No brakes on the Secret Train – DPC EU Upper Division

We have had 3 weeks of exciting play in the European regional league and now stand at the halfway mark for the first season. Competition has been fierce as expected in our preview, but one team looms above the fray: Team Secret.

Can anyone stop Puppey & Co.?

Team Secret have racked up an impressive record of 4-0 in series with only a single map lost to Tundra Esports (then mudgolems) thus far into the season. Along the way they brushed aside TI9 runner-ups Nigma as well as Team Liquid and looked absolutely unstoppable. Although Team Secret could still stumble against OG or Alliance in upcoming matches, it seems increasingly unlikely to happen and Secret are more or less already locked in for a slot at the upcoming Major in Singapore. With the way Secret currently are playing they are already looking like the overwhelming favorite to secure themselves the first Major of the 2021 season.

Can OG and Alliance keep it up?

As untouchable as Secret look at the very top, the fight just behind them has no clear frontrunner right now. Places second throughout seventh are all within striking distance of each other and showcase the depth of Europe as a region.

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Alliance and OG are currently tied for second place but they have also only played 3 series so far. This week the TI9 champions OG will not only face Nigma in a TI9 Grand Finals rematch but also Vikin.gg, who have managed to steal a series away from Kuroky’s squad last week. Similarily Alliance are facing Team Secret and Tundra Esports, who have also just claimed an important upset against Team Liquid. Don’t be surprised if both Alliance and OG find themselves further down the table after this week. But wins here can solidify their hold on the Major-qualifying spots.

The struggle is real

Going further down the table Tundra, Nigma, Liquid and Vikin.gg all find themselves in a curious situation. All in range of the Major qualification but also staring at the threat of relegation. While Tundra and Vikin.gg were expected to struggle, Nigma and Team Liquid are not the teams you would have expected at fifth and sixth respectively. Both big names were upset last week as Liquid dropped 0-2 to Tundra, while Nigma were taken down 1-2 by Vikin.gg securing vital points for the underdogs.

All four teams can still make it to the major but they are also just one or two more missteps away from disaster. The upcoming matches of week four will be key as the season is nearing its end. Every point counts and the teams still have everything to play for.

Outclassed at the bottom

In last place of the European Upper Division sits High Coast Esports. The Swedish roster was only recently picked up by High Coast Esports but their outing in the European top flight has been less than stellar. While they did upset OG for a single map win in their opening match, the weeks since then have been brutal 0-2 beatdowns as they looked out of their depth against Europe’s best.

It would need a small miracle for them to claw their way back out of the relegation zone. Especially considering the matches they still have to play. Their schedule starts as “easy” as it can with a match against seventh-ranked Vikin.gg but afterwards it is the powerhouses of Secret and Nigma knocking at their door.

Sorry to say, but High Coast Esports are dead men walking.

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Image credit: Adela Sznajder/DreamHack