Sources: GG Esports Academy running operations of up to five Contenders NA slots

Mert

February 3, 2018

Update: Overwatch League PR reached out to clarify that Alicus' involvement in 'managing' Contenders teams only extends to the Outlaws' Academy roster. However, indirect involvement with the other four slots under GGEA's scope has not been commented on.

Sources have reported to over.gg that GG Esports Academy, a subsidiary of the Houston Outlaws parent company, are involved with the management of up to five North American Contenders slots. Two of these slots are reportedly being run under the Outlaws' brand, with the organisation set to announce one mixed Korean and Western roster and another roster built around a core of former Rise Nation players.

The Boston Uprising and Florida Mayhem have also allegedly brought in GGEA to manage their Academy teams. The final party utilizing GGEA’s services for their North American Contenders slot is currently unconfirmed.

News of GGEA's ownership of a large piece of Contenders North America has resulted in a degree of unrest in the region’s competitive community, with claims of conflicts of interests being made. As multiple rosters outside their scope were finalized before the February 13th roster lock, GGEA currently holds a position of power in determining the future of multiple players looking to find a place in event, assuming the reports are factual.

After joining Infinite Esports as a scouting director, Alicus has been directly involved in the management of the Outlaws' Academy roster. However, reports indicate that he has also been involved in the operations of the other four GGEA slots to a lesser extent.

GG Esports Academy were founded in early 2018 by Infinite Sports and Entertainment, the parent company of the Houston Outlaws. utside of their Overwatch operations, GGEA currently run Call of Duty and League of Legends teams for esports organisations.

Contenders North America is set to kick off on the 5th of March. Roster announcements are expected to be released in the coming weeks as the lock comes into effect after multiple extensions, with the Philadelphia Fusion already revealing their Academy team, Fusion University.

Comments:

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#1

bweesh

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Everything Alicus touches turns to gold, can this man be stopped? Has he ever failed?

#3

poi98

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His OWL prediction....the LuL Tier team is actually in a better position than his winner...

#13

GizmomcS

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cloud 9 ?

#22

purple

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He was hyping up big time both Fuel and Dragons just before the league started so...

#2

poi98

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What the heck

#4

SKYTRiXSHA

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wadu hek

#5

poi98

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Also why the hell you allow a enemy team manager to build your contender roster..... Dont make sense to me...

#7

Samba

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This. If Alicus are in charge of building these teams I really don't know how you do this. Which team gets the new upcoming superstar that could be worth millions when he turns 18?

#17

TKO

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OWL teams have 0 control over the players on their Academy teams. The same goes for other Contenders teams. All contenders players contracts have a clause that they can sign with any OWL team and the Contenders teams can't prevent it. The contenders team gets paid a signing fee that is 25% of a players OWL contract as compensation. Players may be more likely to sign with the OWL team of their Academy team though.

#18

poi98

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If you treat well a player that player will choose you if he recieve multiple offers. Its not something little. You cant stop him, but you can help him choose you

#6

Sayabi

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Very interesting. I wonder who Alicus will scout this time, but it's going to be promising for sure.

#20

wentaway

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Well not so hard if you have 60 slots to fill...

#8

CamRa

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That's pretty BS.

#9

irishfire

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Good for him

#10

victococoblazin

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Lets go rise nation mix

#11

CamRa

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Come back to this comment when houston outlaws academy looks suspiciously better than the rest.

#12

Blue

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So this is fishy as fuck and blizzard needs to do something about this.

But I am interested in the mix korean roster :thinking:

#14

remiska

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Retarded, and the fact blizzard did not do anything to prevent such things is just pathetic

but on the other hand over.gg being source of the news is something new and it would be great if this was more often

#15

CamRa

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but on the other hand over.gg being source of the news is something new and it would be great if this would be more often

^^^^^^

#16

Guinea

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Not sure how I feel about the multiple slots thing but I am excited for the mixed lineups and ex-Rise. Just let yourself be blinded by the good to the point where you ignore the bad if you wanna actually enjoy this shit

#19

wentaway

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This is bullshit but bound to happen when you buy slots instead of qualifiying for them.

Blizzard should really do something, even if everythiong goes right, this leaves a sour taste for the NA competition tbh.

#21

Triangleman

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More questionable than his OWL predictions

#23

Zergling

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thinking

#24

cappeh

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Say wut

#25

Pixelfish

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This is moronic.

But, I'm happy that the Rise Nation boys might be back in play!

#26

wentaway

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There's always some silver lining, that's the one for this case.

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