ESEA MDL Season 33 reaches playoffs

The regular seasons of ESEA MDL in Europe, North America, and Australia have been played out and the playoff brackets are now set.

Eight teams secured spots in the playoffs of each region, with teams dropping out due to participation in ESL Pro League Season 33 or Flashpoint 1 causing significant shifts on the European side of things. Following exits from BIG, HAVU and Spirit, Sprout and GamerLegion ended up securing the two top seeds going into playoffs.

Spiidi's team topped the EU division of MDL

AGO and pro100 followed closely, with Japaleno, HellRaisers, Nordavind and Movistar Riders completing the playoff bracket in Europe. At the bottom of the league are two Polish teams, Illuminar and Wisla Krakow, who will have to fight for their place in ESEA MDL S34 through relegation.

Europe ESEA MDL S33 standing:

1. Sprout (playoffs)
2. GamerLegion (playoffs)
3. AGO (playoffs)
4. pro100 (playoffs)
5. Japaleno (playoffs)
6. HellRaisers (playoffs)
7. Nordavind (playoffs)
8. Movistar Riders (playoffs)
9. Nemiga
10. PACT
11. Singularity
12. Demolition Crew
13. Unicorns of Love
14. Illuminar (relegation)
15. Wisla Krakow (relegation)

*Spirit and BIG have been moved up to ESL Pro League S11, HAVU has pulled out of MDL to take part in Flashpoint.

According to the initial announcement, the three best teams from European and North American playoffs were to secure spots at the MDL Global Challenge LAN in April, where Pro League spots would be given out. However, due to the coronavirus outbreak, it is uncertain if the Global Challenge LAN will take place.

MDL Season 33 playoffs will be played using a BO3, double-elimination bracket:

Sprout vs. Movistar Riders
pro100 vs. Japaleno
AGO vs. HellRaisers
GamerLegion vs. Nordavind

Under 21 surprisingly topped ESEA MDL S33 North America leading into playoffs, with their standout player being Rahul "⁠curry⁠" Nemani with a 1.27 rating. Among other teams that made the playoffs are Peter "⁠ptr⁠" Gurney's Bad News Bears, as well as TeamOne, Chaos, and Mythic

North America ESEA MDL S33 standing:

1. Under 21 (playoffs)
2. Recon 5 (playoffs)
3. Bad News Bears (playoffs)
4. Triumph (playoffs)
5. Chaos (playoffs)
6. Rugratz (playoffs)
7. TeamOne (playoffs)
8. Mythic (playoffs)
9. Swole Identity
10. Station7
11. Monstars
12. Big Frames
13. District 7
14. Divine (relegation)
14. New England Whalers (relegation)
15. OCG (relegation)
16. Infinity (relegation)
17. Thunder Logic (relegation)
18. In The Lab (relegation)

Just like in Europe, eight teams will be in competition in the double-elimination playoffs:

Under 21 vs. Mythic
Chaos vs. Triumph
Rugratz vs. Bad News Bears
Recon 5 vs. TeamOne

Alongside Europe and North America, the ESEA MDL S33 was played out in Australia as well, with the playoff bracket looking as follows:

AVANT vs. Skyfire
Chiefs vs. TRIDENT
Ground Zero vs. Rooster
ORDER vs. Paradox