Marta J. July 20, 2019
NRG Esports won first place in the Americas Minor and has successfully qualified for StarLadder Berlin Major 2019.
The North American organization will begin its journey at the event in the New Challengers Stage after a convincing win over INTZ Esports. NRG has been the standout performer of the minors to this point, not losing a single map while playing against a long list of formidable Brazilian teams including Team One, Sharks Esports, Furia Esports, and INTZ.
NRG defeated INTZ on Train and Mirage, winning 16-10 and 16-3 respectively. Both games saw NRG jump out to an early lead and never give INTZ an opportunity to come back. They also featured excellent showings from Tarik “tarik” Celik.
The performance was an important one for NRG, who entered the minor as the favorite to earn a spot in the major. The team rebounded from a disappointing showing in the IEM Katowice Major with a number of strong placements in high-profile tournaments including the ECS Season 7 Finals and ESL Pro League Season 9 Finals.
Still, NRG hasn’t been able to land under the major’s brighter spotlights but will get the opportunity to do so in Berlin.
The top eight teams from the New Challengers Stage will advance to the New Legends Stage, with the top eight from there advancing on to the New Champions Stage playoffs. The winner of the tournament will take home $500,000.
With NRG advancing on, there are two spots left in the major for the region. The final match in the event will be played on July 21, with INTZ taking on Furia Esports. The winner will join NRG in the New Challengers Stage while the loser will progress to major’s third-place play-in.
Alongside the Americas Minor, Mousesports has qualified for the Berlin Major by winning the Europe Minor. There are nine more spots available in Berlin, with the remaining participants being determined in the upcoming CIS and Asia minors.