Forty teams entered the regional brawl for the Manila Major, and sixteen advanced into the playoffs stage. As we approach the end of the competition, only twelve are left to fight for one qualifier spot for each region.
The winners of regional qualifiers will be decided today, May 6th. The best team from each region will then fly out to Manila to participate in the last Major before the most important tournament of the year: The International 6.
China:
In the Chinese bracket the first finalists have already been decided, with Newbee continuing their undefeated run at these qualifiers. They swept through CDEC Youth in 25 minutes and will face EHOME in the grand finals.
South East Asia:
The two contenders to grab the regional qualifying spot to the Manila Major, Mineski and TnC, advanced into the playoffs with ease; both teams won their respective groups and defeated their opponents in the first round of the double elimination bracket. In their direct confrontation in the upper bracket finals, TnC took the first game by punishing the split push draft of Mineski. In the second game Mineski secured a Chronosphere into Eclipse lineup and although Luna lost her lane, the big ultimates draft allowed Mineski to push the series into a decisive game three.
TnC was able to recompose and crush their opponents with yet another team fight oriented lineup to secure the first grand finals spot. Mineski will face Orange-Taring in the elimination lower bracket finals for another shot at the grand finals which are set to begin today, at 12:00 CEST/ 18:00 SGT
Europe:
The two big surprises of the European competition-- Ad Finem and No Diggity-- have both advanced into the upper bracket semifinals after they convincingly defeated the two CIS teams left in the run for the qualifier spot in the region.
No Diggity displayed perfect coordination and good team synergy in their series versus Vega Squadron, pushing the Russians to the lower bracket. Team Empire shared their fate, getting defeated by the Greeks from Ad Finem on the back of a beautifully played Bane by Verros 'Maybe Next Time' Apostolos in the first game and by Giorgos 'SsaSpartan' Giannakopoulos in the second one. The best initiators of the game-- Puck and Magnus-- were hopeless in the hands of Roman 'Scandal' Sadotenkov who was blinking just to get a good Nightmare time which shut down Empire’s team fight entirely.
Having to fight for their tournament survival in the lower bracket, Vega Squadron and Team Empire clashed yesterday in a thrilling CIS showdown elimination series that featured breathtaking team fights, big comebacks, and a Divine Rapier in an 80 minute long game where Empire eliminated Vega.
That leaves the European bracket to resume today at 11:00 CEST with the upper bracket finals. The grand finals are set to commence at 18:00 CEST.
America:
The main favorites to win the American qualifiers-- Digital Chaos-- continued their winning streak and took down Dragneel in a rather one-sided upper bracket series. Their opponent for the semifinals is Shazam, who had no problem taking a clean 2-0 victory against FDL on the other side of the bracket.
The two revelations of the US open qualifiers, FDL and Dragneel faced each other for the first time in the lower bracket elimination series where Dragneel secured a 2-1 victory to keep the dream alive for the day two of the competition. They will face the loser between DC and Shazam for another shot at the grand finals spot. The NA fight for the one qualifier spot will resume at 20:00 CEST.
Grand Finals Schedule:
Live China: Newbee vs EHOME
12:00 CEST South East Asia: TnC vs TBD
18:00 CEST Europe: TBD vs TBD
03:00 CEST NA: TBD vs TBD
