As the seven weeks of European Open Division have come to a close, the top 16 teams will battle for one of the two spots in The Crucible over the course of May 27th-28th. There, they will have the chance to play against the bottom two sides in the HGC Premier League for a chance at taking their spot.
All games up until the semifinals will be best of three, while the semifinals and finals will be best of five matches. While the top two teams will advance to The Crucible, the overall winner of the playoffs will get to choose which of the bottom two HGC Premier League teams they will face.
The Contenders
Team Zealot - Team Zealot enter the playoffs as the clear favorite as they lead the standings with four Open Division Cup wins. While they’ve been a solid and consistent team, they have struggled in some matches but when focussed and on top form they are still definite contenders to win the playoffs and maybe even make the HGC proper. Packed with former pros, like Shadowlink from Team Liquid, Zarmony and GranPkt from teh89 and Excelente Eliccion from Team Synergy, Zealot are definitely one to watch.
Team MAA – MAA have been a clear second to Zealot for a while, and tend to hold their own against the number one side too when they meet in competition. They may only have one cup win to their name, but they’ve made it to the quarters in every tournaments they’ve entered to date, and if we had to pick a team to upset Zealots it would be MAA.
Team Gangang – this team has only played in two cups, but won the first of those beating Team Leftovers and MAA on their way to the victory. Led by seasoned pros BKB and antihero, they have a great chance of making a run in these playoffs.
4k MMR – having featured in virtually every Open Cup so far, but picking up just one win, 4k know they can improve, but have at least made the semis in every event they’ve entered.
Predicting a winner isn’t easy, but that is a part of what has made these events so interesting to date, and this will be no different. If Zealot can continue their dominance with another title it will cement them as the pre-eminent Open Division outfit, but just as with every king there are pretenders to the crown, and they won’t go quietly in their attempts to overthrow the top side and claim the spotlight for their own.
For all the latest news, check out our Tournament Hub, or catch the action live on Twitch.
