Rudi Ekmen battles for ePro League title on April 27

Saturday, April 27, is the Proximus ePro League finals. After a fantastic season, Rudi Ekmen will compete with seven other teams for the ePro League title. All about an impressive run, the period title and the finals!

A lot has happened before the upcoming finals, which is why we like to take a look back first. A lot of changes were made at the start of this ePro League season. In a league with sixteen teams, each opponent would meet one-make. Those fifteen games would be divided into three periods, with three period champions also guaranteed a place in the finals.

In addition to the period champions, the three highest ranked teams would also receive a ticket to the finals. The seven teams below that got a second chance in the qualifiers, where an amateur gamer also got an ultimate chance to qualify for the finals. A little addition tells us that eight gamers will soon compete for the Belgian title.

Strong series, but not the strongest

Rudi Ekmen was considered one of the title favorites before the start of the new season in February. The man from Mechelen, who also made it to the finals last year, was already burning with ambition: "After two semifinals in the ePro League, it is now time for the top prize.

In the first match of the season, Ekmen took on Standard, not an easy start. Despite the game's superiority, our esporter failed to start the ePro League with three points, as it ended 1-1.

Second period title

But Ekmen did not stop at nothing and took the full spoils in each of the four remaining matches of the ePro League. Unfortunately, Genk did just a little more punishingly, so Ekmen finished the first period second with 13/15.

The foundation for the second period had been laid, however, and Rudi Ekmen was more motivated than ever to secure the second period title and thus qualify directly for the finals on April 27. He convincingly succeeded in his ambition to take that period title and extended his winning streak with five wins from five games. The win against Antwerp, in particular, will be remembered. And not only was the period title secured, Ekmen immediately took over the lead.

Finishing on top

The period title may have been won, but Ekmen had no intention of resting on his laurels. Being in the lead after matchday 15 and continuing the unbeaten run for as long as possible were two nice goals in the third and final period: "I have that ticket for the quarterfinals anyway, but I don't intend to leave any points behind. With Cercle, Anderlecht and Genk we have some nice matches coming up".

The first hurdle was already easily taken, as Ekmen took the scalp of his opponent (1-6) in the virtual City derby. After that, they also won from Anderlecht, 6-4. On matchday 13, the duel with KRC Genk was scheduled. Ekmen lost to Genk in the 1/2 finals last year, so motivation was high. Unfortunately it did not work out for Ekmen, as the match was lost 3-2. The unbeaten streak was thus ended after thirteen playing days and an impressive 34/36, but first place was still in Ekmen's hands.

And he would not relinquish it in the final playing days, where a win over OHL and a loss to STVV were recorded. Ekmen thus ended the regular season as leader, with 37/45. 12 wins, 1 draw, 2 defeats.

The finals

So Saturday it is finally time for the finals. Rudi Ekmen starts in the quarter-finals with the derby against Cercle. If he wins, he will come out against the winner of the duel between KV Mechelen - Westerlo. On the other side of the tables, the duels Union - STVV and Genk - Standard are scheduled. The winner after the semifinals will thus potentially face Blauw-Zwart.

The schedule in the quarterfinals:

Club - Cercle at 8.30am
Union - STVV at 9h10
KV Mechelen - Westerlo at 9h50
Genk - Standard at 10h30

The quarterfinals will not be televised live. You can follow the semi-finals (broadcast from 12pm) and the finals live on Eleven/DAZN 2 and in the DAZN app.

Want to watch the finals live? You can! The event takes place at the Kinepolis in Brussels, Boulevard du Centenaire 20. Doors open at 8am and admission is free, but registration is required . Until Saturday?