Esports World Cup announces new initiative, The EWC Club Program, to help teams level up and create rosters for more titles

Leading esports organisation Team Vitality is excited to announce the arrival of a StarCraft II roster within its ranks, diving into the heart of Korean esports culture and the real-time strategy (RTS) scene.

Against a challenging economic backdrop, Team Vitality shines by demonstrating its dynamism. The organisation is thriving, confirming its role as a leader and pioneer at the heart of the global esports ecosystem, while writing a new page in its history, highlighting continued and inspiring growth.

TEAM VITALITY’S STARCRAFT II ROSTER WILL COMPETE AT IEM KATOWICE 2024

The French esports club is embracing one of the most iconic and foundational titles in the esports ecosystem. Formerly known as ONSYDE, Team Vitality’s new StarCraft II roster will make their debut, donned in Vitality’s iconic colours, at IEM Katowice 2024, taking place from February 8-11th in Poland, with the goal of securing multiple titles. Each player on the roster has accumulated several individual titles in the Global StarCraft II League (GSL), with the team itself having claimed victory in every season of the World Team League until 2023.

The roster is composed of:

Kang ‘Solar’ Min-Soo – Zerg – South Korea: Solar stands out as a formidable force in the competitive StarCraft II scene. Known for his innovative playstyle and consistent performance, he has captured the admiration of fans worldwide. With an illustrious career holding multiple GSL titles as well as the most recent season, Solar has cemented himself as one of the best in StarCraft II.
Cho ‘Maru’ Seong-Ju – Terran – South Korea: Maru has established himself as a true prodigy of StarCraft II esports, with the title of youngest player to compete in GSL and winning their first televised game at 13 years old. Since his debut, Maru has consistently proven himself as a dominant force in StarCraft II esports. With numerous championships and accolades under his belt, including multiple GSL titles, Maru’s impact on the esports landscape is nothing short of legendary.
Kim ‘Ryung’ Dong-Won – Terran – South Korea: Beloved by the community, Ryung has consistently performed at the top tournaments, such as GSL and World Team League, over many years which earned him the respect of both players and fans alike. Ryung brings a wealth of experience and a strategic mindset that complements the team’s pursuit of success.
Choi ‘CranK’ Jae-Won – Team Manager – South Korea: CranK is primarily known for his career spanning several years where he showcased the hallmarks of a StarCraft II expert, using highly strategic gameplay with quick and precise decision making. Now a streamer and a coach, CranK continues to be dedicated and passionate about the game. His charismatic personality and love for the community, makes him the perfect candidate to lead the team to dominate the esports scene.
“Entering StarCraft II means associating Team Vitality with the history of global esports. It’s an iconic game that the entire esport ecosystem has grown up with. And as well as rekindling our nostalgia, it’s a great opportunity to open up to a new market as part of our international expansion. We’re going to be partnering with professionals on the scene and players with legendary status. These criteria are essential to Team Vitality’s top performance model. Together, we will work towards the success of the game and become ambassadors to recreate the craze for RTS games.” explains Fabien ‘Neo’ Devide, Co-Founder and President of Team Vitality.

“We are so excited to be partnering with Team Vitality. This is the next step for us as a team, and by sharing insights, knowledge, and resources we can take our roster to the next level and expand our reach to a global audience. Despite ONSYDE being relatively young, we have established ourselves as a dominant force in the StarCraft II scene, and with the support of Team Vitality we hope to continue claiming titles and making our fans proud.” comments Choi ‘CranK’ Jae-Won, Team Manager.

TEAM VITALITY FORGES ITS DEVELOPMENT ON THE GLOBAL ESPORTS SCENE

The launch of this team marks Team Vitality’s ongoing growth in the Asian market following its presence in Mumbai, India, with the incorporation of its Call of Duty: Mobile team in 2021.

This new roster comes at the heels of Team Vitality’s most successful competitive year in history. In 2023, its Counter-Strike team won five major circuit trophies, including the IEM Rio in April, BLAST Major Paris in May, Gamers8 in August, BLAST Fall Finals in November, and rounding off the year claiming victory at the BLAST World Final in December. These outstanding performances earned the team the title of Team of the Year at the HLTV Awards. The Rocket League team made a significant impact by winning the RLCS Spring Europe, the Spring Split Major, and the World Championship, achieving the first perfect split in the game’s history. At the end of the year, Team Vitality was honoured with the coveted title of Esports Organisation of the Year at the Esports Awards.

“Last year was incredibly successful for us, and we’re aiming to maintain the momentum this year by focusing on tier 1 games and seizing exciting opportunities. Our entry into the Asian market puts us in the cradle of esports, offering new opportunities for growth and visibility. We hope to connect with passionate new fans worldwide!” explains Nicolas Maurer, Co-Founder and CEO of Team Vitality.

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