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đź“ť OWCS Open Qualifier: EMEA Phase 2 preview

by Archie "A7ch1e" Slater

Phase 1 of the OWCS Open Qualifiers has concluded, and it’s time for the decisive Phase 2. A double-elimination bracket made up of 16 teams clashing for the prime chance to make it to the OWCS.

OWTV's OWCS Open Qualifiers Phase 2 preview cover image

Seven teams have qualified directly for Phase 2, including three teams that have retained a roster core of three players who played together in OWCS 2025 Stage 3, and the top four teams from FACEIT League Master Season 7. The rest of the bracket are the teams that finished Phase 1 in ninth place or higher.

The matches are first-to-three, and the teams will play until three remain and qualify for OWCS. This means the teams won’t play the grand finals and the lower-bracket finals.

Phase 2 of the OWCS Open Qualifier will run over two days. On Saturday, February 28, at 17:00 GMT and Sunday, March 01, at 17:00 GMT. With its conclusion, we will have the final three teams that will join the existing three OWCS Partner Teams to form the full list of OWCS 2026 Stage 1 participants in EMEA.

Teams to keep an eye on:

  • Anyone's Legend signed GenG Esports’ core from the OWCS 2025 Stage 3 to qualify directly to Phase 2. The team also added William “WMaimone” Maimone and Kai “Kai” Collins to the Gen.G core, securing a tried-and-true DPS duo, a clear signifier of the team’s high ambitions. Former Team Vision tanks, Tama and amdp, round out the second squad that’s projected to survive the Open Qualifier gauntlet alongside Geekay Esports.

  • Al Qadsiah did not retain three players from OWCS 2025 Stage 3, so they had to fight their way through Phase 1 to secure their spot. An upset loss against Star Bits x Hypnos saw the world runners-up miss out on the first-place seed, however, Al Qadsiah has quality in abundance to comfortably see their way through the brackets.

  • BOMBA pairs up-and-coming talent with OWCS experience. Helmed by Niclas “sHockWave” Smidt Jensen and Robert “SKAI” Lupsa, the team was formed a handful of days prior to the start of the Open Qualifiers. Despite the late formation, though, the team’s well-equipped to hand an upset or two aimed at the top.

  • Goud Guys kept their three-player core from OWCS 2025 Stage 3 together and qualified directly to Phase 2. They added Jakub “china” Ossowski and Oberlaender “GOGO” Gabriel to replace Johnowich and Simon “sxj” Debono. Both china and GOGO have some OWCS experience to help the team. Despite finishing 7th in OWCS 2025 Stage 3, it’s impossible to write Goud Guys off. As long as LoĂŻc “KroxZ” Ricci is at the helm and in the mood, Goud Guys can throw down with just about anyone.

  • Star Bits x Hypnos contains very little OWCS experience with French tank Killian “Majin” Selim Kesim at the helm. That fact hasn’t stopped the team from achieving consecutive successful seasons in FACEIT League Master and becoming the only undefeated team in Phase 1 of the Open Qualifiers. Despite finishing in the FACEIT League Season 7 playoffs, the French team defeated Al Qadsiah in a 5-map thriller, securing the top seed from the Swiss-stage of the tournament.

The tournament starts on February 28, and you can follow all the action directly at OWTV. The games will be streamed live through the following channels: