Did Exquisite Decode UK Ever ‘Bring It Home’? Reliving the 2021 PMPL European Championship

I still remember the electric atmosphere of late 2021, when PUBG Mobile esports was hitting its peak. The PMGC 2021 was just around the corner, and every region was battling for those precious slots. For UK fans like me, all eyes were on one team: Exquisite Decode UK. A mix of homegrown talent and continental flair, they were our dark horse in the PMPL European Championship Season 1. Fast forward to 2026, and I often find myself asking: Did that squad ever truly break through? Let’s rewind the clock and dive deep into that unforgettable November, when hopes were high and chicken dinners were everything. 🍗

The Stage: PMPL European Championship S1

The PUBG Mobile Pro League (PMPL) was the pinnacle of regional competition, and Season 1 of the European Championship kicked off on November 11th, 2021. 16 elite teams from CIS, Turkey, and Western Europe clashed for a $150,000 prize pool—and a ticket to the PUBG Mobile Global Championship 2021. The top 7 finishers would advance directly to the PMGC, which was set to start on November 30th, 2021, with the Grand Finals unfolding from January 21st to 23rd, 2022. This was mobile esports at its grandest, with a total 2021 circuit prize pool of $15 million—the highest in mobile esports history at the time.

Who were the teams? Here’s a quick look at the lineup that had UK fans glued to their screens:

Meanwhile, the Americas Championship Season 2 ran simultaneously with an identical $150,000 prize pool and PMGC qualification reward, featuring powerhouses like Knights, XSET, Nova Esports NA, and A7 eSports. But my heart—and this article—is all about the European theatre.

Exquisite Decode UK: The Hometown Hopefuls

What made Exquisite Decode UK so special? For a start, they were the only squad flying the full UK flag—well, almost. The roster blended four British players: Hardman, Reznov, Senso, and Will, with Daddy from Slovenia and Eliseo from Albania. They had just finished second in the Western Europe Season 2 Finals, so momentum was on their side. But Europe’s elite was a completely different beast. Could four lions and two Balkan stars really take on the CIS juggernauts?

The man they all talked about was Eliseo. The in-game leader (IGL) and two-time tournament MVP. When I watched their matches, it felt like he was playing chess while others played checkers. His rotations on Miramar were legendary—remember that clip from October where they wiped a squad to clinch the chicken dinner on Miramar? Pure art. 🔥

The Casters’ Verdict: A Taxi Home or a Long Road?

Our very own UK casters, Blank (Zander Munro) and John Allen, were just as emotionally invested as we were. Blank told Esports News UK back then: “Exquisite Decode UK are a pleasure to be invested in as a UK caster. The players have incredible enthusiasm for the game, with big ambitions and the skill to boot!” He praised Daddy’s relentlessly positive grind, but he singled out Eliseo as the real driving force. His exact words? “Being the tournament MVP two seasons running is no small feat.” Blank’s final remark still echoes in my mind: “We have at least got the notification that it’s in the taxi back.” Oh, how we wished that taxi was headed straight to PMGC glory!

John Allen was more measured but no less optimistic. He described Eliseo as a star, and when the whole team moved at the same pace, it was “a well-oiled engine.” But he also warned: “They’ve stalled before and haven’t put massive results on the Europe-wide stage before. However, this is the best they’ve looked this past year and if there’s a time, it’s now. PMGC is definitely a possibility if they keep pushing.”

So, did they push hard enough? The tournament ran from November 11th to 14th, 2021, and the top 7 would be decided. The CIS region was a fortress, with Na’Vi, KoninaPower, and others looking almost untouchable. But Exquisite Decode UK had already proven they could hang with the best in the Western Europe league. All they needed was consistency—and maybe a sprinkle of Miramar magic.

The Americas Parallel

While we Europeans cheered for Exquisite, the Americas Championship was delivering its own drama. Teams like Knights, XSET, and Brazil’s A7 eSports were battling for their slice of the $150k pie and a spot at PMGC 2021. The Americas scene was just as stacked, and this parallel championship showed the sheer scale of PUBG Mobile esports at the time. It was a truly global ecosystem, and the PMGC promised a East vs. West showdown for the ages.

Where Are They Now? A 2026 Reflection

It’s been five years. Some of those names have become legends; others faded into memory. As a fan in 2026, I can’t help but wonder: Did Exquisite Decode UK make it to the PMGC 2021? And even if they did, did they survive the brutal group stages? The truth is, esports is unforgiving. Rosters change, orgs drop teams, and the meta evolves. But what I can tell you is that that moment in November 2021 was a turning point for UK PUBG Mobile. It proved that we could produce talent capable of competing at the highest level.

Eliseo? He went on to become one of the most respected IGLs in the mobile scene. Hardman and Senso? They’re still grinding, maybe in different colors. The UK scene has grown, with more orgs investing and more casters like Blank and John giving us that hometown hype.

Every time I watch a new European Championship, I remember Exquisite Decode UK and that feeling of hope. They might not have won the war, but they won our hearts—and they taught us that a taxi can sometimes take you exactly where you need to go, even if the destination isn’t a trophy.

So here’s to the underdogs, the mixed-nationality crews, the MVPs, and the casters who made every chicken dinner taste like victory. 🏆

What’s your favorite memory from the 2021 PMPL season? Drop it in the comments—if you’re still around, that is! 😄