Serbian League of Legends player, Pavle ‘Yoppa’ Kostić, one of the League of Legends ESL UK Premiership’s first players, has sadly passed away due to Covid-related complications.
The top-laner had previously played with the now-defunct organisation TCA Esports in the ESL Prem, with players like support Raizins, who is now a streamer for London Esports, and Deadly, the ADC who has just left BT Excel.
Yoppa had played for a range of top teams over the years, including Giants Gaming, the academy teams of Mad Lions and Vitality, and most recently Schalke Evolution.
Sportklub also reported that Yoppa was “one of the most promising League of Legends players from our region, he was the first Serbian player who managed to climb to the first place on the Challenger ranking list of EUW servers and was among the first to play in major international teams”.
They also reported that TSM were interested in him at one point, but visa issues prevented him from signing. Yoppa also missed out on playing in the EU Masters in Leicester, UK, two years ago due to visa issues.
Yoppa impressed during his short time in the UK scene back in 2016, and in September 2016 Esports News UK selected Yoppa as our MVP of the Week for his performance as Gnar against GLB Esports:
The League of Legends community has paid tribute to Yoppa, who was aged just 23 years old, with many comments sending love and support on Twitter and Reddit.
The Balkan League tweeted out the following:
ENG
— Esports Balkan League (@FortunaEsports) November 24, 2021
Today we say goodbye to Yoppa.
Pavle “Yoppa” Kostić passed away yesterday unexpectedly due to complications caused by a COVID infection.
Rest in peace, brother.
Here are a selection of other tweets paying tribute to Yoppa:
Mad Lions UK head coach Mac said: “Tragic news to all of us at Mad, and all those who knew and played with Yoppa. My heart goes out to his family and friends, I cannot even begin to imagine their grief at losing him at such a young age. Rest in Peace. Stay safe and take care of each other.”
Deadly, the UK ADC who played with Yoppa on TCA back in 2016, added: “My first ever teammate in esports, what a legend this boy was, gone way too soon, may he rest in peace and fly high. Much love Pavle.”
Richard ‘Froomie’ Froom, interim LoL director at Verdant, commented: “Tragic news. I remember watching Yoppa play for TCA in the UK scene, and thinking he was a top quality player. He was always very respectful, and gave it his all. Taken way before his time. Such a sad loss. Rest in peace.”
“My heart goes out to his family and friends, I cannot even begin to imagine their grief at losing him at such a young age. Rest in Peace. Stay safe and take care of each other.”
Mac, Mad Lions
UK caster, host, content creator and comms exec Excoundrel said: “Spoke to Yoppa many times over the years, he was a wonderful guy and an excellent player. Can’t quite believe he’s gone. Rest in peace.”
And Peter Dun, UK head coach for Evil Geniuses, remarked: “Gifted player, great team mate, pleasure to coach and all around good guy. If not for visa complications throughout his career, would have played LEC and been one of the best. My thoughts go out to his family and friends on this sad day. Rest in peace.”
Ali Larsen, the ex LoL streamer formerly known as Gross Gore, commented: “This just breaks my heart. I remember playing with this guy on stream back in 2015.”
Jose, CEO of Giants Gaming, said: “I felt devastated today when we knew about it. Pavle was one of these special persons that make the world a better place. I can remember all my conversations with him, his ambition to grow up, his big smile. World will miss you a lot, dear Pavle. Rest in peace.”
Many other hundreds of people have paid tribute to him and expressed their condolences.
Rest in peace Yoppa.
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
