Expect the Unexpected: SA/NA Monthly Qualifer Recap

You may be wondering, how exactly did we change our article format? 

Well, from now on, our articles will be less focused on each individual match but more on highlighting teams, players and specific matches to keep articles fresh and interesting. We hope you enjoy this new format! And now, on with the article.

SOUTH AMERICA 

Most Surprising Team: Alugem Segura

Alugem Segura, who was under the name Ninguem Segura last month, proved themselves as a serious contender for SA’s monthly finals. Last month, they fell to LOUD in the quarterfinals of the monthly finals in a close 2-3 scoreline. This month, they added Golden to their roster, and with this addition, they beat Casa Brawl, last month's monthly finals champions in a convincing 3-0 sweep in the upper bracket to qualify for the monthly finals. Will they keep this level of performance on the big stage? I guess we’ll just have to find out.

Most Disappointing Team: Casa Brawl

Last month’s monthly finals victors, Casa Brawl just did not look like themselves on the second day of the monthly qualifiers. Not only did they lose to Alugem Segura in a 0-3 sweep, but they nearly didn’t even make the monthly finals. In the lower bracket, Casa Brawl faced IX F/A, where they just edged IX F/A in a 3-2 scoreline. For a team that won the last monthly finals, this performance is a bit disappointing for how well we know they can play. 

Player to Watch: Golden

Golden, a rather new player, showed his promise this month during the monthly qualifiers. With the addition of him to Alugem Segura, they took down Casa Brawl and made it to the monthly finals. He and his team face LOUD in the first round of the monthly finals, so we will see how Golden will face against some more big names in the SA scene. 

Match of the MQ: LOUD vs Legion Otaku

Did you think CASA Brawl vs Alugem Segura was the only upset that happened in SA? Well, LOUD faced Legion Otaku in the upper bracket of the monthly qualifiers, where they fell to Legion Otaku by a tight 2-3 scoreline. We will see more of LOUD in the monthly finals, as they qualified from the lower bracket, but it leaves many to wonder: is this a new era for SA? 

NORTH AMERICA

Most Surprising Team: Eternal Esports

A team that failed to qualify for last month's finals, Eternal came back this month with a vengeance and determination to qualify for the monthly finals. They beat out Code OG in a clean 3-0 sweep, which was shocking to many. Code OG, made of three seasoned esports players (Charlz, Secondbest and OG) fell to this team in the upper bracket. Although they lost to Pioneers in a 3-1 scoreline, they still qualified for the finals through the lower bracket. Even though they face Tribe, last month's champions in the first round of the finals, I would keep an eye on them.

Most Disappointing Team: Spacestation Gaming

SSG, a team that many expected to be at the top of NA this year, fell to STMN Esports in a 1-3 scoreline, a team that didn’t even qualify for last month's finals. Thankfully, they still managed to qualify for the monthly finals through the lower bracket, beating out Synchronic Gaming in a 3-1 scoreline to qualify. Given how well we have seen these players play in the past, this performance has been disappointing.

Player To Watch: Rafiki

Rafiki, originally not qualifying for the monthly finals, found his way into the tournament acting as a replacement for Zhar. Because Zhar was disqualified from the monthly finals, Elevate needed to quickly find a replacement for him. They ultimately chose Rafiki, who played for SKC last month and had a strong showing against Tribe. Elevate play Spacestation Gaming first round in the monthly finals, and we will see how well Rafiki fits in the Elevate roster, and if they can play the level we know they are capable of even with this last minute change.

Match of the MQ: 🖤🖤🖤 vs Code OG

In this tight match in the lower bracket, Code OG barely edged out 🖤🖤🖤 in a tight 3-2 scoreline to qualify for the monthly finals. Code OG took the first two sets convincingly, but 🖤🖤🖤 quickly fought back taking the next two sets. Code OF ultimately closed out the match by taking the last set, and qualifying for the monthly finals.