Evil Geniuses knocked out of first NA RMR Open Qualifier

Evil Geniuses have fallen flat in the first NA RMR Open Qualifier, taking an extremely close 16-14 loss to Strife on Overpass. With this loss, the ELEAGUE Major Boston 2018 winning core will now have to play the second open qualifier this weekend and pray that the team are firing on all cylinders or risk missing out on attending PGL Major Antwerp 2022.

Evil Geniuses' run in the first NA RMR Open Qualifier started with the team having to put in minimal effort as their first two matches were a 16-1 win over a FACEIT Level 2 stack called Peaked Silver 3 and a 16-1 win over ESEA Main squad DankerMemeson.

What came next for Evil Geniuses likely caught the professional squad off guard as they faced off against recent Fragadelphia 16 winners Strife. In what can be described as a complete rout, Strife started their T-side on Overpass up 7-0 thanks to a combined 17 kills by Paul "aris" Wilson and Danny "cxzi" Strzelczyk. However, after this ESL Challenger League beatdown, Evil Geniuses finally found their footing as they won the next twelve rounds in a row to take the lead for the first time in the game and put Strife firmly on the back foot without any real answers.

This lead was squandered however as Evil Geniuses suffered what can only be described as a "Liquid-esque" choke as Strife clawed their way back into the game, finally taking the lead during round 29 before pulling off a 16-14 win.

With this loss, Evil Geniuses are in the rather uncomfortable situation of having to entrust their fate to the second open qualifier, with only one notoriously upset prone best-of-one being the deciding factor of their Major prospects. Should they fail, it may force Evil Geniuses' management to consider roster changes to the relatively new roster after a dire start to 2022.