Team Groove Wins Round 2 of Universe League

The second round of the 'Universe League' concluded with Team Groove emerging victorious. The fifth episode of the SBS global boy group audition program aired on December 20, revealing the final rankings of the second round, which also marked the first elimination in the competition.

In the earlier match between Team Rhythm's main members and Team Beat's bench, Team Rhythm initially gained the upper hand. Following Team Beat's main performance of 'MAMMA MIA (WHO WE ARE)', Team Groove's bench took the stage.

The face-off between Team Beat's main member Cha Woong-ki and Team Groove's bench member Jang Kyung-ho attracted significant attention. The two had previously been part of the group TO1 but now share a strained relationship. Jang Kyung-ho expressed his disappointment, stating, "When we were in the team, everything was good, but now it feels like Woong-ki is avoiding me. There were really good memories between us."

Team Groove's bench performance showcased a mature interpretation of the song, contrasting with the youthful vibe presented by Team Beat's main members. This difference in interpretation led to Team Groove's bench claiming victory, resulting in Team Beat's main members losing the song.

Upon realizing their defeat, Cha Woong-ki broke down in tears on stage. His emotional response prompted both Team Beat and Team Groove members to comfort him. Jang Kyung-ho expressed his support, saying, "I want to tell Woong-ki that he did well," before giving him a hug.

In the next match, Team Groove's main members faced off against Team Rhythm's bench with the song 'Prison', prepared by director Lee Chang-seob. During a mid-check, Lee advised Team Groove's main members to focus on their vocals, even highlighting Kenta's abs as a secret weapon against Team Rhythm's bench. Kenta's performance captivated the audience from the start, and the high notes from Park Han and Kim Gi-jung received praise.

In contrast, Team Rhythm's bench emphasized performance, incorporating complex choreography and showcasing Shirin's strong vocals as the song's anchor. Director Lee Chang-seob nodded in approval at Team Rhythm's well-prepared 'Prison' stage.

Ultimately, Team Groove's main members secured the win. Despite the loss, Team Rhythm's director Ten praised his bench members, stating, "You did really well. I have no regrets. The result isn't everything," which created a warm atmosphere.

The final scores from the live voting were then revealed. Team Groove topped the chart with 516 points, followed by Team Rhythm with 344 points, and Team Beat with 328 points. However, the final rankings would still depend on online voting, keeping the tension high.

In the online voting, Team Rhythm dominated with a staggering 516 points, bringing their total to 860 points. Nevertheless, Team Groove managed to secure 369 points in the online voting, resulting in a final score of 885 points, allowing them to maintain their first-place position for the second consecutive round. Meanwhile, Team Beat ended up in third place with a total of 643 points, resulting in them receiving six yellow cards.

Individual online voting results were also disclosed, with Kenta from Team Groove taking first place, followed by Jang Kyung-ho. For Team Rhythm, JL ranked first, with Zhang Shuai Bo in second. Although Team Rhythm received three yellow cards, fortunately, no one was eliminated. Additionally, Cha Woong-ki from Team Beat achieved the highest individual score of 41,870 points, ranking first overall. However, the joy was short-lived as five members from Team Beat faced elimination, leading to emotional farewells.

As a benefit, Team Groove, as the first-place team, received two trade rights, while Team Rhythm received one. Director Lee Chang-seob of Team Groove released members Zenzen and James, bringing in Shirin and Park Joo-won from Team Rhythm. Meanwhile, Team Rhythm's directors Yang Yang and Ten released Jin Ziming and recruited Kim Dong-yoon from Team Beat, completing their new lineup.

The contestants are set to dive into the third round of the league. Under the new rules, players will be selected by the directors to perform, regardless of whether they are main or bench members, leading to the possibility of some players not taking the stage. This internal competition within the teams is expected to create a sense of surprise and tension among the contestants.

'Universe League' is a survival program produced jointly by SBS and F&F Entertainment, following the league format. It is the second season of 'Universe Ticket', which created the global girl group UNIS.

The mission songs for the second round, 'IGNITION', 'MAMMA MIA', and 'PRISON', will be officially released on December 21 at 6 PM on various music streaming sites.