EPIC.LAN 45 may have been a competitive zenith for the event, but the community feel of the event was still evident in every aspect. While match results and VRS points were making the headlines, EPIC.LAN continued to be the home of the British scene, reunited friends and building new relationships.
Wishing to reflect that community spirit, Esports News UK asked Jon Winkle, Leyna ‘Affinity’ McQuillin, Joshua ‘Dweg’ Nathan, and George ‘Geo’ Peters a deceptively simple question: “What does EPIC.LAN mean to you?”
Jon Winkle is the Managing Director and founder of EPIC.LAN. Despite his senior position, Jon is still a visible member of the community at EPIC.LAN, overseeing the event and attending community events.
“As something I started as a hobby over 22 years ago, this weekend was an absolute highlight of my career seeing the team get the recognition that they deserve, with people paying attention to our little community event from around the world.
“EPIC.LAN has been a massive part of my life for so long and has brought me amazing experiences and the best friendships. I certainly count myself lucky to be able to do this all year round and to share that with the UK gaming and esports communities.”
Leyna ‘Affinity’ McQuillin has become the face of EPIC.LAN as a host and caster of the LAN’s recent iterations of the event. A vital part of the event, Affinity leads several of the community-focused events at the LAN, as well as playing a prominent broadcasting role.
“To me, EPIC.LAN is a chance to spend a weekend amongst friends, put on an awesome event for the community and have a load of fun doing it. The vibes this event have been amazing, and having some of the international players getting so involved in the atmosphere and community has been beyond great to see.
“I can’t wait until October to do it all again and see everyone again, until then. <3”
Joshua ‘Dweg’ Nathan is an Australian/British caster. Alongside long-term collaborator, Jamie ‘TheEternalJay’ Martin, Dweg has cast various ESL, Thunderpick, and YaLLa events this year, also casting the vital BLAST.tv Austin Major EU MRQ. Dweg is a prominent member of the Binmen Counter-Strike team who have become a fixture of EPIC.LAN.
“EPIC.LAN to me is seeing all your friends again. For me, this is the first time I haven’t competed at an EPIC.LAN since EPIC 36, which would be the sum of three years ago, so just to be able to come down here on a Saturday, catch up with old teammates, and get to hang out with people.“
“It’s what it’s all about: be connected with the local scene.“
George ‘Geo’ Peters is EPIC.LAN’s newly promoted Esports Operations Manager.
“I’ll be a bit sentimental, so I volunteered for EPIC.LAN back in 2019, for the first time that I came to EPIC.LAN, and that was my first UK LAN in general as well. I hadn’t really been in the scene at all until that time. I got welcomed in with open arms, and I was hooked straight away.
So not only for me, it means quite a lot in terms of I’ve grown through that process, I now have a full-time job in esports. I do what I love, and EPIC.LAN has helped me on that journey through there. I get to work with them on loads of fun projects now. So, from a sentimental piece, from my perspective, it means a lot.
For the scene and what we do here, not only for Counter-Strike but all the other esports or games that we host, we’re trying to give everyone the opportunity and the tools to progress themselves as well, and that’s from the players.
So Counter-Strike’s perspective, we’re trying our best to give all the players the opportunity to improve their lives, chase their dreams through their career and also all of the amazing volunteers and staff that work the events. I was one of them, and I am where I am now.
We’ve had loads of people come through the talent pipeline, through adminning, through operations and going on to do amazing things in the world of esports.
So those things really hit home, and that’s what it means to me. It’s kind of like, not to get soppy, very family-orientated, and it’s great seeing everyone come in three times a year, enjoy themselves and also go on to achieve great things in the world of esports.”
Thank you
We hope you enjoyed our EPIC.LAN 45 coverage. It was Esports News UK’s privilege to cover the event and get to represent the UK scene in the process. Until next time!
Darragh Harbinson is an esports writer specialising in Counter-Strike. He has written for Esports News UK, Esports Insider, UKCSGO, Dexerto, and Rush B Media.
