ESL Challenger League Season 40: Europe Spectator Guide

ESL Challenger League Season 40: Europe will start today. Sixteen teams from Europe will go into battle for a prize pool of $50,000, as well as a ticket to the ESL Pro League Conference Season 16, which will go to the winner. In this regard, we invite you to get acquainted with the format of the event, the distribution of the prize fund, as well as the main favorites of the ESL Challenger League Season 40: Europe.

Format of ESL Challenger League Season 40: Europe

The championship will begin with a group stage, within which sixteen teams are divided into four quartets in advance. Following the results of the group stage, the two best teams from each group will proceed to the playoffs, forming a Double-Elimination bracket. All matches of the championship will be held in BO3 format. At the same time, the grand final will be held in the BO5 format (with a handicap for the team that has passed the path to the playoffs without defeat).

Group A (January 25 - February 1):

• Entropiq.
  
• Nemiga Gaming.
  
• Into The Breach.
  
• 1win.

Group B (February 2-9):

• Copenhagen Flames.
  
• BLINK.
  
• HEET.
  
• Akimbo.
  

Group C (February 22 - March 1):

• ECSTATIC.
  
• Gamer Legion.
  
• Wisla Krakow.
  
• 1 shot.
  

Group D (March 2-9):

• SKADE.
  
• SINNERS.
  
• Team Finest.
  
• SAW.

Starting matches in each quartet are determined by a random draw. In the second round, the winners of the starting confrontations will meet each other, challenging the first place in the group, while the losing teams will compete for the last place and elimination from the tournament. In the third round, the teams with three points will compete for the last ticket to the playoffs and second place in the group.

Prize pool distribution

• 1st place: $20,000 + seat at EPL Conference S16.
• 2nd place: $11,500 + seat in the S41 Challenger League.
• 3rd place: $7,000 + S41 Challenger League spot.
• 4th place: $4,000 + place in the S41 Challenger League.
• 5th-6th place: $2,500 + place in the S41 Challenger League.
• 7th-8th place: $1,250 + seat in the S41 Challenger League.
• 9th-10th place: place in the S41 Challenger League.
• 11th-12th place: departure to S41 Relegation.
• 13th-14th place: departure to S41 Relegation.
• 15th-16th place: relegation to S41 Advanced.

The main favorites of ESL Challenger League Season 40: Europe

The main favorites of group A are two teams - Entropiq and 1WIN. While the British team Into The Breach still can't adapt to the TIER-2 scene, Nemiga continues to experiment with the line-up, showing unsatisfactory results.

In the second quartet stand out Copenhagen Flames and HEET. These teams take not only experience, but also stability. BLINK can act as a "dark horse", but, given the difficulties with the line-up, the team can both create a sensation and quickly lose two matches. Akimbo's perspectives are not fully understood. The former core of LDLC has managed to enlist the support of Python and Kyojin, but on paper the composition looks inconsistent.

From Group C, ECSTATIC and Wisła Kraków must go. While the Danes have kept their mark over the past few months, the Polish team started the new season quite well, striking with the frequency of their victories. At the same time, 1shot and GamerLegion can seriously compete on a separate day, but these teams are more likely to play the role of extras.

In the last quartet, the intrigue will be alive until the last match, since three teams can count on a place in the playoffs at once. Group D favorites are SAW, SKADE and SINNERS. That being said, if Team Finest finds itself within the next month, the team will also be able to create serious competition for a place in the sun.

ESL Challenger League Season 40: Europe will be held online from January 25 to April 3. Sixteen teams from Europe will compete for a prize pool of $50,000, as well as a ticket to the ESL Pro League Conference Season 16, which will go to the winner.