This month’s issue came a little later than usual, partly due to the festive period and partly due to the fact that we put together the inaugural Unite GrassrootAwards.After several painstaking hours, I finally put together a video dedicated to showcasing appreciation and gratitude towards various members of the Unite community globally. From GaMa the Tournament Director of Unite to Jirota the manager of the Champions of Unite 2024. It was a unique piece of content that showcased the largest contribution from the Unite community…ever. If you haven’t watched it yet, head over to our Youtube channel.
Besides this, INGAGE is also hosting the first ever EUIC Bootcamp in the upcoming month of February. I remember last year getting messages from various pro-players asking for a place to practice before the tournament, even asking for 5 monitors and a good Wi-Fi connection…Well everyone, this year INGAGE will deliver, (not the 5 monitors) but an entire gaming space courtesy of GiantX Gaming. If you haven’t shared this news with your friends, do so! What a unique opportunity!
ABOUT THE WRITERS
Shivam aka Ketchum09S is a Tournament Organiser/Producer/Observer and Ghatlue's Manager. He is currently working for Unity Clash (Founder, Head & Head of Production), BattleHub (Admin) & INGAGE (Esports Journalist & Magazine Editor).
Hey everyone, I’m Yash aka TheBossYash. I am currently working as a Community manager in INGAGE and as a Tournament Admin/Moderator for UniteBattleHub, I Moderate for over 10+ streamers and Manage over 5+ Discord Servers. I also am a Proud Ambassador of The Young Vision Magazine and have written over 60+ articles.
SMASH LAN TOURNAMENT
INGAGE hosted its first local tournament in London during this festive period. The Winter Showdown was a Super Smash Bros Ultimate tournament set in the FLVRS Lounge in Walthamstow. During the frosty winter month, a heated clash ensued between smash regulars duking it out in a double elimination format.
The event ended with a grand final reset with Theo the Young Link main defeating the best Terry main in the UK: DarkStalker. From the outset many had predicted these two combatants to reach the finals, its no surprise they were seeded as #1 and #2 respectively. A big congratulations to both of them for winning the prize money on the day.
Other special appearances were made by Pokemon Unite Streamers: SpartanTano, ThatGamerTej and T1NZ! It was nice to see the UK INGAGE team work together, this time not in a digital sense.
Excitement is building for the upcoming EUIC (European International Championships) in London, and we have incredible news for all participating Pokémon UNITE Teams. INGAGE, in collaboration with GIANTX, is hosting a state-of-the-art bootcamp at their headquarters in London. This unique opportunity is designed to help teams sharpen their skills, strategize, and connect with their fans like never before. Here are all the details you need to know:
Written by @Ketchum09S
INGAGE EUIC BOOTCAMP
A Warm Welcome to London
We’re thrilled to host you in our city and are committed to making your EUIC experience unforgettable. Whether you’re here to win, stream, or simply engage with the community, this bootcamp is your gateway to success.
Join us, and let’s see who’s serious about claiming victory at the EUIC.
Sign Up Here: Click Here
The bootcamp will be held on a weekday leading up to the EUIC at GiantX’s headquarters in London.
Spaces are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Teams interested in this exclusive opportunity must register to secure their spot. As of now, seven teams have already reserved their interest, so act quickly!
Are you a Pokémon Unite or VGC content creator attending the EUIC? Stay tuned—special opportunities are in the works for you as well. More details will be announced soon.
For teams looking to make the most of this experience, early bird bootcamp packages are available until January 10th. Don’t miss out on this cost-effective way to enhance your EUIC preparation.
The UNITE community is thrilled as INGAGE unveils the first-ever UNITE Grassroots Awards 2024, a landmark event celebrating the talent and dedication of grassroots gamers. Collaborating with prominent tournament organizers like Unity Clash, Underdunk, LG Server, PEMAK, Unite Mics, Regional Communities and more, the awards—announced on December 31, 2023—have sparked excitement among players, casters, streamers, and fans, who eagerly voted to honor the community's finest in various categories.
UNITE Grassroot Awards
An Australian caster and a Worlds Championship commentator for both 2023 and 2024. Kelosaurus casts a lot of Grassroots Tournaments & EU Regional Caster for Monthly Cups of UCS
Favourite Caster of the Year
WINNER: Kelosaurus
UNITE Grassroot Awards
Best Production of a Tournament
Winner: Unity Clash
Unity Clash excelled in Production since their first tournament in January 2024 with Multiple Broadcasts and became everyone’s favourites
Favourite Tournament Organiser
Winner:
Unity Clash
Unity Clash started Organising in January 2024 and have hosted 5 Tournaments around the World in West & Asia and also the European League
Favourite Grassroot Player
Winner: Gohan
A standout Supporter Player for YATAGARASU, champions of the December Cup in the Latam South Unite Championship Series.
