LoL: EMEA Masters Spring Groups Unveiled

The EMEA Masters Spring Split will begin on Tuesday, June 3, and run until the 21st. All eight groups and the group stage schedule have been revealed on Sunday. Group A features Karmine Corp Blue (#2 LFL), ULF Esports (#3 TCL), Colossal Gaming (#1 LIT), and Fog Esports (#2 AL). Group B includes BoostGate Esports (#1 TCL), Gamespace MCE (#2 HLL), Crvena zvezda (#1 EBL), and Gentle Mates (#3 LFL). In Group C, we have ZennIT (#1 ROL), NORD Esports (#2 NLC), Geekay Esports (#1 AL), and GMBLERS Esports (#3 LIT). Group D is made up of FlameHard (#1 LPLOL), eSuba (#2 Hitpoint Masters), CGN Esports (#1 PRM), and mCon esports (#2 ROL).

Group E will see Berlin International Gaming (#2 PRM), Team Heretics (#3 SL), BK ROG Esports (#1 LFL), and For The Win (#2 LPLOL) compete. Group F includes Barça eSports (#1 SL), Axolotl (#2 LIT), Los Ratones (#1 NLC), and Kaufland Hangry Knights (#3 PRM). In Group G, Zero Tenacity (#1 RL), Misa Esports (#2 TCL), Team Phantasma (#1 HLL), and GnG Amazigh (#3 AL) will face off. Finally, Group H features Nightbirds (#1 Hitpoint Masters), Partizan Sangal (#2 EBL), GIANTX Pride (#2 SL), and Fajnie Mieć Skład (#2 RL).

As in the Winter Split, the group stage will be played in a best-of-three GSL format, with four teams in each group. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Knockout Stage. The Playoffs will feature the 16 qualified teams facing off in a single-elimination bracket, with all matches played as best-of-five.

For this edition of EMEA, the number of teams has doubled compared to the last split, increasing from 16 to 32. All these teams will compete in the group stage from June 3 to 9, followed by the playoffs starting on the 11th and culminating in the grand final on the 21st. The stakes are high as Los Ratones will try to defend their title, while Karmine Corp Blue will also be aiming for a fifth championship, despite not being LFL champions this split—a title that was claimed by BK ROG.

Other teams that impressed during the Winter Split will also be back. Team Phantasma, who reached the semifinals last time, return once again after winning the Greek league for a second split in a row. ZenniT, champions of the Benelux league, are also back after making it out of groups in Winter by defeating Macko Esports.

Spanish teams will also be under the spotlight: GIANTX Pride had an outstanding split, dropping almost no games until the final, where they were ultimately defeated by Barça Esports Team Heretics will be present as well, and although they enter this time as the Spanish third seed, they’re certainly not a team to underestimate.