2022 EU Masters Play-In groups drawn, who does Karmine face?

The European Masters tournament represents the pinnacle of regional league competition, bringing together elite squads from across Europe’s diverse esports landscape. The 2022 edition marks a significant milestone with the introduction of a seeded group draw system for the Play-In stage.

Sixteen organizations will battle through the initial qualification phase, with only four advancing to the prestigious main event. The format employs four groups of four teams each, creating intense round-robin competition. Following group stage completion, first-place finishers face second-place teams in decisive head-to-head matches that determine final qualification.

This year’s seeded draw mechanism addresses longstanding community feedback regarding competitive fairness. Previous tournaments frequently suffered from imbalanced group compositions, resulting in premature elimination of strong contenders while allowing less competitive teams to advance. The new system aims to create more equitable matchups throughout the qualification process.

The seeding structure divides teams into three distinct pools based on league accreditation status. Pools one and two feature established leagues including Spain’s SuperLiga, France’s LFL, Germany’s Prime League, Poland’s Ultraliga, and the Nordic region’s NLC, alongside Italy’s PG Nationals. Meanwhile, organizations from less prominent regional circuits occupy pool three positions.

Among the most anticipated competitors are Spanish powerhouse Barça eSports, Germany’s formidable UOL Sexy Edition, and the French combination of Vitality.Bee and defending champions Karmine Corp. However, every organization from the top two seeding pools maintains realistic advancement expectations.

Karmine Corp’s meteoric rise through the European Regional League ecosystem last year demonstrated their championship pedigree. They achieved unprecedented dominance by securing both their domestic league title and consecutive European Masters tournament victories. Entering the 2022 competition, they carry the weight of defending champions with enormous expectations.

Following substantial off-season roster adjustments, including the high-profile acquisition of ex-G2 Esports marksman Martin “Rekkles” Larsson, KCorp experienced unexpected playoff struggles. Their LFL Spring Split campaign concluded with disappointing losses to both eventual champions LDLC OL and runners-up BDS Academy. This third-place division finish eliminated their automatic qualification to the EU Masters Main Event, forcing them to navigate the perilous Play-In pathway.

The complete schedule and opening day matchups for the 2022 EU Masters Play-Ins were officially announced through the tournament’s social media channels, setting the stage for intense early competition.

No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » 2022 EU Masters Play-In groups drawn, who does Karmine face? Karmine Corp's challenging journey through the 2022 EU Masters Play-Ins after roster changes and playoff setbacks