Premier Cup Recap
Regional Success at Last for Team BDS
For Team BDS, the online portion of the Fall Split was frustrating. Despite emerging from Europe as the #3 seed, they didn’t win a single event. This was a stark contrast from their incredible RLCS X success, when they won 8 out of the 13 events, including all three of the European Majors. However, on LAN, Team BDS won the Fall Major of the RLCS 2021-22 Season, dominating the playoffs and reasserting themselves as the best. But back in Europe, their “struggles” continued, finishing third in the Apollo Open after a loss to winners Team Queso and suffering a perfect sweep at the hands of Dignitas. This weekend, in the Premier Cup, Team BDS vanquished their online demons with a dominant performance. They didn’t lose a series, and went a stellar 8-1 in games on Championship Sunday. They’ve wrapped up a spot in Los Angeles for the Winter Major, and will certainly look to continue their impressive run there.
Team Queso also clinched a spot in the Winter Major with their performance, finishing second only to Team BDS. They had a reverse sweep over SMPR Esports to win their group, and went 6-0 against teams not named Team BDS. They look dangerous, and are a team to watch out for in the upcoming Copa de Rocket League and the Winter Major. Dignitas also followed up their success in the Apollo Open with a solid outing, finishing top six after a loss to Team Queso on the back of another lower bracket run. They have the inside track to a Winter Major spot heading into the final regional event of the Winter split. Filling their vacancy in the top three was Evil Geniuses, who fell in game seven to Team Queso in the lower finals. They currently sit in fourth on the Winter points leaderboard in Europe, and will need another good performance in the Copa de Rocket League to ensure their spot in Los Angeles.
(image courtesy of Rocket League Esports)
Rounding out the top four of the event was Misfits Gaming, who finally seemed to click. They won their group after a surprising sweep against Dignitas, and parlayed that into a top four finish. They are in prime position to qualify for the Winter Major if they can follow up their success with a stellar outing in the Copa de Rocket League, but will face stiff competition. Currently tied with Misfits Gaming for the last Major spot in Europe is Endpoint CeX, who went to the Fall Major as Europe’s top seed. Though they only finished in the top 12 this time out, they are still a highly talented team on the back of rookie sensation Seikoo, and will be highly motivated to make it to Los Angeles.
Chasing Misfits Gaming and Endpoint CeX are Karmine Corp and Luminosity Gaming, who both won tiebreakers in the group stage to stay alive and gain more points. Luminosity Gaming went on the beat Endpoint CeX, a result that could be looked back on as critical if they are to make it to Los Angeles. Karmine Corp lost to upstart Guild Esports, who made a lower bracket run all the way to the lower quarterfinals after finishing behind Team BDS in the group stage. While Guild Esports has struggled this season relative to the expectations placed on them, their new roster with Crr looks as good as any in Europe, and will be hoping to contend in the Spring Split. They also beat 00 Nation DNB in their bracket run, a team which shockingly swept Team Vitality in the group stage and has been on the edge of a run throughout the season.
Rounding out the top 10 in Europe are Williams Resolve and the aforementioned Team Vitality, who both floundered in the group stage and fell out, gaining only 60 points. They are both still alive for the Winter Major, but would need to put in a very strong performance in the Copa de Rocket League to even have a chance. Also going out in the group stage were Kuxir’s Minions and Stormtroopers, who both struggled to find their footing in difficult groups and will need to fight their way back into the next main event. Natus Vincere emerged from Group D ahead of Kuxir’s Minions in their first true showing with new signing Virtuoso, after he had ping issues last event and struggled to play. Though they lost to Dignitas, they still had one of their best showings of the season as a team, and should be watched going forwards.
(images courtesy of Rocket League Esports)
Major Turnover in Europe
While Team BDS are already guaranteed of making their second consecutive Major, and Dignitas has an inside track to return, there may be serious turnover among rosters making the Major. Only 100 points separate fourth (Evil Geniuses) through eighth (Luminosity Gaming), and only one of those five teams - Endpoint CeX - made it to the Fall Major. Team Vitality and SMPR Esports are struggling, and look unlikely to return. With Team Queso already having clinched a spot in Los Angeles, at least one spot will be different. It is certainly looking like more will change, and teams will be fighting until the very last goal is scored at the Copa de Rocket League in two weeks.
Until then, there’s a week off from RLCS until North America returns with the Mobil1 Mountain Classic, beginning on February 18th. Make sure to tune in for that and the Copa de Rocket League the week after as Winter Major spots are decided and we learn who’s going to Los Angeles!
