PCS7 Preview: APAC and Americas Edition

Here ye, here ye. The PUBG writer has returned from hiatus. After a longer-than-usual break from covering PUBG Esports, I have returned once again to share my thoughts on PCS7. Given the structure of the tournaments, the first two events will be previewed this week, with the second pairing of PCS event being previewed with similar proximity to their events. With that out of the way, it is time to take a look at PCS7 APAC & Americas.

PCS7 APAC

It never seems like APAC can have a normal PCS event can they? 

After Daytrade Gaming blitzed the field in PCS6, the champions from Thailand are back to defend their crown. Their countrymen and second-place finishers in PCS6 Theerathon Five are back as well. Aside from them, the entire Thai contingency is new for this event. Household names like AAA and Made in Thailand failed to qualify for PCS7, thus ending their PGC hopes. Instead, the likes of eArena, MS Chonburi and Buriram United Esports, the PCS4 champions, enter the fray at this event.

Much like Thailand, Vietnam only are returning with two previous teams in the form of CERBERUS Esports and The Expendables. This meant BN United and UNP both missed out on the event. Despite their best efforts, BN United’s PGC dream is over, but UNP hold onto a precarious 15-point lead for the Vietnamese auto-bid and are 45 points clear of the final seed. They will be sweating it out as the likes of Genius Esports, New Generation and Ikarus Cyber fight for the PCS7 title.

Outside of there, the rest of the field is relatively normal. Team Bliss returns to the event alongside the new Origami Orangutans roster to represent OCE. Meanwhile, the Challenger Rumble yielded familiar faces like ArkAngel Predator and a very hyped-up ShuaiGeDui from Malaysia. Outside of them, Indonesia’s From The Future and Malaysia’s PMA round out the field:

PCS7 APAC Winner: Daytrade Gaming

It is the boring answer, but no team has ever dominated an APAC PCS event to the level Daytrade did during PCS7. With a very muddled field, the safe bet is the best bet.

PCS7 Americas 

After a Soniqs-dominated two years, the Americas region has evolved and become much deeper over time. That growth has led to PCS7 becoming immensely interesting this time.

Soniqs and eUnited are already locked for PGC and are the favorites to win the event, but the North American field behind them presents an immense opportunity. Wildcard Gaming will need only a mid-table performance to likely secure their place at this year’s Global Championship. Yaho’s failure to make the main event has created the ultimate battle royale for the final spots at PGC. Bing Bang Boom, Luminosity Gaming (ex-STK/TSM) and Dodge all sit in prime positions to with good performances by themselves, and failures by others, to earn enough points for PGC. Luminosity has the most at stake given that their roster has been at every global event since 2019.

The South American teams do not drive as much interest though. As of now, 22 Esports possess a firm grasp on the SA auto-bid to PGC this year. Their only main challengers now are Synergy Esports and a resurgent FUIMBA roster. But with a 75 point lead over the next closest team, that may be a hill too steep to climb.

PCS7 Americas Winner: Soniqs

eUnited and Soniqs almost feel like they have a quid pro quo scenario between the two. eUnited got to win the ESL events, while Soniqs won PCS6 and will win PCS7. That aside, I like Luminosity Gaming to clutch it out and make it to PGC 2022 as well.

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