The European regional qualifiers concluded with three of the favorites making it through the grueling qualifying stage to make it to the Dreamleague Season 13 Major in Leipzig, Germany.
With only four spots available in the play-offs, the group stage was more important than ever. Team Liquid topped Group A by going undefeated against all four other teams in their group. Nigma finished second in the group but not without having to go through a tiebreaker against Ad Finem, who provided a challenge but were toppled eventually.
In Group B, Team Secret was able to top the group after dropping only one game in all four of their best-of-two series’. Alliance was able to come in second place with a record of three series wins to one loss, with the loss coming against Team Secret.
This meant that the playoffs would feature Alliance vs. Team Liquid and Team Secret vs. Nigma, with the winner of each match advancing to the Major. Despite Alliance’s best efforts, Liquid was able to take the series 2-0 to qualify for the Major, their second of the season. Secret vs. Nigma was a much closer series, with Secret taking it 2-1, giving Matumbaman, Nigma’s former carry when they were still signed to Team Liquid, a sweet dose of revenge after being kicked just a few months before TI9.
This was not the end of the journey for Alliance and Nigma, though, as EU was alloted three qualifier spots, meaning the two would meet in a losers match to determine the final team from the region to qualify for the major. Alliance made swift work of Nigma, winning 2-0 with both games being over within 32 minutes, giving them the final spot at the major, also their second of the season.
Nigma now drops into the minor qualifier, where if they win, they can earn a spot at the major.
The Leipzig major takes place from January 16 – 26, and we now know all of the European representatives from the EU region’s qualifier.
