The Fearless Draft phase of the LEC 2025 Winter Split Playoffs is currently in progress, demonstrating the captivating nature of this innovative approach. With its whimsical drafts, expanded champion selections, and evolving strategies, it’s providing a true spectacle for observers—and they’re not the only ones entertained. 

Fearless Draft is a distinctive style of drafting in competitive League of Legends. It eliminates the possibility for teams to pick identical champions in back-to-back games of the same match series. This causes both players and coaches to persistently remodel their tactics, emphasizing adaptability, and wider champion options. Fearless Draft was recently introduced in the EMEA region, exclusively for the Winter Split playoffs. Still, there are arguments that its brief duration did not provide enough opportunity for maximizing its influence on both the competition and the viewing experience.

Online Esports engaged in exclusive discussions with Dylan Falco, G2 Esports’ head coach, Fabian “Grabbz” Lohmann, head coach of Fnatic, Alex “Myrwn” Pastor Villarejo, Movistar KOI’s top laner, and Martin “Yike” Sundelin, Karmine Corp’s jungler. Each expressed their respect for the Fearless Draft , emphasizing its ability to entertain fans, extend strategic depth for teams, and its overall impact on the competitive scene.

Falco shares an immediate positive outlook on the benefits of the format and advocates for its extension beyond the first few organized weeks, considering its potential for the remainder of the season. “I think it’s exceedingly positive for both the game and its viewer engagement, not to mention the vitality of the game,” Falco affirmed. He further argued that Fearless Draft not only heightens the entertainment factor for viewers but also maintains the experience “dynamic” for players and coaching staff. 

Falco continued to clarify that this approach enables competitive League to fully exhibit its strategic intricacy—which could mean selecting Teemo for the top lane, at times. By compelling teams to navigate different team compositions and adapt instantly, Fearless Draft uncovers the “multifaceted potentials and scenarios that the game can present,” based on G2’s coach’s perspective. He believes this is precisely what professional League should strive for—creating a competitive scene that tests the abilities of players and delights spectators by spotlighting the broad possibilities of the game.

GrabbZ concurs with Falco’s viewpoint, emphasizing how the current limited deployment in the LEC undervalues the tremendous potential of Fearless Draft. He is of the opinion that the minimal duration of the format reduces its impact, labeling it “unrewarding” if it only lasts for a few weeks before disappearing for the rest of the season. “Its significance is overlooked because its duration is a mere three weeks, and then absent for the whole year,” noted GrabbZ.

In addition to the lauded strategic interest that Fearless Draft brings about, GrabbZ also underscored the psychological demands it imposes upon players and coaches. Despite complaints from professionals who find the format’s unpredictability disconcerting—especially for those limited in their champion selection—he maintains that adaptability is a crucial asset at this level of professionalism. “As a professional player, you need to be agile and adapt to this as a team,” he stated. Despite these concerns, GrabbZ remains a strong supporter for broader adoption of the format, hoping that Riot recognizes its merit and officially integrates it into upcoming Splits from this year onward.

Movistar KOI’s top laner Myrwyn didn’t shy away from proclaiming Fearless Draft as “the future of competitive League.” Similarly, KDC’s jungler Yike demonstrated a distinct excitement to Dot about how Fearless Draft is rejuvenating the competitive realm.

“It’s not going to be the same old monotonous champions every game,” commented Yike, highlighting how the format disrupts teams from becoming ensnared in repetitious drafts. Other KC members are aligned with Yike’s viewpoint, particularly their mid-laner, Vladimiros “Vladi” Kourtidis, who is looking forward to showcasing his champion “ocean,” as Yike portrayed it.

Support for Fearless Draft is voiced by coaches and players from some of the EMEA’s most formidable teams, emphasizing that it’s clear many parties feel Fearless Draft warrants an immediate spot in the LEC. 

Although it’s unlikely their appeal will result in action being taken in 2025, the resounding endorsement for Fearless Draft could drive Riot to integrate the format into all tournaments during the following year.

The post LEC Players and Coaches Demand Fearless Draft in Each Split appeared first on Esports Guides and Esports News.

