The group stage of ESL Pro League Season 17 is ending almost a month after its start. During the tournament, there was enough intrigue, the triumphs of the underdogs, and disappointment. Now it is worth summarizing the results of the group stage.
Unexpected teams among losers
If the relegation of Rooster, Grayhound, EG, and IHC was predictable, then some teams showed an unexpectedly weak result. Among them were OG and NIP, and to a lesser extent, Complexity, and BIG. The departure of captain nexa can explain the failure of OG, but with the Swedish club, it will be more about tactical uniformity and ongoing demands. The situation with BIG is not so clear-cut since the team was a few rounds away from the guaranteed second place in the group, but then the team seemed to run out of steam.
Before the regional BLAST, teams that were considered "good" and got eliminated must conduct thorough special training.
Other relegated teams
Several dark horses in the playoffs
By some miracle, 00NATION, one of the weakest Brazilian teams, also left the group. Last year, the club took the last places in the few tier-1 international tournaments where they had to perform.
Movistar Riders were also not whipping boys at this tournament. After the departure of sniper SunPayus, the results of the Spaniards became worse, although, at IEM Cologne 2022, they managed to reach the top 4. Perhaps, the black streak for Movistar Riders is ending, but in the 1/16 finals, it is impossible to relax, especially when the opponents are G2.
Other playoff participants
Remember that the tournament's final stage will be held until March 26, and the grand final will have a bo5 format. Group stage match results, detailed team and individual statistics, and the EPL S17 schedule are available on the tournament's page.
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