ESL has published the team list for ESL Challenger League Season 52 Cup 2, which begins on September 22, and the North American field is marked by a significant number of withdrawals. Amid these absences, Marsborne and LAG stand out as the two highest-ranked North American teams that have chosen to participate – a decision that says something about how seriously the two teams take the ECL context.
The invitations are based on Valve Regional Standings (VRS) as of August 3, 2026. Marsborne is ranked VRS 160, while LAG sits at VRS 227. Neither team is among the absolute top names in the region, but they are the highest-placed North American teams that are actually showing up for the tournament.
Several teams with significantly higher VRS rankings have declined. Liquid (VRS 32), M80 (VRS 36), Wildcard (VRS 38), and NRG (VRS 49) are all absent. Voca and Chicken Coop are believed to be prioritizing iBUYPOWER Masters fl0m's Mythical LAN, which starts during the same period, while SportsBetExpert may have opted out of Cup 2 in favor of ESEA Season 58 Finals. EMPIRE, Shimmer, and NuTorious are likewise not participating, without a confirmed reason.
The tournament is played in double-elimination brackets within each region. The winner from North America qualifies for ECL Season 52 Regional Finals – and it is precisely this path to Regional Finals that gives Marsborne's and LAG's participation concrete strategic weight. With many competitors out of the picture, the two teams have a real opportunity to advance in a thinned-out field.
A total of 58 teams are participating across North America, South America, Asia, and Oceania. North America fields 16 teams, including FlyQuest RED, Villainous, and Iowa Stormboar.