An unexpected twist occurs this week, when a former Fortnite professional player shares a video of his apparent abduction – which looks to be a staged marketing ploy for a betting website.

Once a Fortnite World Cup champion, David “aqua” Wang earned the 2019 title after coming top in the Duos category. Recently, indications suggest Wang has teamed up with the disputed betting website CSGOEmpire to enact a bogus kidnapping on X (formerly Twitter), apparently intended to draw attention and sell cases within CSGO.

Now active on Kick, Wang went off-grid on social media early in December. The ex-champion intermittently uses X for Fortnite related content, hence his two-month absence did not instantly set off any red flags.

The commotion initiated just past mid-February when CSGOEmpire’s official X account published a picture, supposedly having “kidnapped” someone bound to a chair. Surprisingly, it appears to be Wang, who is currently playing along to promote the company’s cases unwillingly.

Days after CSGOEmpire shared the fabricated kidnapping image, Wang reinstated his X presence with his own video, showcasing the partnership while seeming apprehensive and frightened. In this video, an unidentified man looms behind a blurred-out Wang conveying the partnership details, imbuing an unsettling atmosphere.

On top of the sham abduction and endorsement, Wang’s account also posted a racial epithet in response to one of CSGOEmpire’s tweets. The controversial tweet created by the betting site “celebrated” Black History Month while deploying numerous detrimental and disrespectful stereotypes.

Responding to the unfolding scandal, an X user rebuked all those implicated: “Labeling these tweets as a ‘kidnapping’ implies you are either a part of CSGOEmpire’s shabby social media campaign or you are naive. Come on, man.”

Captivating as it is, Wang isn’t the only contentious figure in this episode. CSGOEmpire, a hotly disputed organization, has found itself at the center of serious scandals previously. Enraged “protestors” stormed the stage during the PGL Major in Copenhagen the previous year, causing disruption and damaging the trophy. Traces pointed to CSGOEmpire as the mastermind behind the chaos, aiming to discredit G2 Esports.

The uncovered truth led to an immediate withdrawal of many teams and casters from the CSGOEmpire’s $50,000 Cup, slated right after the PGL Major event. The furor culminated in the cancellation of the event and an subsequently tarnished reputation for CSGOEmpire. Interestingly, one of the protestors, now appearing behind Wang in the promo videos, has further accentuated the stunt as a company-backed ploy to grab eyeballs and generate buzz.

“Just when we assumed CSGOEmpire couldn’t get more awkward and embarrassing for the Counter-Strike fraternity, they shift focus to Fortnite,” another X user posted in response to a post summarizing the events. Fortunately, Fortnite caters to a younger crowd than CSGO and wouldn’t facilitate betting over their in-game items in the popular battle royale.

Undoubtedly, this marketing strategy seems reckless, risky and utterly disrespectful, and yet it seems like the two involved parties intend to maintain the charade as they persist with this bizarre faux kidnapping saga.

The post Ex-Fortnite World Cup Champion Faces Backlash for Racial Insult and Gambling Promotion appeared first on Esports Guides and Esports News.

Mel is a new addition to the League of Legends champion line-up. However, one of her abilities has surprisingly caused a top player to restart the game. 

After the success of Arcane, Mel Medarda was added to League with a unique ability, Rebuttal, which creates a reflective barrier around her. This can be utilized against a variety of abilities to trap the opponent, but can also be self-destructive. Even the acclaimed esports star, Faker, was caught off guard in his recent match at the LCK Cup 2024 against HLE. This marks the first-time Mel has been picked in a professional esports league match.

Faker started the game strong by evading an enemy gank and scoring first blood. However, using Rebuttal led to his first death in the match. Zeka’s Sylas used the Abduct ability on Faker while under the tower. Often, Sylas’ E ability lets him dash forward and cast chains on enemies to close the gap for his combo.

But Faker triggered Rebuttal as Sylas was using Abduct ability, pulling him under the enemy tower, instead of Sylas. HLE seized this opportunity and quickly finished him with their jungle and support characters. Many Mel players usually use Rebuttal against all incoming projectiles due to its small cooldown, but it can have negative ramifications, as Faker experienced in a live match. 

