EMEA Masters Day 3: Los Ratones in, Prime League out

For the third day of the EMEA Masters Winter, Los Ratones were facing their last chance to qualify for playoffs. Without faltering, LR secured their ticket to the BO5 by eliminating EWI (2-0) this Wednesday. Geekay, ZennIT, and Team Phantasma all qualified in the other groups. This means that there will be no German representative in the EM Winter Top 8, and that France is the only nation to send two.

Finally a clean series for the Rats

After this Tuesday setback against KCB and a first series that was far from the cleanest, Los Ratones needed to reassure themselves by showing up in a better shape against the German runner-up. And they did just that. In game 1, they decided to play with a heavy scaling comp and still managed to get both first drakes which took them to soul point at the moment when LR’s carries got to their power spikes. In short, the perfect situation especially when you have a Cho’Gath that can outsmite any junglers. By securing both Nashor and 4th Drake, Los Ratones managed to easily secure the first game despite a back and forth early, especially for Simon “Baus” Hofverberg.

THE RATS LEAD 1-0!! pic.twitter.com/5bLUxkOST1

— LosRatones (@LosRatoneslol) March 19, 2025

The game 2 was redemption time for the toplaner, that finally put up a performance worthy of the NLC Rookie of The Split. With his signature Gragas, The Messi of League was a permanent threat for EWI’s carries. The Rats were exploding the German Nexus in 28 minutes and finally obtained their statement series in the competition: they’re back and know how to play with a strongside botlane despite the lane swaps’ nerf.

EM’s Wednesday results in every group

Group A: Geekay Esports have qualified for playoffs after winning against Barça Esports (2-1).

Group B: Team Phantasma have qualified for playoffs after completing the upset against the Prime League champion, BIG (2-0).

Group C: ZennIT is the first ever Benelux team to qualify for EM playoffs after their win against Macko Esports (2-1).

Group D: Los Ratones have qualified for playoffs after winning against NightBirds (2-0).

The Playoffs Bracket

Keep an eye on Hotspawn’s website if you want my predictions on the play-offs that will kick off this Thursday.