ESI Recap: The last two months in Latin America

26 October 2018

Share

It’s not always easy to keep up with Latin America and its fast-growing esports scene. From new organisations to successful tournaments, ESI brings you our top five stories from the region in the last two months.

  1. OPTIC GAMING ACQUIRES BRAZILIAN ALL-FEMALE ROSTER

OpTic Gaming Brasil

Back in September, North American organisation OpTic Gaming announced the signing of a new Brazilian Counter-Strike: Global Offensive roster. The organisation keeps expanding its international presence and this time, OpTic decided to enter Brazil with an all-female team.

The roster continues to dominate the competitive scene in Brazil. Most recently, the roster took home the Brasil Game Cup. The all-female roster is one of the most successful in the country with multiple titles under their belts.

OpTic clearly provides a stable structure that will allow the players to continue their road to success. Brazil is a hot spot for North American teams with organisations like Team Liquid competing in the Brazilian circuit.

Whilst foreign investment improves the region overall, it also puts systemic pressure on the local organisations who need to step up their game if they wish to stay on the level of a team like OpTic Brazil.

  1. RIOT ANNOUNCES LATIN AMERICAN LEAGUE (LLA)

Early this year, Riot Games announced the merge between the Latin America North League (LLN) and the Latin America South Cup (CSL) into the new Latin American League (LLA). Based in Santiago, Chile, this new league would try to emulate the format of the NA LCS and the EU LCS.

In order to join, organisations had to show a marketing plan, plus a business and sports plan in a similar fashion to the application process for both the NA LCS and the EU LCS. The eight teams that are joining the league are as follows: 

The change doesn’t come without challenges – with most of the organisations are coming from Mexico and Argentina. Moving to a new country is far from ideal for well-established organisations that through the years have grown a following in their home countries.

Chile is now the destination in Latin America for League of Legends fans.

  1. BRASIL GAME SHOW

The biggest gaming event in Latin America came to an end on October 14. At the Expo Center Norte, over 300,000 visitors gathered to enjoy the event that included the Brasil Game Cup finals.

On stage, W7M Gaming raised the cup as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive champions. The female title went to the new team OpTic Brasil that continues to dominate the region. Encore e-Sports finished in first place in the Dota 2 final.

The Brasil Game Show had international guests like League of Legends stars Søren “Bjergsen” Bjerg, and Kevin “Hauntzer” Yarnell from Team SoloMid.

This event provided just a glimpse of the potential of esports not only in Brazil but in Latin America.

  1. PRINGLES GAMES CELEBRATION

Another major gaming event is set to take place soon – this time at the World Trade Centre in Mexico City. On November 9, over 15,000 visitors will gather for the fourth edition of the Pringles Games Celebration.

Two stages will play host to a broad variety of esports events, including the Red Bull M.E.O, and the first LATAM Fortnite tournament. Attendees will have access to the 250 gaming stations, exhibitors, and conferences.

Mexico, as one of the most populated countries in Latin America, has a fast-growing esports scene. Events like Pringles Games Celebration are bringing together the communities and creating opportunities for amateurs and professionals alike. This event keeps growing every year and without a doubt will become a reference point for the confident in a couple of years.

  1. LVP ANNOUNCES NATIONAL LEAGUES IN CHILE, PERU, MEXICO, ARGENTINA, AND COLOMBIA

The Professional League of Videogames (LVP in Spanish) announced the launching of four national League of Legends tournaments in Latin America. After the success of the Circuit of Legends, LVP decided to create national leagues in Chile, Peru, Argentina, Mexico, and Colombia.

Every league will feature eight teams competing in two different seasons. The Circuit of Legends will continue with the teams that conquer the amateur competition can move forward to the national leagues.

Latin America remains an emerging region when it comes to League of Legends but times are changing. In the 2018 World Championship, the representative of Latin America North went head to head with G2 from the EU LCS in the second round of the play-in stage. The national leagues alongside the Circuit of Legends are the first step for aspiring professional players. Nurturing young talent is the key to improve the region, and Latin America is ready for it.

Subscribe to ESI on YouTube