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With the Europe League 2024 Stage 1 kicking off later today, we have prepared a brief guide explaining everything you need to know about the upcoming season.
Format
The Europe League's group stage has been tweaked. While last year saw teams being split into two groups of five rosters, this season's group stage will be a group round-robin between the nine squads in the competition. The best six teams will advance to the playoffs, while the three remaining sides will drop to the Open Qualifier.
The best three teams in the playoffs will qualify for the BLAST R6 Major Manchester. The region's last spot will be given to the Last Chance Qualifier winner.
Dates
The Europe League 2024 Stage 1 will start on Mar. 18 and will conclude on Apr. 22.
The initial group stage will take place from Mar. 18 to Apr. 15. Unfortunately, the playoffs dates haven't been revealed yet.
Prize Pool and SI Points
The Europe League 2024 will have a prize pool of €175,000. Additionally, the eight best teams in the competition will be given SI Points. Here's the official distribution:
- 1st: €40,000 and 100 SI Points
- 2nd: €30,000 and 95 SI Points
- 3rd: €25,000 and 90 SI Points
- 4th: €20,000 and 85 SI Points
- 5th: €12,500 and 80 SI Points
- 6th: €12,500 and 75 SI Points
- 7th: €10,000 and 70 SI Points
- 8th: €10,000 and 65 SI Points
- 9th: €7,500
Teams
Here's a brief look at all of the teams competing in the Europe League 2024:
Virtus.pro
The Russians were the best in the old continent last season as they won both stages of the Europe League 2023. Furthermore, they finished in third place in the Six Invitational 2024 after being one round away from qualifying for the tournament's grand finals.
G2 Esports
The Six Invitational 2023 champions head to the next season after making some deep international runs in Year 8. Despite an inconsistent second split following the departure of Fabian "Fabian" Hällsten and the addition of Matheus "Ramalho" Ramalho, the European powerhouse finished among the best four sides at the BLAST R6 Major Atlanta and the Six Invitational 2024.
Team BDS
In 2023, the Frenchmen couldn't find the consistency needed to qualify for the Six Invitational 2024 after missing out on the BLAST R6 Major Copenhagen and being knocked out of Atlanta in the quarterfinals. While they couldn't get the desired results in BLAST's circuit, the roster won the Gamers8 2023 in Saudi Arabia.
Despite Team BDS' Year 8, the French-majority roster is now seen as one of Europe's main threats following the arrivals of the former MNM Gaming duo of Fatih "Solotov" Türker and Josh "Yuzus" Pritchard. One week ago, the project had an outstanding start after winning the Malta Cyber Series VII.
Wolves Esports
Since the French roster was picked up by Wolves Esports, the squad has never missed out on a Major. Therefore, their online consistency makes them one of the favorites to qualify for the BLAST R6 Major Manchester.
The team heads to the new season after a Top 12 finish at the Six Invitational 2024, where the squad was knocked out of the tournament after a 1-2 defeat against Team Bliss.
Team Secret
Team Secret's roster could be Europe's dark horse after the squad's most recent additions. The organization announced the arrival of Marc "Jume" Steinmann and Adrian "Adrian" Tryka, with the latter set to make his professional debut later today.
Additionally, Marlon "Twister" Mello has brought another Brazilian staff member as Team Secret signed the former Team Liquid analyst Marcelo "mcunha" Cunha.
Into the Breach
Into the Breach have decided to remain loyal to their roots and will compete with a squad that includes seven British members. The Swed Noah "NoaUrz" Urwitz is the only member from outside the isles.
WYLDE
Following the conclusion of the 2023 season, Usain Bolt's esports organization announced that they would rebuild their Rainbow Six Siege squad.
Heading to the upcoming campaign, the team added the Six Invitational 2019 and Six Berlin Major champion Juhani "Kantoraketti" Toivonen, the former MNM Gaming IGL Leon "neLo" Pesić, and the Six Invitational 2021 bound Lorenzo "Lollo" Masuccio.
Fnatic
After parting ways with their Japanese roster, Fnatic will make a debut in Siege's European top-flight as they picked up the former KOI and Rogue core. Additionally, the orange organization picked up Luke "Tyrant" Casey and Jesse "Jeggz" Ojanen.
ENCE
ENCE is making a return to Europe's top flight after picking up the R6 South Breach champions Team Valor. The organization's re-debut in the scene was at the Malta Cyber Series VII, where the squad finished in fifth - sixth place.