EU Minor open qualifier #3 reaches end

The third open qualifier for the Europe Minor has reached its conclusion, with Valiance and x-kom progressing to the closed stage.

LeftOut, Tempo Storm and Tricked were among the notable teams who crashed out on day one of the qualifier, featuring over 200 teams from across the continent.

The tournament will soon enter its best-of-three stages, with the quarter-finals featuring a mouth-watering clash between the new Valiance roster and Vitality, who had to work hard to fend off the challenge of mix team cats in the fourth round.

EspiranTo's Valiance progress to the closed qualifier

The top two sides of the qualifier will progress to a closed stage, joining eight invitees and six other qualified teams in another qualifier, from which the top eight will seal passage to the Minor.

We will continue to update this article with the latest developments, but all matches can be followed live via the tournament page. The complete bracket can be found on ESEA's website.

Day two recap

23:18 Valiance, x-kom through

The new Valiance roster breezed past expert 2-0, while x-kom had to work hard to defeat Red Reserve 2-1 in the semi-final stage. The two teams will now progress to the closed qualifier, in which they will be joined by eight invitees and by six other qualified teams.

The final two contestants will be determined by the fourth open qualifier, scheduled for November 24-25.

19:18 AGO, Vitality eliminated in quarter-finals

The last best-of-one round of the qualifier is now behind us with a few surprising results as AGO were stunned by expert, while Vitality were defeated by Valiance in overtime. The tournament will now enter the semi-finals, featuring a best-of-three format, with the match-ups looking as follows:

expert vs. Valiance
x-kom vs. Red Reserve

Day one recap

00:30 - Eight teams remain in the qualifier

LeftOut, Epsilon and ALTERNATE aTTaX were some of the teams who crashed out of the qualifier in the Round of 16. The match-ups for the quarter-finals, the last stage to feature a best-of-one format, are the following:

AGO vs. expert
Valiance vs. Vitality
Chaos vs. x-kom
BRZINA vs. Red Reserve

22:43 - The top 16 teams are determined

You can follow the rest of the tournament on the tournament page. The top 16 teams are:

AGO
MAD Lions
x6tence Galaxy
LeftOut
Valiance
SJ
Vitality
ALTERNATE aTTaX Chaos
x-kom
fightclub
BRZINA
Epsilon
EURONICS
Red Reserve
expert

22:10 - First teams reach the top 16

LeftOut 16-10 Copenhagen Flames
Valiance 16-12 GoldenGitte
Vitality 16-7 tradigt
x-kom 16-9 PACT
Epsilon 16-14 Nordavind

20:59 - NBK shines as Vitality survive cats scare

Nathan "⁠NBK-⁠" Schmitt dropped a 30-bomb to help Vitality recover from a 7-14 deficit and beat mix team cats 16-14 on Mirage. Below are some of the most interesting match-ups of the fourth round of the qualifier:

x-kom vs. PACT - twitch.tv/esl_csgob_pl
LeftOut vs. Copenhagen Flames - mixer.com/IEMKatowiceCSGO
Epsilon vs. Nordavind
Vitality vs. tradigt - twitch.tv/csruhub2, twitch.tv/esl_csgo_fr2
x6tence Galaxy vs. Wizards- twitch.tv/esl_csgob_es
AGO vs. PANTHERS - twitch.tv/esl_99damage1

20:33 - Vitality in trouble, first matches are over

Vitality are currently down 3-8 against mix team cats in one of the standout matches of the third round. Below you can find some of the first results:

Epsilon 16-2 AYB
Heretics 16-7 Codewise Unicorns
BULGI16-9 Bpro
x-kom 16-5 Izako Boars
LeftOut 16-10 Snutkuk

20:00 - Movistar & 3DMAX did not check in

Movistar Riders and 3DMAX were among the teams who registered for the tournament but did not check in.

