Former Toronto Ultra and Minnesota Rokkr player Ben ‘Bance’ Bance has announced his retirement from Call of Duty esports.
Following his elimination from the Esports World Cup, Bance departs the scene as one of Europe’s most successful Call of Duty players from the last decade.
The player announced his retirement on social media, sparking an outpouring of support from players and fans alike.
After departing Minnesota Rokkr in 2023, Bance competed for many notable Challengers teams, including Team WaR, Noctem Esports, and most recently Team Orchid, which scored a top 16 placement in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Outside of the Esports World Cup, Team Orchid cemented itself as one of the strongest Challengers teams in Europe. In June, the team placed fourth at the Challengers Finals, taking home $12,000 (~£8,944) in prize money.
Bance’s Career
Bance began his playing career in November 2014 during the Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare cycle. After representing the likes of Team Infused and Exertus eSports, Bance signed for Splyce in December 2015.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 would cement Bance’s place on the international stage, with his use of Specialists often making the difference between victory and defeat.
In 2016, Splyce became the first European team since 2011 to qualify for a World Championship final, finishing runner-up to eventual winners ENVY in the final.
After departing Splyce in 2019, Bance continued to compete under the banners of various organisations before becoming one of the first players to join Toronto Ultra as Call of Duty esports switched to a franchise model.
In 2021, Toronto achieved victory at the Stage 2 Major, becoming one of a handful of European players to win an event as part of a European team.
Over the past decade, Bance has continued to compete as one of Europe’s all-time greats, consistently featuring in the latter stages of tournaments. His retirement marks the end of an era, as the next generation of talent continues to rise through the ranks.
