Execration will be looking to bring the experience from its impressive WePlay AniMajor run in a last attempt to qualify for $40 million (over P1 billion) The International 10 later this month.
Coach Kimuel "Kim0" Borromeo Rodis' Execration crew pulled off surprising results but were not enough to push them past the wild card stage of the AniMajor in Kiev, Ukraine.
The Filipino squad finished fourth with a 4-6 win-loss record in the six-team wild card wherein the top two teams in Vici Gaming and Team Nigma advanced to the group stage.
After forcing draws against ONE Esports Singapore Major champion Invictus Gaming, AS Monaco Gambit and Vici, Execration went off to a hot start in the second day by thrashing Team Secret with a 31-5 scoreline in Game 1 that lasted for only 33 minutes on Thursday night, June 3.
Nikko "Nikko" Bilocura on Mars wrecked Michal "Nisha" Jankowski's Invoker with his on-point Arena of Blood and Spear of Mars initiations while Jinn "Palos" Lamatao's Ursa ran amok in racking up 13 kills and three assists without a death.
The European powerhouse, however, struck back hard in Game 2 behind Lasse "MATUMBAMAN" Urpalainen's Monkey King and Nisha's Puck to forge a 1-1 series.
Execration needed a win in its final match to fan its hopes of entering the AniMajor group stage but an inspired Nigma made quick work of the Filipinos with a 2-0 sweep.
It was position-4 support Maroun "GH" Merhej on Winter Wyvern (0-0-24 kill-death-assist) who starred in Game 1 while star mid laner Amer "Miracle-" Barkawi on Invoker (9-1-11) took charge in Game 2.
After a controversial tie with Secret, Nigma went on to beat IG in the tiebreaker for the second spot and join Vici Gaming to the group phase where Filipino powerhouse TNC Predator is seeded.
Kim0 and Execration will have their last chance to make it to the TI10 in the Southeast Asia qualifiers on June 30 to July 3.