Okay, we know the CCT joke is a bit overplayed now. And we know this event doesn’t look quite as bad as PGL Bucharest, but c’mon, we have to take the easy lay ups when we can.

Jokes aside, we actually think there’s plenty to look forward to with Stage 1 of EPL, and hilariously, one of the teams we’re most excited to see is Monte.

Monte looked like they had the foundations of being an actually impressive team during BLAST Bounty, so it will be nice to see them cutting their teeth against tier one again. Sure, their names might hold them back eventually. Players like afro are never going to be that good, but they have two Brits, so that means we have to stan.

They play Astralis in their opening match (who have also impressed us this year) in what actually could be a cracking game.

Another highlight will be Liquid vs Passion UA.

The first game of Senzu in a PUA shirt, we honestly have no idea how it’s going to go. Our hearts tells us he f-cks them, our brains tell us it’s a car crash.

But hey, you really couldn’t as for a better opener that Liquid.

There’ll also be plenty of intrigue around 3DMAX with misutaaa - who might finally give paiN a win - as well NRG vs HEROIC, with the Americans needing a win to keep up the faith after their Krakow showing.

Plus, they might be making their debut with Grim. So that’s also exciting.

Rounding out the games of note is NIP vs Legacy, where it feels like there’s a lot riding for both teams.

NIP badly need a win, with faith in them declining after a tough start to the year. As for Legacy, they’ve just brought in arT (who we will always adore), and they need to get the year back on track, too.

We have a feeling this one will be very one-sided; we just don’t know which way.

Also in the stage are G2 and PARIVISION, who get to open their accounts with free wins against Gaimin Gladiators and SemperFi, respectively.

Oh, and FUT, who should also be getting a free win against M80.

Sorry, M80, domestic wins just don’t get our hopes up when you’re dropping maps to the likes of junior, nosraC, and Infinite.