ESL Challenger League Season 40 hits playoffs

24-3-2022 19:26

The three regions will begin their playoff battle on the 29th.

The main season of ESL Challenger League Season 40 (formerly ESEA Premier) has concluded in the three divisions, Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific, with the top eight teams in each being determined. The playoff bracket is set to begin at the same time for all regions, and will finish on April 3, ultimately rewarding a spot at the ESL Pro League Season 16 Conference for each regional winner.

Entropiq secured their playoff spot in January

In the European division, a four-group GSL format was used, with a rigid schedule for each group's matches. Of the playoff teams from Season 39, only Entropiq, 1win, and Finest made their way to the top eight again, while GamerLegion, Copenhagen Flames, and SINNERS all faltered.

Directly invited side ECSTATIC also made the playoffs alongside both French squads, Falcons and HEET. The final big name to miss out is SKADE who lost the Group D decider match against SAW earlier in March.

Entropiq vs SAW
ECSTATIC vs Falcons
Wisla Krakow vs HEET
1win vs Finest

Over in North America, the two groups of eight teams format from previous season was used again, utilizing round robin. Four teams this time had repeat playoff berths in Gaimin Gladiators, paiN, Carpe Diem, and Party Astronauts.

Orgless, who were directly invited, edged out ONET4P for the fourth spot from Group A, while MIBR, who qualified from the Advanced division, swept Group B 7-0. ATK and Strife recovered from a lackluster Season 39 to secure a top eight placing, while Bad News Bears and Third Impact felt the impact of their roster changes.

ATK vs Strife
paiN vs Party Astronauts
Carpe Diem vs Gaimin Gladiators
Orgless vs MIBR

The inaugural season of the Asia-Pacific division of Challenger League saw a wide array and mix of teams from Asia. Only one team who moved up from ESEA Open Season 39 managed to make the playoffs, that being the Filipino Moon.

Qualifying through differing sources, TYLOO, Rare Atom, IHC, and NKT all came into the season as the favorites, and they easily topped their round robin groups to secure playoff spots. Joining as well include Enkhtaivan "⁠Machinegun⁠" Lkhagva's new The MongolZ as well as NSN.