EMEA Masters Summer 2024: our 4 favourites for the Last Chance Qualifier

This Wednesday is the start of the new format of the EMEA Masters. And with it begins the competition that brings together all the best ERLs teams and the showcase for many players who call the doors of the LEC, EMEA League of Legends Championship. The change of format was more than necessary, the old format was outdated and the feeling that left the play-in was undoubtedly games with a level too uneven, in the new format there will be a last chance qualifier where 32 teams will fight for 4 places in BO3 format separated into 4 groups of 8 teams each.

In this article we will discuss the favourites to get out of the group and get to the Main Stage which will start in about a week's time.

In the group we have three teams that stand out at first glance, FUT Esports, GiantX Pride and BK ROG. On paper the French team (BKR) should be the clear favourite to come out of this group without much hindrance. GiantX Pride would be the second candidate to watch out for, the Spanish team would face the French team in the second round if they both win. Despite not having Antonio "Th3Antonio" Espinosa and Lee "Juhan" Ju-han who have made the step to the LEC this split, the team from Malaga is on an upward trajectory after a somewhat rushed start of the split and could give the surprise.

Group B undoubtedly takes the prize for the group of death. A group that brings together the two finalists of Spring edition - Eintracht Spandau (Prime League) and Beşiktaş Esports (TCL) -, but also Team GO (LFL) or Twisted Minds (Arabian League). A lot of old acquaintances in this group: Nikolay "Zanzarah" Akatov, Jean “Jezu” Massol, Oskar "Selfmade" Boderek, Tristan "PowerOfEvil" Schragel, Oliver "Dajor" Ryppa. Undoubtedly a group full of interesting matches and match ups that possibly we haven't seen for more than 2-3 years, any self-respecting fan of European League of Legends would like to see Zanzarah vs Selfmade again.

Group C should be a really easy group for UCAM Esports (LVP). The Spanish team was knocked out of the Main Stage by Ramboot Club in an unexpected 3-0. UCAM is an old acquaintance of the EMEA Masters with players who already know what it is to advance several rounds of the tournament as Jakub "Sinmivak" Rucki with AGO Rogue and with players who will be the first time they debut in the EMEA as is the case of Guilherme "Obstinatus" Cruz and Michal "Kenal" Karpenko.

Group D could be considered the all-star group with NNO Prime and Movistar KOI. The two teams are two of the most charismatic and fan-based teams in the tournament and the two most likely to make it out of the group. Although KOI are not in great form having lost in the first round of the Superliga playoffs, Ibai Llanos' team has three players who already know what it is like to play in an EMEA final such as Pedro "Marky" Serrano, Rúben "rhuckz" Barbosa and Magnus "Maxi" Kristensen. The three will seek revenge and be able to lift the coveted trophy but first they will have to get past NNO, a team that also has old friends of the scene as is the case of Daniel "Scarface" Aitbelkacem or Lucjan "Shlatan" Ahmad.

Without a doubt, it seems that we will have clashes that we have not seen for a long time and that seems to give more excitement to this Last Change Qualifier. According to our predictions, the four qualified teams should be BK ROG, Eintracht Spandau, UCAM and Movistar KOI.