TEAM VITALITY ACCUEILLE UNE NOUVELLE ÉQUIPE SUR STARCRAFT II BASÉE EN CORÉE DU SUD ET POURSUIT SA CROISSANCE À L’INTERNATIONAL

TEAM VITALITY WELCOMES NEW STARCRAFT II TEAM BASED IN SOUTH KOREA AND CONTINUES INTERNATIONAL GROWTH

  • Team Vitality enters a new phase of its international development by partnering with ONSYDE, a South Korean team on StarCraft II.
  • The roster consists of athletes Kang "Solar" Min-soo, Cho "Maru" Seong-ju, Kim "Ryung" Dong-won, and coach Choi "CranK" Jae-won.
  • Their first major competition under the Team Vitality colours will begin at the Intel Extreme Masters Katowice on February 8.
  • This partnership is part of the internationalization phase of the Parisian club, which wishes to continue its success at the global level. Together, ONSYDE and Team Vitality want to continue writing the history of esports, and share common ambitions.

Paris, February 1, 2024: Team Vitality, a French esports club with international influence, is pleased to announce the arrival of a new roster within the club: StarCraft II, for a dive into the heart of Korean esports culture and RTS.

In a demanding economic context, Team Vitality shines by demonstrating its dynamism. The organization thrives, confirming its role as a leader and pioneer at the heart of the global esports ecosystem. While writing a new page in its history, it highlights continuous and inspiring growth.

TEAM VITALITY'S STARCRAFT II TEAM TO PERFORM AT IEM KATOWICE 24

The organization is opening up to the game that is both a founding and iconic part of the esports ecosystem. The former ONSYDE team will play for the first time under the colors of Team Vitality at the IEM Katowice 2024, which will take place from February 8 to 11 in Poland, with the goal of winning as many titles as possible. Thus, each player on the roster has several individual titles to their credit from the Global StarCraft II League (GSL). The team has won every season of the World Team League until 2023.

Roster composition:

  • Kang “Solar” Min-Soo – Zerg – South Korea: Solar is a formidable force in the competitive StarCraft II scene. Known for his innovative playstyle and consistent performances, he has earned the admiration of fans around the world. With an illustrious career that has seen him win multiple GSL titles and the most recent season, Solar has established himself as one of the best players in StarCraft II.
  • Cho “Maru” Seong-Ju – Terran – South Korea: Maru is a true StarCraft II esports prodigy. At 13 years old, he became the youngest player to compete in the GSL and won his first televised match. Since his debut, Maru has continued to prove himself to be a dominant force in StarCraft II. With numerous championships and accolades under his belt, including multiple GSL titles, Maru’s impact on the esports landscape is nothing short of legendary.
  • Kim “Ryung” Dong-Won – Terran – South Korea: Ryung has consistently competed in major tournaments such as the GSL and World Team League for many years, earning him the respect of players and fans alike. Ryung brings a wealth of experience and a strategic mindset that complements the team’s quest for success.
  • Choi “CranK” Jae-Won – Team Manager – South Korea: CranK is known for his career as a professional StarCraft II player. He used highly strategic gameplay combined with quick and precise decision-making. Now a streamer and coach, CranK continues to be dedicated and passionate about the game. His personality and love for the esports community make him the perfect candidate to lead the team to the top of the competition.

“Entering StarCraft II means associating Team Vitality with the history of global esports. It is an iconic game with which the entire esports ecosystem has grown. And beyond reviving the nostalgia that is in us, it is a great opportunity to open up to a new market as part of our internationalization. We will form a partnership with professionals from the scene and players with legendary status. These criteria are essential to suit Team Vitality's top performance model. Together, we will work for the success of the game and become ambassadors to create excitement for RTS games.” explains Fabien 'Neo' Devide – Co-Founder and President.

“We are thrilled to partner with Team Vitality. As a team, this is an important milestone. By sharing our ideas, knowledge, and resources, we can take our game to the next level and expand our reach to a global audience. Although ONSYDE is relatively young, we have established ourselves as a dominant force in the StarCraft II scene. With the support of Team Vitality, we hope to continue winning titles and making our fans proud,” said Team Manager Choi ‘CranK’ Jae-Won.

TEAM VITALITY FORGES ITS DEVELOPMENT ON THE GLOBAL ESPORTS SCENE

The launch of this team marks Team Vitality's continued growth in the Asian market since its presence in Mumbai (India) and its Call of Duty: Mobile team, incorporated in 2021.

This new roster comes on the heels of Team Vitality’s most successful competitive year in history: in 2023, its Counter-Strike team won five major circuit trophies, including IEM Rio (April), BLAST Major Paris (May), Gamers8 (August), BLAST Fall Finals (November), and BLAST World Final (December). These exceptional performances earned the team the title of Team of the Year at the HLTV Awards. Meanwhile, the Rocket League team made its mark by winning the RLCS Spring Europe, Spring Split Major, and World Championship, achieving the first perfect split in the game’s history. At the end of the year, Team Vitality was awarded the coveted title of Sports Organization of the Year at the Esports Awards.

“Last year was incredibly successful for us. And we want to keep the same momentum: focus on tier 1 games and seize great opportunities. Our arrival on the Asian market immerses us in the cradle of esports by offering us new opportunities for growth and visibility. We hope to be able to reach new passionate fans around the world!”, explains Nicolas Maurer, co-founder and CEO.

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