Aurora Gaming got here from a map all the way down to beat F9 EICAR 2-1 and win the primary VCT EMEA Kickoff Europe open qualifier. The win got here days after they had been put again into the bracket when the UK staff BONK was disqualified for dishonest.
The VCT EMEA Kickoff: Europe Qualifier 2027 decider obtained below means at 18:45. The sequence started on Lotus. Aurora’s chiwa was named most precious participant of the sequence.
The Aurora roster lists Boo, chiwa, Derke, B1SK and trexx. F9 EICAR, primarily based in France, fielded Kipperman, Destrian, Tenshi, izana and Geekkooo.
A dishonest ban put Aurora again within the bracket
Aurora’s run practically ended early. BONK, a UK Valorant roster, beat them 2-1 within the spherical of 32 on 6 November. That consequence adopted a comeback from 3-11 down on Bind. Riot’s ruling in opposition to BONK reversed Aurora’s exit. Each BONK participant and registered staff member was provisionally suspended. Challenge 100K and ycatble returned to the bracket together with Aurora.
The qualifier left no room for error. It was a single-elimination bracket for 256 groups, and each match was a best-of-three. As soon as reinstated, Aurora didn’t drop a map earlier than the ultimate. They beat Pixel Lumina 2-0 within the second semi-final.
Within the first semi-final, xXxMasterProMegaTeamxXx fell 2-1 to F9 EICAR. The French facet had arrived on the qualifier in combined type. F9 EICAR misplaced 0-2 to WIP Esports in VCL France: Revolution Stage 2 2026 and had been twice crushed 1-2 by Obligatory. A 2-1 consequence in opposition to Esprit Shōnen was their solely victory in that run.
The Elo energy rankings present the hole on paper. F9 EICAR sit at rank 241, with a score of 1405 and a 6-16 file in 22 rated matches. Aurora are unranked.
Two Berlin locations await the playoff winners
The ultimate nonetheless carried weight. Seeding for the playoff stage could be determined by the consequence, Insider Gaming reported.
The stakes are clear. Underneath Riot’s 2027 system, 4 non-partner groups will attain VCT EMEA Kickoff. Two will come from Europe, one from Türkiye and one from the Center East and North Africa.
That leaves European hopefuls chasing locations at a 12-team LAN occasion. VCT 2027 EMEA Kickoff can be run by Riot Video games on the Riot Video games Area in Berlin.
The playoff area just isn’t but full. The highest 4 groups from every open qualifier transfer on, and the second Europe open qualifier is about for 12 to fifteen November. The playoffs will use a modified double-elimination bracket of best-of-three matches, with a best-of-five grand ultimate. The highest two finishers earn locations at VCT 2027 EMEA Kickoff, whose window runs from 14 January to 7 February.
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