The organizers of ESL Challenger Atlanta have announced how the teams will be distributed in groups at the tournament with a prize fund of $100,000. Eight teams are divided into two groups, with Portuguese SAW and German team BIG being the favorites, which adds intrigue to the upcoming matches.

Now that the distribution of teams by groups is clear, we can expect interesting and tense confrontations. Particular attention is drawn to the confrontation of teams from different regions, which promises diverse and spectacular matches in the fight for the playoffs.

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Context and backstory

ESL Challenger is one of the key tournaments for teams looking to establish themselves on the international stage. Competitions of this caliber give teams the opportunity to break through to higher positions in the rankings and earn a spot at major tournaments. The tournament in Atlanta, which will be held from October 4-6, promises to be a milestone in the careers of some of the participants, especially for teams such as SAW and M80. The latter, although they didn't have much success at ESL Pro League Season 20, are still in great shape.

Tournament specifics

The tournament consists of two groups, and the matches will be played in GSL format. Each group consists of four teams, and only the top two teams will advance to the playoffs, where they will play singles matches starting with the semifinals. All matches will be played in BO3 format, which adds intrigue and makes each encounter even more intense.

Group A is led by Portuguese squad SAW, followed by FlyQuest, BetBoom and Rooster. SAW stand out as the favorites, giving them a serious chance of success. In Group B, the biggest expectations are placed on BIG, but the M80 team may also have something to show at this tournament, which adds to the intrigue. Other participants of the group - Wildcard and ODDIK - can also make adjustments in the course of the competition.

SAW have a good chance of making the playoffs, as they have shown consistent play throughout the season. However, team M80 is also worthy of consideration, especially after their recent participation in the ESL Pro League, where they placed 5-8.

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Conclusion

The ESL Challenger tournament in Atlanta is an important event that can determine the future fate of many teams, especially for those looking to climb higher in the international rankings. Strong teams, intense format and high prize pool make this event one of the most anticipated tournaments of this fall.