Epic adds FNCS second‑chance qualifier

Epic Games has added a Second Chance Qualifier for Fortnite Champion Series Major 1, reopening the road to the Düsseldorf Summit after disputed disqualifications. (dotesports.com) (esports.gg) The qualifier runs across Monday, April 28, and Tuesday, April 29, with all Division 1 players eligible except duos already qualified through Major 1. Day 1 is open by region, and the top 50 duos in each region move to a six-game final on Day 2. (dotesports.com) (esports.gg) Epic is awarding 25 Summit places through the new route: eight for Europe, seven for North America Central, and two each for Brazil, North America West, Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East. Liquipedia lists the regional finals for April 29, with Europe sending eight duos and North America Central sending seven. (dotesports.com) (liquipedia.net 1) (liquipedia.net 2) The Düsseldorf LAN has also been expanded from 50 duos to 75 duos and from two competition days to three. The event is scheduled for May 29-31 at PSD Bank Dome. (esports.gg) (liquipedia.net) The revised format splits the Summit into two qualifying stages before the final. On May 29 and May 30, 25 duos each day advance to a 25-duo Grand Finals on May 31. (dotesports.com) (esports.gg) The number of Global Championship berths tied to the Summit has increased from 10 to 15. Liquipedia now lists the Summit prize pool at $1 million, with $200,000 for first place. (dotesports.com) (liquipedia.net) The change came after backlash over disqualifications tied to drop calculators, tools players used to map landing spots and routes. Dot Esports and Esports.gg reported that players including Bugha, Kraez, Eomzo, Tragic, and others were caught up in the dispute before Epic said the disqualifications were a mistake. (dotesports.com) (esports.gg) Epic also clarified the rule going forward: any tool, program, or hardware that accesses the real-time state of a match to gain an advantage is prohibited. That includes access through memory, screen recording, screenshots, video, audio, network traffic, or files, according to reports quoting Epic’s updated rulebook. (dotesports.com) For players who lost their original path to Germany, the fix is immediate and narrow. They now have one more qualifier on April 28-29, and the expanded Summit in Düsseldorf has 25 more seats waiting. (dotesports.com) (liquipedia.net)