UNITE Grassroot Awards
Favourite Emerging Caster of 2024
Winner: SteelAgentKyle
Began casting in 2024, lending his voice to tournaments like Unity Clash, BattleHub, Indigo League & also hosts Underdunk Tournaments!
Favourite Streamer of the Year
Winner: Ghatlue
Renowned streamer and member of Nouns Esports. Ghatlue is a Pro Player and a Full Time Streamer & Content Creator! He usually plays SoloQ and 5Stacks
Favourite Content Creator of the Year
Winner: CrisHeroes
Cris is a Pokemon UNITE Content Creator with most views and mainly focusing on Streaming and publishing Content with 150K+ Subs
UNITE Grassroot Awards
Favourite Grassroot Team
Winner: Gen 5
Gen5 is an European Team with all French Players in the Team with very good record in Past Tournaments. They were runner ups in Aeos Cup Play-ins & December Cup
Favourite Player: Japan
Winner: PYI
Player for Fennel, they won the World Championships in 2024 and also participated in Japan ACL
Favourite Grassroot Team
Winner: Version 1
Version 1 is a North American Team. They also participated in the Indigo League. They got Top 13 in December Cup
UNITE Grassroot Awards
Favourite Player: APAC
Winner: Shingdii
Player for Alter Ego, he has attended Worlds in 2023 & 2024 with Orangutan and Shinn & Rouday
Favourite Player: Brazil
Winner: BabyMazo
Mazo is one of the most famous Brazil Player for DreamMax Esports! They played for XIS Brazil, OO Nation and Legacy in 2022, 2023& 2024 and attended Worlds
Favourite Player: OCE
Winner: Suluwu
Suluwu is a Player for Bruff Esports! They attended Aeos Cup in 2024 with Antic Esports and also attended Worlds
Written by @Ketchum09S
UNITE Grassroot Awards
Favourite Player: India
Winner: AllMight
AllMight is a Player for S8ul Esports. He is the oldest member of his team since 2022. He qualified for Worlds 2023 & 2024
Favourite Player: Europe
Winner: Ghatue
Ghatlue is a Player for Nouns Esports. He has been with Nouns since 2022. They became 8 Times Europe Champion and got 2nd at WCS 2022 & 7th in WCS 2024
Favourite Player: NA
Winner: Overlord
Overlord is a North American Player for Luminosity Gaming. He won Worlds 2 Times in 2022 with BLACKHAND & 2023 with LG
Written by @Ketchum09S
UNITE Grassroot Awards
Favourite Player: LATAM South
Winner: Tempo
Tempo is a Player for FUSION, one of the Stongest teams in 2024. His team got 4th at WCS 2024
Favourite Player: LATAM North
Winner: AnySus
AnySus is a Player for Team Ego. He is a very active player in the scene and got 3rd Place in December Cup
The Awards Ceremony was Hosted by Doobsnax, WCS Caster.
The Ceremony brought together a lot of Organisers and Community Leaders, including: GaMa, Lobo, SpartanTano, AllMight, Fu, Kyle, Ghatlue, Magical, ZOINKS, Pemalex, Shivam [Unity Clash], Lordy [Underdunk], Jirota [Jiro Cup], BlackCH [LG Server], Berty [PH Community], Rosander [Observer]
The UNITE Grassroots Awards 2024 have set a new benchmark for celebrating the passion and talent within the gaming community. With its resounding success, the stage is set for an even brighter future for grassroots competitions. Congratulations to all the winners and participants!
Written
Shake Ups in UNITE Esports
The December Cup of the Unite Esports Championship Series delivered shocks and surprises across all regions, showcasing the evolving competitive scene and the emergence of new contenders. Here’s a breakdown of the action:
Low Turnout, High Stakes: Only seven teams participated, but the competition remained intense.
Team Highlights:
○
ANTICXODIUM: Formerly Daybreak, signed with a new organization mid-tournament but fell to Bruff Esports in the lower bracket due to a decisive Umbreon Rayquaza steal
○ Legends Reappear: Dominated the upper bracket, defeated Balance, and claimed the championship without needing a bracket reset.
Notable Absence: Natu’s Revenge, second-place finishers in the Aeos Cup Play-ins, did not participate.
