On Friday, August 9th, 2019 PUBG Nations Cup will commence at the Seoul, South Korea’s Jangchung Arena. Sixteen national-based squads from all of the global proscene regions will battle each other over a three-day, fifteen-game series for a national pride and a huge share of a 500,000 USD prizepool. Heading into the PNC, it’s good to take a look at the tournament details, all the represented nations, their rosters and what are the expectations for each of them.

Nations Cup Details

Location : Jangchung Arena, Seoul, South Korea

Date and Schedule : August 9th ( Friday ) - 11th ( Sunday ); each day starting 5pm Seoul Time / 10am CEST / 4am E.D.T / 1am P.D.T

Tournament Schedule ( all times are CEST ; source — pubgesports.eu )

Prizepool : 500,000 USD

In addition to the prizepool, the best Asian region at the PNC ( out of China, Korea, Taipei, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam ) will receive a additional seed for their pro league for the November’s PUBG Global Championship.

As a part of the PNC celebrations, you can pick up a limited edition, in-game Nations Cup pan skin ( shown below ) for 9.99 USD up until August 13th/14th live server maintenance.

Teams Preview

Team SingularBit Argentina

Roster : “SzylzEN” ( BitLoft ), “Ernzxr” ( BitLoft ), “p0me” ( Singularity ), “RiboxD” ( Singularity )

Unsurprisingly, Team Argentina will be represented by players from the country’s two best teams in Phase 2 — BitLoft and Team Singularity ( SNG ). Voted roster looks very interesting on paper, as it features the best fragger of LATAM Phase 2 and BitLoft’s IGL in “SzylzEN”, a strong frontline rifler in “P0me” ( top 5 in kills and damage in LATAM Phase 2 ) and “RiboxD” — “Ernzxr” duo providing a needed support. While they are considered as one of the weaker teams, Argentina may be a threat in a close-range fights and can finish in the upper half of the standings.

Team Australia

Roster : “Zoidm8” ( Athletico ), “Luke12” ( Athletico ), “Insight” ( ex-Incognito ), “Vasili” ( Hell Yeah Brother )

After a shocking runner-up finish of Athletico at the GLL Grand Slam, the expectations have been raised for Team Australia heading into the Nations Cup. As ATH dominated Phase 2 in OCE region, their players — Top killer of OCE and GLL, “Luke12”, and team’s shotcaller in “Zoidm8” — will be Team Australia’s core, backed up by a strong rifler and ex-Incognito’s IGL “Insight” and Hell Yeah Brother’s shotcaller and backliner in “Vasili” ( replacing “Jouxy”, which couldn’t come to PNC due to time constraints ). With that roster, Australia will have a shot at the Nations Cup, assuming they get along as for the shotcalling.

Team Brazil

Roster : “And1FPS” ( Red Canids ), “Rustyzera” ( Red Canids ), “Rogi_” ( Furia ), “Rdnx” ( Furia )

Similar to their region counterparts in Team Argentina, the representation of Brazil have been centered around country’s top teams in Phase 2 — Red Canids, represented by their shotcaller and scout in “And1FPS”, as well as a all-around rifler in “Rustyzera”, and Furia Esports, including their star firstline fragger in “Rogi” and a Furia’s longtime player in “Rdnx”. To add on that in terms of synergy, three of Team Brazil players — “And1”, “Rogi” and “Rustyzera” — have also played together in BRC’s run throughout the LATAM Phase 1 and Faceit Global Summit. So far into PUBG proscene, Brazilian teams are still yet to have a decent run on the global stage — maybe Nations Cup is where this will happen ?

Team Canada

Roster : “Kaymind” ( ex-Cloud9 ), “DrasseL” ( Ghost ), “Moody” ( Envy ), “Meluke” ( Tempo Storm )

First of the three nations with all players coming from different teams, Team Canada is one of the more interesting teams on paper, with former Cloud9 teammates and highly-rated riflers in “Kaymind” and “Moody”, arguably the best sniper in NA proscene right now, Ghost Gaming’s “DrasseL”, and the captain and shotcaller of Tempo Storm’s NPL dynasty in “Meluke” rounding up the roster. It’s a very experienced and talented squad, and with all of that in mind Canada should be one of the main contenders for the Nations Cup.

