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The European League Championship Series Regional Qualifier, also known as the Gauntlet, has seen teams rise up to the occasion on the way to an otherwise inaccessible World Championship berth (look no further than North Americas Cloud9 in 2015) or to a momentous performance (Origens semifinal placement). As the two aforementioned squads showed, the last-chance qualifier can be a thrilling experience.As we explore the 2016 European Regional tournament, we can only note that the same may be happening all over again. Returning this year are Unicorns of Loves Fabian Sheepy Mallant, Kiss Vizicsacsi Tamas and Zdravets Hylissang Iliev Galabov, as well as then-ROCCAT head coach Jakob YamatoCannon Mebdi, now the coach of Splyce.Splyce and the Unicorns of Love are not alone; Fnatic and Giants Gaming are also part of the festivities. How do the participants fare? And what would be their saving grace if their chances are low?Giants Gamings odds: Winning the lotto three times in a rowWhen Giants were a functional crew, they dodged their laning phase shortcomings and systematically swapped lanes to occupy half of their opponents jungle, allowing them to capitalize on pick opportunities. That is, unless Lennart Smittyj Warkus or Na NighT Gun-woo spiraled out of control following a gank from their jungler, Nubar Maxlore Sarafian.Were because they have devolved from the group that had had a surprising showing during the season to overaggressive (or downright desperate) playmakers during the playoffs, but matters may have turned beyond sour for the Spanish organization, at least according to a recent tweet from the squads head coach, David LoZarK Alonso Vicente.Regarding all this soap drama: we are having internal problems within the group leading us to not scrimming these days.— David Alonso Vicente (@Lozarklol) September 1, 2016Giants had an opportunity to learn from the mistakes of other teams during the playoffs, but team chemistry issues may lead to roster changes - a matter that would preoccupy the organization more than their chances of making it past the Unicorns of Love.Can an individual win the lotto reliably three times in a row? Possible, but very unlikely.Unicorns of Loves odds: The New York Knicks chances at going beyond the first round of the playoffs in 2016-2017One might think the Knicks? Making the playoffs? but theres a little more hope around the team considering their offseason moves, and a few more bench hires would solidify its status as a potential playoff team, bar injuries and chemistry issues. As such, I would say that the Unicorns of Loves chances at reaching the World Championships group stages are fair on paper.UoL has had one of the biggest surges in terms of power level since the release of the playoff patch, allowing new hires and veterans to showcase their abilities more reliably. Kiss Vizicsacsi Tamas remains a pillar within the squad, and protecting him would be a primary key for Kang Move Min-su. Fabian Exileh Schubert has also displayed improvement over the season, culminating in a lights-out showing against Fnatic in the playoff quarterfinals.However, the deck may be stacked against UoL considering the lack of practice partners as Fnatic and Splyce canceled scrimmages against them. As Fnatic and Splyce currently withhold their decks in hand, the Unicorns may have to blindly all-in (although they currently carry the equivalent of a queen pair in hand). Their understanding of the meta and their ability to play accordingly has already allowed them to surprise G2 Esports and H2K Gaming despite 3-1 defeats.Fnatics odds: The same as the Miracle on Ice (or Cloud9s reverse-sweep run) happening ever againFnatic are in a desperate situation. Not only have they missed the auto-qualification scenarios of old, they had fallen from grace, away from the top of the LCS, with their dismantling at the hands of H2K Gaming standing as a potential beginning of the end for Fabian Febiven Diepstraten and his teammates. Without the ability to open the map and stall long enough in the bottom lane to survive during the laning phase or pull ahead through ganks, they seemed listless, a shell of glories past.Without perfect team chemistry, Fnatic may falter against the Unicorns of Love, who will be meeting them in the gauntlet semifinals lest Giants somehow manage to upset fate, distort the boundaries of time and space, and bend them to their will to avert UoLs impending victory.But they have an unlikely ally in their quest for a deeper gauntlet run: LCS summer finalists Splyce. Will Mateusz Kikis Szkudlarek morph into something greater than Martin Wunder Hansen? Will Lee Spirit Da-yoon make the right early-game calls and allow Bora YellOwStaR Kim to dictate the shots for the remainder of the game? Will YellOwStaR himself recapture his 2015 shape? Too many parameters, especially against Splyce (or against the decisive Unicorns of Love).Splyces odds at NOT making it: You rolling nat20 five times in a row, right now.Far-fetched, isnt it? But this is Splyces position. As the last team to enter the gauntlet, they have the luxury to observe the hand their opponents play, and how they play them. In addition, their team play has been consistently better than all teams not named G2 Esports this summer. The sole team with more chances to upset Splyce (other than Kikis and Spirit turning into Huni and Reignover) is UoL, who have no scrimmages planned against them.Of course, their record against UoL during the regular season (1W-2L, lets omit the Sion support game) may have been a cause for concern had the meta not evolved, but the meta did, in fact, evolve. With lane matchups becoming more important, they can create advantageous situations during the draft for their solo laners, with Exilehs champion pool posing a problem.By the way, if you did roll five nat20s in a row, I would require proof, if only for fun. Cheap Nike Air Max 90 . -- On the field, it was business as usual for Jameis Winston and No. Cheap Air Max Shoes . