The second day of the
EMEA Masters Summer 2025 will already be remembered as the “upset day” of this edition. With the Swiss stage played in best-of-ones, upsets are always possible, and all three tournament giants fell on Tuesday. Los Ratones were defeated by Barça eSports, who are now 2-0 and leading the Superliga contingent to the top. It was a true statement win against the back-to-back champions, especially considering that their
last meeting in the Spring Finals ended in a 3-0 sweep for the Rats, and that BAR had looked in dreadful form back in the Summer split in Spain.
The second and third teams from
Sheep Esports’ Summer power rankings also stumbled. Karmine Corp Blue, reigning LFL champions, lost to their French rivals Gentle Mates in a derby that stunned fans. The upset was all the more surprising since Gentle Mates had to announce on the same day that Panagiotis "
Empyros" Tantis was injured, forcing the team to
sub in Mehdi "Potent" Bouchaffra last minute. Yet it was Potent himself who stole the show on K’Sante, solo-killing Volodymyr "
Maynter" Sorokin’s Gwen early and finishing deathless in what became the day’s most unexpected stomp.
Meanwhile, Galions collapsed against Partizan Sangal, who might be the early breakout story of this tournament. After beating GIANTX Pride, the reigning Superliga champions, on Day 1, they followed up by toppling the French squad that nearly finished their Summer split unbeaten.
Upset day shakes tournament's landscape
No qualification or elimination matches will be played on Wednesday, but several teams must make a statement heading into Day 3. Two LFL squads sit at 2-0: Gentle Mates will clash with BIG, while Vitality.Bee face Geekay Esports. TCL champions
MISA Esports, led by Can "Closer" Çelik, will take on the surprising Partizan, as Barça eSports meet Prime League’s third seed, ROSSMAN Centaurs.
In the 1-1 bracket, all the favorites have easier matchups on paper, but have to be careful to find their momentum again. Karmine Corp Blue face Verdant, Galions meet TeamOrangeGaming, Los Ratones go up against Team Phantasma, and GIANTX Pride battle Zero Tenacity.
Header Photo Credit: Elliot Le Corre/Webedia
