The VCT EMEA Stage 1 regular season has concluded, with six teams advancing to playoffs. The split came down to the wire, as the final match, BBL Esports vs. FUT Esports, had both seeding and playoff implications for five different teams.
Karmine Corp
Karmine Corp
Europe
Rank #33
MAGNUM
Martin Penkov
tomaszy
Tomás Machado
N4RRATE
Marshall Massey
marteen
Martin Pátek
sh1n
Ryad Ensaad
,
Team Heretics
Team Heretics
Europe
Rank #1
MiniBoo
Dominykas Lukaševičius
Wo0t
Mert Alkan
RieNs
Enes Ecirli
benjyfishy
Benjamin David Fish
Boo
Ričardas Lukaševičius
,
Natus Vincere
Natus Vincere
Europe
Rank #21
ANGE1
Kyrylo Karasov
Shao
Andrey Kiprsky
, and
FNATIC
FNATIC
Europe
Rank #2
Boaster
Jake Howlett
Chronicle
Timofey Khromov
Alfajer
Emir Ali Beder
return to the playoffs, while
FUT Esports
FUT Esports
Europe
Rank #10
MrFaliN
Furkan Yeğen
yetujey
Eray Budak
AtaKaptan
Ata Tan
cNed
Mehmet Yağız İpek
qRaxs
Doğukan Balaban
and
Team Liquid
Team Liquid
Europe
Rank #24
nAts
Ayaz Akhmetshin
Keiko
Georgio Sanassy
round out the top six. On the other hand, map differential kept both
BBL Esports
BBL Esports
Europe
Rank #40
Elite
Efe Teber
pAura
Melih Karaduran
Brave
Eren Kasırga
reazy
Kaan Ürpek
QutionerX
Doğukan Dural
and
Team Vitality
Team Vitality
Europe
Rank #9
trexx
Nikita Cherednichenko
Kicks
Kimmie Laasner
runneR
Emil Trajkovski
ceNder
Jokūbas Labutis
Sayf
Saif Jibraeel
out of Shanghai contention, joining the Group Omega teams with losing records:
Gentle Mates
Gentle Mates
Europe
Rank #23
K4DAVRA
Thomas Johner
beyAz
Beyazit Körpe
nataNk
Nathan Bocqueho
Wailers
Wailers Locart
logaN
Logan Corti
,
GIANTX
GIANTX
Europe
Rank #20
purp0
Semyon Borchev
Cloud
Kirill Nehozhin
,
KOI
KOI
Europe
Rank #47
kamo
Kamil Frąckowiak
ShadoW
Tobias Flodström
grubinho
Grzegorz Ryczko
sheydos
Bogdan Naumov
.
Overall, FUT and NAVI were the best performers throughout Stage 1. Both teams only lost one series, and were joint-first place, alongside Karmine Corp, in terms of map wins. FUT stood out over NAVI, as they won three matches without dropping a map, granting them the top seed for Group Omega.
The Key Moments
Unlike other regions, EMEA was the only league to begin their final week with no team confirmed for playoffs. Mathematically, a total of nine teams were able to advance to playoffs, and it wasn't until the end of Day 2 that NAVI, Karmine Corp, and FNATIC qualified, despite the latter two teams ending the group stage on a loss.
On Day 3, Team Liquid's 2-0 victory over Gentle Mates kept their hopes alive, and their first map win guaranteed both Heretics and FUT Esports making the top six.
The final match, FUT vs BBL, would determine which of BBL and Team Liquid would advance to playoffs. Prior to the match, BBL and Team Liquid were, respectively, the top and bottom team in Group Alpha in terms of record. Additionally, the outcome of the match determined the top seed from each group, granting them an additional championship point and a bye, meaning they would only need one match win to qualify to Shanghai.
In the end, FUT's 2-0 victory helped Team Liquid overtake BBL based on map differential and sent BBL down to fourth place. In terms of seeding, the match meant FUT and Karmine Corp entered playoffs as the top teams from their respective groups.
Interestingly, neither of the playoff teams from Group Alpha were able to take a win against the top three Group Omega teams. In contrast, Team Vitality and BBL Esports were the only teams to win against the Group Omega playoffs teams, with two victories apiece.
The Outstanding Players
Reflecting the sub-region's resurgence during the split, four Turkish players featured in the top five players of the group stage. Statistically, cNed is back on top, ending the group stage with a 1.20 rating and winning 59.7% of his opening duels. FUT teammate qRaxs also ended in the top five with a 1.17 rating and 0.42 assists per round.
