BC.Game and BIG reach EWC open qualifier playoffs

BC.Game and BIG advanced into the Esports World Cup open qualifier playoffs on LAN in Paris, joining the 32-team knockout bracket after the event began about an hour late because of technical issues. The open qualifier features 64 teams competing on-site for four spots at the $2 million main event.

BC.Game, led by Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev, lost its opening series on Nuke to BASEMENT BOYS but won the overall match 2-1. The team then defeated the recently signed 1win roster to secure its playoff berth.

BIG progressed from its group and joins other favorites already through to the knockout stage. Organizers confirmed eight group winners have moved into the 32-team bracket. Groups 9-16 are scheduled to start next, with teams including 100 Thieves and Liquid set to play in the coming round.

Matches in the qualifier are best-of-three series. Four teams from the open qualifier will earn spots at the $2 million Esports World Cup main event. An additional $100,000 will be split among teams finishing 5th through 16th in the open qualifier.

Iberian Soul, back under that name after splitting from Gentle Mates, lost to 6666 in the first round. Iberian Soul can still reach the playoffs by winning the group’s decider match on Saturday. Fnatic topped that group to advance directly.

The LAN qualifier in Paris continues with more group-stage matches to decide the remaining playoff slots and the four teams that will join the Esports World Cup main event.