What to expect from Complexity at the Major

After a successful tournament in Bucharest, Complexity secured qualification to the PGL Antwerp Major. Finishing 3-1 in the Swiss stage, the American warriors proved that they deserved to be considered in the upper echelon of North American teams. With their only loss coming from highest-seeded and eventual tournament winners FURIA, Complexity showed they could do what was demanded of them.

However, the Americas qualifier was, quite obviously, filled with only teams from the Americas. The domestic rivalries were deep, but still lacked the quality of gameplay that we expect from top-tier European or CIS competition. Now though, Complexity has the chance to take their talents against the rest of the world.

The story for Complexity hasn't changed much in the past few months. Everyone expected them to be a solid third in NA behind FURIA and Liquid, even if Complexity players thought otherwise. They weren't expected to make much headway internationally anytime soon either. Largely, that story has panned out. Complexity hasn't lost to a North American team outside of FURIA and Liquid since February. They also haven't defeated a European team since February as well. They're the gatekeepers of North America, but if they want success in Antwerp, they need to break through their own self-constructed gates.

We know how Complexity, or any North American team at that, traditionally fares against European competition. They went 1-4 in their ESL Pro League group, with their only win ironically coming from a victory over fellow countrymen Evil Geniuses. Every time a North American team goes to EU, they always preach how much they learned despite coming back home with their tail between their legs. CoL now have an opportunity to put to the test their newfound knowledge. EPL was less than a month ago; those meta-defining strategies should be fresh in their minds.

Recently, their results haven't looked too different. Complexity's road to IEM Dallas just about followed the expected path. There were two spots available for qualification. FURIA, being a partner team, didn't need to participate. Liquid and Complexity met in the upper bracket final which Liquid quickly took 2-0. Complexity then picked themselves up and took the second spot over GODSENT. CoL is still the third wheel in North American Counter-Strike. The European trip didn't shake up the standings significantly, and they sit just where they did prior. At least, that's how it looks currently.

Now is Complexity's chance to finally surpass Liquid. Complexity have only defeated Liquid once, in a best-of-one seeding match in the Americas RMR qualifier. However, maybe they don't need to defeat Liquid head to head to be the better team. Maybe if they just perform better against top tier European competition they can call themselves the best in NA. For example, BIG have bested FaZe the last two times they met, but quite obviously FaZe are the better team in terms of results and the other teams they've defeated. Complexity don't need to beat Liquid in a BO3 to be the best in North America. The Major gives CoL the chance to play against the best in the world on the biggest stage.

Their first match is against the Danish-French line-up of Vitality, another team that has struggled with form recently. Both teams must have better looks at the Major if they want to prove themselves a viable candidate for top dog in their respective regions. With this being the first encounter between these two new teams, the best of one showdown can swing either way.

The Major is leagues more prestigious than any other tournament, that much goes without saying. If Complexity wants to go in the history books as the best North American team, the PGL Antwerp Major is where that starts.