PowerLeagueGaming announce $100,000 UAE LAN; qualifier dates
PowerLeagueGaming have unveiled the qualifier dates for their upcoming inaugural 16-team LAN in the United Arab Emirates, running from December 12-15th with $100,000 on offer. Eight teams will receive direct invites to the event, dubbed the PLG Grand Slam, while an additional eight teams will qualify through a plethora of regional qualifiers.
Only a single team from each region can qualify for the main event, with the North American qualifier kicking off on October 26th and concluding the following day. A single-elimination best-of-one bracket will be used until the semifinals, at which point the remaining four teams will play in best-of-three series to determine the victor.
The second day of the qualifier overlaps with the DreamHack Open Winter qualifier, potentially forcing teams to choose between which event they want to attempt to qualify for. The PLG Grand Slam is also set to take place on the same days as the IEM Katowice closed qualifier, all but ensuring that most top tier teams will be occupied with trying to earn a spot at the next Major.
Touting themselves as the "biggest esports operator in the Middle East", PLG have already hosted a variety of local LANs and tournaments. Their last iteration of the PLG Grand Slam saw RvN take down Nasr in the grand finals to bring home the lion's share of $5,000.
The qualifier for the $100,000 event will be held on FACEIT, and signups remain open on PLG's website. The other regions attempting to qualify for the main event are: GCC & South Asia, East Asia, South America, South East Asia & India, LEVANT & Africa, Europe, and Oceania.