Contrarily, using Mel’s Rebuttal isn’t always beneficial, sometimes it can make the champion vulnerable to basic abilities like Sylas’ E. Theoretically, the ability can pull enemies towards her like the hooks of Blitzcrank, Pyke, etc. But Sylas is an exception because he does not pull his enemy towards him, but does the opposite. 

As of now, Mel’s performance in solo queue is not impressive, yet Riot is planning some specific nerfs to balance her for ranked play. 

Renowned bug analyst, Vandril has studied the champion’s Rebuttal against 188 abilities, including the interaction with Sylas E. Apart from her reflective ability, Mel is prone to certain exploits, one of which can even forcibly disconnect and stall the enemy team’s server. 

Next time when you play as Mel and aim to rank up, remember to watch out for Sylas picks. The Unshackled can not only rob your ultimates but can also turn your abilities against you.

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]]> https://onlineesports.com/esports/doublelift-assembles-all-star-league-of-legends-team-for-a-shot-at-lta-title/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=doublelift-assembles-all-star-league-of-legends-team-for-a-shot-at-lta-title Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:25:06 +0000 https://onlineesports.com/esports/doublelift-assembles-all-star-league-of-legends-team-for-a-shot-at-lta-title/ Doublelift, the multi-time LCS winner, is forming a star-studded North American team for the minor leagues, aiming to compete in the LTA. His objectives for the League of Legends team were outlined during his recent livestream. Confirming the rumors, the ex-LCS ADC has built a team that will participate in the forthcoming NACL open qualifiers [...]

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Doublelift, the multi-time LCS winner, is forming a star-studded North American team for the minor leagues, aiming to compete in the LTA. His objectives for the League of Legends team were outlined during his recent livestream.

Confirming the rumors, the ex-LCS ADC has built a team that will participate in the forthcoming NACL open qualifiers on March 1. Spica and Biofrost, his former TSM teammates, Pobelter, his previous Team Liquid colleague, and TF Blade, a streaming personality, make up his team.

Doublelift explained why he chose TF Blade in a recent live stream. According to him, the streamer’s talents, his wide fanbase, and his controversial persona will generate more interest in their games.

Doublelift’s hope is that his team will successfully compete in the LTA for content creation reasons. Doublelift, however, stated that even if his team surprisingly made it to the LTA, he does not intend to return as a pro player given the professional gaming lifestyle. He left it uncertain if a replacement player would be recruited in his place should they qualify for the LTA.

Doublelift also reached out to Tyler1 to be a part of the team. The notorious streamer has recently been involved with the World of Warcraft community as a member of the Onlyfangs guild. Despite this, Doublelift confirmed that he contacted Tyler1, who initially ignored him but later responded, stating that he had only just returned to League and was wary of potential embarrassment on his part.

Only time will tell how well Doublelift’s dream lineup performs in the NACL open qualifiers. Stay tuned on March 1st for updates.

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]]> https://onlineesports.com/esports/analyzing-the-top-contenders-and-underdogs/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=analyzing-the-top-contenders-and-underdogs Thu, 16 Jan 2025 15:28:39 +0000 https://onlineesports.com/esports/analyzing-the-top-contenders-and-underdogs/ Brace yourselves for the 2025 EMEA Winter Split of the League of Legends series which has already begun, introducing a refreshing round of exhilaration for the championship. The updates include refreshed lineups, a Noxian Summoner’s Rift map, and, for the first time in the region, a Fearless Draft, which has the fans looking forward to [...]

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Brace yourselves for the 2025 EMEA Winter Split of the League of Legends series which has already begun, introducing a refreshing round of exhilaration for the championship. The updates include refreshed lineups, a Noxian Summoner’s Rift map, and, for the first time in the region, a Fearless Draft, which has the fans looking forward to the event.

The Winter Split got underway on January 18, combining an interesting mix of up-and-coming stars with established players in a unique format. This is due to a tripartite competition format crafted to reward continuous performance and flexibility. Each team will compete in a best-of-one regular season leading to a double-elimination playoff designed to highlight the region’s best talents. With strategic depth reaching an unprecedented level and roster moves altering the meta, the 2025 Winter Split may signal the start of a fresh European dynasty or the rebirth of one from the past.

