Forget Worlds: The 2024 NLC Aurora Cup Kicks Off Today for UK, Ireland, and Nordics!

Today marks an exhilarating new chapter in competitive gaming as the 2024 NLC Aurora Cup officially commences, showcasing the best teams from the UK, Ireland, and Nordic regions. Not only will this tournament feature a fearless draft, but it will also unfold through a dynamic Swiss phase followed by a thrilling playoff phase. Prepare for nail-biting action as games are set to be best-of-one encounters, with qualifying and elimination matches extending to best-of-three and playoff games escalating to best-of-five.

Excitingly, this year’s tournament has opened its doors wider, allowing various teams to apply for participation, creating a more competitive landscape than ever before. The first round of the Swiss leg kicks off today, October 1, 2024, at 18:00 CEST, with the grand final scheduled for November 12. For a complete rundown of all key dates, check out the NLC’s Aurora Cup guide on Twitter.

This latest edition of the eSports Cup series follows a series of thrilling victories, including Venomcrest triumphing over fellow Briton Ruddy in the NLC Division 1 Finals, Rich Gang clinching promotion to NLC Division 1 for 2025, and The Ruddy Brods seizing the glory at the UKEL Sunshine Showdown. Last year’s prestigious cup was claimed by the British esports organization Verdant, who delivered a spectacular 3-0 sweep against their compatriots Fourth Wall.

Participating Teams:

The tournament features an impressive roster of 16 teams:

• 6:00 (wildcard/team applied)
• Bitfix Gaming (National League Invited Team)
• Brod and Friends (wildcard/team applied)
• DMG Esports (First Division Team)
• Dusty (National League Invited Team)
• Epic Avalanche (National League Invited Team)
• International Esports (wildcard/team applied)
• Lundqvist Lightside (First Division Team)
• Native (First Division Team)
• North Export (First Division Team)
• Comparison (National League Invited Team)
• Regem (National League Invited Team)
• Rich Gang (First Division Team)
• Ruddy Esports (First Division Team)
• Venomcrest Esports (First Division Team)
• Verdant (First Division Team)

Today’s Matches:

Kicking off the competition, today’s exciting matches include:

• Nativz vs. Brod & Friends
• Nord Esports vs. Regem
• Ruddy Esports vs. Int Esports
• Venomcrest vs. Paragon
• Lundqvist Lightside vs. Epic Avalanche
• Rich Gang vs. 6AM
• DMG Esports vs. Bitfix Gaming
• Verdant vs. Dusty

A special note: the draw for the first round in the Swiss phase has concluded! Matches will be played today, so which match are you most excited about? Let us know!

In an inspiring initiative, Lodestar is collaborating with Verdant on a sustainability project, with funds collected directed toward the Ecological Fund. This announcement follows Verdant planting over 200 trees after their victory at Epic 42 in CS2, showcasing a commitment to both competition and the planet.

Meet the Co-Streamers:

The 2024 NLC Aurora Cup will be co-streamed by an amazing lineup, including:

• Jreal
• Lundqvist Lightside
• Brod and Friends
• Tebz188
• SaltyBrit
• Karvis
• Archarom
• Volt
• Zathdos
• Zzleeper
• Aqsept
• Team CD
• Lodestar Esports (featuring launchers Luna, Sovonix, and BigNoseMike)

Team Announcements:

As of the publication date, Ruddy Esports, Poisoncrest, Verdant, Rich Gang, and Lundqvist Lightside have announced their rosters. Other teams, including Regem, Brod and Friends, 6AM, Nativz, DMG, Bitfix, Dusty, Epic Avalanche, Paragon, and Int Esports, have yet to disclose their lineups.

The excitement for the 2024 NLC Aurora Cup starts tonight at 6 PM CEST on October 1. Stay tuned, and let the games begin!