Melany M. July 24, 2019
The EU Masters returns on September 9.
The top teams from Europe’s 13 Regional Leagues are set for a clash in a three-week tournament. The squads are competing for the crown and part of the €150,000 prize pool.
EU Masters 2019 event format
In the play-in stage, seven runners-up will compete for one of the three remaining spots at the main event. This stage runs from September 9 through September 12.
The top three from the play-in stage will join the champions from the regional leagues in the main event. 16 teams divided into four groups will compete in a single round-robin starting on September 16. The top two from each group will move on to the knockout stage, which is a single-elimination tournament. The quarterfinals will be contended in a best-of-three format.
The teams that advance to the semifinals will meet face to face at the live event, which begins on September 28. The semifinals and grand finals will feature best-of-five series. The location has not yet been announced.
EU Masters, a window of opportunity
WLGaming Esports from the Greek Legends League is the first team confirmed for the event. The rest of the leagues are currently wrapping up the regular season or going through playoffs.
The EU Masters is one of the most important platforms for professional LoL players in Europe. At this event, they will be able to showcase their skills and hopefully catch the attention of LEC teams. Many of the best players in the LEC started in the EU Masters circuit, which has become an important proving ground for hopefuls.
Though the LEC is still the top league in Europe, fans can look forward to some high-level action at the EU Masters. The credibility of the circuit recently received a boost through the promotion of Misfits Premier, who compete in France's LFL. The academy team were promoted to the main Misfits roster and have performed well thus far, most recently defeating Rogue in week five of the LEC Summer Split.
More information can be found on the official EU Masters website.