The second qualifying round for the CLANAREA CUP has come to an end, and the battle for a place in the LAN finals in Katowice has entered the next stage. Following the conclusion of the competition, we now know the second team to have secured a place in the decisive stage of the tournament. This time, Pompka proved to be the best, having had to play several challenging matches along the way. In the semi-finals, they even needed extra time to defeat their rivals.
Unfortunately, just as in the first round of qualifiers, not all registered teams turned up on the server this time either. Some matches therefore ended in walkovers or automatic qualification for one of the teams. Despite the attendance issues, however, there was no shortage of thrilling clashes, and we have finally identified another participant for the LAN finals.
After two of the four rounds, we now know half of the line-up that will compete in Katowice. Pompka joins Hexagone (WTG AC), the winners of the first qualifiers. However, there are still two more chances to secure one of the remaining places.
The first rounds of the second CLANAREA CUP qualifiers
The second qualifying round began with a few matches, but right from the start the organisers had to contend with a turnout issue. Among those who failed to turn up were Lunatic CLAN, energolek, RRISK, Geflux 5, Szoki, XCVV, crystal club and VAPG5. Some of these absences resulted in walkovers, whilst in two cases the matches did not take place at all.
Among the first-round matches that did take place, the clash between the lads from LumbagoCS looked particularly promising. Ultimately, it was the former who emerged victorious from this encounter, winning 13–10. 21RelicClan made a slightly more convincing start to their campaign, defeating Big BooM 13–8. Pompka, meanwhile, progressed by walkover against RRISK, whilst Kujwywzoo, Załężoki and eLeMZet also made it through to the next round thanks to their opponents’ absence.
In the second round, Pompka was thus given the chance to face its first serious test. Its opponent was 21RelicClan, which had previously eliminated Big BooM. The match ended 13–8 in favour of Pompka, which thereby secured its place in the semi-finals. In the second match played, Załężoki hosted eLeMZet. Here, the margin was much narrower, with eLeMZet securing their place in the semi-finals with a 13–11 victory.
The remaining two places in the semi-finals were taken by teams that did not have to play a second round. Ziomeczki and Kujwywzoo received automatic qualification and were able to prepare in peace for the most important part of the qualifiers. Consequently, the semi-finals saw Ziomeczki take on Pompka and Kujwywzoo face off against eLeMZet.
Pompka secured second place in Katowice
The first semi-final, in which ziomeczki faced off against Pompka, proved the most thrilling. Both teams had already played one match each, but this time the stakes were much higher. The winner would secure a place in the grand final of the qualifiers and be just one step away from securing a ticket to the LAN finals in Katowice.
The match was very evenly matched from the start, and neither side was able to gain full control of the result. Regular playing time was not enough to decide the winner, so the first finalist had to be decided in extra time. In the extra time, Pompka performed better, eventually winning 19–15. The team thus secured their place in the final of the second qualifiers.
In the second semi-final, the situation was completely different. Kujwywzoo faced off against eLeMZet, but this time the contest was not nearly as fiercely contested. Kujwywzoo won comfortably 13–3 and advanced to the decisive match without much trouble.
The grand final was once again played in a BO3 format, with Pompka and Kujwywzoo going head-to-head. The first map, Anubis, ended with a score of 13–8 in Pompka’s favour. The semi-final winners therefore needed just one more map win to seal the entire qualifiers. On Mirage, Pompka once again proved the better side, this time winning 13–10. The 2–0 result sealed the team’s victory in the second round of the qualifiers.
After two rounds of play, we now know the two teams who will compete in the LAN finals. Hexagone won the first qualifier, whilst the second spot has just gone to Pompka. Both teams can now prepare to compete in Katowice, whilst the remaining teams still have a chance to join the line-up.
The third CLANAREA CUP qualifier takes place tomorrow
However, the battle for a place in the CLANAREA CUP LAN finals is far from over. The third qualifying round kicks off tomorrow, offering another chance for teams keen to fight for a spot in Katowice. With two rounds already completed, there are still two slots left. Consequently, the field for the next qualifying round will continue to grow.
At the time of writing, there are still six places left on the list of participants for the third round. So, if you’re planning to take part in the CLANAREA CUP, don’t leave your registration until the last minute – fill the remaining spots now. Of course, there are still two qualifying rounds to go, and their winners will join Hexagone and Pompka in the battle for ultimate victory in Katowice.
Clanarea
Source: The tournament organiser’s profile on the x.com platform
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