PGL Major Antwerp 2022: American RMR - Recap

The first tournament of the “RMR” cycle, which involved teams from the Americas, came to an end. The six best teams received the slots for the Major in Belgium, which takes place in early May. Here we’ll take you through what happened at this event, which teams proved their strength, who surprised and disappointed.

Brazil is Back

Only one team from American RMR could receive the “Legend status”. That was FURIA. The result of this team is not a single question. Brazilians made top-4 at EPL S15, and proved their strength at RMR, winning Complexity and MIBR. With the arrival of saffee, FURIA received the stable AWPer, arT fully focused on IGL role, and the team became the best in the Americas.

MIBR managed to take 2nd place at RMR. They started the season with a victory against NAVI and took 7th-9th place at BLAST Premier Spring Groups 2022. Before RMR, the Brazilian team won ESEA Cash Cup: North America – Spring 2022 #1 and ESL Challenger League Season 40: North America. MIBR won against 9z, paiN, and beat Imperial in bo3 match for a slot. For them, this result is pretty decent, given the fact that there were a lot of experienced teams with better players.

Imperial Esports, Fallen’s team. This team was originally called Last Dance. There is also a name of biographical series about one of the best teams in basketball history, the Chicago Bulls, and their last triumph in the 1997/98 season. Their Last Dance started pretty coolly. They had a bootcamp in March, won the OMEN WGR European Challenge 2022, and came to RMR in a good mood. Despite defeat against MIBR, Fallen & co beat Party Astronauts and secured 3rd place at American RMR.

Miracle run by 9z

The audience award is going to 9z. Two Uruguayans, two Argentinians, and a Chilean have worked a miracle in this tournament. They started this tournament very horrible, with two defeats against MIBR and EG. There was no room for error, you had to win every match to get to the Major. And they did that. 2:0 against Bad News Bears, 2:1 00Nation, 2:0 São Caetano Esports. On the last day, they had to win two more matches. Firstly they were able to upset, EG, and then paiN.

All 9z players were the first representatives of their countries at the Major. These players have become real role models, especially for players from North America.

NA teams still have problems

Only two teams from North America were able to qualify for this Major: Complexity and Team Liquid. They are both finished Swiss stage 3-1, and received the “Contender Status”. Team Liquid gives hope to their fans, primarily due to the result on EPL S15, where they managed to enter the top 8.

The situation about CoL less clear. They won two maps on Nuke and one bo3 against a tier-3 team, São Caetano Esports. Complexity had a bad start of the season, won only one bo3 match within tier-1 tournaments. They still have decent players, with experience and good aim. But according to fact that they will be as a Contender team at the Major, means a lack of advantage in a seed, and playing against teams from Europe, and MIBR with Imperial. It remains to be hoped for lucky in bo1 matches, and good preparation for bo3.

About Bad News Bears and Party Astronauts. The first completely failed this tournament without winning a single match. PA was in one step from Major but lost against more experienced teams, Imperial and Evil Geniuses. Anyone doesn’t know what will happen with these teams after Major, but both of them need changes.

Key disappointment

00Nation. A new team of coldzera, the best player in the world in 2016-17. They acquired two youngsters: malbsMd and try. But bootcamp in Europe, practice against teams in the best region didn’t help the team. Before Major, they didn’t have decent achievements. But in Bucharest, 00Nation started with the victory against Team Liquid. Unfortunately, no more. Defeats against CoL, EG, and 9z. 1-3 and elimination from the competition. coldzera, unlike its old teammates, could not show a good result on this RMR. Although the conditions and potential for this were. Unfortunately, they couldn’t prepare.

The main disappointment of the whole North America region – Evil Geniuses. Having such experienced players, Major champions, three coaches and no Major is a failure. Given the fact that the EG had previously failed at the EPL S15, once again without winning a single match, replacements will be 100%. Very strange, hurtful history around Evil Geniuses, vividly describing the situation that occurs in the NA.

What we should expect from American teams in Belgium?

Five teams from this RMR will start the journey at Major from Challengers Stage, and only FURIA guarantees New Legends Stage. Given the fact that 16 teams will compete for eight places in the next stage, nine of them from Europe, the chances for American teams are not great. Teams like 9z and MIBR don’t have such experience to compete against good European teams. There is hope for Imperial, Liquid, and Complexity. If the first two teams anywhere due to their vast experience can compete, then looking at the results of CoL in the international arena, they have little faith.

If at least two teams will play in the New Legends Stage and one in the playoffs, you believe that the task for this region is complete. Already on this Sunday, the first EU RMR tournament will start, the preview you can read on our website.