Rank	Team
S	G2 Esports, FNATIC, Karmine Corp
A	Team Vitality, Movistar Koi, Team BDS, Team Heretics
B	Rogue, GIANTX, SK Gaming

The apex predators

G2 Esports

In the LEC, G2 Esports has remained a powerhouse over the years, known for its revolutionary tactics and supremacy, and its 2025 Winter Split roster upholds this tradition.

The top lane continues to be led by BrokenBlade, whose versatility and ample champion repository provide the team stability across any meta. However, G2 waved goodbye to Yike and welcomed SkewMond in the jungle. SkewMond received praise for his smart course plotting and creative play in the ERLs and is among the newest additions to LEC in this split, taking up the mantle as one of the biggest attractions. Caps, arguably the league’s most decorated mid laner, remains one of the team’s pillars, having a history of delivering game-changing performances. In the bot lane, we have a new pair in Hans Sama and Labrov. Together, they form a formidable bot lane duo, with the potential to dominate through lane play and teamfight execution.

This year, the team is guided by head coach Dylan Falco who is joined by Memento. Given its history of success and a mix of proven and fresh talent, G2 is poised to vie for the Winter Split championship.

Fnatic

Fnatic’s 2024 season saw its share of highs and lows, culminating in a commendable performance in the Summer Playoffs. This year, Fnatic sets its sights on building on its past performance, hoping to secure its first title in seven years.

The top lane continues to be anchored by Oscarinin whose stellar performance under pressure and ability to adjust to a variety of match-ups make him a critical player in Fnatic’s lineup. With his proactive early game plays and his capacity to dictate match pace, Razork, who continues to operate in the jungle, plays a crucial role in creating opportunities for the team to turn games to their advantage. Paired with Humanoid’s razor-sharp decision-making in the mid lane, Fnatic’s mid-jungle duo is expected to be a force to reckon with. 

But arguably the most exciting aspect of Fnatic in this split is its bot lane pair: Upset and Mikyx. Upset is regarded as one of Europe’s finest AD carriers when it comes to mechanics, and together with Mikyx’s focus on teamfighting, this duo is anticipated to be one of the most feared adversaries in the league. Under the guidance of coaches GrabbZ and Gaax, this team symbolizes Fnatic’s deliberate attempt to restore their position as a top contender. 

Karmine Corp

In spite of not matching up to the high standards set by their regional dominance in their LEC debut season in 2024, Karmine Corp’s 2025 roster is designed to turn this narrative around.

Canna continues to hold up strong in the top lane, demonstrating formidable laning phases and using his split-pushing skills to potentially elevate KC’s standing. Yike, who was previously part of G2, now leads the jungle for KC, bringing his smart pathing, goal management and team-centred early game play. Vladi provides a consistent presence in the mid lane, complementing the team’s overarching strategy.

In the bot lane, Caliste finally gets his much-anticipated debut in the LEC. Having built up his reputation as a standout performer in the LFL, Caliste has for long been anticipated as one of the most promising ADCs in Europe. Collaborating with Targamas, a seasoned supporter known for facilitating aggressive bot laners, the duo holds the promise of making a significant impact.

Boasting of the highly-anticipated debut of Caliste and Yike’s jungle mastery, the team is equipped with the raw skill and strategic backing to make an immediate impact in their opening LEC Split of the season.

The in-betweeners

Team Vitality

The mid-tier teams always tend to be the most fascinating when it comes to any sports’ Power Rankings. This is because, theoretically, these teams have the capability to surprise the top dogs and challenge for extended playoff runs and even the trophies themselves. Conversely, despite their vast potential, they might also end up underperforming. This year, Team Vitality embodies this description perfectly.

Hylissang and Carzzy, the bot lane duo, have won several trophies, including repeated appearances at international events under their belt. This adds to the explosiveness of the younger generation—Czajek, Lyncas and Naak Nako—who can learn from and lean on the experienced pair if things don’t pan out as expected. All three have proven their worth in the LEC by raising their game in the EMEA Masters.

