Astralis, sYnck pass first IEM Dallas open qualifier

Teams like Ninjas in Pyjamas, BIG, Movistar Riders, and Sprout will have to try again next week.

Astralis and sYnck have come out victorious from the first IEM Dallas open qualifier to earn berths in the closed stage, where two spots at the main event will be on offer.

The two teams will join invited sides fnatic, Cloud9, OG, and Spirit in the closed qualifier, which will take place on March 31-April 3. Two more teams will come from the second open qualifier, scheduled to run on March 27-28.

Astralis, who were competing for the first time following their disappointing exit in 17-20th place at ESL Pro League Season 17, breezed through the qualifier, most notably beating 1win and HEET in comfortable affairs on the way.

Astralis will play for a spot in Dallas in a week's time

The surprise of the tournament, Estonian squad sYnck, had a grueling route by contrast and fought tooth and nail from beginning to end. Four out of their first five matches went to at least 29 rounds as they passed teams like Websterz and Copenhagen Flames, before they beat 9 Pandas to the closed qualifier spot.

Fueled by their best result yet following their signing with sYnck in January, the team around Kristjan "⁠fejtZ⁠" Allsaar will enter the closed stage as massive underdogs to fight among five teams who currently reside in the top 15.

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Among the biggest names who failed the first qualifier were Ninjas in Pyjamas, who faltered at the hands of 9 Pandas in the penultimate round. BIG also have to try again after losing a 30-round match to HEET.

Previously unable to qualify for IEM Melbourne and the BLAST Premier Spring Showdown, Sprout are still yet to find much success with their newest in-game leader Aaron "⁠AZR⁠" Ward and will hope to turn their fortunes in the second qualifier after being eliminated by Iron Branch in the first.

The IEM Dallas European closed qualifier team list currently looks as follows:

fnatic
Cloud9
OG
Spirit

Astralis
sYnck
Open qualifier #2
Open qualifier #2