Europe Region
Drama-Filled Tournament:
○ Apagnan (Komai Esports): Faced disqualification in their opening match due to late arrival and later in Day 2 due to health issues, despite strong recovery efforts. However a renewed line-up consisting of Xante and Sixsies adds valuable experience to the team.
Dominant Performances:
■ Nouns Esports: Undefeated run, claiming the title with ease.
■ Drill Peckers: Pulled off an upset against Gen 5 in the upper bracket.
● Clean Matches: No Game 3s in the Top 8 bracket, reflecting decisive victories.
Shake Ups in UNITE Esports
Brazil Region
● Intense Rivalries:
○ DreamMax Esports: Overcame their Aeos Cup Play-ins loss with a commanding 2-0 win over Samurai in the finals.
○ Samurai: An impressive lower-bracket run, defeating several strong teams.
● Final Result: DreamMax Esports claimed the championship in a statement performance.
Latin America North
● Unexpected
Outcomes:
○ Stamina Esports: Play-ins champions failed to make the Top 4, losing to Team Ego.
○ Los Papulovers: Overcame Hoenn Plaga twice in best-of-three series to secure the title.
Latin America South
● Shifts in Dominance:
○ Fusion: Formerly dominant, suffered early eliminations by Public Enemies and Pedritos
○ Yatagarasu: Emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over Public Enemies, claiming their first title of the season.
Shake Ups in UNITE Esports
North America Region
New Contenders Rising:
○
Six new teams joined the Top 8, challenging established names like Luminosity Gaming and Orange Juicers
○ Grand Finals:
○ Nemesis defeated Luminosity Gaming in a thrilling 2-1 series to secure the championship.
○ Orange Juicers: Eliminated in the losers' finals, despite their strong Play-ins performance.
Key Takeaways
1. Regional Shake-Ups: Five new champions were crowned, signaling a competitive shift across the board.
2. Emerging Rivalries: New teams are challenging established powerhouses, elevating the global scene.
3. Anticipation Builds: Fans are eagerly awaiting the next monthly cup as the race for regional and global supremacy intensifies.
The Unite Championship Series is shaping up to be more competitive than ever, with no region immune to surprises. Stay tuned for the next chapter in this thrilling saga!
Blaine’s Interview
1. How does it feel to become back-to-back winners? Do you think you can achieve a third?
It was really surprising to win the Aeos qualifier considering we had 4 days of practice with the roster. The second cup was kinda whatever, lower stakes. Who knows what will happen in the holiday break so no clue if I will win a third one
2. In your opinion, are Nouns stronger now with you in the line up? Why?
I don't know - probably not there are surely better support players than me out there who would be more beneficial for the team. There is a reason BruvHD, ADESu and Ghatlue didn't wanna play with me for 2 seasons.
4. Who do you think are your biggest rivals in Europe this year?
Any team that has Natchos/Leorio & Leognaus/Nirami in it. Those two are beyond cracked at the game
Blaine’s Interview
3. How have some of the players in Nouns developed since last year's WCS?
The team is way more chill and vibes
Gilberto’s Interview
Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your role in the community?
My name is Gilberto, although in the gamer world I'm known as "Leto". I started my career in the gaming world in 2021 as a performance coach in R7, a LLA team (the Tier 1 of League of Legends in Latin America). At the end of that season, I discovered Pokémon Unite and got into the game. I formed a team called White Jaguars along with other top players from the LAN region, such as Froy, Mau, Fatlink and Solsticee. When the official competitive Pokémon Unite was established, I decided to move into the role of coach, and our team was signed by STMN for two projects: one in Mexico and one in Central America.
My career continued to grow in two ways. On the one hand, I worked in formal esports such as League of Legends and Valorant with Leviathan, serving as a performance coach. On the other hand, I continued as head coach in Pokémon Unite with STMN. In 2023, I took on the role of manager in another LLA team, Team Aze, and continued as head coach in Pokémon Unite for Entity7. For 2024, I focused solely on Pokémon Unite, working with the Rework Respawn team. Currently, I am head coach of two teams: one in Asia, specifically in India with RevenantX; and another in the LAN region, where I am back with Stamina Esports
Gilberto’s Interview
What is the day-to-day life of someone in your team like? In terms of eating, sleeping, practising, strategic balancing.
I don't consider Pokémon Unite in the West to be an established esport, as the competitive nature of Pokémon Unite is quite casual. The day-to-day running depends largely on the discipline of the individual player. However, I have always believed that it is best to encourage a structured, disciplined and as professional regime as possible. For me, the most important thing is to promote healthy habits and prioritise quality of training over quantity.
What can we expect from the STMN style of play?
