The first two qualifier cups are finished and we only have two more to go until all participants for the Intel Extreme Masters American Championship are decided. The next qualifier Cup will be played on Sunday and starts at 6pm EDT and there are still a couple slots available.

The first Intel Extreme Masters Quake Live Qualifier is over and after five exciting rounds and many interesting matches the winner is Vo0. The former Painkiller player from the Netherlands is now living in Texas and won the final match against swooped. Both players are qualified for the Intel Extreme Masters American Championship.

We are looking for eight more participants who will fight in the Intel Extreme Masters American Championship. The top two of our four qualification cups will be joined by eight invited players to fight for a slot in the finals. Prize money awaits everyone who reaches the American Championship.

Finally the Quake Live Playoffs of the Opening Cup are available; we decided to advance the most active players of the groupstage to a double elimination 32 player bracket. We will have 24 players in the playoffs, while a couple of them will have a bye in the frist round, the other players will have to fight for their win. Each round will be best of three and while each player can choose a map, the final map will be decided by eliminating maps.

The groups for the opening cup are generated and the tournament can kick off with the first games. In the first groupstage there are eleven groups of four players and one group of five players. The first two of each group will advance to the next groupstage. The second groupstage will feature four groups of six players and also the top two will advance to the final playoffs, which will be top eight and single elimination, all matches will be best of three.

A new section is going live on ESL America: Welcome Quake Live! Quake Live is growing rapidly and we're happy to start a section on ESL America. We will start the section with a 1on1 Ladder and a 1on1 Opening Cup, but more will follow soon. So friends of Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag and Clan Arena, just have some patience, you won't be disappointed.