PGL Major NA Open Qualifier 1 Preview

Major season is almost underway in North America with the first PGL Major Antwerp open qualifier set to begin less than a week away on March 10th. The first of two North American open qualifiers will pit the best teams in the country against one another, with the top four teams securing attendance at the American Regional Major Ranking (RMR) event in April. Attending teams will participate in a single-elimination bracket until they reach the quarterfinals, where the survivors will face off in a best-of-three qualification series.

As we have already seen in the European open qualifier matches, there is plenty of upset potential during these events. With limited space in the Americas RMR attending teams will have no room for error, especially in the early best-of-one map rounds of the event. Looking ahead to the first of two qualifiers, let's take a look at what teams come into the event with the best chance to qualify.

The Favorites:

After slumping in international competition to start the year, Liquid has much to prove in this event. The team has enjoyed three weeks off to prepare since their last official against G2, giving them plenty of time to be ready for the open qualifiers. With the team failing to gain momentum, is a great opportunity to remind the region where they stand domestically.

Liquid is not the only team with something to prove, as Complexity will look to bounce back after an upsetting finish to February that was headlined by their COVID-related absence from the IEM Katowice play-in tournament. The fan-favorite lineup will look to tap back into the form at the beginning of February that netted them a playoff appearance at the ESL Challenger event.

Lurking in the shadows is an Evil Geniuses team that has not been seen in an official since BLAST Premier Spring Groups over a month ago. With the lineup sporting the ELEAGUE Boston Major winning trio of Jake "Stewie2k" Yip, Timothy "automatic" Ta, and Will “RUSH” Wierzba, there is no doubt that the EG squad has high expectations to make a deep run at PGL Antwerp. Even with this team shrouded in the unknown, they have the resources available to them to earn a qualification spot.

GODSENT has been hard-pressed to emulate their performances from last year thus far in 2022, but will have a solid opportunity to build momentum at this first qualifier. Currently ranked No. 18 on HLTV, this lineup, when in form, has shown the ability to take the best teams in the region to their limit. For those that forgot, this lineup netted wins over FURIA, Liquid, and Evil Geniuses during the previous RMR cycle. These teams may stand above their peers as the clear favorites, but there are plenty of other teams beyond that with more than a puncher’s chance to force their way into one of the available spots next week.

The Underdogs:

Respected in-game leader Damien "daps" Steele looks to make his first Major appearance since IEM Katowice 2019 with Orgless, a team he put together just over a month ago. Although the lineup is new, daps sports a wealth of experience as an IGL that only a handful of leaders in the region can compare to. Behind him is a trio of talented riflers accompanied by the returning sniper Kenneth “koosta” Suen, who looks to make an immediate impact with the AWP following a return from VALORANT.

Following a frustrating February outside of the server, Party Astronauts can look to wash the slate clean in March with a strong showing that leads to an Americas RMR appearance. The new-look Astronauts have had no issues finding form with their new fifth, Wesley “viz” Harris, and will look to carry that form into the single-elimination bracket. The Party Astronauts core has, at times, looked untouchable in the fabric of tier-two North American CS:GO and could take it to one of the favorites if they perform to that standard.

Adding onto the Brazilian representation at the first open qualifier is paiN, a team that is no stranger to the Major cycle. The paiN squad successfully earned their place at PGL Stockholm by way of the North Americas RMR rankings thanks to their showings at cs_summit 8 and the IEM Fall North Americas RMR. However, they will have to do it without star AWPer Rafael “saffee” Costa who is now a part of the qualified FURIA lineup. paiN will have to prove they can get it done without saffee's scope to lighten the load.

Carpe Diem joins Orgless and Party Astronauts as the top unsigned teams in North America currently. The ex-RBG lineup has been lighting it up since splitting from their former organization to start the year. They are currently 4-1 in best-of-three matches and have series wins over fellow Major hopefuls Orgless and paiN. Emulating the success in those games will be key for this lineup, as they look to not only make their way to an RMR but also look for a new org to call home.

Other Notables:

Other notable teams attending the first open qualifier from ESL Challenger League include ATK, Eros, oNe, ONET4P, Strife, Third Impact, and X13. Advanced teams throwing their hat in the ring include InControl, Limitless, UGK, Unjustified, UYU, and Vireo.Pro. Although most of the top teams in the region are already signed up, at the time of publication, there are a few notable teams still not set to attend. The Alan “Shakezullah” Hardeman-led Bad News Bears still do not have their name on the team list.

The newly-signed Gaimin Gladiators are also mysteriously unseen on the team list. With the organization showing a public interest in supporting the group, it is expected we will see the lineup make an attempt at making the Major. After the publication of this article, Gaimin Gladiators put their name on the list of attending teams. With their name now in the list, another notable North American team has entered the ring. Lastly, the Peter “stanislaw” Jarguz led Disconnected lineup has not yet graced the attendance list with their name. The veteran in-game leader has made Major appearances with OpTic, Complexity, NRG, and Evil Geniuses, and earned playoff berths on two separate occasions. With the experiences stanislaw boasts at the biggest events in the game, it is a surprise for many to not see his name on the list already.

Teams can still sign up for the first PGL North American Open Qualifier here.

Note: Added text regarding Gaimin Gladiors' joining of Open Qualifier after article release.