Esports event organiser StarLadder has revealed the groups receiving direct invites to compete within the Stake Ranked Ep.1 closed qualifiers
Fnatic and Ardour UA are among the many 16 groups competing within the on-line qualifiers going down from March third to eighth.
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Along with Ardour UA and Fnatic, the closed qualifier options a number of groups trying to e book a spot within the LAN remaining for an opportunity to earn priceless Valve Regional Standings (VRS) factors that decide which groups obtain an invitation to Tier 1 tournaments and the Majors.
Fnatic heads into the qualifier following a top-four end at Roman Imperium Cup V, the place it bested the likes of SAW and Monte throughout the Group Stage and Playoffs.
Berlin Worldwide Gaming (BIG), EYEBALLERS, and Pleasant Campers are in motion alongside FOKUS, a staff persevering with to point out spectacular type following its formation in late February.
FOKUS efficiently booked its place at PGL Bucharest 2026, marking its first Tier 1 event look after successful the European closed qualifier. One other run via the Stake Ranked Ep.1 qualifiers might end in one other LAN look because the staff continues to climb the worldwide standings.
For Ardour UA, Stake Ranked Ep.1 seems to be to cement its place in the direction of the highest of the Americas standings because the race for Main spots continues to warmth up. In February, the organisation signed former member of The MongolZ, Azbayar ‘Senzu’ Munkhbold, to its roster to bolster its firepower.
A Stacked Stake Ranked Ep.1 Qualifier
With a number of groups climbing the VRS and discovering type, the Stake Ranked Ep.1 closed qualifier is about to be a hotly contested event.
The 16 groups will battle it out throughout a best-of-three, single-elimination bracket, with two groups securing a spot on the predominant occasion occurring from April 1st to 4th. The 2 certified groups be part of six invited groups and compete for a $100,000 (~£74,828) prize pool.
The total schedule of opening matches is as follows:
March 4th, 2026
- K27 vs CYBERSHOKE Esports
- EYEBALLERS vs Staff Nemesis
- SINNERS Esports vs ECSTATIC
- BIG vs Johnny Speeds
March fifth, 2026
- Ardour UA vs FOKUS
- Interior Circle vs Pleasant Campers
- 9INE vs Tricked Esport
- Fnatic vs ENCE
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