How Marvel Rivals’ first worldwide champion defied expectations

Marvel Rivals lately topped Rad EU as its worldwide champion for the sport’s first main LAN occasion, the Ignite Mid-Season Finals, firmly inserting its gamers within the highlight. 

Regardless of successful Marvel Rivals’ greatest occasion to this point, the group that hoisted the trophy in Guangzhou, China, has been by means of many trials main as much as the pivotal second.

From competing as Luminosity Gaming EU (LG) to becoming a member of Rad Esports (Rad EU) for EMEA Stage 1, Esports Insider breaks down the organisation’s journey and the way it defied the percentages to make historical past. 

The group that went on to win the Marvel Rivals Ignite Mid Season Finals is comprised of seven gamers primarily based in Europe. When not signed to an organisation by means of a contract, the roster typically goes by the identify Team1.

Group 1 has seen a number of gamers come and go over the months. Nevertheless, its strategist, Max ‘Destiny‘ Currie, has been competing for the group since its basis and has been a participant for the reason that sport was in alpha.

In 2025, Team1 grew to become extra lively, claiming notable achievements akin to inserting fourth within the Season 0: Dooms’ Rise Championships. This improve in notoriety finally noticed the group achieve the eye of a longtime esports organisation.

It wasn’t till February twenty sixth, 2025, that Team1 started competing below Luminosity Gaming’s banner in Europe. Nevertheless, on the time, the roster struggled to assert a first-place win. 

Each occasions have been received by Virtus.professional (VP), thought of to be the most effective group within the area again then— and doubtlessly globally. This narrative was additional enforced by Luminosity Gaming struggling a number of losses to the organisation in quite a few Rivals Combat Nights. 

Talking to Esports Insider, Destiny mentioned: “When the group initially shaped, there have been many roster modifications, so that’s a part of it, however the principle factor is that VP has been a group collectively for the reason that very begin of the sport.

“Most of our present roster gamers joined the sport method after VP, and it actually simply has taken us a number of time and grinding to meet up with them.” 

In the long run, Luminosity Gaming finally parted methods with its EU roster on April twenty fourth to concentrate on its North American group for Marvel Rivals Ignite. A couple of months later, Team1’s roster can be acquired by Rad Esports on June seventh to type Rad EU. 

Heading into Ignite EMEA Stage 1, casters and followers alike thought they knew how the occasion would finish. Virtus.professional entered the occasion because the favourites, carrying a popularity as a group but to endure a single defeat since coming into the scene. 

The group had constructed its popularity by dominating Rivals Combat Night time, boasting the longest win streak out of any collaborating group. From beating Luminosity in Combat Night time #6, to more moderen victories akin to defeating Brr Brr Patapim in Combat Night time #13

Nevertheless, Rad EU shocked the world by handing Virtus.professional its first loss within the Group Stage Higher Bracket Semi-Finals. Moreover, spectators have been surprised when each Rad EU and Brr Brr Patapim certified for the Mid-Season Finals, whereas VP was knocked out of the competitors. 

“We have been in a position to beat VP in EMEA, however they’re nonetheless a particularly sturdy group and nonetheless the menace they’ve all the time been feared to be,” Destiny shared. 

“Simply an unlucky patch for them throughout EMEA, and the truth that they misplaced twice to Patapim was a reasonably large upset.”

Heading into Ignite Mid-Season Finals, Rad EU was up towards some heavy hitters: America’s champion Sentinels, NA invitational winner 100 Thieves, and EMEA champion Brr Brr Patapim, which now represented Citadel Gaming, to call a couple of. 

Rad EU started within the Play-In Stage, that means it confronted the danger of an early elimination. Regardless of shedding to ENVY 2-0 within the Higher Bracket Finals, the group managed to qualify for the Predominant Stage by knocking out Nova Esports. 

All through the event, Rad EU confirmed a number of innovation and new methods in mild of the Season 3: The Abyss Awakens replace, shaking up the meta. Destiny himself surprised many viewers when he introduced out Jeff the Landshark, a personality thought of to be unviable after his rework. 

“For me personally, it has been unreal with the truth that I used to be in a position to shock the entire scene of Marvel Rivals, each informal and aggressive, with my utilization of Jeff in Ignite,” Destiny added.

“It has been tremendous enjoyable to show to everybody that Jeff isn’t only a unhealthy hero that’s unusable, however he’s really insanely sturdy in group play.” 

Rad EU noticed a number of success all through the event, beating groups akin to Sentinels, OUG, Citadel Gaming and 100 Thieves. Nevertheless, its greatest problem within the occasion proved to be ENVY as America’s third-place group had crushed Rad EU a second time through the Predominant Stage Higher Bracket Semi-Finals. 

The 2 certified squads from the Play-In Stage confronted one another for the third time within the Grand Finals to finally resolve which organisation would take dwelling the champion’s title.

Rad EU struck first with a 2-0 win on Celestial Husk, adopted by ENVY successful 4-3 on Yggdrasill Path. Rad EU claimed the third match, ending 3-2 on Corridor of Djalia, and the next sport quickly after with a 2-1 win on Hell’s Heaven.

ENVY began to claw its method again with a 3-2 win at Central Park. Nevertheless, Rad EU proved to be the higher group ultimately, successful 2-1 on Spider-Islands, claiming the revenge victory when it mattered most and ended the sequence 4-2 towards its American rival. 

From early losses in Rivals Combat Night time to the runners-up of EMEA Stage 1, the group fought its technique to turn out to be the champion of Marvel Rivals’ first main worldwide occasion. 

“This was insane!” shared Destiny.

“I believe particularly the truth that the final map was so favoured for them to win after our assault, after which we managed to carry for 5 minutes straight, in a matchup that was most likely not successful as effectively, was each an insane show of ability from our group, but in addition a serious disappointment from ENVY. Suppose our entire group anticipated it to go to map seven, so it was tremendous unreal.” 

Following the Mid-Season Finals win, the place Rad EU secured $160,000 (~£118,904) in winnings, the organisation introduced that its contract had expired with the group. Destiny additionally shared that the group is seeking a brand new organisation to signal the gamers forward of occasions such because the Season 3 Championships and Ignite Stage 2. 

When requested about whether or not Team1 intends to stay with Marvel Rivals, Destiny mentioned that he, alongside the others, are ‘tremendous dedicated’ for the ‘long run’. 

“Particularly after this event, now I do know individuals might be grinding greater than ever and dealing even more durable than earlier than,” Destiny acknowledged.

“We put a lot time into the Mid Season Finals, and it paid off very effectively, so I’m positive the group will wish to proceed that, as our motto has all the time been to be probably the most environment friendly and hard-working group.”