I've always felt that the best way to play Pokémon Unite is with an aggressive style, focusing on a strong and dominant early game. However, this depends a lot on the players' characteristics and strengths. Looking ahead to London, I hope we can consolidate a more defined style of play, finding a balance between an aggressive early game and the flexibility we are known for in our pick selection.
How often should a professional player train per week?
I think the most important thing is to have full awareness during training and focus on improving specific aspects, such as picks, matchups, positioning, among others. For me, the ideal approach combines theory, practice and a strong emphasis on self-analysis.
Gilberto’s Interview
Speaking of STMN, how does it feel to come back to STMN after a long time?
Honestly, it makes me very happy to return to the first team that opened doors for me in this game. To be able to give the organization its first international tournament in Pokémon Unite is something that means a lot to me. Although we qualified as first place in the Central American region for the 2022 World Cup, we were unable to attend due to paperwork issues. Subsequently, the organisation managed to qualify for the World Cup in Japan 2023, but they were unable to travel due to lack of travel expenses. For me, fulfilling the goal of wearing the STMN jersey on a live stage is very important; I feel that I had a debt pending with the organisation, and now is the time to pay it off.
How do you consider Latam North now compared to last year, especially with the last final?
I think the region has improved considerably by having more teams with a good competitive level, Plaga, Papulovers, Ego and Stmn are teams that have a good level to represent the region in internationals.
How do you see the introduction of China into the game going forward?
Each year, if the game is managed well in Asia, the eastern regions should further distance themselves from the rest of the world due to the franchising programme in SEA, Japan and India, and probably the addition of this model in China next year. The Eastern market is huge, with a massive audience that attracts more brands interested in sponsoring teams and tournaments, thus facilitating the path to professionalism.
This situation represents a considerable disadvantage for the West, where most teams are non-professional and play against each other under similar conditions, while in Asia, the professional circuit allows players to develop better, which significantly raises the competitive level. We should not forget that Asia has always been a dominant region in MOBAs, and Pokémon Unite seems to be no exception. This was clear at the last World Championship, where Fennel practically won the championship without encountering much resistance from the other teams.
TCG Pocket: A Mythical Evolution
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket has been making waves in the mobile gaming world, bringing the thrill of the Pokémon TCG to the palm of your hand. With the recent Mythical Island expansion and subsequent updates, the game has evolved significantly, introducing a plethora of new features, events, and cards that have reshaped the gameplay experience. Let's dive into the exciting changes that have taken place since the release of Mythical Island.
Mythical Island: A New Beginning
The Mythical Island expansion marked a turning point for Pokémon TCG Pocket, introducing over 80 new cards, including five powerful Pokémon ex cards and five strategic Trainer cards. This expansion brought a fresh dynamic to the game, with new card combinations and strategies emerging. Fan-favorite Pokémon like Mew and Celebi made their ex card debuts, adding a touch of nostalgia and excitement for veteran players
TCG Pocket: A Mythical Evolution
Events and Activities
Since the release of Mythical Island, Pokémon TCG Pocket has been bustling with activity, with a constant stream of events and activities to keep players engaged. These events haveincluded:
● Mythical Island Emblem Event: A special event that rewarded players with unique emblems for participatinginvariouschallenges
● Mass Outbreak Events: Events that increased the encounter rate of specific Pokémon types, allowing playerstocollectrareandpowerfulcards
● Solo Battle Events: Challenging events that pitted players against tough opponents, testing their deck-buildingandstrategicskills
● Login Bonuses: Generous rewards given to players simplyforloggingin,includingpacks,hourglasses,and othervaluableitems.
Written by @TheBossYash
New Features and Gameplay Mechanics
In addition to the new cards, Mythical Island also introduced several new features and gameplay mechanics. Immersive cards, with their stunning artwork and unique effects, added a new layer of depth to the game.The expansion also encouraged new deck archetypes, with cards like the Pokémon FluteTrainer card opening up possibilities for bench-focused strategies.
TCG Pocket: A Mythical Evolution
Looking Ahead
With the success of Mythical Island and the positive response to the new features and events, the future of Pokémon TCG Pocket looks bright. While details about upcoming expansions and updates are still under wraps, players can expect more exciting content, including new cards, gameplay mechanics, and events. The developers have shown a commitment to keeping the game fresh and engaging, and players can look forward to an evolving experience.
Pokémon TCG Pocket has come a long way since the release of Mythical Island. The game has evolved into a rich and engaging mobile experience, offering a unique blend of card collecting, strategic gameplay, and community interaction. With a constant stream of new content and events, there's never been a better time to dive into the world of Pokémon TCG Pocket.
