: Initiator
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