Marc ‘Caedrel’ Lamont is confident about Los Ratones’ upcoming NLC grudge match with Nord Esports in the EMEA Masters.
It has been a difficult tournament so far for the reigning EMEA Masters and NLC champions.
A surprise 2-0 loss to Barça eSports put Los Ratones in an elimination match.
They then barely scraped by against Germany’s Prime League third seeds Hangry Knights in a tense 2-1 game.
Meanwhile, Nord have been dominant with 2-0 wins over both Arabian champions Geekay Esports and Belgian champions ZennIT.
Nord were also the first team to hand Los Ratones a loss in the NLC, securing their finals spot.
However, Caedrel’s team got the last laugh and won the rematch as Los Ratones became NLC Spring champions.
Despite this, Caedrel was trash-talking Nord on stream and said he wanted to draw them in EMEA Masters.
Speaking on stream ahead of the draw, Caedrel said:
“The best thing ever is we get Nord, and we f***ing knock them out Round 1…. Give us Nord.”
Meanwhile, others were less thrilled with the draw.
Caster and NLC creative Jack ‘Middlecott’ Davies lamented the fact that one NLC team is guaranteed an early exit:
“First EMEA in years that both NLC teams could legitimately make deep runs and this happens.
“Fate is uncaring, uncaring for the beautiful story we are writing. Why must we destroy ourselves to continue? Who decided we are our own enemy?”
Nord midlaner Frederik “NoWay” Hinteregger was also left with mixed feelings, tweeting:
“So Caedrel says he wants us and gets us?
“Always a pleasure to play against LR, although our record is really bad into them.
“Would have loved to see us play and grow against different regions.”
Turkish fans were also frustrated as all three of the region’s teams were drawn on the same side of the bracket.
TCL champions Boostgate Esports and third seeds ULF Esports will face off in Round 1 with the chance of later facing Misa Esports.
But to get to Misa, the winner of the Turkish grudge match will have to take on the winner of Los Ratones and Nord.
Though those teams also have French champions BK ROG Esports to fear.
And the other side of the bracket is equally scary with Barça. Karmine Corp, and German champions CGN all eyeing up a place in the final.
But, of course, the biggest target is still on Los Ratones who won the EMEA Masters back in Winter.
In my seven years of esports writing, I’ve introuduced esports coverage to newspapers, interviewed some of the biggest names in the industry, and driven viewers mad with the puns in my YouTube scripts. I’m most proud of the latter.
