NAL Playday 7 Key Takeaways: Race for the Charlotte Major becomes six-team heat

_{Image via Ubisoft/@itsmeerror}

With today's results, we've officially seen the last of Parabellum, Soniqs, Mirage, and TSM FTX's bid for the Charlotte Major, and not a single team has been all the way confirmed. 

Technically, all six teams are in danger of missing out on the Major, but there's a bit of a divide that has developed. 

Top two teams solidify their position

For Astralis and Oxygen, a Charlotte Major berth is all but confirmed. They're a couple of lower-positioned team slip-ups from not even needing another point to confirm their spot. 

Currently, Astralis sit in the lead position due to round count, they're ahead of Oxygen by two rounds, but tied in total points. 

Astralis and Oxygen have looked like the best teams in the league by far and away. The final two playdays will hold some challenges (both teams will play two teams still in the Major hunt), but Astralis and Oxygen don't need much to qualify. However, nothing is guaranteed, and both teams will have to face teams in the "middle four". 

Middle four in a dramatic collision course

The team in this category with the hardest road ahead is, somehow, XSET. They're in third, they're looking good, but Astralis and Oxygen are up next for this team. 

XSET is performing excellent, particularly on the attack, but Oxygen and Astralis are tall asks. If XSET burns through both, though, there's a chance they finish the stage in the first place spot -- an unthinkable result after the first week of competition. 

After that first week, XSET has really begun clicking. Tomorrow, we'll see if their success extends to the two teams that most fans and analysts think are a bit ahead of the others. 

DarkZero is next. They can't afford any slip-ups, and still have to play Oxygen and Spacestation, in that order. If DarkZero can't squeeze out some points against Oxygen tomorrow, they'll need some help to make the Major. It's possible, but sitting at 12 points, they're not in a great spot. 

Spacestation has Soniqs, who have struggled this stage and are out of the Major, and a tough matchup with DarkZero. If they get all three points against Soniqs, their Major spot is all but assured outside of some extreme circumstances. 

Beastcoast has Mirage and Astralis, in that order. For beastcoast, Mirage will almost assuredly be the easier out than Astralis. They have a chance to get three quick points right off the rip, and have a week to prepare for the league leaders. 

To sum it up:

XSET is in the best starting position, and are playing like men possessed, with the most difficult remaining schedule. 

DarkZero can ill afford more setbacks and have two tough opponents. 

Spacestation is in a solid starting position, and should get more points to buffer their lead early. However, if they slip up tomorrow, it could come down to a straight heat with DarkZero for a Major spot. 

Beastcoast is in a solid spot, but will be on the outside looking in if they can't get all three points against Mirage. If they can't get points there, they'll be looking at an upset bid against Astralis to keep their Major hopes alive. 

If Astralis and Oxygen win in regulation tomorrow, both qualify for the Major. If both get two, both can still qualify tomorrow. Essentially, these teams need to just win tomorrow and they'll be in.