19:55 - Things start to heat up

Three rounds into the qualifier, we already start to see some mouth-watering clashes across the bracket, which you can follow below:

x-kom vs. Izako Boars - twitch.tv/esl_csgob_pl
LeftOut vs. Snutkuk - twitch.tv/esl_99damage1
Epsilon vs. AYB - twitch.tv/esl_epw2
Vitality vs. cats - mixer.com/IEMKatowiceCSGO / twitch.tv/csruhub2

19:23 - First Round 2 results are in

No upsets so far in the tournament as all the favourites have so far pulled through. Below are some of the results so far:

Copenhagen Flames 16-11 Fierce
Vitality 16-2 ezTALENT
ALTERNATE aTTaX 16-6 hierojat_
PACT 16-1 JOHTOPORRAS
Epsilon 16-11 BLUEJAYS
AGO 16-5 SONFX
LeftOut 16-9 tZEN
cats 16-5 needmoreDM

19:00 - Red Reserve with two stand-ins

Second seed Red Reserve have signed up for the qualifier with two stand-ins, Jack "⁠Jackinho⁠" Ström Mattsson and Denis "⁠grux⁠" Gutaj, in lieu of Alfred "⁠RuStY⁠" Karlsson and Fredrik "⁠freddieb⁠" Buö.

RuStY is currently in Taiwan competing with Flow at iESF, while the reason for freddieb's absence remains unclear. The Swedish team will take part in the qualifier with:

William "⁠draken⁠" Sundin
Joakim "⁠disco doplan⁠" Gidetun
Hampus "⁠hampus⁠" Poser
Jack "⁠Jackinho⁠" Ström Mattsson
Denis "⁠grux⁠" Gutaj

18:55 - Round 2 starts

The second round of matches, already featuring the big teams, is about to start. You can follow the action by clicking the links below:

cats vs. needmoreDM- mixer.com/IEMKatowiceCSGO
LeftOut vs. tZEN- twitch.tv/csruhub2

18:51 - cats enter again

The mix-team "cats", which made the top 16 last time, will be in attendance again, this time with the lineup of Kristjan "⁠fejtZ⁠" Allsaar, Eimantas "⁠pounh⁠" Lazickas, Krzysztof "⁠stark⁠" Lewandrowski, Juho "⁠juho⁠" Lampinen, and Mihkel "⁠sperr⁠" Alamaa

