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Spanish player Antonio Espinosa Bejarano, aka Th3Antonio, has announced he is stepping down from professional competition in League of Legends esports.
Born in Badalona in 1999, he became a prominent figure in Spanish esports and well-known within Spanish/UK esports organisation GiantX, having played for the organisation since 2017.
He ends his player career and begins a new phase as a content creator and ambassador for GiantX. And starting in 2025, he will provide the official LEC co-stream from Berlin, offering commentary on competitions through his channels.
GiantX said in a press release that his career ‘has established him as one of the most celebrated players in the history of esports in Spain’.
Th3Antonio shared his reasons for retiring in a video, where he explained that he explored options in the LEC but ultimately decided that retirement was the best choice.
“I explored my options in the LEC, but nothing came up.” he said.
“I had options in the Superliga, but honestly, what are the chances of playing Superliga and then getting another shot in the LEC? I don’t think it’s likely. So I had two choices: either Superliga or retirement.”
Th3Antonio, GiantX
“I could play in Superliga, but it doesn’t motivate me. Competing is about reaching the top, and in Superliga, the highest goal is winning the EMEA Masters. That’s fine, but I wanted to play in the LEC.”
GiantX will maintain its connection with Th3Antonio, who will now focus on streaming for the organisation.
With a community of over 700,000 followers, mainly from Spain and Latin America, Th3Antonio has also found success as a content creator.
The news comes after GiantX promoted Th3Antonio to their LEC team earlier this year, following the benching of Peach and Odoamne.
José Díaz, co-CEO of GiantX, commented on his departure: “Antonio’s decision is understandably sad; he’s been with us for a long time. But I believe he needs to keep building his personal brand because he has a lot of potential. He’s someone who entertains people. There’s no doubt about that for me.
“I think this is a step he needs to take in his career, and we’re very happy he’s doing it and continuing with us.”
David Alonso, GiantX’s esports director, highlighted Th3Antonio’s impact and explained the club’s strategic changes: “We want to scout players through data because we’re very good at it and have a system that sets us apart from other clubs in Europe.
“To become the next G2 or Fnatic, we need to recruit the next generation of stars like BrokenBlade, Yike and Caps. We focus on young talent and players who are very dedicated.”
David Alonso, GiantX
After competing in the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC), one of his main goals, Th3Antonio helped to elevate GiantX’s performance and bring them closer to the world stage, the org said.
Nationally, Th3Antonio won four Spanish championship titles and came close to winning a fifth Superliga. His achievements include two Iberian Cups, one Copa, and a runner-up title in the European Masters, along with several MVP awards.
Th3Antonio’s career began in his teens, debuting in the Superliga at age 16 with PAM. Shortly afterward, he joined GiantX, then known as Giants, and has maintained a strong connection with the club since 2017. This collaboration has marked a milestone in Spanish esports, with Th3Antonio solidifying his place as the most successful player in the club’s history.
Related article: Could we see an LEC 2025 event in the UK? We ask Riot
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.
