The first day of European RMR has produced some exciting matches, but the results were anything but surprising. The big names most often pushed it over the line, while the underdogs were left with their backs against the wall.
MOUZ, Vitality, NAVI, and FaZe managed to win both their games on the opening day. MOUZ contained their dominating form while NAVI and Vitality looked as shaky as they were in the recent tournaments. FaZe despite starting the day with a comfortable win, struggled in their second game but managed to walk away with a 2-0 scoreline.
Big names like Fnatic, Cloud9, and Falcons performed well but not to their usual standards. Expectations are high on Falcons post s1mple’s arrival but they have failed to deliver on the expectations and now they sit with a 1-1 scoreline. While 1-1 is not the worst scoreline following the conclusion of Day 1 of the RMR, it should trigger the warning bells with a Major qualification on the line.
Underdogs such as Sangal, Nemiga, and Sinner had a tough time but there is still a chance that they make it to the Major. With a few days of action left in this group, there is still a chance for teams who are 0-2 down after the opening day.
While opening day results do not give a clear picture of the future it gives teams the edge and confidence to perform further down the line. Teams that are 2-0 up will play with more confidence and less pressure while the teams with 0-2 will have it the other way.
Qualifying early gives teams the chance to get a few more days of practice in without opening up their playbook for the world to see. This time allows them to study their opponents, iron out wrinkles in their strategies and adapt according to the next opposition but not walking away with a 3-0 score in RMR doesn’t indicate a team’s success at the Major.
