Clash Royale League Report

esports journalism and editorials by Zachary James

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Going on Indefinite Hiatus

I don’t know when I’ll be coming back to this project.

I will let you know if I start working on something else, though!

I really appreciated all the support and love you all gave me. You guys are great.

See you around!

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Clash Royale Team Spotlight: Cloud9

Founded in 2012, Cloud9 boasts an impressive roster for multiple esports, fronting teams in games such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, H1Z1, Hearthstone, League of Legends, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Rocket League, and Super Smash Bros: Melee, among others. For those of you visiting from my other blog, Overwatch League Report, Cloud9 is also known for owning the Overwatch League team London Spitfire.

On April 3, 2018, Cloud9 was announced as one of the eight North American teams in the newly announced Clash Royale League. On April 14, Cloud9 offered more details regarding their plans for their newly formed CRL team. Cloud9′s Clash Royale coach was revealed to be none other than Erick “ERICK” Benamu, who had been a two-time Royale Premiere League* Championship winning coach and captain.

Cloud9′s players include Collin “CMcHugh” McHugh and Christopher “Trainer Chris” Reyes, who worked closely with ERICK during the SXSW Super Magical Cup. Both players placed in the Top 4 for said Magical Cup, and have consistently placed in the highest rankings for all in-game 15k tournaments.

Cloud9 seems optimistic regarding the upcoming Clash Royale League, having expressed excitement for both the amateur combine and the official season start in August.

Given the strength of their team and their overall success across a myriad of esports, you can expect Cloud9 to be a strong contender in the upcoming CRL. If anything, Cloud9 is a team to watch both during the recruitment stage and during the actual season.

I reached out to Cloud9 for a statement, but they have not responded at this time.

Zachary out!

*An unofficial predecessor to Clash Royale League.

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Clash Royale Team Spotlight: 100 Thieves

100 Thieves is a relatively new face to esports with a volatile history given their short lifespan. 100 Thieves was established in April 2016 by veteran Call of Duty champion Matt “NaDeshot” Haag, who originally wanted to create a clothing brand with the name. 100 Thieves’ initial focus was on Call of Duty, but when their inaugural team ultimately placed near last in their first tournament, the entire team was disbanded.

100 Thieves’ next esport of interest was Counter Strike: Global Offensive, where the organization planned to participate in the game’s 2018 ELEAGUE Major tournament. However, the organization officially disbanded the team before it ever competed. 100 Thieves claimed roster and visa issues had kept the team from coming together in the way that they’d hoped.

100 Thieves’ major success is their League of Legends team, which was fielded for the Spring 2018 North American League of Legends Championship series with help from the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

On April 3, 2018, 100 Thieves announced themselves as one of the first eight North American teams in the opening season of the Clash Royale League. On May 10, 2018, 100 Thieves announced they’d hired a new General Manager for their as-of-yet unannounced team.

I reached out to 100 Thieves for a statement, but they have not replied at this time.

Zachary out!

If you are a fan of esports, be sure to check out my other journalism blog, Overwatch League Report!

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Clash Royale Team Spotlight: NRG Esports

NRG Esports made their debut when the co-owners of the NBA team Sacramento Kings purchased both a League of Legends team and a competition spot for the 2016 Spring North American League Championship Series. NRG Esports went on to win 5th overall in the competition, securing their reputation as an esports organization to be reckoned with.

NRG Esports has only continued to grow since their formation, forming rosters for CS: GO, Dragon Ball FighterZ, For Honor, Fortnite, Hearthstone, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros, and Smite, among others. NRG Esports may be best known for their Overwatch League team the San Francisco Shock, which debuted for OWL’s inaugural preseason in December of 2017.

NRG leadership includes names and faces not traditionally associated with the world of esports. Some of these leaders include Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez, Marshawn Lynch, and Shaquille O’Neal.

On April 3, 2018, NRG Esports was announced as one of the first eight North American teams in the opening season of the Clash Royale League. Their current roster includes Buzby “Hazard” Robb and Alessio “Guanek” Grancagnolo.

I reached out to NRG Esports for a statement, but they have not replied at this time.

Zachary out!

If you are a fan of esports, be sure to check out my other journalism blog, Overwatch League Report!

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Clash Royale Team Spotlight: Team Solomid

Operating out of Los Angeles, California, Team Solomid is best known for its League of Legends team, which has consistently proven to be a powerhouse in that sphere of play.

Team Solomid, also known as TSM, was first created as a League of Legends fan site in 2009. Following two years of growth and the announcement of the Riot Season 1 Championship, Team Solomid founder Andy “Reginald” Dinh decided the organization should field its own League of Legends team. After their debut, TSM ultimately secured third in the championship, establishing themselves as a mainstay in that competitive scene.  In their following seasons, TSM has consistently qualified for every LoL world championship, along with the first ten North American League of Legends Championship Series.

Since their success in the realm of League of Legends, Team SoloMid  has branched out into a variety of adjacent esports, supporting teams in PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Fortnite, Super Smash Bros, and others. TSM also supports a variety of streamers and academies.

On April 3, 2018, Team Solomid was announced as one of the first eight North American teams in the inaugural season of the Clash Royale League. Though TSM’s players have not yet been announced, they are actively recruiting from the winners of the Clash Royale League Challenge.

I reached out to Team Solomid for a statement, but they have not replied at this time.

Zachary out!

Hey there! Are you a fan of Overwatch and Overwatch League? Be sure to check out my other esports blog, Overwatch League Report!

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Welcome to Clash Royale League Report!

Hello! My name is Zachary James, and this is Clash Royale League Report.

A quick little bit about me. I am an aspiring esports journalist and columnist. I also write for my other blog, Overwatch League Report, and the Overwatch news site The Omnic Post.

Supercell announced the Clash Royale League at the perfect time for me. I had already been researching different potential esports, seeking for another subject to write about so I could beef up my portfolio and prove I can write about games other than Overwatch.

Clash Royale was actually one of the esports I was already researching, having picked up the game following a recommendation from a friend. And man oh man do I love this game. I’m currently hovering in the upper echelons of Arena 10; my username is amaswatch, if you want to look me up in Stats Royale or something.

Either way, I know that the League’s official start date is still several months out, but I thought now would be a good time to start building that portfolio. I want to begin by investigating and reporting on the various organizations that have agreed to join their brands with the League. Clash does allow for a more relaxed, casual experience, so I predict many rising fans of the Clash Royale League may never have heard of Cloud9 or 100 Thieves before now.

If your first foray into the world of esports is through the Clash Royale League, then this is a good place to learn about the involved teams. And if you’re an esports veteran, maybe I can tell you something new, anyway.

Of course, I won’t just be talking about the teams. As the hype for CRL ramps up, so will the news. And I’ll be here to cover what I can.

I’m your editor, Zachary James, and I am out!