Vitality has great potential and could easily constitute the top competition this year. However, if problems arise, the season could end prematurely for the team.

Movistar KOI

Movistar KOI is carrying forward the momentum from 2024. The team has rebranded itself from MAD Lions KOI, but the primary players and objectives remain largely unchanged—apart from one. Their new mid laner superstar is jojopyun, the first North American player to step on to the LEC turf and a considerable upgrade from the team’s former player, Fresskowy.

Apart from this, the team has kept its original lineup intact. KOI is betting on long-term growth and their strategy is quite logical. Last year, MAD Lions KOI finished third in the season finale, which qualified them for Worlds. Although their international performance was not up to the mark, the experience they gained was invaluable, serving as a cornerstone for their success in 2025.

BDS

Looking at Team BDS on paper may not seem overly interesting, but they possess the right ingredients. As they step into 2025, the team maintains two of its best players from the previous season, nuc and Ice. The latter is joined by Parus, a 21-year-old multiple trophy holder. The rookie in this lineup is 113, who has already earned respect for his accomplishments. The roster is completed by Irrelevant, an LEC expert who would be a worthwhile addition to any mid-range LEC team.

BDS can’t be described as flashy. Although they have raw talent and experience, it doesn’t seem to be enough to disrupt the competition. But this is also what makes them one of the strongest dark horses. Liberated from the burden of expectations, BDS can find their own way and surprise everyone. But without an initial impression of their composure and skill, they cannot be ranked higher than sixth.

Team Heretics

Just like BDS, going into 2025, Heretics also presents an intriguing roster. The organization acquired Sheo from BDS, who is considered one of the better late-blooming junglers in the competition, and they are continuing their collaboration with Flakked, yet another experienced and stellar performer. The remaining three roles are filled by rising talent, posing the question: Quo vadis, Heretics?

It must be noted, however, that all the three new players in the Heretics’ lineup have the skills to arouse interest. Carlsen, Stend and Kamiloo appear talented but their full potential remains to be discovered. 

The questions in everyone’s minds are: who will take the lead in this Heretics roster, how will they handle pressure, how will they develop a common language for competing in LEC, and whether the rookies will be able to surmount the hurdles that come with the territory of high-level play. As impatient as we may be for the answers, we might get answers in due course. Until then, we cannot assign them a higher rank without seeing proof of them succeeding on the Rift.

Climbing against the odds

Rogue

After a disappointing performance in 2024, changes to Rogue’s lineup were inevitable. Yet, while modifications have been made, it remains to be seen how well these new players will blend into the team.

Larssen has been the constant in Rogue, with the player signing up for another campaign. The mid-laner will reunite with Malrang, who returns to the team after an unsuccessful stint in Brazil. Rogue is hopeful that the Malrang-Larssen duo will be able to boost their ranking after finishing among the bottom two throughout 2024. The wildcard for this team is Adam, a controversial player, to say the least, who is capable of carrying his team to victory on his good days. The pitfall for “on his good day” players, however, is that they also come with their share of negative traits. This team appears to be a rushed assembly, and it remains to be seen whether Rogue can avoid a repeat of the 2024 pitfalls.

GIANTX

Of this lot, if there’s any team that could surprise everyone and ascend the rankings this season, it’s undoubtedly GIANTX. Retaining a mix of experienced talent and emerging stars might just get them a favorable balance.

GIANTX managed to bag Fnatic’s former bot lane duo Noah and Jun, who, albeit inconsistent, demonstrated that they could compete for titles. Closer is back with the team after half a year with Karmine Corp. There is a promising player in him somewhere, and this fresh team might just be able to play around him and reignite the prowess of the player who was once among North America’s finest junglers. GIANTX might well have gotten a strong start in the LEC, but the concern is whether they can bring it together when it counts.