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. http://www.airmaxshoescheaponline.com/ . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning. Wholesale Air Max Shoes .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St. Cheap Air Max 95 . Giroud, who wasnt in the starting lineup for two matches after allegations about his private life and a decline in form, scored twice in the first half. Tomas Rosickys chip made it 3-0 before half time at Emirates Stadium, while defender Laurent Koscielny scored an unmarked header in the second half. MILWAUKEE -- Playing with a lineup depleted by injuries, St. Louis manager Mike Matheny enjoyed the Cardinals powerful finish.Jhonny Peralta, Tommy Pham and Aledmys Diaz homered, helping Carlos Martinez and the Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-1 on Saturday.Peralta hit a leadoff drive in the second off Chase Anderson (4-10). Pham connected for a solo shot and Diaz belted a three-run homer during the Cardinals five-run ninth.It was nice to get a little extra help there at the end, Matheny said. We were just trying to see if we could outlast them.Martinez (8-6) struck out a season-high 11 in five innings in his first win since June 11. The right-hander allowed one run and four hits with four walks.Carlos had electric stuff, Matheny said. He was just throwing bullets up there but he was working deep counts on almost every batter. But then he decided to get a little more efficient and you were seeing first-pitch outs.Martinez, speaking through a translator, said he was disappointed he wasnt able to go deeper into the game.But I tried to stay focused, especially with my slider, Martinez said.Anderson struggled with his command and lasted just four innings. He walked five and allowed two runs and four hits.Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit an RBI single in the third for Milwaukees only run. The Brewers stole three bases in the inning, including a pair by Jonathan Villar, but left the bases loaded.Tyler Lyons relieved Martinez and pitched 2 1/3 hitless innings. Matt Bowman got two outs and Seth Maness finished the four-hitter.Stephen Piscotty had two hits and scored two runs for St. Louis, and Jedd Gyorko singled in Yadier Molina in the eighth.BEE DELAYThe start of the game was delayed nearly 10 minutes while Milwaukees grounds crew attempted to control a swarm of bees that gathered in the corner of the right-field fence.Piscotty was the right fielder for the Cardinals, and Matheny said he asked him if he was allergic.Then youve got a major issue, Matheny said. Thats deathly. I wouldnt have started the game until they figured it out. But he was all right with it, so the show goes on.AFTER FURTHER REVIEWAn apparent inning-ending double play turned by the Brewers in the third was overturned after a review, which showed second baseman Scooter Gennett did not get his foot on the bag at second.ddddddddddddWhen play resumed, Molina drew a walk before Anderson struck out Gyorko. Anderson had to throw 11 additional pitches as a result of the ruling.FLASHING LEATHERWith the bases loaded and two outs in the third, Cardinals second baseman Greg Garcia made a diving stop of a hard ground ball by Milwaukees Ramon Flores. Garcia got to his feet and fired a throw to first that Gyorko dove to catch while keeping his foot on the base, ending the inning.It was a better play by Jed. That was such a bad throw, Garcia said. For him to stay on the bag like that, for a guy that doesnt play a lot of first base, that was an incredible play by him.ONE TO REMEMBERAlberto Rosario drove in the Cardinals final run with a single in his first career at-bat. The 29-year-old catcher has played 11 years in the minors.Its taken me a little bit longer than others but Ive worked so hard for this moment, Rosario said through a translator. Ive been through some hard moments and it has been a long time coming.TRAINERS ROOMCardinals: OF Matt Holliday, who sprained his left ankle rounding first base on Friday, was a late scratch. Holliday was initially slated to play left field and bat third. He was replaced by Pham. ... Peralta, who pinch-hit on Friday but had been out of the starting lineup for three games with a left thumb injury, started at third base. ... Reliever Trevor Rosenthal, who left Fridays game with what was described as left hamstring cramps, got an MRI. Its going to be day to day with no DL, it looks like, Matheny said.UP NEXTCardinals: Mike Leake (5-7, 4.33 ERA) gets the ball in the series finale on Sunday. He is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two starts against the Brewers this season.Brewers: Junior Guerra (6-1, 2.93 ERA) has won his last three starts, posting a 0.81 ERA. He has pitched 15 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings. In his only start against the Cardinals this season, Guerra gave up four runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. ' ' '