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| (Image Source: eSports Insider/Blacklist International/G2 eSports) |
Blacklist International has announced its partnership with globally-renowned eSports organization G2 eSports, and kicking off the said partnership is the launch of G2 Blacklist, a co-branded team that is starting to compete in the League of Legends: Wild Rift eSports scene, operating out of the Philippines. Blacklist has also unveiled the official roster of players who will be representing them in League of Legends: Wild Rift tournaments. G2 Blacklist consists of Jairus Allain “Jace” Elgera (Jungle), Jhon Mike “Xyliath” Tungol (Midlane), Richard “Demon” Lara (Dragon), Beaver-ed “Orthros” Villanueva, (Support/Captain), and Allen Dean “Don” Viola (Sub/Baron). Meanwhile, Hans “WUrahhhh” Solano will serve as the Head Coach and Keiya “XDXP” Laureta will serve as the Assistant Coach.
As the official eSports division of Tier One Entertainment, Blacklist International aims to establish itself as the leading destination for the world’s top esports athletes. To achieve this goal, the company has prioritized forming partnerships with top-notch organizations that share its vision and have a proven track record of fielding championship-winning teams. The Berlin-based G2 eSports fit that bill perfectly. G2 has a demonstrated ability to assemble championship contenders across popular titles such as League of Legends, CS:GO, and Rocket League. G2 eSports Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alban Dechelotte comments, “We’re combining the best of the East and the West to take a new eSports competition by storm. As two major winning organizations, the G2 and Blacklist partnership is one that was created with big ambitions. Blacklist is a winning team, full of successful people that have helped them dominate the mobile esports market. Asia is where Wild Rift is set to succeed and we wanted to be part of it and bring a G2 team to our fans in the region.”
Blacklist International has already made significant waves in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) and Call of Duty Mobile (CODM) spaces. With G2 looking to capitalize on the exponential growth of the mobile eSports market in Southeast Asia, it is a no-brainer that they would select Blacklist International as their partner to build a team for the Wild Rift League Asia – the new focal point for Riot’s mobile eSports strategy. Tier One Entertainment CEO Tryke Gutierrez said, "G2 Blacklist is a '1 + 2 = 4' type of partnership. Two of the most popular and competitive teams in their respective regions working together is something truly special. I think this is a game-changer not just for Wild Rift eSports, but for the industry as a whole. Alongside G2, we’re looking forward to bringing the Blacklist International brand to new audiences around the world.” The partnership is supported by a collaboration with world-renowned Philippine street artist Juanito “Quiccs” Maiquez for a bespoke and exclusive art piece. On top of that, Tier One Entertainment and G2 aim to launch a brand new series from Tier One Studios called The Bootcamp which will document the journey of the Wild Rift squad.
G2 Blacklist made its Wild Rift eSports debut at the Phase 2 Qualifiers of Wild Rift League (WRL) Asia on held last February 17, 2023. The WRL Asia Qualifiers for League of Legends: Wild Rift League are structured into three regional leagues catering to Vietnam, the Philippines, and Southeast Asia (SEA). In the initial stage, each league will host 16 teams, with the top two progressing to the next phase. Additionally, two teams will receive direct invitations to participate in Phase 2 for each regional league, making a total of four qualified teams. The victor and the second-place finisher in the Qualifiers will secure their places in the major event – the WRL Asia 2023 Season 1, which is slated to occur in April.
