EXCEL Esports co-founder and current Los Ratones General Manager, Kieran Holmes-Darby, will be taking part in Love is Blind UK Season 2.
The UK-based gaming entrepreneur will appear on the Netflix dating show, which airs on the streaming platform from August 13th, 2025.
Alongside his brother, Holmes-Darby founded EXCEL ESPORTS in December 2014. Over the next nine years, the organisation would cement its place as one of Europe’s biggest esports organisations, competing in several esports titles including Fortnite and Call of Duty.
In 2018, the organisation became a franchise partner of the newly rebranded League of Legends European Championship (LEC). In 2022, EXCEL recorded its best result, finishing second in the LEC Summer Split.
2023 saw EXCEL merge with Spanish organisation Giants Gaming, creating the GIANTX brand which continues to compete in the LEC. Outside of League of Legends, GIANTX also competes in VALORANT as part of VCT EMEA.
Following the merger, Holmes-Darby left the organisation and has since become the General Manager of Los Ratones, a League of Legends teamed owned by former EXCEL player Marc Robert ‘Caedrel’ Lamont.
In addition to his role with Los Ratones, he became the Business Director of Ear to the Ground, a creative agency focused on the sports, entertainment and gaming sectors.
What Is Love Is Blind?
Love is Blind is one of Netflix’s most popular dating shows. The first season of the UK edition reportedly recorded over 40m views during its opening week on the streaming platform.
Season 2 sees 30 men and women seeking a relationship, with the aim of getting engaged without seeing each other. After meeting and navigating daily life, couples decide whether they’re ready to get married.
Holmes-Darby isn’t the only member of the esports industry to take part in Love is Blind. Season 1 saw Sam Klein, former Head of Design at Gfinity, take part in the show.
