Chapter 833: Congratulations EDG!

CNB's match just ended, the venue still boiling.

On stage, the five CNB members hugged each other, some crying, some laughing; the coach rushed from backstage onto the stage, grabbing a few players in a hug, his eyes also red.

"Congratulations again, CNB! Congratulations to this dark horse from Ba Xi!"

Wawa's voice was high and excited,

"They fought their way up from the first round of the qualifiers, first overturning the LMS Third Seed HKA, then in the elimination stage sent the Turkish giants Fenerbahçe packing 3-0! Now who dares say they're just a wildcard!"

The comments were also explosive.

【？？？？？？】

【3-0？！】

【There are differences even among wildcards……】

【What was I saying again? CNB has something!】

【No wonder Luonaerduo dared say that before the match; these five kids really seem to have learned something real from VG and G2】

【Who said yesterday that CNB was just lucky, stepping out for a couple of steps~】

【CNB's operation, discipline, mentality—really a wildcard?】

【The Ba Xi branch never disappoints; after this Bo5, it's solidified】

With that, the qualifiers all ended.

The four teams that qualified for the main event group stage have been born.

Listed in order of qualification, they are:

NA Third Seed, C9

EU Third Seed, FNC

LCK Third Seed, SSG

CBLOL First Seed, CNB

CNB is the only wildcard team.

Adding GAM, already in the group stage, this year's Worlds has only two wildcard region teams total.

……

VG and G2 both posted on Twitter and Weibo, congratulating CNB.

When the CNB crew returned to the hotel, a post-match group interview was already waiting for them; after returning to their rooms to briefly rest and prepare, they happily accepted congratulations from the VG and G2 crews, then took the elevator down for another interview.

The group interview scene.

The CNB coach and players totaled six people; the six sat at a long table, each face still flushed.

Over a hundred reporters sat below.

One reporter had just finished asking his question and hadn't sat down yet when CNB jungler Vash eagerly rushed to the microphone, spouting a long string of Portuguese mixed with English that the interpreter couldn't keep up with.

The interpreter stalled for a while, then gave up, smiling awkwardly and said:

"They… they're so happy."

No one blamed the interpreter.

Anyone could see how excited the CNB bunch was when they got their qualification ticket.

Another reporter stood up and asked the CNB coach a question.

The coach adjusted the mic position, his hand and voice slightly trembling:

"We are a wildcard team……

He paused, pursed his lips,

"As everyone knows, the wildcard region has only one spot.

"The whole region, countless people are watching us, expecting us.

"We represent not ourselves, but the entire Brazil region.

"A team carries the hopes of the whole region; our pressure is actually greater than those major regions……

Saying this, the CNB coach's voice clearly choked up,

"Before we came, we set our goal: making it to the main event counts as success.

"Now, this goal, we have achieved it.

"But we're still moving forward!

"At this moment of confirmed qualification, we are no longer fighting just for ourselves, nor merely carrying the expectations of the CBLOL region; we also represent the entire wildcard region!

"Every match from now on, we are surpassing ourselves!

He took a deep breath:

"So our next goal is——

"Break out of the group stage, make the quarterfinals!

The audience fell silent, then burst into warm applause.

Ba Xi netizens erupted completely.

Twitter, Facebook, YouTube—everywhere are celebratory posts.

【CNB！！！】

【Ba Xi's pride!】

【Sniffle, so moving!】

【From the qualifiers fighting our way into the main event, we did it!】

【Never imagined our region's team could actually step onto the main event stage, because we didn't dare dream…… Thanks, CNB, my life is complete】

【Thanks VG! Thanks G2! Thanks Luonaerduo!】

People's joys and sorrows are sometimes shared; netizens worldwide sent blessings. Even the NA and LCK netizens who had loudly protested the three-team training camp incident no longer hurled insults or mockery.

LPL netizens commented:

【Light of the Wild Card】

【This is what esports should be like】

【Congratulations CNB, hope you can go further in the main event】

【A wild-card team achieving this is worthy of respect】

【Hope CNB gets a better group; entering the main event is just the start, looking forward to you creating a true miracle!】

The group interview ended, and next came the main event group stage draw ceremony.

This is the real main event.

Four teams that fought their way up from the qualifiers will be placed into four main-event groups, facing the truly top-tier teams from major regions worldwide.

Each group has four teams: three already-qualified main-event teams plus one qualifier-winning team.

Following the same-region avoidance principle, the group results are actually limited.

The draw ceremony was still held at the Riot Games Luo Shan Ji headquarters studio, broadcast worldwide.

The draw guests picked up the small balls from the transparent plastic box, opening them one by one and reading them out.

"C9!"

"Group A!"

【The true group of death!】

【Holy cow, this group has so many strong teams!】

【C9 is pretty strong; if placed in another group, the chances of advancing would look great, what a pity】

"CNB!"

"B Group!"

【???】

【Not bad luck!】

【No way, is CNB really going to advance?】

【Awesome, must have prayed a lot】

【Wow, two wild-card teams ended up in the same group, the draw guy is also pretty impressive……】

【This wave, this wave is the Ba Xi draw god showing its power】

【Chinese netizens sent a congratulatory telegram, congratulations CNB!】

【Don't laugh too early, talk after beating GAM】

【Wow!!】

When the draw guest opened the third ball, his eyes lit up, and he then loudly announced:

"SamsungGalaxy!"

"C Group!!"

The barrage exploded instantly.

【Congratulations EDG!】

【Holy cow, EDG hahaha, this is way harsher than Group A!】

【SSG going into Group C? Group C already has G2 and EDG!】

【EDG players are lucky, go buy lottery tickets!】

【Awesome, super group of death】

【Are G2 and SSG both championship favorites? They ended up in the same group?】

【IMT is trembling, what did I do to deserve this……】

【If SSG goes into Group C, does FNC go into Group D? VG as the first seed is a lock for the quarterfinals, no doubt】

【Watching VG's stream, I've already laughed myself hysterical hahaha】

【Only when Marquis saw Jiao Shen clapping did he dare to cheer; that two-stage laugh is really adorable~】

【The piglet won't have to go onto the rooftop, right?】