Final weekend of NPL Phase 2 – Who’s heading to Stockholm?

After Week 5 of NPL Phase 2, the Top Five will be invited to represent NPL in Stockholm for the GLL Grand Slam: PUBG Classic.

The stage has been set. We’re approaching the final weekend of NPL Phase 2 with a lot on the line in a crowded leaderboard. The race isn’t just for first place. Each Top 5 team will also earn an invitation to Stockholm for the GLL Grand Slam: PUBG Classic in addition to their prize money.

There, teams will have the opportunity to earn even more prize money while competing against the best teams from around the world. This weekend the battle between fifth and sixth will be just as intense as the battle between first and second. Representing your league on the Global stage is something every team desires. Earning additional prize money is great, but traveling the world to play PUBG is the goal for many NPL players.

On the other end of the leaderboard, teams are competing to avoid relegation. The bottom six teams after this weekend proceed into NPL Relegations. A two-day, best-of-twelve tournament against the top ten teams from Contenders. During these twelve matches teams battle for the six remaining slots in NPL Phase 3. In short, place in the tenth position or better, and we’ll see you in Phase 3!

With only two days and eight matches remaining, let’s take a look at how the top of the leaderboard breaks down.

First Place

On top, we have NPL newcomer, The Rumblers. Bursting onto the scene after their promotion from Contenders, The Rumblers have not let up on their impressive performances over four weeks of action. The team has commanded proper respect from their opponents, casters, and any skeptics following their journey from Contenders. Judging by how well the team has looked, it’s going to be tough for anyone to steal first place and the $100,000 away from them.

Second Place

In second, climbing up the leaderboards after a sub-par Phase 1 performance, Ghost Gaming trails by 16 points. Ghost struggled to find consistency during Phase 1, shortly after the NPL Royale it was announced the team had acquired “Shrimzy.” Since then, Ghost has looked much better as a full squad. Righting their wrongs in Phase 2 and setting themselves up for a decent prize pool along with a ticket to Stockholm.

Third Place

Third place belongs to Spacestation Gaming; another potential candidate for “Most Improved Team” during Phase 2. After shedding their roster and picking up the guys from Optic, plus “Jsank” from Oxymoron, Spacestation Gaming has lived up to expectations following another great performance in Week 4.

Fourth Place

Residing in fourth place is Tempo Storm. Who, up until last weekend at the Phase 2 NPL Royale, had won every NPL tournament thus far. They’re a genuinely dominant team when things are going their way, and usually, things are. The defending Phase 1 Champions still have a chance to secure first, but they’ll need a big final weekend which is sure to be an uphill battle.

Fifth Place

Cloud 9 sits only three points back in fifth place. Another team capable of pulling off a big weekend, Cloud 9 is on the bubble for the fifth and final ticket to Stockholm for the GLL Grand Slam. While competitive PUBG is notoriously hard to predict, I find it hard to believe C9 slips out of the Top 5 during the final weekend. If a spot opens up, I don’t think it will come from Cloud 9.

As I mentioned, the battle surrounding the fifth-place spot can be a nail biter. Teams within reach are desperate to climb into the Top 5 and travel to the PUBG Classic. With that in mind, Endemic Esports has displayed what minimal off-season adjustments can do for a team. They replaced their coach with Cole “Gnomey” Garton who coached Overconfident in Contenders during Phase 1.

The team also acquired Noah “Relo” Andrew Jenkins, a young fragger who has quickly become the team’s leading kills and damage dealer. Heading into the final weekend, Endemic is on the outside looking in for their invitation to Stockholm. Trailing the fifth-place team by merely three points makes the dream still a possibility.

With such a tight leaderboard it is still mathematically possible that even 10th place could sneak up into the Top 5. It’s likely going to be a chaotic final eight matches, and you can follow all of the action on Saturday and Sunday at 5 p.m. ET, live at OGN Esports on Twitch.