Big names, Bigger questions – Europe RMR A preview

Games Writer

Last Updated on 09/26/2024

On paper, the Europe RMR A is a stacked event. But surrounding many big names are plenty of questions to be answered.

Natus Vincere, Heroic, FaZe Clan, Fnatic, MOUZ, BIG, Vitality, OG. The PGL Major Antwerp 2022 Europe RMR A has some big, legendary names entering the server next week.

But results in the past months have raised some questions regarding the form of the teams coming into the Major.

No longer invincible

NAVI has struggled lifting trophies this year.

At the start of the 2022 season, the PGL Antwerp Major only had one clear favorite: NAVI.

The CIS squad had dominated the latter half of last year and seemed set to establish an era. But coming into the RMR, NAVI has lost most of its aura.

They are still among the absolute best in the scene, but an anonymous campaign in BLAST Spring, a semifinal in IEM Katowice, and a quarterfinal at EPL Season 15 are a far cry from their record-breaking run last year.

NAVI went from not dropping a single map on their way to the PGL Stockholm Major to not even being favorites to win the next. That honor is bestowed on FaZe Clan, who have dominated both in Katowice and EPL Season 15.

Not the only team struggling

Vitality is struggling to turn the page on its French history.

NAVI is far from the only roster that is having a rough start to the year.

Vitality has been very open about its struggles in integrating the French and Danish parts of its new roster.

Heroic looked solid at the start of the year but was wiped out in EPL by Team Liquid, a result that could haunt them for quite a while.

Fnatic and MOUZ haven’t been able to find a lasting roster, as MOUZ decided to bench Nathan “NBK” Schmitt after just 20 maps and Fnatic saw their star player Ludvig “Brollan” Brollin poached by NIP.

With Outsiders rumored to potentially disband soon, BIG needing several tries to fit the five best Germans in one lineup, and OG still adjusting to new leadership, the RMR A will be far from clear cut.

Plenty of upset potential

Wxoic is back, baby! – Image: Epicenter

With the top teams struggling, this leaves plenty of room for smaller teams to surprise and aim for a Major spot.

For most rosters, the RMR will be their LAN debut. Most teams making it out of the open qualifiers didn’t have the chance to play in Katowice or BLAST.

But that doesn’t mean there are no interesting names in the group.

Eternal Fire has enough firepower to take on any roster in the event. The Turkish roster has had over half a year to figure out their role and leadership situation, and shouldn’t be underestimated.

The most experienced team in the event, and arguably in the world, Dignitas has a core of players that know what it takes to win trophies and more importantly, Majors.

Every Major cycle, we see a previously unknown CIS roster rise to the occasion. Europe RMR A has plenty of candidates: Unique and QUAZAR fit the bill for a surprise victory or two.