Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans Open Group Previews – New OpTic Gaming, Ghost Gaming Looks to go Back-to-Back, and More!
The Gears of War Pro Circuit New Orleans Open features a collection of incredibly strong pools with $250,000 one the line across the weekend.
Following the Gears Vegas Open in early April where Ghost Gaming managed to take down Fable (now EUsFinest), multiple teams made changes over the course of three months to better themselves for the New Orleans Open.
Although the former OpTic Gaming roster may have typically been the favorite for each tournament, their disappointing performance at Gears Vegas sparked a roster change, with many believing that Gears NOLA may be one of the most competitive events in regards to the number of teams that could take home the tournament win.
- More: Gears Pro Circuit New Orleans Coverage Hub – Stream, Schedule (All Timezones), Matchups, and More!
With the Gears NOLA Open set to take place between July 13 and July 15, we have compiled a collection of previews for each Group in Pool Play prior to the start of the competition.
Group A
After a disappointing showing at Gears Vegas where they were sent home with their worst finish as a squad, OpTic Gaming decided to make two changes by replacing Nicholas ‘Icy’ Cope and Justin ‘Kenny Bounce’ Kenny with Brian ‘SoLuRs’ Valenzuela and Arody ‘Praized’ Dipre. While some community members believe they got even better following the roster moves, others think that Gears NOLA can be a chance for other squads to potentially take down the new squad.
OpTic will be joined by The GosuCrew, a team with a completely new roster since Gears Vegas, and Disrupt Gaming, however, many believe that the Green Wall will remain strong, and take home the top spot in Group A.
Group A: OpTic Gaming; The GosuCrew; Disrupt Gaming; Open Bracket team TBD.
Group B
Even though they managed to take home the Gears Vegas Championship, Ghost Gaming decided to make a change by bringing on Kaid ‘GODPLAYS’ Saleh in place of 6x Champ Jourdan ‘Ribs’ Ribeiro. The two competitors may have vastly different playstyles from one another, but the aggression brought to the roster by GODPLAYS may be what the squad needs in order to potentially secure back-to-back Championships.
Fable is now a French squad after formerly being the home to EUsFinest, the Gears Vegas runners-up, and bring Jack ‘Reaxion’ Oliver into the mix as a veteran leader. Group B is rounded-out by eUnited, who made some adjustments in the months prior to NOLA, and will look to get back into their Championship-contending form. Group B may be one of the toughest Pools at NOLA, especially depending on which Open Bracket team makes their way in on Saturday.
Group B: Ghost Gaming; Fable EU; eUnited; Open Bracket team TBD.
- More: Fable Esports (now EUsFinest) Crowned Champions of EGL Gears London $20,000 Open – Final Placements
Group C
Now that they have brought on Nicholas ‘Icy’ Cope and Justin ‘Kenny Bounce’ Kenny from OpTic Gaming, Echo Fox will be one of the most interesting teams to watch across the entirety of the Gears NOLA Open.
While they may want to play the main OpTic roster later in the tournament, they will need to get through the likes of OpTic Gaming Mexico, formerly known as LATM Kings, who are one of the strongest teams from Latin America. Elevate is a new team, and will still need to prove themselves on LAN in order to potentially find themselves in the Championship Bracket.
Group C: Echo Fox; OpTic Gaming Mexico; Elevate; Open Bracket team TBD.
Group D
It is widely agreed that EUsFinest is a top-tier team in the professional Gears of War community following their impressive performance in Las Vegas back in April under the FableEU banner. Although they took second place behind Ghost Gaming in Vegas, some believe that they could have taken the Grand Final if some certain instances went their way.
Although Group D is completed by Simplicity and Rise Nation, both teams are regarded as ‘wild cards’ coming into NOLA, and EUsFinest should likely take the number one spot in the Pool unless multiple upsets take place.
Group D: EUsFinest; Simplicity; Rise Nation; Open Bracket team TBD.