Liquid, GODSENT among teams in action as NA RMR open qualifier starts

Around 130 teams are ready to battle for four spots at the Americas Regional Major Ranking tournament.

The final set of open qualifiers for the PGL Antwerp RMR events is set to begin in North America, where two separate brackets will award a total of seven spots at the Americas RMR tournament. The 16-team event already features the invited FURIA alongside eight teams who won spots from the two South America qualifiers.

GODSENT will fight through the NA bracket

Of the more than 130 teams registered for the first qualifier, all notable teams competing within the North American region are present, including, but not limited to, the following names: Liquid. Evil Geniuses, GODSENT, Complexity, Party Astronauts, paiN, Gaimin Gladiators, Orgless, Carpe Diem, Strife, Third Impact, TeamOne, and Bad News Bears.

As a result of the organizations changing the majority of their lineup over the tournament break, both Liquid and Evil Geniuses were unable to receive direct invites to the RMR event due to their placings at PGL Stockholm. Therefore, they must qualify to the event through the Open Qualifiers, and will see a berth to the RMR tournament a must.

Just like in the Asia-Pacific region, any team zoned for the overall Valve region is able to enter any sub-regional qualifier, which is why the likes of paiN, GODSENT, and TeamOne are able to play in the North American qualifier.

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Another interesting note is that ATK are competing in the qualifier, despite only having 1 North American player (Ian "⁠motm⁠" Hardy). They are able to play in their region of residence due to the fact that South Africa (and other Sub-Saharan African countries) act as wildcards, and can enter any regional qualifier they want. So, the trio of motm, Gareth "⁠MisteM⁠" Ries, and Rhys "⁠Fadey⁠" Armstrong allow ATK to compete from NA.

Just like the Europe qualifiers, the North American ones will be played up until the top 16 on the first day, with the top 16 taking place the day after. To follow along yourself for the first day, you can view the bracket on FACEIT or a live post that will be updated during the qualifier on Dust2.us.