Last Day to Register for ECL '25: Winter - Elite, Pro, Lite & Qualifiers

SportsGamers,

We're getting closer and closer to the beginning of the ECL '25: Winter season and in fact it's the last chance to sign up for the Elite, Pro and Lite divisions today, as well as signing up for the Elite, Pro and Lite Qualifiers. For all info about signing up, read our ECL '25: Winter - Sign-Ups info article.

In this article, we'll cover everything you need to know about the Elite, Pro and Lite Qualifiers.

Please note that any list below with eligible teams is not necessarily the final list of qualifier teams.

Without further ado, here's your info.

ECL Elite Qualifier:

At the moment, it looks like there are two spots up for grabs in ECL Elite. 

ECL Elite Qualifier Schedule

• Registration ends: 28.10.2024 ⚠️
• Qualifiers: 30.10-7.11.2024

We aim to have the matchups and schedule available for you early this week, so games can be started as early as possible.

The following teams are eligible to register to the Elite Qualifiers:

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Elite Qualifiers (if needed)
1	▼ Elite 13	GOONS
2	▼ Elite 16	Gotham Knights
3	▶ Pro 🥈	Falun Coal Miners
4	▶ Pro 3	RYHTIC
5	Pro 5	TIKI TALK
6	Pro 6	Deadly Phantoms
7	Pro 7	POGGERS
8	Pro 8	Golden Sticks

ECL Pro Qualifier:

The Pro Qualifiers are set to kick off later this week as well. With there being only 5 eligible Wildcard teams, there is no need to play the Wildcard Qualifier and we are actually able to kick off the Pro Qualifiers earlier than anticipated.

ECL Pro Qualifier Schedule

• Registration ends: 28.10.2024 ⚠️
• Wildcard Qualifier (if needed): 30.10-31.10.2024
• Pro Qualifiers: 30.10-10.11.2024

We aim to have the matchups and schedule available for you early this week, so games can be started as early as possible.

The following teams have secured the right to register for the Pro Qualifiers:

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Pro Qualifiers
1	Pro 23	Ghost
2	Pro 24	Invasion
3	Pro 25	HC Lugano eSports
4	Pro 26	Company of Geeks
5	Pro 27	Devilz
6	Pro 28	Alliance HT
7	Lite 4	Mights
8	Lite 5	BushWhackers
9	Lite 6	MoDo Hockey
10	Lite 7	DEG eSports
11	Lite 8	Hopfensmoothie HC
12	Lite 9	The Oldtimers
13	Lite 10	Technical Disaster
14	Lite 11	Pata Hellalla
15	Lite 12	xBOTS
16	Lite 13	Seinajoki Noms
17	Lite 14	Ruuti
18	Lite 15	Schrute Farmerz
19	Lite 16	Refuse Too Lose
20	Wildcard	DILAC
21	Wildcard	Kymmenelta Klubille
22	Wildcard	Red Bull Munich Esports
23	Wildcard	Björklöven Esport
24	Wildcard	Northern Ascendancy

ECL Lite Qualifier:

The Lite  Qualifiers are set to kick off later this week as well. 

ECL Lite Qualifier Schedule

• Registration ends: 28.10.2024 ⚠️
• Lite Qualifiers: 1.-10.11.2024

We aim to have the matchups and schedule available for you early this week, so games can be started as early as possible.
 

The following teams have secured a spot to register for the Lite Qualifiers:

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Lite Qualifiers
1	Core 4	ARMEIJAN KURI
2	Core 5	Prowlers
3	Core 6	CapeTown Kings
4	Core 7	Wida
5	Core 8	Silver Sword Griffins
6	Core 9	Lutunilkat
7	Core 10	NAM3LESS
8	Core 11	Koskenlaskijat
9	Core 12	HC Lugano Academy
10	Core 13	Moscow Capitals
11	Core 14	EV Duisburg
12	Core 15	Taskubilis
13	Core 16	Huskies eSports

The rest of the spots for the Lite Qualifiers will be filled through the Lite Qualifier sign-up process:

All teams without an Elite, Pro, or Lite league spot can participate in the Lite Qualifiers without restrictions. The format of the qualifiers will be decided according to the number of participants, but a maximum of 64 teams can participate in the qualifiers. Spots will be filled in the order of registration, but the teams on the list below will have priority if the number of teams is full.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a license to play in the qualifiers?

Yes. A player license is required (backup rules apply), but a team is not required to have a team license to enter the qualifiers.

What if all Pro Qualifier positions are not filled?

• Teams will not be promoted straight and all open spots will be filled through qualifiers (excluding automatically relegated/promoted teams). If there happens to be more open spots than anticipated (e.g. from teams disbanding which would have been invited to play in the qualifier) spots are filled as follows:
  • Pro relegated teams
  • Wildcard teams
  • Lite #17-32

Pro Qualifier Wildcard requirements to apply for a wildcard spot  in the upcoming pro qualifier

• Three former Elite starters
• Four former Pro starters
  • A starter is defined as having played 16 or more games in the ECL '24: Spring season, or 16 or more games in the ECL '24: Winter season  
  • If there are more players from the same team that were relegated out of the division Pro (in the same season) in the team applying for a wildcard, they may be counted as one player. The League Administration reserves the right to interpretations of this depending on the specific circumstances of the situation.
     

What does "Wildcard team" mean?

A Wildcard team is a newly created team consisting of experienced community members with such experience and skill that could warrant playing at a higher level than the one the current team would otherwise be assigned to. Alternatively, a team that has strengthened significantly over the offseason can also be considered a Wildcard team.
    
How many Wildcard spots are there?
There are 5 Wildcard spots up for grabs for the upcoming ECL Pro qualifier.

How have the Pro Qualifier Wildcard spots been decided?

If there are more Wildcard-eligible teams than spots are available, Wildcard qualifiers will be played. The final format is determined by the number of teams and the lineups of the registered teams.

Special rules for Wildcard teams

• To prevent teams from taking advantage, specifically recruiting players to bolster your chances in the qualifier that have no intention of remaining in the team beyond that, we have decided to enforce a soft roster lock post qualifier play.              
  • If a former Elite player wants to participate in a qualifier for a Wildcard Pro team, then they will be locked into that division at where the team ends up throughout the season
    • Transfer to a lower division is possible                            
  •  If a former Pro player wants to participate in a qualifier for a Wildcard Pro team, then they will be locked into that division at where the team ends up for 2 weeks (starting from the first game played in Pro that season)                              
    • Transfer to a lower division is possible
• Wildcard Qualifiers and Lite & Pro Qualifiers are part of the season so it is good to remember that only one transfer is allowed during the season     
• Teams with a Lite division spot can apply for Wildcard status for Pro Qualifiers without losing their spot