Bhavi, Ph1NNN begin ECL S51 APAC Cup 3 campaign tomorrow

The ESL Challenger League Season 51 Asia-Pacific Cup #3 kicks off tomorrow as the final list of teams are locked in. Fifteen teams were handed out invites based on the Asian VRS and among the ranks are Arise, fielding Indian IGL Bhavi and rifler Ph1NNN. clyd1e, borosto and Anasasis round off the roster, coming into their first official in over a month.

The tournament will run online, hosting a double-elimination best-of-three bracket. With TYLOO bagging a direct upper quarter-final spot, the opening round begins with fourteen teams. Arise will take on Pakistani side Legion in their opening game. The two teams clashed in the grand-final of the Dust2 India 1xBET Masters 30 with Legion emerging victorious.

Despite having VRS points on the line, ESL Challenger League Season 51 Asia-Pacific Cup #3 will not make an impact on the IEM Cologne Major's invite list given its conclusion date of 9th April 2026, a couple of days after the invitation date. The winner of the double-elimination bracket pockets a $5,000 USD cash prize and advances to the Asia-Pacific regional final where they take on winners of other ESL Challenger League Cups across Asia and Oceania in a ruthless single-elimination bracket for a spot at ESL Pro League Season 24.

The opening round's matches are scheduled to run simultaneously at 06:30 PM IST tomorrow and here are the opening matchups:

BORING PLAYERS vs BMZ
FengDa vs Just Swing
Eruption vs Change The Game
Chinggis Warriors vs 5star
Arise vs Legion
Last Bullet vs The QUBE
NSN vs NEXVOID