The North America Stage 2 Challengers Playoffs are halfway over, with four teams eliminated, and four teams remaining. The top seeds of the Groups Stage finally fight it out, while two teams face elimination in a match for their playoff lives. With only two slots for NA at Masters 2 Copenhagen, winning is a must for each of the teams here. Placement will not only decide seeding for Masters, but points to the NA Last Chance Qualifier at the end of the year. Here are the previews for the NA Playoff’s upcoming matches.
Related: Guild Esports and Fnatic lock Stage 2 Masters Copenhagen spots]
Upper Bracket: XSET vs OpTic Gaming
This matchup previously occurred in Challengers 1, where OpTic took XSET out in the Upper Quarterfinals 2-1. Both teams finished as the first seed in their respective groups, and have had one prior playoffs match. Winning this match locks in one of two spots in the NA Playoffs Grand Finals and at Masters 2 Copenhagen. Losing sends the team to the Lower Bracket Final for a second chance at qualifying for Masters 2.
OpTic’s first playoffs game against EG was a quick 2-0, with EG only taking eight rounds the entire series. All members of OpTic also went positive, with Victor “Victor” Wong going 43/22/5 with a 338 ACS. His ability to act independently as a duelist and also set up his teammates with Neon’s utility makes Victory a big target to protect and take down on both sides. Special notice also has to be given to Jaccob “yay” Whiteaker, who maintained a 91% Kill/Assist Participation and a 297 ACS.
🎯🎯🎯 @victorwong pic.twitter.com/O7N3CASuLb
— OpTic Gaming™ (@OpTic) June 18, 2022
XSET got revenge on 100 Thieves from their Week 3 matchup, handily turning the tables and beating them 2-0. Matthew “Cryocells” Panganiban is the standout player by a mile on XSET, delivering a 48/21/3 K/DA on their match. He held an ACS of 324 with Chamber and Jett, going 10-2 in first kills/deaths and maintained a 88% Kill/Assist Ratio. XSET revolves around setting up Cryocells for major success, and a victory over OpTic will require protection of their star duelist.
Lower Bracket: NRG vs FaZe Clan
FaZe Clan had previously won in Challengers 3 of the 2021 VCT, but both rosters have completely changed since then. Only Andrej “BABYBAY” Francisty of FaZe and Sam “s0m” Oh of NRG remain from the 2021 rosters. The winner of this matchup goes to play in the Lower Bracket Final for a spot at Masters 2 Copenhagen. The loser will be eliminated from the NA Playoffs and Masters 2 contention at fourth place for the stage.
FaZe finished second place in Group B, but fell in their first playoffs match 1-2 against 100 Thieves. Defeating Luminosity 2-1 gave FaZe a rematch against the Thieves, defeating them 2-1. In all of their playoff matches, BABYBAY has played Neon in seven out of nine maps, but notably struggled in their rematch against 100 Thieves. Ending the series 42/52/12 with a 64% Kill Percentage and a 166 ACS, BABYBAY will have to step up his performance if FaZe is to take down NRG. Quan “dicey” Tran will have to be the anchor of the team if BABYBAY fails to deliver, as his Chamber in Challengers 2 holds an opening 59-30 first kill/death ratio, while averaging 276 ACS on the agent.
NRG started their playoffs run in the lower bracket, having finished fourth in Group A. Their first match was a grudge match against Second Seed Ghost Gaming. Previously, Ghost beat NRG 2-0, but NRG swiftly eliminated them the playoffs and the VCT with a 2-0 victory. NRG then took out Evil Geniuses in a close 2-1 series to now face off against FaZe Clan. Ian “tex” Botsch’s Chamber is also to be feared going into this matchup, holding a positive 54-31 first kill/death ratio throughout Challengers 2. Sam “s0m” Oh’s position as flex also gives NRG a wider agent pool and strategic depth. In every playoffs match, s0m has only gone positive in K/D while playing Jett, Raze, Sage and Omen.. FaZe must shut down both of these powerhouses if they want to defeat NRG’s Cinderella run in the lower bracket.
The Upper Bracket Final between XSET and OpTic Gaming will take place on June 24, 3:00 pm CDT. NRG Esports and FaZe Clan will battle it out afterwards for their tournament lives. The Lower Bracket Final will take place on June 25, with the Grand Finals on June 26. The top two teams will lock their spots as North America’s representatives in Masters 2 Copenhagen.
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