- This comes after teams said the format is not fair
- The old format would have given teams who faced higher-seed opponents an advantage
- PGL has implemented some changes
Teams competing in the Americas Regional Major Ranking (RMR) tournament have criticized PGL for the format used.
Teams and Players Criticize PGL
Tournaments organizers are not perfect and can make mistakes like everybody else. Often these mistakes are brought to light by the participants themselves and the organizer is forced to change things. This is what PGL, the tournament organizer in charge of the first Valve-sponsored CS:GO event of the year, had to do recently. PGL changed the format of the Americas Regional Major Ranking (RMR) tournament for the Antwerp Major following criticism from various teams taking part in the competition.
Teams from North America and South America qualify for PGL Antwerp Major in May criticized PGL about the rules of qualification. The teams were not happy with the method that was going to be used to determine which team with a 3-2 record would qualify for the Major and which team with a 3-0 record would get Legends status.
Jaime Pádua, the CEO and founder of Brazilian esports organization FURIA, said on Twitter that the teams tried to resolve the issue internally with PGL, but the latter refused to address the problem. However, the tournament organizer later introduced a best-of-three decider bracket for the three teams with a 3-2 record in the Americas RMR, after the conversation was made public.
PGL Responds by Changing the Format
With preparations for the Americas Regional Major Ranking tournament underway, and PGL’s newly signed sponsorship deal with GG.BET, the organization did well to listen to its players. The old rules meant that teams who faced higher-seed opponents would have an advantage, something critics pointed out as a major flaw.
Within 24 hours of the first criticisms coming in, PGL has listened to this problem and come up with a solution. To determine which teams qualify for the Antwerp Major there will be two decider matches played on April 15. However, it seems this solution is only for teams that end with a 3-2 scoreline. The first three teams qualifying will continue to be decided using the Buchholz system.
Another change that teams want to see is PGL implementing a best-of-three decider bracket for the two teams with a 3-0 record.
The PGL Major Antwerp 2022: American RMR tournament will take place live from April 11 to 15 at the PGL Studio in Bucharest, Romania.
