Bwipo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bwipo
Current team
TeamTeam Liquid
RoleTop Laner
GamesLeague of Legends
LeagueLCS
Personal information
NameGabriël Rau
Born (1998-12-24) 24 December 1998 (age 23)
NationalityBelgian
Team history
2018–2021Fnatic
2022–presentTeam Liquid

Gabriël Rau (born 24 December 1998), better known as Bwipo, is a Belgian professional League of Legends player for Team Liquid of the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS). He has also played for Fnatic, where he was a member of the team that was the runner-up of the 2018 League of Legends World Championship.

Professional career[]

Fnatic[]

Bwipo joined Fnatic in January 2018 as a substitute top laner, backing up Paul "sOAZ" Boyer.[1] He did not play in his first split with the team, and Fnatic went on to win the spring split.[2] In summer, after only a week of play, Fnatic substituted out their bot laner and reigning MVP Martin "Rekkles" Larsson in favor of Bwipo,[3] citing it as Rekkles's decision due to changes in the meta.[4][5][6] Rekkles returned to his starting role on 9 August, and Bwipo returned to the bench.[7] Fnatic also won the summer split, although Bwipo played in no further games in the EU LCS.[8] Due to their victory, the team qualified for the 2018 World Championship.[9]

In 2019, sOAZ left Fnatic for Misfits Gaming and Bwipo was promoted to full time starting top laner for Fnatic.[10] In the spring season, the team placed third, behind G2 and Origen,[11] and in summer placed second, losing to G2 in the finals.[12] Due to their successful finishes, Fnatic qualified for Worlds 2019, as Europe's second seed.[13] At the World championship, the team went 4–2 in Group C, placing second,[14] and in the quarterfinals, Fnatic fell to the eventual champions FunPlus Phoenix, placing 5th-8th.[15][16]

For the 2020 season, Bwipo and Fnatic enjoyed another successful regular season,[17] reaching the finals in the playoffs once again before falling to G2 with a score of 3–0.[18] In summer, Fnatic found the same results,[19] and were again swept by G2 in the finals.[20] Due to their consecutive second-place finishes, the team qualified for the 2020 League of Legends World Championship as Europe's second seed.[21] At Worlds 2020, Fnatic placed second in their group,[22] advancing to the knockout stage where they faced Top Esports,[23] and lost in a full 5-game series, eliminating them from the tournament with another 5th-8th finish.[24]

Fnatic struggled in spring of 2021,[25] placing fifth in the regular season at 9–9,[26] and were swept by Schalke 04 in the second round of the playoffs, placing fifth overall.[27] Before the summer split started, Fnatic made major roster changes, releasing Jungler Oskar "Selfmade" Boderek,[28] roleswapping Bwipo to the jungle,[29] and adding a rookie, Adam "Adam" Maanane, in the toplane.[30] In his new role, Bwipo and Fnatic once again finished fifth in the regular season, but this time with an improved 11–7 record,[31] and in playoffs, they won four consecutive games to make the finals once again.[32] However, for the fourth time in five splits, they ended with a loss in the championship game, this time to MAD Lions.[33] Once again, Bwipo went to the World Championship as the second seed for Europe.[34] At the tournament, botlaner Elias "Upset" Lipp was unable to play due to personal reasons,[35] and without him the team went 1–5, placing last in their group.[36] For the first time in his career, Bwipo failed to advance to the Knockout Stage.[37]

Team Liquid[]

In November, after the conclusion of Worlds 2021, Team Liquid announced that they had acquired Bwipo from Fnatic, ending his four-year tenure with his original team, and moving to North America to play in the LCS.[38][39][40][41] The season started out with the Lock-In tournament, which Team Liquid won.[42] Bwipo and Team Liquid finished the regular season in first place with a 14–4 record.[43] However, they finished 3rd place in the spring playoffs, losing to both 100 Thieves and Evil Geniuses.

References[]