Team China

Roster : “Dec12th” ( Black Ananas ), “GodV” ( 4AM ), “Summer” ( VC Gaming ), “Mad98” ( Ark )

Second of the nations with all players coming from different teams, Team China have went a different route that Team Canada — Instead of voting the more experienced players like “Lionkk”, “Shou” and “T1antian”, PCL players have picked less-known players on the rise — Ark’s ace all-rounder in “Mad98” and captain of PCL championship-winning VC Gaming, “Summer”, alongside Black Ananas “Dec12th” ( selected as the PCL Spring MVP ) and THE name in the Chinese PUBG ( in terms of popularity ), 4AM’s GodV. So far this year, China haven’t performed really well in the global events, and a good result in Seoul would improve fans spirits heading into the Global Championship.

Team Winland Finland

Roster : “Mxey” ( Faze ), “Jembty” ( Liquid ), “Sambty” ( Liquid ), “Tiikzu” ( Winstrike )

First of the European countries represented at the PNC, Finland had a lot to pick from, with two full Finnish squads in PEL ( Winstrike and Ence ) and three more players in Faze and Liquid. Interestingly, all those players — Liquid brothers “Jembty” and “Sambty”, and Faze’s own “Mxey” — have got a spot ( Mxey and Sambty due to Faze and Liquid being the best teams in Phase 2 of PEL, and Jembty being picked ) — leaving only one spot for the full teams — taken by highly-improved in Phase 2 “Tiikzu” from Winstrike. With a heavy stacked roster, the only reasonable goal for Finland is to become a Winland.

Team G2 Esports Germany

Roster : “Itzz_ChrizZ” ( G2 ), “Braexco” ( G2 ), “Caint” ( G2 ), “UdyrR” ( REC )

Germany will be represented at the PNC by their only players in the Pro Leagues throughout Phase 2 ( except “Linksy”, which played in OCE and have a German dual citizenship, but he wasn’t picked ) — the entire roster of G2 Esports ( including UdyrR, who just left G2 to join Reciprocity ). Because of that, there’s a clear point of what we can expect from Team Germany — a all-round championship contender, with “ChrizZ” at the front reaping people apart with M4, “Caint” and “UdyrR” providing supporting fire and “Braexco” leading the team with his calls in the frontline during the fights.

Team Japan

Roster : “Dep” ( Crest Xanadu ), “gabha” ( Sunsister ), “SSees” ( DNG White ), “CiNVe” ( Sunsister )

Over at the Land of the Rising Sun, we’ve saw a very close voting for the Nations Cup team, as only the Japan Series Season 3 Most Killing player, Crest Xanadu’s “Dep” have been in more than 10% of voted rosters. Joining him in Seoul will be the core of SunSister Suiciders, “gabha” and “CiNVe”, and a core fragger of PJS Season 3 winning DNG White, “SSees”. And while Japan is historically one of the weakest regions, they’ve been slowly improving and shouldn’t be underestimated at the PNC.

Team Russia

Roster : “Ubah” ( FaZe ), “ADOUZ1E” ( Na’Vi ), “Ceh9” ( Na’Vi ), “Kemba7” ( Crowcrowd )

The ever-strong CIS ( sub- )region will be represented at the PNC by Team Russia, which will field the roster featuring the frontline riflers of FaZe, Na’Vi and CrowCrowd, “Ubah”, “ADOUZ1E” and “Kemba” respectively, rounded up by NaVi’s captain and IGL in “Ceh9”. This makes them a very strong roster, especially when it comes to DMR usage ( Adouz1e and Ceh9 were the two best DMR damage dealers in Phase 2, Ubah and Kemba finished in the top 12 ), and a strong candidate to win it all.

Team Gen.G and friends South Korea

Roster : “Pio” ( Gen.G ), “Loki” ( Gen.G ), “Inonix” ( Danawa DPG ), “Aqua5” ( DTN.Korea )

Heading into the Nations Cup, South Korea will have both the momentum ( after winning Faceit and MET Asia Series ) and a home-field advantage, aiming for yet another championship for their region. In order to achieve that, PKL players voted for a all-around roster, with the most consistent fragger in the league and Gen.G co-IGL “Pio”, his teammate and resurging to his peak form frontline rifler in “Loki”, PKL Phase 2 top fragger in Danawa’s DPG “Inonix” and a very strong backup player of Detonator Korea, “Aqua5”.