SK Gaming

Following a rollercoaster ride in 2024, SK Gaming needed a complete overhaul and carried it out. Unfortunately for fans, this overhaul excluded Irrelevant, one of the more notable top laners in the LEC, who moved to BDS. With Irrelevant off to BDS, Reeker moved in the opposite direction, marking his return to the LEC after his time with MAD Lions

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]]> https://onlineesports.com/esports/evo-unveils-complete-2025-event-and-game-schedule/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=evo-unveils-complete-2025-event-and-game-schedule Wed, 15 Jan 2025 15:24:28 +0000 https://onlineesports.com/esports/evo-unveils-complete-2025-event-and-game-schedule/ A wealth of details about Evo’s 2025 schedule of events has been unveiled, including game rosters, award ceremonies, and upcoming previews. The Evo 2025 season commences on Feb. 15 with the debut Evo Awards, an addition to the Evo yearly schedule which honors the FGC. 21 unique categories are up for grabs, ranging from traditional [...]

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A wealth of details about Evo’s 2025 schedule of events has been unveiled, including game rosters, award ceremonies, and upcoming previews.

The Evo 2025 season commences on Feb. 15 with the debut Evo Awards, an addition to the Evo yearly schedule which honors the FGC. 21 unique categories are up for grabs, ranging from traditional awards such as Player or Moment of the Year to more lighthearted ones like Best Button, showcasing the best moves of specific characters in chosen games.

Evo Last Vegas, the main event, is slated for Aug. 1 to 3. Enrollment for the event is now open, with the following games highlighted on the primary stage:

• SNK’s Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves 
• Cygames’ Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising 
• Arc System Works’ Guilty Gear -Strive-
• Capcom’s Marvel vs Capcom 2 
• Warner Bros. Games’ Mortal Kombat 1 
• Capcom’s Street Fighter 6 
• Bandai Namco Entertainment’s TEKKEN 8 
• Arc System Works’ Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes 

“We have been redefining and enhancing the Evo experience as the largest global fighting game festival,” said Rick Thiher, Evo’s General Manager, in a press statement issued to Online Esports. “This year, we’re thrilled about welcoming new games and expanding our competition lineup, our arcade offerings, introducing new artists, and showcasing community programming that encapsulates fighting game culture at every part of the event.”

Evo also shocked fans by announcing a new format to the usual show, by providing an extensive tournament lineup beyond the eight main stage games for even more competitive fun. Games featured include Aether Studios’ Rivals of Aether II, SNK’s The King of Fighters XV, Arc System Works’ Blazblue Centralfiction, and Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2. Further games will be confirmed subsequently, promising the most diversified Evo event yet.

Evo seems to be targeting a broader audience by featuring all these games. Games that might not have made the selection this year still have a chance of shining during the event’s numerous activities.

Further details have been revealed for Evo Japan, taking place from May 9 to 11, although the game selection and many other details are yet to be decided. However, Evo management confirmed that the event will host two five-on-five tournaments featuring STREET FIGHTER III 3rd STRIKE -Fight for the Future- and Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. Evo’s European debut is scheduled for Oct. 10 to 12 in Nice, France, and there are plans to extend to Singapore in 2026, allowing more regions globally to join the fray.

With much in store, Evo is keen on continuing its international expansion, promising more information about its busy 2025 schedule to be unveiled soon.

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]]> https://onlineesports.com/esports/vitality-strengthens-cs2-roster-with-inter-grand-slam-and-major-champion/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=vitality-strengthens-cs2-roster-with-inter-grand-slam-and-major-champion Sat, 11 Jan 2025 03:15:09 +0000 https://onlineesports.com/esports/vitality-strengthens-cs2-roster-with-inter-grand-slam-and-major-champion/ The trading period in Counter-Strike 2 is gradually winding down, with Vitality securing one of the most significant signings to date. The group made public their acquisition of ropz today, who parted ways with FaZe Clan at the start of the year. This corroborated the speculations that had been circulating on social media over the [...]

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The trading period in Counter-Strike 2 is gradually winding down, with Vitality securing one of the most significant signings to date.

The group made public their acquisition of ropz today, who parted ways with FaZe Clan at the start of the year. This corroborated the speculations that had been circulating on social media over the past weeks. Given that Vitality benched Spinx earlier and ropz’s departure from FaZe, his signing seemed inevitable—and now it’s confirmed.

