PGL Stockholm Major 2021: New Challengers Stage Recap

The PGL Major started off with 16 teams in the New Challengers Stage. These teams fought for only 8 spots at the New Legends Stage. 

The Major followed a format for the Challengers and Legends stages where teams play in a maximum of 5 rounds and need to win 3 games to qualify for the next stage. In this format, every elimination series (teams with 2 losses) is a best of 3 series, every qualification series (teams with 2 wins) is a best of 3 series, and every other game is a best of 1. 

This led to some very intense, exciting, and nail-biting matches, all to try and qualify for the Playoffs.

The New Challengers Stage: 

The first teams to be eliminated at 0-3 came as no surprise to everyone, apart from some Brazilian fans. Sharks Esports and GODSENT, two teams who field all Brazilian players were the first to fall at the Major.

Three teams would join them right after. Following their 1-3 results in the New Challengers Stage, China’s TYLOO, Australia’s Renegades, and Brazil’s paiN Gaming were eliminated from the Major. 

The last teams to be eliminated from the Challengers stage were BIG Clan, Team Spirit, and Movistar Riders, after heartbreaking close matches for all three. 

On the other side of the event, things were looking bright for Copenhagen Flames and FaZe Clan as they both breezed through with a 3-0 record against some of the favorites. After the unexpected performance by Copenhagen Flames, many started naming them the Darkhorse of the tournament, a quite unknown team, who could win it all. 

Next for success in the Challengers Stage were Virtus.pro, Entropiq, and ENCE, who all ended 3-1 and performed better than what many saw coming. Especially with Virtus.pro, as they had done a roster swap just days before the event started. 

The last teams to qualify for the Legends Stage were MOUZ, Astralis, and Heroic, who all ended 3-2 after a grueling final day.

The top 8 teams of The New Challengers Stage: