Copa de Rocket League Preview

Europe concludes the Winter Split this weekend in the Copa de Rocket League, as 16 of Europe’s best compete for spots and seeding at the Winter Major in Los Angeles! Team Queso and Team BDS have already secured their spots, but there are 14 teams still alive for the final three places. The two teams won the Apollo Open and the Premier Cup, respectively, and are each looking to wrap up top seeds. It will be difficult for Team BDS to follow up their win in the previous event, as no team in either major region has won back-to-back events this season. In Europe, the only team to reach back-to-back Grand Finals is Team Queso, who have done it in the two events of the Winter Split. It’ll be hotly contested, as these two and all 14 other teams will all be highly motivated to make it to Los Angeles.

(image courtesy of Rocket League Esports)

Contenders For Los Angeles

Though every team still competing in Europe has a chance to make it to Los Angeles, some of them have easier roads than others. Dignitas, one of Europe’s Fall Major representatives, only need to finish in the top eight to advance, which means winning their group or winning their first playoff matchup would send them through. The other Fall Major team who control their own destiny are Endpoint CeX, who can clinch a spot by winning the Copa de Rocket League. Team Vitality and SMPR Esports, the other two teams who went to Stockholm (where Team BDS won the event), are both in danger of missing out on their opportunity to go to back-to-back majors. They both need a win and help from other results, and would be eliminated if they fell out before the top six, which is a benchmark neither team has hit this split.

The only two teams besides Dignitas and Endpoint CeX who control their own destiny are Evil Geniuses and Misfits Gaming, who can qualify with a top two finish and a win, respectively. They’ve both put in strong performances throughout the Winter Split after missing out on the Fall Major on the final weekend, and will be highly motivated to seal the deal this time around. If any of these teams fall short, it will open the door for the rest of the field, which points to a highly exciting weekend of the RLCS in Europe. When there are stakes as big as major qualification, every goal will matter.

Group By Group Breakdown

Group A - Team BDS, Misfits Gaming, Luminosity Gaming, Kuxir’s Minions

For the third event in a row, Team BDS and Luminosity Gaming will meet in the group stage. Team BDS won the previous two matchups, but Luminosity Gaming will be looking to change that. If the result went the other way, it would provide a boost to Luminosity Gaming, as winning the group could springboard them to a successful regional and potential Winter Major berth. Misfits Gaming will also be looking to take the group, as their Major hopes would also be strongly improved if they can win it. Rounding out the group are Kuxir’s Minions, who must perform throughout the weekend to even have a small chance at qualifying. Barring a shocking collapse from Team BDS, someone’s Major dreams will be squashed if they finish last in this group.

Group B - Dignitas, Evil Geniuses, Karmine corp, Rix.gg

Much like Group A, Group B will send a Major hopeful home. With all four teams still alive, and none having clinched a spot, the results of this group could have a huge impact on the outcome of the weekend. Group B features two teams who both control their own destiny in Dignitas and Evil Geniuses, as they need a top eight finish and a top two finish, respectively, to qualify. Winning the group would secure that for Dignitas, but a win for Evil Geniuses would leave them just two wins away from their dreams of Los Angeles. Group B will also see Evil Geniuses match up against Karmine Corp for the second regional running, as Evil Geniuses took a close 3-2 win via reverse sweep in the Premier Cup. Karmine Corp needs help to qualify no matter what, but winning the group would be a great start, especially as their rivals for spots would be forced to make a lower bracket run. Rix.GG are back in the RLCS after missing out on the Premier Cup, and they’ll be eliminated from the major if they don’t win the Copa de Rocket League.

Group C - Team Queso, Team vitality, 00 Nation DNB, Guild Esports

Group C is headlined by Team Queso, the most successful team of the Winter Split who have already wrapped up their spot at the Winter Major. Team Vitality, a Fall Major qualifier, will be hoping to have the final weekend magic they had in the Fall Split, where they performed well and got some results that broke their way. They need a top eight finish at a minimum, but will need help even if they win. They’ll be facing 00 Nation DNB for the second consecutive regional, but 00 Nation DNB took the upset via 3-0 sweep last time. Both teams would keep their hopes alive by winning the group and clinching a top six finish, but have a tough challenge in Team Queso. The final team in the group is a resurgent Guild Esports, boosted by new signing crr. They reached the top six last time, but will be needing to improve on that result, as they need a top four finish and help to have a chance to qualify for Los Angeles.

Group D - Endpoint CeX, SMPR Esports, Williams Resolve, Natus Vincere

Group D features two teams who qualified for the Fall Major in Endpoint CeX and SMPR Esports, but they’ve had vastly different Winter Splits. Endpoint CeX controls their own destiny when it comes to Los Angeles, but SMPR Esports has to get help, even with a win. They would be eliminated by failing to make the top six, so winning the group and avoiding the playoffs would be a massive result for their chances. Williams Resolve and Natus Vincere also both need a strong showing, but will have to bounce back from their performances in the Premier Cup. Neither team made it to even the top eight, but both would be eliminated if they failed to meet that benchmark in this event. Since all four teams have neither clinched nor been eliminated, the outcome of Group D will have a strong influence on who qualifies for Los Angeles.

Don’t forget to tune in to the Copa de Rocket League this weekend, beginning Friday at 11 a.m. EST with matches continuing through Saturday and Sunday. The rest of the Winter Major spots will be decided, as every team competing in the event is still in the running. Team streams on Friday will also supplement the main broadcast, which can be found at twitch.tv/rocketleague.