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Why are there so many British Rocket League Players?
Rocket League is swiftly becoming one of the most popular esports games out there. One thing that has become clear is just how many British and North American players there are in the scene, when they are conspicuously all but absent from other games including Dota 2 and CS:GO.
They’re not playing in the minor leagues either. In fact, there were several English players taking part in the Rocket League World Championships, though not necessarily for British orgs. Taking part in these tournaments goes to show just how important these players are to the scene.
Introducing the players - who to watch
Fans may already be familiar with the names but let’s face it, a player’s nationality isn’t really the most important thing to look out for in their career. It’s all about who can land those skills shots and ultimately, get the wins for their team. However, taking a look into their history can tell you a lot!
ApparentlyJack
Jack Benton has been active in the Rocket League scene since way back in 2019. He’s come all the way from D-tier tournaments to competing in Majors and at Worlds last year. After competing first as a coach, ApparentlyJack has gone on to play for Gen.G Mobil1 Racing and fans can catch him at the Rotterdam Major in early December.
rise.
rise. is one of the most successful British Rocket League players out there, having won the Spring Split Major in London back in July this year. He’s only been playing for European team Moist Esports since May, but he’s certainly made a big impact on the team and will be hoping to take his second Major win in Rotterdam.
archie
archie is one of the younger players on this list but nonetheless successful. At only 17, he’s already been an active player since 2018 and made a name for himself at various orgs. This season, fans can see him playing for Oxygen Esports following an announcement in October.
But why are there so many?
While it is certainly no bad thing that players from the UK are getting so heavily involved and playing for the top Rocket League teams in the world, the question remains why Rocket League and not other popular esports? It may simply be a case of the popularity of the game. CS:GO is consistently the game with the highest viewership numbers across their tournaments and competition is fierce.
While Rocket League is gaining popularity all the time, it is perhaps a little easier to break into the game at this point. Similarly, the presence of university tournaments and leagues can certainly involve a broader range of players from different cities and backgrounds.
It’s not just the UK
While the likes of Call of Duty and CS:GO are immensely popular in the US, again there are surprisingly few players when compared to other countries. However, the US is consistently putting forward the most players for international Rocket League tournaments. We can only hope there is more to come from British Rocket League players, as well as American and beyond!
Image source: Liquipedia