Despite being just 25, the Estonian CS2 player ropz brings a wealth of experience to the team. During his tenure with his former teams, FaZe and MOUZ, ropz won multiple awards, including the Intel Grand Slam Season 4, PGL Major Antwerp 2022, IEM Cologne 2022, IEM Katowice 2022, several ESL Pro Leagues, and many others. He also played in two Major finals with FaZe this year, but were runners-up to Natus Vincere and Team Spirit.

Ropz is undoubtedly a phenomenal rifler, making this new Vitality lineup even more formidable. He joins the ranks alongside ZywOo, flameZ, mezii, and apEX.

As for FaZe Clan, they have already secured EliGE as a substitute for ropz. The organization made this switch known on January 9th, marking the American pro’s first venture with a European team.

Fans will not have to wait long to see Vitality’s new lineup in action. The team is set to participate in the BLAST Bounty 2025 Season One that kicks off on January 14th. Additionally, they will commence their journey at IEM Katowice 2025 just days after.

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]]> https://onlineesports.com/esports/for-the-first-time-in-history-iem-katowice-2025-will-include-a-female-cs2-team/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=for-the-first-time-in-history-iem-katowice-2025-will-include-a-female-cs2-team Fri, 10 Jan 2025 03:13:28 +0000 https://onlineesports.com/esports/for-the-first-time-in-history-iem-katowice-2025-will-include-a-female-cs2-team/ The start of the year often indicates the time for IEM Katowice in the Counter-Strike 2 schedule. However, the 2025 tournament will be unique as it will involve a female team for the first time. The team in question is Imperial fe, a European all-women CS2 squad, currently holding the 23rd spot in Valve’s ranking. [...]

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The start of the year often indicates the time for IEM Katowice in the Counter-Strike 2 schedule. However, the 2025 tournament will be unique as it will involve a female team for the first time.

The team in question is Imperial fe, a European all-women CS2 squad, currently holding the 23rd spot in Valve’s ranking. This is the list used by ESL to delegate the 24 invites for the competition. IEM Katowice 2025 is set to be a milestone in CS history as it will be the first time that a solely female team will participate in the ESL Pro Tour’s Championship Event. Though they are new to the tournament, they’re seasoned players in the gaming industry.

Imperial fe has been invincible in the ESL Impact series, a series of all-women Counter-Strike tournaments. They’ve won all the eight LAN events held so far. Besides their ESL supremacy, they’ve been the top contenders in other women’s competitions, clinching the championship at Fragster Summer Vibes FE 2024.

Were it not for one regulation, Imperial fe would not be the only women’s squad at IEM Katowice 2025. FURIA fe qualifies for the competition as they rank 24th on Valve’s list. However, only one team per organization can participate in Katowice. Perhaps unsurprisingly, FURIA chose their men’s team who are presently 10th on Valve’s list to compete in Poland with hopes of winning the title.

The Play-in stage of IEM Katowice 2025 will kick off on Jan. 29, followed by the main stage commencing on Feb. 1. Team Spirit will be aiming to retain their title and are entering the competition on a high after capturing the Perfect World Shanghai CS2 Major trophy in December.

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]]> https://onlineesports.com/esports/dates-and-locations-for-international-league-of-legends-tournaments-in-2025-2026-and-2027/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dates-and-locations-for-international-league-of-legends-tournaments-in-2025-2026-and-2027 Thu, 09 Jan 2025 03:11:53 +0000 https://onlineesports.com/esports/dates-and-locations-for-international-league-of-legends-tournaments-in-2025-2026-and-2027/ The developer behind League of Legends, Riot Games, is increasing their international activity in 2025 by introducing a new tournament named The First Stand. The company has just disclosed details regarding their global events for the present and next two years. League enthusiasts have always expressed their desire for more international participation. Hence, the announcement [...]

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The developer behind League of Legends, Riot Games, is increasing their international activity in 2025 by introducing a new tournament named The First Stand. The company has just disclosed details regarding their global events for the present and next two years.

League enthusiasts have always expressed their desire for more international participation. Hence, the announcement of a new international tournament was welcomed enthusiastically and now the company is unveiling more information for the coming years.