EMEA's freshest player, Wo0t , was quick to climb the ranks. After a number of visa issues, he joined Team Heretics for their final two games, where he averaged a 1.17 rating after winning both series.
Stage 1 regular season results
Group Alpha
-
Karmine Corp
Karmine Corp Europe Rank #33 MAGNUM Martin Penkov tomaszy Tomás Machado N4RRATE Marshall Massey marteen Martin Pátek sh1n Ryad Ensaad (3-3, +2 map diff.)
-
FNATIC
FNATIC Europe Rank #2 Boaster Jake Howlett Chronicle Timofey Khromov Alfajer Emir Ali Beder (3-3, +0)
-
Team Liquid
Team Liquid Europe Rank #24 nAts Ayaz Akhmetshin Keiko Georgio Sanassy (3-3, +0)
-
BBL Esports
BBL Esports Europe Rank #40 Elite Efe Teber pAura Melih Karaduran Brave Eren Kasırga reazy Kaan Ürpek QutionerX Doğukan Dural (3-3, -1)
-
Team Vitality
Team Vitality Europe Rank #9 trexx Nikita Cherednichenko Kicks Kimmie Laasner runneR Emil Trajkovski ceNder Jokūbas Labutis Sayf Saif Jibraeel (3-3, -2)
Group Omega
-
FUT Esports
FUT Esports Europe Rank #10 MrFaliN Furkan Yeğen yetujey Eray Budak AtaKaptan Ata Tan cNed Mehmet Yağız İpek qRaxs Doğukan Balaban (4-1, +6)
-
Natus Vincere
Natus Vincere Europe Rank #21 ANGE1 Kyrylo Karasov Shao Andrey Kiprsky (4-1, +4)
-
Team Heretics
Team Heretics Europe Rank #1 MiniBoo Dominykas Lukaševičius Wo0t Mert Alkan RieNs Enes Ecirli benjyfishy Benjamin David Fish Boo Ričardas Lukaševičius (3-2, +2)
-
Gentle Mates
Gentle Mates Europe Rank #23 K4DAVRA Thomas Johner beyAz Beyazit Körpe nataNk Nathan Bocqueho Wailers Wailers Locart logaN Logan Corti (2-3, -2)
-
GIANTX
GIANTX Europe Rank #20 purp0 Semyon Borchev Cloud Kirill Nehozhin (1-4, -3)
-
KOI
KOI Europe Rank #47 kamo Kamil Frąckowiak ShadoW Tobias Flodström grubinho Grzegorz Ryczko sheydos Bogdan Naumov (1-4, -6)
Prize Distribution
Each team received one circuit point per match win.
- 7th-8th =
BBL Esports
BBL Esports Europe Rank #40 Elite Efe Teber pAura Melih Karaduran Brave Eren Kasırga reazy Kaan Ürpek QutionerX Doğukan Dural - 3 points
- 7th-8th =
Gentle Mates
Gentle Mates Europe Rank #23 K4DAVRA Thomas Johner beyAz Beyazit Körpe nataNk Nathan Bocqueho Wailers Wailers Locart logaN Logan Corti - 2 points
- 9th-10th =
Team Vitality
Team Vitality Europe Rank #9 trexx Nikita Cherednichenko Kicks Kimmie Laasner runneR Emil Trajkovski ceNder Jokūbas Labutis Sayf Saif Jibraeel - 3 points
- 9th-10th =
GIANTX
GIANTX Europe Rank #20 purp0 Semyon Borchev Cloud Kirill Nehozhin - 1 point
- 11th =
KOI
KOI Europe Rank #47 kamo Kamil Frąckowiak ShadoW Tobias Flodström grubinho Grzegorz Ryczko sheydos Bogdan Naumov - 1 point
Playoffs preview
Teams from the same group face off against each other in their opening matches. Image: Riot Games
The EMEA playoffs will send three teams to Masters: Shanghai and grant the winner three championship points. It will begin with two single elimination matches, with the two winners joining Karmine Corp and FUT Esports in a four team, double elimination bracket.
FNATIC vs Team Liquid and Team Heretics vs Natus Vincere will be the opening matches. As groups leaders, Karmine Corp and FUT Esports received a bye and are seeded directly into the double elimination portion of the bracket. Karmine Corp will play against either FNATIC or Liquid, while FUT will play against either NAVI or Heretics.
The top three teams of the tournament will qualify to Shanghai. In terms of Champions qualification, every match win in playoffs gives teams one point, while winning the event grants teams an additional three championship points. Outside of the top three teams in Stage 2, whichever team has accumulated the most championship points will qualify to Champions 2024 as the region's fourth seed.