Flow #84 Miran 'dumz' MatkovićBenjamin 'BENDJI' SöderenaAron 'xajdish' FredrikssonHugo 'HugoXD' Hallgren Nathan 'NBK-' Schmitt Age: 24 Team: Vitality Rating 1.0: 1.05 Maps played: 1389 KPR: 0.71 DPR: 0.66 Movistar Riders #50 Christian 'loWel' Garcia AntoranAitor 'SOKER' FernándezOscar 'mixwell' CañellasAlejandro 'alex' MasanetAlejandro 'mopoz' Fernández-Quejo Cano cats Mihkel 'sperr' AlamaaKristjan 'fejtZ' AllsaarJuho 'juho' LampinenEimantas 'pounh' LazickasKrzysztof 'stark' Lewandrowski cats tradigt Codewise Unicorns #100 Mateusz 'Morfan' ŚwiętochowskiŁukasz 'azizz' KałkowskiSzymon 'Crityourface' PlutaAlan 'mepsoN' CiszewskiDamian 'Falon' Tworek x-kom #154 Oskar 'oskarish' StenborowskiMichał 'mono' GabszewiczDaniel 'STOMP' PłomińskiGrzegorz 'jedqr' JędrasKrzysztof 'Goofy' Górski ALTERNATE aTTaX #59 Jesper 'TENZKI' PlougmannFlorian 'syrsoN' RischeNicolai 'HUNDEN' PetersenStefan 'stfN' SeierNils 'k1to' Gruhne PANTHERS #67 Lukas 'ecfN' KauerDustin 'DuDe' GroßmannMateusz 'mantuu' WilczewskiJon 'JDC' de CastroAndreas 'Andyy' Schäfer Epsilon #41 Joey 'CRUC1AL' SteuselKia 'Surreal' ManAaron 'frei' FreiDaniel 'djL' NarancicBenjamin 'blameF' Bremer LeftOut #104 Mikail 'Maikelele' BillAdil 'ScreaM' BenrlitomHaakon 'Radifaction' TholoŽygimantas 'nukkye' Chmieliauskas Izako Boars #98 Mateusz 'matty' KołodziejczykKarol 'tecek' KapczyńskiDawid 'xype' LachMichal 'RETO' SilskiPiotr 'nawrot' Nawrocki Alfred 'RuStY' Karlsson Age: 21 Team: Red Reserve Rating 1.0: 0.96 Maps played: 466 KPR: 0.67 DPR: 0.69 GoldenGitte #63 Thomas 'haste' DyrensborgSebastian 'larsen' LarsenMagnus 'Nodios' OlsenRené 'TeSeS' MadsenRasmus 'sjuush' Beck x6tence Galaxy #54 André 'BARBARR' MöllerLinus 'Bååten' AnderssonGustav 'ZINKEN' BjörkTim 'nawwk' JonassonNicolas 'Plopski' Gonzalez Zamora Hampus 'hampus' Poser Age: 19 Team: Red Reserve Rating 1.0: 1.03 Maps played: 588 KPR: 0.71 DPR: 0.69 William 'draken' Sundin Age: 23 Team: Red Reserve Rating 1.0: 1.08 Maps played: 703 KPR: 0.73 DPR: 0.64 Joakim 'disco doplan' Gidetun Age: 23 Team: Red Reserve Rating 1.0: 1.05 Maps played: 761 KPR: 0.72 DPR: 0.66 Fredrik 'freddieb' Buö Age: 24 Team: Red Reserve Rating 1.0: 1.00 Maps played: 794 KPR: 0.69 DPR: 0.68 AGO #30 Grzegorz 'SZPERO' DziamałekDamian 'Furlan' KislowskiDominik 'GruBy' SwiderskiTomasz 'phr' WójcikKacper 'kaper' Słoma Eimantas 'pounh' Lazickas Age: 21 Team: No team Rating 1.0: 1.01 Maps played: 311 KPR: 0.70 DPR: 0.69 Red Reserve #39 William 'draken' SundinJoakim 'disco doplan' GidetunJack 'Jackinho' Ström MattssonHampus 'hampus' PoserDenis 'grux' Gutaj Time is adjusted to your selected timezone PACT #51 Michał 'MOLSI' ŁąckiDawid 'lunAtic' CieślakKacper 'darko' ŚcieraArek 'Vegi' NawojskiTomasz 'ToM223' Richter Nordavind #181 Morten 'zEVES' Vollan ChristensenKristian 'akez' KornbakkAllan 'AnJ' JensenHåkon 'hallzerk' FjærliHaris 'H4RR3' Hadzic ALTERNATE aTTaX #59 Jesper 'TENZKI' PlougmannFlorian 