Wild Rift: G2 Blacklist drop players, coach months after failing to qualify for WRL
G2 Blacklist had two chances to qualify for Wild Rift League Asia but came up short in both.
Filipino League of Legends: Wild Rift team G2 Blacklist announced on Tuesday (16 May) that they have parted ways with Jairus Allain "Jace" Elgera, Richard "Demon" Lara, Allen Dean “Don” Viola, and coach Keiya "XDXP" Laureta two months after the team failed to qualify for the Wild Rift League (WRL) Asia.
The G2 Blacklist team was announced back in mid-February to much fanfare as the result of a landmark partnership between Filipino esports powerhouse Blacklist International and global esports giant G2 Esports.
But despite all the hype arond the squad, G2 Blacklist failed to qualify twice for the WRL Asia, the biggest remaining esports league in Wild Rift.
G2 Blacklist's first chance came during the WRL Asia's Philippines qualifier, where they were one of two teams directly invited to its second phase.
G2 Blacklist finished the qualifier in fourth place, losing in the first round of the upper bracket to The 300 before getting knocked out by FENNEL in the lower bracket. FENNEL would notably go on to qualify for WRL Asia alongside Nigma Galaxy.
G2 Blacklist's second chance was in the WRL Asia's Last Chance Qualifier, where they competed against teams from all across Southeast Asia and received a bye to the upper bracket quarterfinals. However, they were quickly knocked down to the lower bracket by fellow Filipino team NAOS Esports.
G2 Blacklist were able to get through the first two rounds of the lower bracket before getting knocked out by a familiar foe in The 300.
NAOS Esports would notably go on to win the Last Chance Qualifier and become the third Filipino team competing in WRL Asia alongside Nigma Galaxy and FENNEL.
The departures of Jace, Demon, Don, and XDXP from G2 Blacklist came two months after the WRL Asia Last Chance Qualifiers ended on 5 March.
Only Karl Ken "Karlll" Bautista, Jhon Mike "Xyliath" Tungol, Beaver-ed "Orthros" Villanueva, and head coach Hans "WUrahhhh" Solano remain on the squad.
G2 Blacklist thanked its departing players and hinted at future developments within the team in a statement.
"We want to thank [our departing players] for their contributions and their time as they became part of G2 Blacklist. We wish them the best of luck as they take the next step in their esports careers. Please stay tuned for future announcements about the G2 Blacklist Wild Rift team. Agents and the G2 Army, please look forward to what we have in store. Thank you!," said G2 Blacklist.
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