Eight teams were able to qualify for the major through qualifying tournaments. With the announcement of the major, four minor tournaments were also announced. The finalists of the minor tournaments of the American, CIS and Europe regions as well as the winner and the third-placed Asian minor qualified for the preliminary round of the major. The Chinese team TyLoo did not receive an entry permit.
1100 Thieves withdrew from the tournament due to immigration issues.
Challengers Stage
A preliminary round for the major was held for the first time under the name Challengers Stage , which determined the 9 remaining participants in the next round. The Challengers Stage replaced the previous majors' offline qualifier. It took place in Atlanta from January 12th to 15th, 2018 . It was played in the Swiss system . Teams with three wins made it to the next round, teams with three losses in the first four rounds were eliminated. After the withdrawal of 100 Thieves, the teams with defeat in round five play a ninth spot for the Legend Stage.
Attendees
European UnionFaZe Clan (Participant PGL Major 2017)
1Due to the majority lineup rule, Sprout took over the spot from Penta Sports .
2The finalists of the Asian minor TyLoo could not take part in the tournament due to the lack of a residence permit. They were replaced by the third-placed team Flash Gaming .
After 100 Thieves could not take part in the tournament, the teams played the remaining 16th place for the Legend Stage with two wins . Here won AVANGAR first against the Renegades with 16:10 Mirage. The team then lost 15:19 against Team Liquid , who qualified for the next round.
Legends Stage
The Legend Stage replaced the group stage of the previous majors. Furthermore, 16 teams took part in this stage. Eight teams were already qualified by placing them in the top eight at the last major PGL Kraków 2017 . Another eight were able to qualify on the previous Challengers Stage .
FranceG2 Esports (1st – 2nd place Challenger Stage)
United StatesCloud 9 (1st – 2nd place Challenger Stage)
Russia Vega Squadron (3rd – 5th place Challenger Stage)
European UnionFaZe Clan (3rd – 5th place Challenger Stage)
Turkey Space Soldiers (3rd – 5th place Challenger Stage)
European Unionmousesports (6th - 8th place Challenger Stage)
UkraineNatus Vincere (6th - 8th place Challenger Stage)
Russia Quantum Bellator Fire (6th-8th place Challenger Stage)
United StatesTeam Liquid (9th place Challenger Stage) 1
1The majority of the Immortals lineup has been taken over by 100 Thieves . 100 Thieves canceled their participation in the major after the beginning of the Challenger Stage due to entry problems and were replaced by a ninth team from the Challenger Stage.
All qualification and final round matches were broadcast live on Twitch and the promoter's website, Eleague .
Event
The Challengers Stage and the Legends Stage were played on the two weekends before the playoffs in the Eleague Arena in Atlanta . The playoffs themselves took place from January 26th to 28th, 2018 at the Agganis Arena in Boston .
Cloud 9
Renegades ($ 30,000)
AVANGAR ($ 30,000)
Space Soldiers ($ 30,000)
TyLoo ($ 15,000)
Quantum Bellator Fire ($ 15,000)
Team EnVyUs ($ 15,000)
OpTic Gaming ($ 5,000)
BOOT-dream [S] cape Kings Gaming Club MVP PK Tainted Minds The MongolZ
AGO Gaming eXtatus Godsent Pride Gaming Windigo Gaming
Sprout 1 (Participant PGL Major 2017)
Astralis (semi-finalist PGL Major 2017)