The FC Pro Open Global Qualifier continued on Saturday with the first knockout round matches - and it's fair to say it could hardly have been a more dramatic evening of action.
With the likes of Tekkz, Fouma, Nicolas99fc and Levi De Weerd all vying for one of the 16 qualification places in the FC Pro Open, the competition was fierce in London.
Saturday saw the 16 players in Groups 1 and 2 competing, with each needing two wins to advance. However, two defeats would spell early elimination from the competition - a reality that caught out some of eSport's biggest stars.
Group 1 Results
The first match-up of the night saw local hero Tekkz face off against Fortuna Dusseldorf's JH7. While the German had some good chances, it was Manchester City's new signing Tekkz who triumphed 4-0.
However, the Englishman's next match-up proved to be a much tougher test, as his opponent Neissat was a few minutes away from inflicting a first defeat on Tekkz at the 2023 Global Qualifier.
With Neissat leading 4-3 heading into the final moments, Virgil van Dijk brought down one of Tekkz's attackers in the box - handing him a chance to level the match up. He slotted the penalty away, and went on to score a further two goals to win 6-4 - and secure his place amongst the 16 qualifiers.
Speaking about his performances on FC 24 so far, Tekkz claimed: "This year is the best I've been since [2020]...I'm really good at this game!" Not the news his rivals will want to hear.
Elsewhere in Group A, Italy's AntoniniGabriel reaffirmed his status as a rising star of eSports, after beating Klinger and Levi De Weerd in consecutive matches. The 17-year-old held his nerve against Klinder superbly well, winning via a tense penalty shootout - before beating De Weerd 4-3.
Fittingly, Antonini took home the Sony PS5 Player of the Day award. In the aftermath, the EKO Esports player said he was "mentally exhausted" after two intense games, but that he was also "very happy and honoured to be the youngest player" left in the tournament.
Having lost to the Italian, De Weerd went on to defeat JH7 to narrowly qualify for the FC Pro Open in the final game of Group A. The remaining qualifier from Group A was Young, who recovered well from his early defeat to hammer Neissat 9-2 in their decisive clash.
Group 2 Results
If we thought Group 1 was dramatic, Group 2 took things to another level entirely - with shocks and late goals aplenty.
Heading into Saturday night's games, much was made of the heavyweight clash between stars Fouma and Nicolas99fc.
The pair of invitees met in the first match of Group 2, and it certainly delivered as a spectacle, with FC Lorient's Fouma winning 5-3.
The Frenchman was even more impressive in his second game, winning 7-1 against Spain's H1dalgo to safely progress to the FC Pro Open.
Another pair of impressive displays came courtesy of Argentina's FacuCowen, who - alongside Tekkz - remains the only undefeated player in the competition.
Back-to-back wins for the Tuzzy Esports player against Montaxer and Seanldw puts him amongst the favourites heading into the FC Pro Open - despite him not being among the 16 invitees.
Heading into the final matches of Group B and several big names had yet to secure their places amongst the 16 qualifiers.
Indeed, rising French star Leks, as well as invitees Ollelito and Nicolas99fc, had to win their remaining gamers after getting off to a losing start.
2022 eChamions League winner Nicolas99fc was the first of the giants to fall, losing to Leks in the pair's second games of the group.
However, the Frenchman's exit in the following game was just as big of a shock, with a 90th-minute goal from Bayer's Seanldw sending the German through at Leks' expense.
At the very same time in the Troubadour, H1dalgo and Ollelito were locked in an epic back-and-forth contest that went all the way.
After the Spain and Somah Esports star levelled in added time to make it 6-6, 30 minutes of nerve-wracking Extra Time followed.
Both players would score in the first half to make it 7-7, before a costly Virgil van Dijk error allowed H1dalgo's Neymar to score in the 117th minute - and secure qualification by the barest of margins.
An emotional H1dalgo said after the contest: "It's been very hard for me, I'm very proud for me and for my family, and I'm really happy [to go through]."
What's Happening on Sunday?
After a remarkable night of matches, Sunday promises yet further entertainment and intrigue as the 'Group of Death' (Group 3) gets underway.
Featuring the likes of Umut, Matiasbonanno99, Emre Yilmaz and Vejrgang, it's a night of action you won't want to miss.
Group 4 will also conclude on Sunday, with emerging talents like Happy, MUAE14, and JistenNSQ - who beat Vejrgang in the Swiss Stage - all set to feature.
The full list of qualifiers for the FC Pro Open, as well as the group's they've been drawn into, is available below:
Group A
Mark11 (automatic qualifier)
H1dalgo
Group B
PHzin (automatic qualifier)
Young
FacuCowen
Group C
ManuBachoore (automatic qualifier)
AntoniniGabriel
Seanldw
Group D
Obrun (automatic qualifier)
Tekkz
Levi De Weerd
Fouma
By the end of Sunday night, the eight remaining qualification places will have been filled - thus bringing the 2023 FC Pro Open Global Qualifier to a close.
You can keep up to date with all the developments in London at EA.com, while live coverage of Sunday's games can be found on YouTube and Twitch from 6pm.
We'll see you then!
