INGAGE GG Makes History in Pokémon UNITE Grassroots Tournament Scene

The Pokémon UNITE competitive scene has witnessed a significant milestone — and it's all thanks to INGAGE GG. The organization has achieved something groundbreaking in the grassroots tournament space, and we're here to break it all down.

A New Era with the Master Series 2025

Back in March, INGAGE GG announced its ambitious Master Series 2025, sparking excitement among fans and players alike. The tournament was set to bring structure, competition, and high-level play to the community. But things took an even more interesting turn when, on May 5th, INGAGE announced Open Qualifiers for the series — and they came with a twist.

A Bold Move: Paid Entry in a Grassroots Tournament

For only the second time ever in Pokémon UNITE history (excluding charity events), a grassroots tournament introduced paid entry. The first instance was organized by GaMa, now the UCS Director of Pokémon UNITE’s official tournaments. However, that attempt didn’t see any signups.

This time, INGAGE GG changed the narrative.

The Open Qualifiers for the Master Series 2025 had a $25 entry fee per team. At first, this seemed bold, especially given the traditional free-entry model of grassroots competitions. But INGAGE offered clear value: this was a pathway into one of the most prestigious grassroots series, with the top 3 teams earning a spot in the Master Series Group Stage.

Typically, teams qualify for the group stage through consistent placements in the EU Weekly or Underdunk Tournament Series, both featuring seven match days with the top four from each advancing. The Open Qualifier was an alternate route — and a chance for hungry teams to prove themselves.

Making History: 16 Teams Join the Fight

To the surprise of many, 16 teams paid the entry fee and entered the qualifier — a first in grassroots UNITE history. The participating teams were:

• The Unown Team

• Les Bannis (EU)

• Aegis Flames Esports (Brazil)

• RSG

• Micro and Cheese (NA)

• STMN Esports (LATAM North)

• Gorilla Tactics (EU)

• Revelation (NA)

• Randoms

• Yatagarasu (LATAM South)

• Azeri Esports (EU)

• Win Raq Big Mac (NA)

• Sponsored by Galaxy (EU)

• 4Friends

• Tuzzy Esports (Brazil)

• Team YT (NA)

These teams battled it out in a double-elimination format, featuring best-of-3 (Bo3) matches in the winner’s bracket, best-of-1 (Bo1) in the loser’s bracket, a Bo3 loser final, and a Bo5 grand final.

You can view the full bracket here.

Intense Battles and Standout Performances

Two teams dominated early: Revelation and Yatagarasu. Both teams made strong runs through the winner's bracket, eventually meeting in the Winner’s Finals. The series went the distance, with Revelation edging out Yatagarasu 2-1.

Meanwhile, Team YT, after being knocked out by 4Friends earlier in the bracket, mounted a comeback in the lower bracket. They made it all the way to the Loser Finals, but fell to Yatagarasu in a decisive 0-2 defeat.

Qualified for the Master Series Group Stage

The top three teams who earned their spot in the prestigious Master Series 2025 Group Stage are:

1. Revelation

2. Yatagarasu

3. Team YT

These teams will now join eight others already qualified via EU Weekly and Underdunk tournaments.

What’s Next?

The Group Stage draw is set to take place live on Thursday, May 22nd, setting the stage for what promises to be one of the most competitive grassroots events Pokémon UNITE has ever seen.

Conclusion

INGAGE GG has not only hosted a successful qualifier — they’ve redefined what’s possible in community-driven esports for Pokémon UNITE. By taking a risk with paid entry and delivering a competitive, rewarding experience, they’ve set a new precedent and opened doors for future grassroots tournament organizers.

Stay tuned for the group stage draw and witness the next chapter of this exciting journey.