Day one of PLG North America open qualifier sees eight teams remain
The first day of the PLG Grand Slam open qualifier for North America took place yesterday, with 37 teams taking part in the qualifier overall. The qualifier was initially scheduled for October 26th-27th, overlapping with the DreamHack Open Winter open qualifier, so was rescheduled to this date.
The reason why a number of more notable teams are not signed up to the qualifier, which will promote one team to the event in Adu Dhabi on December 12th-15th, is because the LAN event overlaps with the IEM Katowice Americas Minor closed qualifier for North America. This, however, has not seemed to phase FURIA or Mythic who are both competing in the PLG qualifier and have a berth at the Minor closed qualifier.
The other large names taking part in the qualifier were Vireo.pro, cantwinalan and ESL Pro League side INTZ, who don't have a scheduling conflict like their compatriots FURIA due to taking part in the South America qualifier for the Minor, which takes place this month.
After the day was done, all of the teams remaining were handed spots to the quarterfinals. INTZ made their way there by defeating the Rogers State University team 16-4 before dispatching Uncharted in a similar scoreline. Their opponents in the next round are HotAss, who featured former Velocity player Alex "vek" Voynov, who reach the next round after a 16-3 win over Roanoke and a close 16-14 match with WhiteGive.
The next quarterfinal lineup will see Vireo.pro after they reached it through a 16-1 win over team_xalonsox and a 16-4 win over Whalers. Their opponents, cantwinalan, got there after a 16-10 win over team_esf- and a 16-9 win against Nemesis Female. FURIA reached the quarterfinal stage after a 16-0 win over Twinkletoes and a forfeit win. The Brazilians' opponents will be Dogs of War, who made their way with a 16-2 win over Wicked and a 16-4 win over YourBunnyWrote.
The quarterfinal at the bottom of the bracket had its lineup secured through Mythic coming in with a 16-1 win over Sam Houston State University and a 16-8 win over bowlcutW. Their opponents will be KAIJU, who picked up a 16-0 win over team_1CZera and a 16-4 win against Vicious.
The full quarterfinal matchups for the PLG Grand Slam North America qualifier are:
 INTZ |
vs. |  HotAss |
| Vireo.pro |
vs. | cantwinalan |
| FURIA |
vs. | Dogs of War |
| Mythic |
vs. | KAIJU |
The quarterfinal is scheduled to recommence as a best-of-one at 6pm ET, with the semifinal and final set to take place afterwards in a best-of-three format.
