American player Jake “Stewie2K” Yip will make another appearance on the professional scene. This time, he will strengthen the Wildcard lineup in the closed qualifiers for PGL Astana 2025, which will be held online in North America from March 27 to April 1. A total of 32 teams will take part in the tournament, divided into four GSL (double-elimination) groups. Each group will consist of 8 teams that will play Bo3 matches for the right to reach the playoffs. The final part will feature a single-elimination format with semifinals in Bo3 and the grand final in Bo5.

About the PGL Astana 2025 tournament

The main event will take place from May 10 to 18 in Astana, Barys Arena, bringing together 16 strongest teams from around the world. The prize pool will amount to $625 000, of which:

• $200,000 will go to the winners
• $93 750 will go to the vice-champion
• $75,000 and $43,750 will go to the 3rd and 4th places, respectively 

Stewie2K: a success story

Jake Ewing started his career in several local American bands before joining Cloud9 in 2016. Despite the skepticism of some analysts, he quickly became one of the key figures in the team and helped them win the ELEAGUE Major Boston 2018, becoming the first North American team to win the major. Later, Stewie2K played in MIBR, Team Liquid, and Evil Geniuses, winning a number of trophies and records. After a short break from the professional scene, he returned as a stand-in for G2 at IEM Dallas 2024, where he unexpectedly won the title.

In total, Stewie2K has:

• 1 won Major (ELEAGUE Major 2018)
• 7 appearances at majors
• 14 trophies
• 10 different lineups and 3309 days of total game practice

Wildcard and replacement issues

The Wildcard organization has not yet disclosed who exactly will replace Stewie2K in the roster. However, it is known that they rely on the experience and leadership qualities of the American to overcome the difficult qualification stage. If successful, Wildcard will join the top 16 teams that will compete for $625 000 at Barys Arena in May.

Success in the closed qualifiers for PGL Astana 2025 will give Stewie2K a chance to play at another big tournament and prove that he is still capable of leading the team to victories. For Wildcard, this is an opportunity to make a name for themselves on the international stage and challenge the top teams from around the world. We will see if this player-organization alliance will become a new sensation in the intense matches of the North American qualifiers soon.