  1. ^ Lupasco, Cristian (2020-11-03). "Fnatic's Bwipo says he received a 3-year, $2.4 million offer from 100 Thieves in 2018". Dot Esports. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  2. ^ Goslin, Austen (2018-04-08). "Fnatic are the EU LCS champions for the 2018 Spring Split after sweeping G2 Esports". The Rift Herald. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  3. ^ Newell, Adam (2018-06-22). "Fnatic star Rekkles benched for week two of the EU LCS". Dot Esports. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  4. ^ Li, Xing (2018-06-27). "How League's crazy bot lane meta is affecting professional ADCs". Dot Esports. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  5. ^ Rekkles explains why he benched himself | FNATIC GETS SPICY Ep.3, retrieved 2022-03-16
  6. ^ Goslin, Austen (2018-07-12). "Bwipo on the season 8 meta and how it helped him start in the LCS". The Rift Herald. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  7. ^ Chang, Brian (2018-08-09). "Rekkles will return to the EU LCS for Fnatic's match against Giants Gaming". Dot Esports. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  8. ^ "Fnatic defeats Schalke 04, wins EU LCS Summer Finals". Upcomer. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  9. ^ "Worlds 2018: Meet the Teams". na.leagueoflegends.com. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  10. ^ Bishop, Sam. "Fnatic parting ways with LoL player sOAZ". Gamereactor UK. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  11. ^ Esguerra, Tyler (2019-04-14). "G2 Esports destroy Origen to win 2019 LEC Spring Split finals". Dot Esports. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  12. ^ "G2 Esports take the LEC 2019 Summer Finals trophy after an epic five-game finale". Red Bull. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  13. ^ Newell, Adam (2019-09-16). "All the Teams Qualified for 2019 Worlds: League of Legends". Dot Esports. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  14. ^ Heath, Jerome (2019-10-20). "League Worlds 2019: Group stage scores, standings, and results". Dot Esports. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  15. ^ "FPX vs FNC Recap: FunPlus Phoenix take down Fnatic in Worlds Quarters". Upcomer. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  16. ^ "FLY PHOENIX FLY — FPX WINS WORLDS". nexus.leagueoflegends.com. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  17. ^ "LEC 2020 Spring Playoffs Preview". Hotspawn. 2020-04-02. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  18. ^ "G2 Esports get the win at LEC Spring Split 2020". Red Bull. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  19. ^ "LoL Esports". lolesports.com. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  20. ^ Lupasco, Cristian (2020-09-06). "G2 Esports win eighth LEC title after sweeping Fnatic in 2020 Summer Finals". Dot Esports. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  21. ^ Newell, Adam (2020-09-07). "All of the teams qualified for the 2020 League of Legends World Championship". Dot Esports. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  22. ^ Heath, Jerome (2020-10-11). "League Worlds 2020: Group stage scores, standings, and results". Dot Esports. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  23. ^ "[Worlds 2020] The David & Goliath of quarterfinals: Fnatic vs Top Esports". InvenGlobal. 2020-10-17. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  24. ^ "[Worlds 2020] Top Esports vs Fnatic quarterfinals MVP: Karsa". InvenGlobal. 2020-10-23. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  25. ^ "FNC Bwipo: "I want my team to feel that the game is easier to win because I'm playing with them. Being the best is the byproduct of that."". InvenGlobal. 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  26. ^ Suárez, Pablo (2021-03-27). "Bwipo talks Fnatic's quarantine, victory over SK Gaming in 2021 LEC Spring Split playoffs". Dot Esports. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  27. ^ "[LEC Spring Playoffs] FC Schalke 04 Esports sweeps Fnatic out of the post-season". InvenGlobal. 2021-04-02. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  28. ^ "Selfmade leaves Fnatic for unidentified LEC foe". Reuters. 2021-05-26. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  29. ^ "Bwipo Role Swaps to Jungle, Selfmade Leaves Fnatic". Hotspawn. 2021-05-26. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  30. ^ "Adam Officially Joins Fnatic As Starting Top Laner". Hotspawn. 2021-05-25. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  31. ^ "LoL Esports". lolesports.com. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  32. ^ "Fnatic flattens Rogue 3-0, will face MAD Lions tomorrow in the finals of the LEC Summer Playoffs". InvenGlobal. 2021-08-28. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  33. ^ "MAD Lions triumphs over Fnatic 3-1 to win second consecutive LEC championship". InvenGlobal. 2021-08-29. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  34. ^ Heath, Jerome (2021-09-23). "All teams qualified for Worlds 2021". Dot Esports. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  35. ^ "Fnatic's Upset to miss Worlds 2021 Group Stage due to "urgent family matters"". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  36. ^ Heath, Jerome (2021-10-18). "Worlds 2021: Group stage scores, standings, and results". Dot Esports. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  37. ^ Esguerra, Tyler (2021-10-21). "Fnatic ended the Worlds 2021 group stage with 167 deaths through 6 matches". Dot Esports. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  38. ^ "Bwipo departs Fnatic". Fnatic. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  39. ^ Kelly, Michael (2021-11-22). "Team Liquid officially introduces Bwipo as 2022 LCS top laner". Dot Esports. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  40. ^ Parkes Ousley (13 February 2022). "Liquid Bwipo: 'I just want to be my own person. Not tied to a brand, not tied to a team. Just be me.'". upcomer.com. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  41. ^ Mateusz Miter (2 February 2022). "Bwipo on joining Team Liquid: 'I really feel like I can be myself here and strive to be a better person'". dotesports.com. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  42. ^ Baker, Thomas (2022-02-02). "2022 Lock In Champions: Team Liquid Wins Their Second Straight". The Game Haus. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  43. ^ "Team Liquid clinches top playoff spot at LCS Spring Split". sportsnaut.com. 2022-03-28. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
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