This weekend, twelve of the best teams across Europe and North America battled for a spot in the Guild Wars 2 World Championship 2016. After the dust settled, three teams from each region punched their ticket to the ESL Studios in Burbank, California to fight for the championship title and the first-place prize of $100,000 on September 17.
EUROPE
In the upper bracket, Guild Wars 2 Pro League Season 2 Champions The Civilized Gentlemen secured a spot in the GW2WC after an impressive win against Orange Logo and Rank Fifty Five Dragons defeated Vermillion 2-0, knocking them to the lower bracket.
In a rematch of the Guild Wars 2 Pro League Season 2 Finals, Rank Fifty Five Dragons went up against The Civilized Gentlemen. History did not repeat itself in this case, as Rank Fifty Five Dragons took down the defending champions to advance in the upper bracket.
Ranked 55 Dragons advance to the grand finals after a comeback in the last minute! #GW2WC
https://t.co/Z989CnwdBa pic.twitter.com/dFEkx2Suko
— ESL Guild Wars 2 (@ESLGW2) August 6, 2016
After going down to the lower bracket, The Civilized Gentlemen then fell at the hands of Vermillion, securing a spot in the Guild Wars 2 World Championship, but with the lowest European seeding.
Vermillion take down @TheCivGentlemen after a series of unfortunate events. #GW2WC
https://t.co/Z989CneCcA pic.twitter.com/6kkhMuCdsx
— ESL Guild Wars 2 (@ESLGW2) August 6, 2016
The battle for the European first seed came down to a rematch between Vermillion and Rank Fifty Five Dragons. In the end, the former champions of Rank Fifty Five Dragons came out on top, securing the first EU seed in the Guild Wars 2 World Championship bracket.
Rank 55 Dragons dominate Vermillion in game 2 and lock down the first seed from Europe for the #GW2WC pic.twitter.com/tqv6FvGgaD
— ESL Guild Wars 2 (@ESLGW2) August 6, 2016
NORTH AMERICA
The North American Guild Wars 2 World Championship Qualifiers began with Team PZ defeating Never Lucky and advancing in the upper bracket with a spot in the #GW2WC in hand.
Astral Authority then secured a Guild Wars 2 World Championship spot after defeating Ez PZ Lemon Squeezy. The #AstralArmy went on to knock Team PZ to the lower bracket with a 2-0 win and made their way to the grand finals to battle for the first North American seed.
.@AstralAuthority assert their authority and knock @Team_PZ to the lower bracket! #GW2WC
https://t.co/Z989CneCcA pic.twitter.com/p8Ms0uncE1
— ESL Guild Wars 2 (@ESLGW2) August 7, 2016
In the lower bracket, Never Lucky defeated Ez Pz Lemon Squeezy, moving on to fight Team PZ. After a hard-fought match, Never Lucky defeated Team PZ and moved on to fight Astral Authority in the grand finals.
.@Team_PZ drop the ball and Never Lucky will advance to the grand finals! #GW2WC
https://t.co/Z989CneCcA pic.twitter.com/i4J2kXPRiT
— ESL Guild Wars 2 (@ESLGW2) August 7, 2016
Astral Authority won the grand finals against Never Lucky and earned themselves the first North American seed in the Guild Wars 2 World Championship 2016!
.@AstralAuthority wins the #GW2WC American Qualifier with a 2-0 score! Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/7vO3cQiIto
— ESL Guild Wars 2 (@ESLGW2) August 7, 2016
GUILD WARS 2 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Join us at the ESL Studios in Burbank, California for the Guild Wars 2 World Championship 2016 on September 17 as the top teams across Europe and North America battle for the championship title and first-place prize of $100,000! Purchase tickets to the live show or tune into the Guild Wars 2 Twitch channel to catch the action.
Be sure to follow ESLGW2 on Twitter and Facebook for all the #GW2WC updates.