'syrsoN' RischeNicolai 'HUNDEN' PetersenStefan 'stfN' SeierMads 'Console' Skovby Bpro #52 Emiliyan 'spyleadeR' DimitrovNikolay 'niki1' PantaleevBranislav 'BrN' PanovIvan 'Rock1nG' StratievKrasen 'Zix' Minchev Heretics David 'Kairi' de MiguelNatanael 'kanarito' Ródenas BetancortAaron 'nmt' AwadMiguel 'exerz' MarínJavier 'cloud' López EURONICS #75 Christian 'crisby' SchmittOliver 'kzy' HeckAndreas 'znajder' LindbergMarkus 'maRky' ReitenbachÁdám 'kolor' Domoszlay SJ #72 Jesse 'KHRN' GrandellMikko 'xartE' VälimaaTony 'arvid' NiemeläElias 'Jamppi' OlkkonenTuomas 'SADDYX' Louhimaa Mihkel 'sperr' Alamaa Age: 24 Team: No team Rating 1.0: 1.03 Maps played: 197 KPR: 0.71 DPR: 0.68 fightclub BLUEJAYS Andreas 'synx' TrappChristoph 'chrissK' KröllValentin 'bishop' CanepaMarcel 'cello' RoodeChristian 'ChrisWa' Walterrapp 3DMAX #46 Audric 'JACKZ' JugDavid 'Davidp' PrinsBryan 'Maka' CandaLucas 'Lucky' ChastangGaëtan 'JiNKZ' Jamin BRZINA Chaos #92 Fredrik 'FREDDyFROG' GustafssonJoakim 'Relaxa' GustafssonNiclas 'PlesseN' PlessenJakob 'minio' ÅbergSimon 'tabz' Feldt Krzysztof 'stark' Lewandrowski Age: 19 Team: No team Rating 1.0: 0.95 Maps played: 265 KPR: 0.67 DPR: 0.71 Valiance #80 Nemanja 'huNter-' KovačNestor 'LETN1' TanićNemanja 'nexa' IsakovićOtto 'ottoNd' SihvoRokas 'EspiranTo' Milasauskas Tricked #49 Lucas 'Lukki' PilhedenJohannes 'b0RUP' BorupSimon 'snedker' Snedker Juho 'juho' Lampinen Age: 23 Team: cats Rating 1.0: 1.04 Maps played: 658 KPR: 0.74 DPR: 0.72 Chaos #92 Denis 'grux' GutajFredrik 'FREDDyFROG' GustafssonJoakim 'Relaxa' GustafssonNiclas 'PlesseN' Plessen Tempo Storm #97 Ruben 'RUBINO' VillarroelPaweł 'innocent' MocekBastian 'ayken' SchendzielorzKevin 'HS' TarnJorgen 'cromen' Robertsen Jack 'Jackinho' Ström Mattsson Age: 19 Team: No team Rating 1.0: 0.90 Maps played: 35 KPR: 0.62 DPR: 0.70 Kristjan 'fejtZ' Allsaar Age: 21 Team: No team Rating 1.0: 1.10 Maps played: 530 KPR: 0.76 DPR: 0.67 Fierce #213 Faizan 'fzaN' AliEmin 'em1N' MajrbekovTautvydas 'HyPe' PaldaviciusDean 'TotunG' GrealishKyle 'swaggy' Wilson Red Reserve #39 William 'draken' SundinJoakim 'disco doplan' GidetunHampus 'hampus' PoserFredrik 'freddieb' BuöAlfred 'RuStY' Karlsson MAD Lions Rubén 'TorPe' Jesús Gómez RodríguezJavier 'dragunov' SánchezJose 'HUMANZ' Luis Cebrian MartinezIván 'NaOw' GonzálezRaúl 'DeathZz' Jordán Nieto Denis 'grux' Gutaj Age: 18 Team: No team Rating 1.0: 1.04 Maps played: 64 KPR: 0.73 DPR: 0.68 AYB Azmican 'asmo' BerberogluBenjamin 'qk-Mantis' OberleinJason 'delkore' Müller expert #83 Alexander 'alexRr' FrischThilo 'syken' PhanJan 'LyGHT' PatockaRobin 'ScrunK' RöpkeMarko 'kressy' Đorđević Vitality #43 Nathan 'NBK-' SchmittCédric 'RpK' GuipouyDan 'apEX' MadesclaireVincent 'Happy' SchopenhauerMathieu 'ZywOo' Herbaut Copenhagen Flames #228 Dennis 'sycrone' NielsenRasmus 'HooXi' NielsenSebastian 'Basso' AagaardAsger 'Farlig' JensenFredrik 'roeJ' Jørgensen