The Riyadh Masters 2022 was off to a slow yet interesting debut as the Western teams take a beating from Chinese candidates for the first time since DPC (2021-22) began.
Royal Never Give Up’s relentless showcase of strength was truly a fearsome sight. Both OG and Nigma Galaxy experienced a battering first-hand.
Heading into the second day’s schedule, we can expect a repeat of Week 5 at DPC Western Europe Tour 3 as OG meets Team Liquid for a revenge match. Both teams have been at each other’s neck for title as the strongest EU team, so any encounter between the two is a treat.
Furthermore, Team Liquid’s presence is blessed by the legendary Anathan “ana” Pham, who is stand-in for Riyadh Masters 2022.
The other interesting match for OG is their match vs Nigma, which is an old rival dating back to The International 2019 (TI9). Nigma has fallen off drastically since their demotion into Division 2, but fans are hoping that their latest addition, Syed “SumaiL” Hassancould be the team’s lifeline to qualify for the coveted Ti11 in October.
Their earlier round vs RNG, which ended in a tie, was impressive considering the overwhelming odds against them. As such, this is our earliest glimpse into how Nigma fairs up against the strongest teams in WEU later today.
Due to the pandemic and strict lockdown protocols in China, we haven’t really seen how Stockholm Major participants fair up against its Chinese counterparts. They arguably have the most hype among fans as formidable opponents to European rivals, such as Team Spirit and OG, so the swelling excitement to finally see these guys in action is expected.
PSG.LGD goes into a “re-match” with Team Spirit nine months after losing the Ti10 Grand Finals . While Team Spirit is still defending champions, their performance at Stockholm 2022 proved otherwise as they flopped in twelfth place. On the other hand, LGD has also been sloppy at DPC China Tour 3, as they narrowly qualify for the Arlington Major.
A more promising Chinese candidate is RNG, which has skyrocketed in performance. Considering the background of its players, it was well in everyone’s expectations for RNG to deliver phenomenally. Nevertheless, we will be able to get a good preview of RNG’s strength against TeamSoloMid. Of course, TSM’s performance in the North American scene is a poor comparison for LGD.
It wouldn’t be the Riyadh Masters 2022 without a home favorite. Deboosters is Saudi Arab’s representative, and arguably the underdog going into the competition. To kick off the second day against two prominent WEU opponents, Team Secret and Tundra Esports, is a terrifying reality. However, we can only hope that Deboosters manage to surprise the crowd with their underdog energy.
The Riyadh Masters 2022 with $4M at stake is what’s brewing as the region’s grandest Esports tournament. Inviting the best teams from every region to shine the spotlight on Saudi Arab’s Esports scene. Catch the action on Gamers8’s Twitch channel as we head into the week of highly-anticipated games.
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