With these details from Riot, fans can start penciling dates on their calendars and possibly gear up for their League journeys during the next three years. The developer on Jan. 8 announced the venues and schedules for all three international events till 2027, along with other game-related announcements.

LoL tournament details for 2025, 2026, and 2027

Unfortunately, only the schedules for this year’s events, excluding Worlds, are available at the moment. This is expected as event dates usually become definitive just a few months in advance.

The locations for the upcoming international competitions are known. The majority of them will be taking place in the four main League regions: Europe, North America, China, and South Korea. Additionally, the tournaments will also reach Brazil and Southeast Asia. Below are all the known details.

Name of the Tournament	Location	Date
The First Stand 2025	LoL Park in Seoul, South Korea	March 10 to 16
MSI 2025	Vancouver, Canada	June 27 to July 12
Worlds 2025	Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu in China	TBD
The First Stand 2026	Brazil	TBD
MSI 2026	South Korea	TBD
Worlds 2026	North America	TBD
The First Stand 2027	Southeast Asia	TBD
MSI 2027	Europe	TBD
Worlds 2027	South Korea	TBD

Based on Riot’s pattern of announcing international League event details, additional information about the 2026 and 2027 events isn’t expected this year. However, this advanced announcement is a first for the developer, hinting at more surprises in store.

The introduction of Fearless Draft in 2025

In 2025, the esports landscape will be reshaped with the inception of the Full Fearless Draft, wherein all champions used in the earlier matches of a best-of-series are barred.

This feature is set to make its entry in Split One in several regions this year and will also be seen in action during the First Stand. Enthusiasts are hoping for its wide-spread usage in all domestic and international tournaments, given the wide variety of champions in the game.

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]]> https://onlineesports.com/esports/listing-black-ops-6-cdl-operator-skins-from-best-to-worst/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=listing-black-ops-6-cdl-operator-skins-from-best-to-worst Wed, 08 Jan 2025 03:10:07 +0000 https://onlineesports.com/esports/listing-black-ops-6-cdl-operator-skins-from-best-to-worst/ New skins for the 2025 Call of Duty League are currently available in Black Ops 6 and Warzone, as a preview of what to expect from the forthcoming competition with respect to in-game merchandise. Each of the 12 teams has its unique bundles in the game store, retailing at $11.99. These bundles come with a [...]

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New skins for the 2025 Call of Duty League are currently available in Black Ops 6 and Warzone, as a preview of what to expect from the forthcoming competition with respect to in-game merchandise.

Each of the 12 teams has its unique bundles in the game store, retailing at $11.99. These bundles come with a variety of customization items such as emblems and camos that can be utilized in BO6 or Warzone. However, the primary attraction for most players could be the operator skins, which would uniquely identify their characters in the game. These are the same skins that the CDL professional players will use in this year’s matches.

Before deciding to purchase a bundle (apart from the one for your favorite team), it’s crucial to know which operator skins are the most popular even before the actual online or LAN competition begins. Below are our rankings of the best and worst skins in the game.

Ranked BO6 CDL skins

12) Toronto Ultra

What’s Ultra’s game plan? Having a somewhat dull branding and color scheme is one thing but creating a skin to match it? The skin could have been more creative, especially with the coloring on the straps and mask. This is utterly basic.

11) Vegas Falcons

Talking about basic, greetings to the Vegas Falcons. The only reason why this skin hasn’t hit rock bottom (just like their team standings at the time of writing this review), is that we chose to cut them some slack for being newbies in the league. This, however, doesn’t excuse Ultra from their poor effort.

10) Miami Heretics

Miami has incorporated most of its branding from the city’s NFL’s Dolphins, but none of the uniform’s creativity. It seems as if someone just threw in some orange and a JPEG of the team logo and said to themselves, “that’s it, let’s explore South Beach.”

9) Los Angeles Guerrillas M8

Gotaga’s GentleMates took over the LA Guerrillas, but it’s disappointing that the team didn’t adopt the organization’s French fashion sense. However, I applaud them for being one of only two home skins that predominantly don’t use black as the main color.

8) Atlanta FaZe

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