Stage 1 of ANZ Champs is wrapped up with Grayhound and Vertex being the two squads to advance to the playoffs of the event. Two more will join them after Stage 2 so they can battle it out for a direct slot to Pro League Season 18.
- Grayhound and Vertex are through to the playoffs
- Grayhound will get a seeding advantage
- The final two playoff spots are up for grabs in Stage 2
Stage 1 of ANZ Champs Season 16 is done and dusted with Grayhound and Vertex securing their spots in the playoffs just as they return from the APAC RMR last weekend in Mongolia.
Although both finalists in Stage 1 are automatically placed into the playoffs, there is a seeding advantage given to Grayhound for their triumph over Vertex.
For those teams who missed out, Stage 2 will give squads another chance to make the playoffs in a repeat format of Stage 1, with two additional teams being added to replace Vertex and Grayhound via a last chance qualifier.
Despite their travels only a week ago for the RMR, Vertex and Grayhound put on display why they are the teams to watch out for in this season of ANZ Champs.
While Vertex did lose the upper bracket final to Grayhound they disposed of Encore to ensure the rematch for the grand final. Vertex were able to draw first blood in the rematch, taking a win on Vertigo and handing Grayhound what would be their only map loss of the event.
Vexite in particular responded on the maps that followed, maintaining above a 1.50 rating according to HLTV statistics, which saw his squad pocket a pair of 16-10 wins to close out the series.
Stage 2 of the event as well as the last chance qualifier are currently unscheduled but are due to kick off in the coming weeks.
We’re covering everything ESL ANZ Champs S16: streams, results and more.
ESL ANZ Champs Season 16 Streams
Be sure not to miss any ANZ Champs action and watch live on Twitch. You can see all the action, or catch up on any matches you miss via the ESL Australia Twitch channel.
ESL ANZ Champs Season 16 Schedule & Results
ESL ANZ Champs Season 16 features two stages and both are double-elimination brackets, with all matches being Bo3. In Stage 1, the top two squads advance directly to playoffs and the next six teams will proceed to Stage 2.
Stage 2 will introduce two more teams following a last chance qualifier and once again, only the top two teams will advance from this stage and round out the playoff bracket.
Stage 2 and the last chance qualifier are set to kick off in the coming weeks.
ESL ANZ Champs Season 16 — Stage One Schedule & Results
| Match | Teams | Time (AEST) |
| Opening Round | ||
| Monday, Mar 27 | Vertex 2-1 Sunday School | 5pm |
| Grayhound 2-0 Stirlz’s Angels | 9pm | |
| Tuesday, Mar 28 | e-LEMON-ators 2-1 Rooster | 5pm |
| The Big Dogs 2-0 Encore | 8:40pm | |
| Upper Bracket Semifinals | ||
| Wednesday, Mar 29 | Vertex 2-0 e-LEMON-ators | 5pm |
| Grayhound 2-0 The Big Dogs | ||
| Lower Bracket Round 1 | ||
| Tuesday, Apr 11 | Sunday School 2-0 Rooster | 6pm |
| Stirlz’s Angels 0-2 Encore | 9:15pm | |
| Lower Bracket Quarterfinal | ||
| Wednesday, Apr 12 | Encore 2-0 e-LEMON-ators | 6pm |
| The Big Dogs 2-0 Sunday School | 8:30pm | |
| Upper Bracket Final | ||
| Thursday, Apr 13 | Vertex 0-2 Grayhound | 6pm |
| Lower Bracket Semifinal | ||
| Encore 2-0 The Big Dogs | 8:30pm | |
| Lower Bracket Final | ||
| Friday, Apr 14 | Encore 0-2 Vertex | 6pm |
| Grand Final | ||
| Grayhound 2-1Vertex | 8:50pm |
ESL ANZ Champs Season 16 Rosters
Following on from the end of Season 15, the teams who finished in the top 6 have largely remained in-tact, outside of a couple changes.
Notably, Vertex have brought on hazr who was on Encore in the last season and SaVage is now on Encore. TjP has also landed onto Encore and dangeR rounds out the squad for Rooster. e-LEMON-ators look largely a new squad with apocdud and yourwombat being the only members to carry on from Season 15.
Additionally, Stirlz’s Angels replaced Band Camp as the final team in ANZ Champs as the next best placing squad from the closed qualifier.
| Team | Squad | ||||
| Grayhound Gaming | Sico | Liazz | aliStair | Vexite | INS |
| Vertex Esports Club | BRACE | ADDICT | pz | HaZR | malta |
| The Big Dogs | SkulL | Damyo | N1ghtraid | forevint | Jry |
| Encore | TjP | Hatz | sterling | Liki | SaVage |
| e-LEMON-ators | apocdud | yourwombat | viridian | foggers | nauh |
| Sunday School | rekonz | mizzy | versa | guag | nexar |
| Rooster | chelleos | Rackem | nettik | asap | dangeR |
| Stirlz’s Angels | ObZen | Drox | ToM | callum_murray | gump |
| TBD | |||||
| TBD | |||||
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- Source: https://snowballesports.com/2023/04/15/esl-anz-champs-season-16-grayhound-vertex-claim-victories-early-in-stage-1/
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