In a surprising turn of events at the ESL One Birmingham 2024: North America (NA) Closed Qualifier, NextNext faced an unexpected setback that led to their exit from the upper bracket series against nouns. A player from the team untimely overslept, resulting in a forfeit of the match.

 The showdown commenced with NextNext gearing up to tackle nouns, setting the stage for what could have been an intense series. However, fate had different plans. American Dota 2 caster Ricky "rkryptic" Peterson dropped the bombshell during the livestream, disclosing that one of NextNext's players was still immersed in the realm of dreams. With uncertainty surrounding the player's wake-up time, the team opted for a bold move—conceding the entire series rather than just the first game. 

This unexpected decision relegated NextNext to the lower bracket, while nouns marched forward into the upper bracket, securing an unexpected victory without lifting a finger. Fortunately for NextNext, the lower bracket series against Yangzhiganlu offered a silver lining. Their opponent's inability to field a complete five-man squad granted NextNext a default victory, giving them a chance at redemption. 

However, the subsequent clash with BammySoy in the lower bracket's second round proved to be a tough hurdle for NextNext. The following day witnessed their elimination, marking an end to their rollercoaster journey in the ESL One Birmingham 2024: NA Closed Qualifier. 

As NextNext bowed out, the spotlight shifted to other contenders in the closed qualifier. In a separate arena, nouns and Shopify Rebellion emerged as the powerhouses, with Shopify Rebellion already securing a spot in the grand final. The upcoming showdown between nouns and BammySoy in the lower bracket final will determine the second contender for the main event, where only one coveted slot remains. 

Also read: Evil Geniuses Reveal New Lineup for 2024 VALORANT Season 

The tale of NextNext's escapade in the ESL One Birmingham 2024 Qualifiers will be remembered not for strategic prowess or breathtaking plays but for a peculiar incident that added an unexpected twist to the competitive gaming narrative.