Esports News UK editor Dom Sacco looks back on Ruddy‘s run, and ahead to the League of Legends EMEA Masters Spring 2024 Main Stage.
Ruddy gave us something to remember in Play-Ins – they’ve shown it’s possible to build a strong fanbase as a grassroots UK org
As an Arsenal fan and follower of UK teams in League of Legends since the dawn of the old ESL Premiership, I’m used to being let down in the latter stages of European tournaments by teams I care about, whether it’s esports or football.
This week, Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich (time is a flat circle ffs), and UK esports org Ruddy failed to progress to the EMEA Masters Spring 2024 Main Stage.
But you know what? It didn’t bother me this time. In fact, I felt buoyed and positive, not sulky or disappointed. Let me explain why.
Maybe it’s because I’m an old man in esports terms, but I care much more about the journey these days than the destination. I’d much rather have fun along the way following my football club and UK esports teams.
With Arsenal, I can see the project we’re building, and flashes of excellence. With Ruddy, it’s similar, but most importantly, it’s just good fun. Ruddy pulled off a miracle run in the NLC with Built, NattyNatt, Alix, Silkysmath and justcan.
Plus, the volatility, the spontaneity of DonJake and co keeps us guessing – and there’s a thrill to that.
Catching a couple of Jake’s co-streams for the play-ins were proof of this. Random songs, impromptu teamtalks from big names like Carzzy (as well as players like Maxlore also popping up in the Ruddy Twitch chat), and those Lisan-Alix Gaib Dune meme chants focused on star mid-laner Alix to name a few. Not to mention, Jake’s crazy interviews with pro players.
Ruddy get the LoL esports community, and this in turn gets them the LoL esports community.
Ruddy have shown that yes, it is actually possible to generate a passionate fanbase as a grassroots UK esports org.
In my eight or nine years covering UK League of Legends, I don’t think I’ve seen a team galvanize the community quite like Ruddy.
I was chatting to someone the other day and Ruddy came up in conversation. I asked them what they thought of Ruddy, and they said they liked them but thought they were immature.
I’m glad they can come across a bit immature at times. This is esports, this is video games, it’s supposed to be about having fun.
But look behind the veil too.
Ruddy know exactly what they’re doing. There’s maturity and intelligence there, but it’s buried beneath layers of humour and absurdity. I’m all for it – and I’m ruddy ready to see the next stage of their journey.
Ruddy Up.
EMEA Masters Spring 2024 Main Stage prepares to kick off as teams are confirmed
The play-ins are over, and four teams have progressed to the Main Stage: Nigma Galaxy, Geekay Esports, Gentle Mates and Boostgate Esports.
Now, 16 teams will be battling it out across four groups from Friday April 19th 2024.
The UK’s remaining team in the tournament, Lionscreed, who won the NLC Spring 2024 Division 1 playoffs, will be in Group D:
The Main Stage teams are:
Group A
- Besiktas Esports
- Geekay Esports
- Los Heretics
- Zero Tenacity
Group B
- Boostgate Esports
- Dsyre
- Karmine Corp Blue
- SK Gaming Prime
Group C
- Guasones
- Nigma Galaxy
- Papara SuperMassive
- BDS Academy
Group D
- Orbit Anonymo
- Eintracht Spandau
- Gentle Mates
- Lionscreed
Broadcast talent confirmed for EMEA Masters Spring 2024
They are as follows:
- Archarom (host, Portugal)
- Eragon (caster, UK)
- Hysterics (caster, Australia)
- Initialise (caster, UK)
- Solari (caster, Russia)
- Troubleinc (caster, Greece)
- Veteran (co-streamer, UK)
Several of these names are experienced in the NLC and higher-tier LEC, and will no doubt make the EMEA Masters another entertaining broadcast.
UK caster Nymaera misses out this time due to conflicting schedules, after casting three of the last four finals.
Archarom said: “Finally I can let you all know. I’ll be the host for EMEA Masters spring. Took one year off to rebuild as a person, NLC believed in me again, and now I’m in Paris to host such a big event. No matter how far you fall, get up again, it’s always on you to rise above the clouds!”
Veteran commented: “I will not be casting EMEA Masters this split. That’s because after acquiring the costreaming rights for nine ERLs, streaming every day of ERL action for a year, and partnering with NLC for Play-Ins… I did it. I will be the official English co-streamer.”
Solari said: “I’m not crying, okay yes I am. I am casting EMEA Masters Spring. Screaming, shaking, it was merely a dream just a couple weeks ago… love it when dreams come true! See you on both Groups days, bring love and polskagurom!”
Initialise said:
“Grateful and excited to be working on EMEA Masters again – it’s a hell of a team and I cannot wait to get on the mic!”
Initialise
Eragon said: “Back for EMEA Masters! Excited to work with all these legends and for the Hystagon duo cast debut.”
Troubleinc remarked: “So happy to continue highlighting ERL talent and teams! Even more with this amazing group of people! Year four.”
Hysterics said: “Learning about the building blocks of EU.”
The EMEA Masters Spring 2024 Main Stage gets underway at 3.30pm BST on April 19th on the EMEA Masters Twitch channel.
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.
