Europe Confirms Their 5 Major Teams: Day 2 Highlights

And in a similar fashion to North America, Europe has now confirmed their five teams who have qualified for the LA Winter Major. With a couple teams out to prove why they’d already secured qualification, a few looking to punch their ticket, and others battling for a last gasp result, here are our highlights from the day.

Queso And Dignitas Dominate

Even though the pair had already qualified heading into the day, they still looked hungry for the win in BDS’s absence. In the upper bracket, Dignitas were relentless, linking up with each other seamlessly to dismantle an in form 00 Nation lineup, 4-0, and locking in a top 3 finish.

As for Queso, they’ve been forced to do it tougher through lowers, but have proved that they certainly have the clutch gene. Following a reverse sweep, triple overtime victory over Williams Resolve yesterday, the big cheese were again taken to 5 by Karmine Corp, but were able to save themselves from the jaws of defeat thanks to some incredible Vatira defensive efforts and solo plays, knocking KC out of major contention and locking in another top 6.

Fighting for yet another top 4 berth, Queso wasted no time with 00 Nation and appeared to be truly enjoying themselves as they threw themselves at the ball offensively to score 14 goals in the last 4 games to take a chaotic 4-1 win, and ending another team’s LA chances. They may be the new kids on the block, but underestimate them at your own peril, as they head to LA as Europe’s #1 seed.

Endpoint Bootcamp Buff

In the Fall split, Endpoint appeared miles better whenever they had the benefit of a bootcamp, with wins in regional event 1 and 3. However having spent this split competing from their own homes, Endpoint has struggled, and was still in the drop zone heading into the event.

Thankfully for the talented, multicultural lineup, they had a return to bootcamp in this weekend’s event, and it’s certainly paying dividends. After topping their group in day 1, Endpoint came out ready to play in day 2, producing a defensive effort for the ages to allow just a sole goal for the exciting Luminosity lineup, securing a 4-0 sweep and locking in back to back major qualification.

00 Nation Run Out Of Steam

After exiting in a mediocre group stage performance in regional event 1, few could have predicted the all English lineup’s rise to power. With a 7th-8th placement in the second event, 00 Nation were keen to once again prove their worth in the third event, producing a huge 3-0 in groups with wins over Vitality, Queso and Guild securing a top 6 berth.

Unfortunately for 00 Nation, with their major chances hanging on by a thread, day 2 did not treat them kindly. They were dismantled by Dignitas, conceding 17 goal in the 0-4 sweep, before being completely outpaced by the rising Queso, falling 1-4 to drop out in 5th-6th position.

Although we won’t be seeing 00 Nation compete in LA, they still sit in a dangerous position at 10th overall, and heading into Spring, will be searching for a break through performance.

Luminosity Trip At The Line

If you’re a Luminosity fan, Winter has almost certainly been a heart breaker. For back to back regionals, Luminosity had to face BDS in groups and Dignitas early in playoffs, arguably Europe’s top two teams, and even though they fought hard every time, taking two series’ to game 5 and being seconds away from a win against each lineup, they faltered when it mattered most, and sat a while behind the pack heading into the third event.

But this time, Luminosity seemed to have risen, beating BDS in not one, but two series’, including a reverse sweep in the tiebreaker game to send themselves to the upper bracket. Yet despite this now present momentum and confidence, day 2 was nothing except heart break for the lineup. After being destroyed by a concise Endpoint, who only allowed in 1 goal, they found themselves in a do or die matchup with EG in the lower bracket. Lose, and they go home, with EG sent to LA. Win, and they’ll be fighting tomorrow for a top 2 finish to send themselves to the major.

And at times, Luminosity seemed strong, they were able to produce some strong solo plays on offence, their chemistry on defence was almost unbreakable, and they opened up a 3-2 series lead. But even after falling in a game 6 due to heavy hesitations, an Atomik shot found the net off Tox’s pressure to gift Luminosity the lead. Though even with the lead in hand, they looked shaky, unable to finish their chances and barely scraping by on defence, before EG’s pressure just became too much, as poor goal line clearances resulting in a Catalysm dagger to tie with 15 left.

Seemingly bound for overtime, a disheartened LG lineup would soon have more to sorrow over as Ivn dismantled them off kickoff, before laying it off inside to Rizex45 for the easy finish, stealing it from Luminosity in the blink of an eye and sending themselves to the major.

For LG, it’s a tough way to end a split that showed so much promise. They’ve been consistently improving, finishing 6th overall, but will need to be able to stay cool under pressure in Spring if they’re any chance of a final major qualification.