Group A of the FC Pro Open sees three stars of eSports - Emre Yilmaz, Umut and Mark11 - all competing for two spots in next year's finals.

While the Australian competitor's challenge got off to a disappointing start, his two rivals are off to a strong start, currently sitting atop Group A, each with 10 points from four games.

During Monday night's action, Yilmaz and Umut proved evenly matched, drawing 4-4 in the opening clash of Week 1.

Even though it's only the halfway point in Group A, H1dalgo, Lukas, and Mark11 face a challenging journey to catch up to the Team Gullit and RBLZ Gaming stars, who are in an optimal position to advance to the FC Pro Open Finals.

H1dalgo, a player from Somah Esports, holds the best possibility of closing the gap, having accumulated six points from his first four games in the group.

However, Umut and Yilmaz are still the strong favorites to move forward when Group A reconvenes in January.

Both players are keenly aware of their group rival's exceptional skills, with the mutual respect between the two clearly visible.

Speaking after his draw with the German player, Yilmaz - the 2023 eChampions League winner - said, "It was a crazy game, we both attacked crazy. It will always be goals if I play against Umut."

For Umut, the 2023 FIFAe Club World Cup champion, the 4-4 draw with Yilmaz accurately reflected the game's progression. After the match, he said, "Emre [Yilmaz] is one of the best, so I think a draw is okay. We're both good players."

The Round 1 clash was undoubtedly dramatic, with both players gaining the lead at different points. Umut shared his perspective on the challenge of competing against the Dutch player, and the strategies he employed to tip the scales in his favor.

He commented, "The game was crazy, I was 1-0 up, but then he was pressing me like crazy, I didn't have any chances [to score] to be honest."

He added, "It was a game of comebacks. I changed tactics a little bit...after that it went a little bit better."

Both players emerged victorious in their remaining three games, solidifying their control over Group A. Yilmaz appeared to gain confidence with each subsequent game, having admitted earlier in the evening that he tends to get nervous during "the first games [of a competition] I get nervous."

Yilmaz's form in the FC Pro Open can be partially attributed to his diligent work ethic and meticulous attention to detail, as he seemingly leaves no stone unturned.

The 20-year-old shared some intriguing insights into the preparation he and Team Gullit undertook before the tournament began - and how it equipped him to compete against the world's top players.

Yilmaz stated: "We have, every week, [training] sessions with Team Gullit, four or five sessions a week. So of course you improve at your game, you improve mentally, physically, everything."

According to the Dutch player, he gleans lessons from each of his losses and painstakingly analyzes his opponents to understand their superior strategies during a match.

Yilmaz explains, "If I lose a game in the Pro Open then I watch it back to see what he does better than me - and then I copy his play-style."

Thus far, things are going well for Yilmaz and Umut, who are now on the brink of reaching the FC Pro Open Finals scheduled for February next year.