With the groups drawn, the path to the main stage has been laid out for the 16 ERL teams in the 2022 European Masters play-in stage.
The play-ins group draw divided 16 teams into four groups with each group going through a best-of-one double round-robin. The top two from each group then head into the knockout stage where the top seed of each group will be matched against a second seed from another. The four surviving teams move onto the main stage.
The only region with four seeds, France’s LFL, has two teams starting life in the play-in stage with Vitality.Bee and GameWard. Both will be among the favorites to progress. Other teams from stronger regional leagues include the Ultraliga’s Illuminar Gaming, Prime League’s SK Gaming Prime, and the SuperLiga’s BISONS ECLUB.
Elsewhere, spring 2021 finalists JDXL began this split strongly, before seeing their form dip after the departure of mid laner Jang “EMENES” Min-soo. The team squeaked its way into qualification after the NLC was granted a third seed for the tournament.
Many of the non-accredited ERLs only have teams gaining qualification to the EU Masters 2022 Play-Ins, and none are moving directly to the main event. This includes two teams from Portugal’s LPLOL, who have both found themselves in very tough groups.
Is Karmine Corp in EU Masters 2022?
Karmine Corp failed to earn a spot in EU Masters 2022 and will not participate in the event.
Despite winning the previous three iterations of the tournament, Karmine Corp shockingly failed to qualify for the upcoming edition of the tournament. The French side struggled to find its form throughout the summer split and only managed a 6th-place finish in the regular season. Their fortunes didn’t change in the playoffs either, crashing out at the first hurdle with a 3-1 loss to GameWard to cement an EUM omission.
