BOV ePremier League Offline Qualifier Preview - The Penultimate Event

This is it, the final climax after several weeks of competition. Accordingly, we're referring to the BOV ePremier League Offline Qualifier. Gathering former Main Stage competitors from last year together with our Online Qualifier winners, the stakes have never been higher this season. Want to learn more? Read on as we digest all the information in this event preview!

BOV ePremier League Offline Qualifier - How Did We Get Here? 

Before we dive neck-deep into the Offline Qualifier, let's take a moment to discuss the context of this event taking place on 29th January. 

Accordingly, there are two sets of competitors for this event making up the 32 competitors. Specifically, a total of 26 players from 4 Online Qualifiers together with 6 players, placing 3-8th, from last season of the Malta BOV ePremier League (2020/21). 

Starting with our returning veterans, find them listed below together considering their placement last year: 

• 3rd - Shaun "Brandsha"  Galea (Hamrun Spartans) 
• 4th - Dunstan "Dunstan12" Vella (Hibernians FC)
• 5-8th - Shaun "Shaun10x" Dimech (Valletta FC) 
• 5-8th - Kursten "KurstenFifa" Sciberras (Gudja United)
• 5-8th - Ryan "Klawka" Cauchi (Tarxien Rainbows) 
• 5-8th - Michael "Mizu" Micallef (Floriana FC) 

Moving on, we have the 26 players from the 4 Online Qualifiers - the top 6 from the first three qualifiers, and the top 8 from the fourth and final qualifier. Find the participants listed below: 

• OQ #1 - Turbuleensee, GcamBeamz-, Kurt_dbird, Fantasystrikes, IsaacKyleGrima, Matthias
• OQ #2 - Owen_Cut, felijc_EU, DuaneMercieca, Bajzu_123, Grioli_09, Bonell-_-
• OQ #3 - Owen Galea, Vella_999, Julian_Muscat, xMigi77-, Menacing_MT, El Punisher
• OQ #4 - Shortyy, EM91, Calvin, Dugal, BarzaK5x, Peqqii420x, Jmangani, Glenn_acmilan

Indeed, that's all the context you need for this Offline Qualifier - time to dive into the format of the event!

BOV ePremier League Offline Qualifier - Explaining the Format

All 32 players are fighting for one thing at this Offline Qualifier, namely a spot in the Main Competition where they will be representing one of the 12 Malta BOV Premier League Clubs. 

Bearing this in mind, there are only 11 spots available, as Luke "SU Bartolo" Bartolo will join the winners at the Main Stage. 

Naturally, to earn a spot, players will be gathering offline at the Centenary Stadium in Ta' Qali. Following all safety measures, we're ecstatic to see the competitors in person once again. 

Kicking off on the 29th of January at 09:30 am, the entire competition will take place on two days. In order to do so, the competitors will battle through a Six Round Swiss Format Tournament via their individual FUT Ultimate Team. 

For those unaware, a Swiss Format means that competitors will not face all other competitors such as in a Round Robin. Instead, depending on their performance from the previous round, competitors will be matched with opponents of equal score and so on following each round. After six rounds, our top 11 will be decided through the final standings. 

BOV ePremier League Offline Qualifier - Players to Look Out For

In terms of predictions, there are a few angles to consider. Considering the stakes at this Offline Qualifier, and the fact that it's offline places a strong emphasis on the need for LAN experience to manage the pressure. 

Considering this angle, it's natural to strongly favour our returning veterans from last year, together with any competitor with the offline experience. 

However, another perspective would favour recency bias and competitive experience in the past few weeks. In this light, competitors from the Online Qualifier, especially those who participated in all three qualifiers, may benefit from having to compete so recently while our veterans haven't had to compete for a while. 

Bearing both pieces of logic in mind, let's list three of the strongest competitors heading into this event: 

Gianluca "Turbuleensee" Sant

He's one of my favourites and we don't think that anyone is surprised to find the competitor on our list. Combining the experience of competing in the Main Stage of the first two seasons of the Malta BOV ePremier League and his recent victory at the Online Qualifier, Turbuleensee is a clear favourite. 

Returning as the champion from the 2020/21 Offline Qualifier, let's see if he can win once again. 

Shaun "Brandsha" Galea 

Technically, Shaun "Brandsha" Galea is the most accomplished competitor attending this Offline Qualifier. Boasting a third-place finish in the 2020/21 season, the veteran also placed second during the 2019/20 season. 

We'll be surprised to see if anyone can stop the veteran at this Offline Qualifier. 

Salvatore "Shortyy" Assennato 

Unlike what his tag may imply, "Shortyy" is definitely not short on talent. Indeed, as one of the most curious rookies, this young talent simply showed up to the fourth and final qualifier having never competed before, and won it all. 

Such achievements speak volumes, not just about the skill of the player, but the high ceiling that the youngster could aspire to - we'd love to see him make a run at the Offline Qualifier. 

Emerson "EM91" Marcelina 

Some competitors simply have more experience when it comes to the game of football. Especially if they are actively competing in the Malta BOV Premier League when they aren't playing FIFA. 

If you can't tell yet, we're referring to the Brazilian Emerson "EM91" Marcelina who looks to prove that regardless of the platform, football is football. Following a strong finish at the qualifier, we can't wait to see him perform for greater stakes. 

Glen "GcamBeamz-" Camilleri 

Imagine consistently achieving elite ranks in FUT Champs, reaching rank 70 in the entire world and not competing seriously in FIFA.  A year ago or so, that was Glen "GcamBeamz-" Camilleri - insanely talented, but with further potential.

That all changed this year, as the youngster himself has admitted to taking his talent more seriously and setting more time aside to compete. For this reason alone, together with a second place finish at his Online Qualifier, we can't wait to see where his efforts take him. 

In all honesty, we could make the case for every single competitor heading into this event. With so many new faces, who knows what could happen? 

All we know for certain is that the BOV ePremier League Offline Qualifier looks to be a phenomenal event.