The PGL Masters Bucharest 2026 Closed Qualifier kicked off with predictable results as top-seeded teams advanced without major resistance in the opening round.
NRG demonstrated their superiority against Without A Roof, claiming a decisive 2-0 victory. Despite WaR winning both pistol rounds on Ancient and Dust2, they failed to capitalize on these early advantages. On Ancient, NRG dominated after the initial round, capturing twelve of the following fourteen rounds. Although WaR managed to collect eight rounds by the end, the outcome was never in doubt.
Dust2 provided more competitive action with several lead changes. WaR briefly held a 4-3 advantage before NRG responded forcefully. Once NRG established a 5-4 lead, they maintained control throughout, closing out the map 13-10. South African player Aran "Sonic" Groesbeek delivered an impressive performance with 39 eliminations across both maps.
Liquid faced minimal resistance from antivalue in their opening matchup. On Mirage, Liquid stormed to a 7-0 start on their opponents' map selection. Though antivalue fought back to narrow the gap to 9-3, Liquid comfortably finished 13-4. The second map, Nuke, followed a similar pattern. Liquid built a 7-5 halftime lead on the T-side and extended it to a 13-6 final score. AWPer Georgi "Jorko" Mitev led the charge with 33 frags.
Elsewhere, Voca eliminated Villainous 2-0, while Marsborne received a forfeit victory over Chicken Coop.
Today's upper bracket features Voca versus NRG and Liquid against Marsborne. The lower bracket begins tomorrow with Villainous facing Without a Roof and antivalue taking on Chicken Coop.
