RQ Utrecht: Squirtle is two-time champion and king of Riftbound in Europe

Pedro «Squirtle» Bañeres has won the Regional Qualifier in Utrecht, claiming the second RQ title of his career and becoming the first back-to-back European champion in Riftbound's young competitive history. Repping Team Micelion, Squirtle came through the Swiss with a flawless run and, in the final, took down Rednaxxel's Viktor with his Azir — the archetype that has become his signature.

The second-ever two-time champion in Riftbound history

With the Utrecht win, Squirtle joins an exclusive club: he is the second player ever to win two Regional Qualifiers. The first was Alanzq, who triumphed in Bologna and then in Vancouver — the story we covered in our piece on the RQ Vancouver final. Now Bañeres stands alongside him, but with a record all his own: his two titles came one after the other on European soil. To get your bearings among the decks dominating these events, take a look at our competitive meta Tier List.

The finalAzir tames Rednaxxel's Viktor

The closing act of RQ Utrecht pitted two of the format's most talked-about Legends against each other: Squirtle's Azir, Emperor of the Sands versus Rednaxxel's Viktor, Herald of the Arcane. Bañeres managed the pace of the game better than his opponent, building his plan turn after turn and taking home the series for the title. On the podium, third place went to CTCG Collin K with Sett, rounding out a Top 8 that confirmed the variety of the current meta.

Back-to-backFrom Lille to Utrecht: Azir's European dominance

The detail that makes this title special is the consistency. Squirtle had already been crowned champion at the RQ in Lille, again with Azir, Emperor of the Sands, and in Utrecht he repeated with the same archetype. Two consecutive Regional Qualifiers in Europe, the same Legend, the same winner: a level of consistency that's rare for a game still this young, and proof that long-term strategic planning — more than any single play — is rewarding Riftbound's top players.

Want to try the championship list? You can rebuild an Azir control deck in our Deck Builder and test it before the next tournament.

What's at stakeWhat it's really worth: Regional Championship invites and the road to Worlds

RQ Utrecht, held at the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, the Netherlands, put a $25,000 prize pool on the table, with $6,000 earmarked for the champion. But the real prize is competitive: the top finishers earn a Regional Championship invite and one step closer to the first Riftbound World Championship in history. For Squirtle, already qualified and now a two-time champion, that means heading into the international events as a favorite.

While we wait for the next big events, you'll always find the community tournaments on our site to practice and put the lists seen at the highest levels to the test.

Sources: official announcement from Riftbound Organized Play (#RQUtrecht) and the All Eyes on Utrecht event page by Riot Games. Reporting and adaptation by the Riftbound Zone editorial team.