Qiao Gu to replace EDward Gaming at Intel Extreme Masters Cologne

Qiao Gu to replace EDward Gaming at Intel Extreme Masters Cologne

The Qiao Gu Reapers are set to replace EDward Gaming at the Intel Extreme Master event in Cologne on Dec. 18, according Qiao Gu Reapers' manager Li "Link0" Linke. On Tuesday morning Link0 posted the invitation and ascreenshot of a weibo message that alerted fans of his team's attendance at the event.

The translated message is as follows:

QG is confirmed to attend IEM Cologne, as long as no external problems like Visa issues inhibit us. Thanks to all our fans for giving QG an opportunity to go overseas to compete and learn. Although we’ve been on break for the past few weeks, we will definitely cherish this opportunity and practice hard to learn from the best of the best!

—Link0, 2015

theScore eSports reached out to Link0, who confirmed that Qiao Gu have been invited to the event in Cologne in place of EDward Gaming. As the Chinese team to have received the second most votes in the fan poll for the event, they were invited when EDward Gaming unexpectedly withdrew from all remaining League of Legends competitions in 2015.

The Qiao Gu Reapers began as a new team in the LoL Secondary Pro League spring this year. Even before qualifying for the LoL Pro League this summer, they were defeating LPL teams like Snake and OMG in the Demacia Cup. Qiao Gu placed second in the LPL summer regular season and second in the LPL summer playoffs.

Invictus Gaming defeated the Qiao Gu Reapers in the 2015 World Championship Regional Qualifier for the third spot in the Worlds Group Stage. China had their worst performance on record as a region at Worlds this year, leading many more fans to support Qiao Gu's attendance at IEM Cologne in place of the Worlds representatives.

Kelsey Moser is a staff writer for theScore eSports. You can follow her on Twitter.

Home Page http://q.gs/11818829/leagueoflegend...