Cover-Credits:
Top contenders of the region strike out on day one of ESL One Summer 2021. Team Secret, Nigma, OG, and Team Liquid started the day in the upper bracket looking to have a smooth run against their opponents. Only OG managed to win a series but even then dropped down to the lower brackets of ESL One Summer 2021 immediately in the next round. Team Secret, Liquid, and Nigma were, unfortunately, unable to match their opponents and lost their matches without putting up too much of a fight. Their opponents, VIkin.gg, Virtus.pro, and Alliance managed to progress to the next round of the upper bracket without too much of a hassle. Hence, we will see Secret, OG, Liquid, and Nigma battle against each other in the lower bracket on Day 2 of ESL One Summer 2021.
ESL One Summer Day 1: Nigma, Secret, Liquid, and OG sent to the Lower Bracket
Despite winning their first series against AS Monaco Gambit in a 2-0 stomp, OG immediately got overwhelmed by VP in their next series, losing 2-0 in return and falling to the lower bracket.
Team Secret, despite starting in the second round of the upper bracket, got wrecked by Alliance who beat Team Unique prior to their matchup. Team Secret looked shaky and unsure about their gameplay. The precise execution and discipline they had before seemed to have taken a stumble.
Team Liquid with their newly returned offlaner Boxi did not look that hot either, dropping their first series in the upper bracket against Tundra Esports 2-0 and immediately followed OG and Secret into the lower bracket.
The final upset came against Team Nigma who had the highest placement amongst the European teams at the WePlay AniMajor The team however faltered in their first matchup in the upper bracket of ESL One Summer. Nigma faced DPC 2021 S2: EU Lower Division champions, Vikin.gg, who absolutely destroyed them 2-0 and sent them packing to the lower bracket.
These teams are now set to face each other in the first round of the lower bracket which means that two teams will immediately be eliminated from the tournament. Will these teams pick up their performance in day two or will they continue to falter?