Team Thailand

Roster : “MinORu” ( MiTH ), “ShippyS” ( Tokio Striker ), “DUCKMANZ” ( Armory Gaming ), “ThanawatTH” ( AG )

Representing the focal point of the SEA proscene, Thailand’s roster core have been decided by inviting the best fraggers of SEA Championship Phase 1 — that being AG’s madman fragger, “DUCKMANZ” — and Phase 2 — coming straight of the military service another player of AG in “ThanawatTH” — and drafting a duo of long-time MiTH leader in “MinORu” and strong support in Tokio Striker’s “ShippyS”. So far this year, Thailand teams were slowly moving towards the podium finish ( with AG being 5th at Faceit and 4th at the MET ), and at the PNC they’ll have a opportunity to finally do so.

Team Digital Athletics Turkey

Roster : “Iroh”, “SIXMO”, “Mert”, “ABeautifulD”

Similar to Team Germany, Turkey’s only representation in Phase 2 Pro Leagues, and therefore at the Nations Cup, was a single squad of Digital Athletics. If you have watched at the PEL, you know what you can expect from them in Seoul — a solid, central-focused and more defensive-based roster, lead by their captain “SIXMO” and star fragger in “Iroh”. DA have been slowly climbing up the PEL ranks, finishing 13th in Phase 1 and 10th in Phase 2, and will try to keep their improvement at the PNC.

Team United Kingdom

Roster : “Realzx” ( Pittsburgh Knights ), “MykL” ( TSM ), “vard” ( NiP ), “MiracU” ( NiP )

In contrast to most of the other major esports, United Kingdom have a decent representation of players on the PUBG scene, and they’ll able to showcase best of them at the Nations Cup. Their roster is promising, as it features two heavy hitters — “Realzx” from Pittsburgh Knights and “MykL” from TSM — and a core of Ninjas in Pyjamas team in “vard” and “MiracU” ( which have a dual Irish — UK citizenship ) and will try to upset and finish at the podium position.

Team SpaceStorm United States

Roster : “Sharky” ( Tempo Storm ), “Zanpah” ( TS ), “Bahawaka” ( Spacestation Gaming ), “Valliate” ( SSG )

With a mostly disappointing results at the Faceit and GLL, United States is eager to get a top position at the Nations Cup, and to do that NPL players voted for a hybrid roster — representing US from Tempo Storm will be their first-line fraggers in “Sharky” and “Zanpah”, while coming from the SSG we’ll see a top 3 NPL damage dealer in AR and SR in “Bahawaka”, and a all-rounder in “Valliate”. Team US is surely having a lot of firepower, but only time will tell if this’ll be enough in Seoul.

Team Finally with a visa Vietnam

Roster : “Sapauu” ( Sky Gaming Daklak ), “Nhism” ( Refund ), “Leviz” ( Divine ), “Basill” ( Cerberus )

Similar to their SEA counterparts in Thailand, Vietnam’s roster will feature their country’s best fragger in SEAC Phase 1 — that being Divine Esports ace and IGL in “Leviz” — and Phase 2 — Cerberus Esports primary sniper in “Basill”, backed up by player-voted picks — Refund’s captain “Nhism” and Sky Daklak’s support player in “Sapauu”. They will have a huge challenge ahead of them — PNC will be the first time Vietnam will play in a non-SEA event since October 2018 ( PGL Fall ), and their result will be considered as a mark of their performance ahead of PGC in the eyes of fans.

Team Chinese Taipei

Roster : “Leo” ( MP5 / GEX ), “ChiaWei” ( GEX ), “SR” ( Ahq ), “Milk” ( Ahq )

To round-up the team list for Nations Cup, we have a representation of Chinese Taipei — similar to the United States, they’ve picked a hybrid roster, with players from Ahq Esports ( “Milk” and “SR” ) and players of GEX, “Leo” ( who just joined GEX ) and “ChiaWei”. This sets up a heavy fragging roster ( with all players being in the top 5 fraggers of PML Phase 2 ) with a outside chance to bring Chinese Taipei in the top positions at the PNC.

Where to watch

The PUBG Nations Cup will be available to watch on the following streams/sites :

* This list will be updated as regional broadcasts are announced

Global Page : watch.pubgesports.com

EN Stream : https://www.twitch.tv/playbattlegrounds

JP stream : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9exSwJJO0ayLWSqo9-8dXg ; https://www.twitch.tv/pubg_japan_official/

TW stream : http://bit.ly/TwitchPUBGTW

CN stream : https://www.douyu.com/100