In what can only be described as one of the biggest upsets in PUBG Mobile esports history, the defending world champions, IHC Esports, have crashed out of Global Championship (PMGC) 2024. Placed in group red, the team couldn’t find consistency in an intense lobby, facing an early exit from the tournament.
IHC Esports lifting the PMGC 2023 trophy. (Image Credits: Tencent)
IHC Esports, hailing from Mongolia, were the winners of the 2023 edition in a surprising underdog victory. While the prowess of Mongolian players was well known, the team didn’t have a great league stage in 2023, but completely turned their fortunes around in the grand finals to take home the trophy.
Since then, however, the team has struggled to replicate that performance. The team did earn fourth place finishes at the PMSL CSA Spring Split and the Global Open (PMGO), but could only finish in 13th place at the PMSL CSA Fall. As a result, they failed to qualify for the PMGC 2024.
Tencent, however, came to the team’s rescue, adding a special invite slot for the defending world champions, allowing them to compete in the event. Despite this lifeline, IHC couldn’t make the most of it and is now out of the tournament.
IHC Esports show glimpses of domination, but it proves to be not enough
Image Credits: PUBG Mobile Esports
The new PUBG Mobile esports scoring system is brutal. It only gives points to the top seven teams, and only rewards 10 points for a victory. With each elimination carrying one point, the system encourages teams to be consistent and aggressive.
Unfortunately for IHC Esports, they couldn’t be either. While the team did get six top-three finishes, they couldn’t convert them into many points due to a lack of finishes. In the other games, they could only pick up zero to four points at most – all from eliminations as they barely found themselves in the top seven to accumulate placement points.
The elimination comes as a huge shock to the team and also a testament to the growing level of skill in the PUBG Mobile esports ecosystem.
For Mongolia, which got three of the top four finishes in last year’s PMGC – there are plenty of other teams still carrying the country’s flag. Falcons, whose roster finished second last year under Stalwart Esports, have made it to the Survival Stage.
The remaining two squads of 4Merical Vibes and Stalwart Esports will fight to stay in PMGC 2024 in Group Green. The Group Green matches are set to happen from Nov. 14 to 17. If you are looking to get into the action, check out our best odds and sites to PMGC betting.
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