by HiRez Dan | Nov 12, 2014

We all know about the big names in SMITE eSports. From [TSM]Gamehunter's Pentakill at the Launch Tournament, to [DiG]Zapman's hyper-aggressive playstyle. What we don't see very much is what these teams managers do in preparation for the next big matchup. Until now. While preparing for the European Championship our very own HiRezAPC had a chance to sit down with [Aq]CaptCoach and find out what exactly goes into being a eSports Manager. Here's what he had to say:

by HiRez Dan | Nov 12, 2014

Mortality eSports was one of the two teams to join the SPL through the Play-Ins. They went into the round robin as an upgraded BloodyTech, having recently picked up iRaffer in the jungle. iRaffer was largely plug and play for Mortality eSports and fit right into the team culture of raw aggression. Upon joining the SPL, further roster changes happened with Psiyo, former mid laner of Cloud 9 joining the team in the solo lane. There was a lot of anticipation to see the former mid player’s performance. Mortality is an incredibly threatening team, each player seems ready to engage at any moment, and it’s almost impossible to predict who is going to start the fight. One thing is for sure tho, they will fight tooth and claw in the Smite EU Playoffs to find a spot at worlds.

by HiRez Dan | Nov 12, 2014

The EU Regional Championship is the last stop before the SMITE World Championship in January. The teams invited are the top 4 from this seasons EU SMITE Pro League as well as the top 2 teams from the EU Regional Wildcard. The EU Regional Championships will be a 2 day tournament with teams fighting over a $50,000 prize pool. From here, the top 2 teams from the EU Regional Championship will secure their spot in the SMITE World Championship.

by HiRez Drybear | Nov 11, 2014

by HiRez Dan | Nov 11, 2014

Team SoloMid is a big name in esports and a big name in smite. Soon after Azzur was acquired by Cloud 9, the team Amaranthine appeared to contest them in the European weekly tournaments. Soon picked up by the TSM brand, the original roster had a dominant performance up to and through the Smite Launch Tournament. Since then, sailing has not been quite as smooth for TSM, though they’re still undoubtedly one of the strongest teams in Smite. With recent changes, including putting former coach Zimpstar in the hunter role, and acquiring ShadowQ, formerly of Team Dignitas, as a Coach, Zimpstar and the boys are looking for a repeat title as the world’s strongest Smite team.

by HiRez Drybear | Nov 11, 2014

by HiRez Dan | Nov 11, 2014

With one week before Regional Championships, us here at HiRez decided to turn back the clock (again!) and have some fun with 2 Open Bracket 5v5 Conquest Tournaments. Find out what happened over the weekend!

by HiRez Drybear | Nov 11, 2014

by HiRez Drybear | Nov 11, 2014

by HiRez Dan | Nov 08, 2014

We are happy to welcome Fnatic to the family of SMITE esports. Fnatic has acquired the top seed in Europe, Exposed Secrets. Fnatic is a tenured esports organization holding top teams in CS:GO, League of Legends, and DOTA2 among others. Over the past season, Exposed Secrets has been at the forefront of the European SMITE scene ending the Pro League season at 14-6. Here at Hi-Rez we are happy to see a strong team full of familiar faces find a home with one of the most prestigious organizations in the world.

by HiRez Dan | Nov 08, 2014

Item Highlight is back! This time around we asked some of the biggest names in SMITE about Qin's Sais. This item has seen a recent increase in price, but still holds a place in todays meta. Take a look, and take some notes as the pros discuss this popular item.

by HiRez Dan | Nov 07, 2014

by HiRez Drybear | Nov 07, 2014

by HiRez Dan | Nov 06, 2014

This weekend is the final weekend before teams head off to the Regional Championships. To celebrate that, HiRez is going to host a good old fashioned $1,000 weekly tournament! Learn the details inside!

by HiRez Dan | Nov 06, 2014

Team Dignitas has been a consistent and dominating force in North American Smite for over a year. There were two teams that ran the competitive scene since tournaments started; Curse and Juice. Eventually the cores of these teams joined forces into ROOT Gaming which was picked up by Team Dignitas on June 27th, 2013. That roster was together for more than a year winning multiple Weeklies and LAN tournaments, most notably placing 2nd at the 200k Launch Tournament. Coming into the SPL they felt a change was needed and picked up veterans Shing and Daretocare. The last spot was filled by a high level ranked player, Gnaw. Their SPL season started off slow, but once the players felt a little more comfortable together they kicked it into gear and finished 4th.

by HiRez Dan | Nov 06, 2014

Cloud 9 was originally formed from a roster of SK gaming but the current incarnation is entirely different. YOUNGBAE joined the team after winning the launch tournament with Team SoloMid and with the start of the SPL essentially re-formed the team’s roster around himself. This new and mostly unproven roster had some explosive highs during the Pro-League and over the course of seven weeks they were able to refine their unique playstyle. In the later weeks, additional roster changes have left Cloud 9 looking very strong going into regional Playoffs.

by HiRez Drybear | Nov 05, 2014

by HiRez Dan | Nov 04, 2014

Fat Chunks were formed to compete in the Play In’s after the Kick Off LANs had secured 4/6 of the SPL teams. Aror found a few players who had dabbled in competitive before, CycloneSpin and Soulshiner, as well as notable ranked players Samshrew and Hurriwind. They took the Play In’s by storm, winning the open bracket tournament and not dropping a single game in the round robins. The “Kings of Cheese” were not as strong in the SPL, but their unorthodox play style and picks were able to secure a couple games against their first round matchup, Team Dignitas. Expect the unexpected with Chunks as they go completely against the meta and look to surprise.

by HiRez Dan | Nov 04, 2014

Aquila is a team recently picked up by a sponsor. They’re a Cognitive Gaming team, though not directly branded as such. The team formerly known as Agilitas is not an old team within the scene. They were founded after the Smite Launch Tournament during the ten week qualifier for the SPL kick-off. Agilitas did compete in the SPL play-in but once again they were not quite able to make the cut. Ataraxia and the boys did not get discouraged. They made a roster change they felt was necessary and going into the Challenger’s Cup they came out of the gate with a ferocious week one and just kept winning. Over the 7 weeks Agilitas grew substantially and now as Aquila they’re ready to take on the other teams qualified for the European SPL Playoffs.

by HiRez Dan | Nov 03, 2014

Pros Players, Community Representatives, and HiRez employees all came together to support Child's Play through Tiermonster’s Divine Intervention II. The original goal was only $5,000, but at the end of it all over $43,000 was raised to help improve the lives of children in hospitals.

by HiRez Dan | Nov 03, 2014

by HiRez Dan | Nov 03, 2014

by HiRez ESports | Oct 31, 2014

compLexity Gaming has just announced their recent acquisition of a SMITE team with the following release

by HiRez ESports | Oct 31, 2014

The Rambozos formed just before the Challengers Cup as a collection of high level ranked players looking to break into the competitive scene. Read a little mroe in depth on the teams roster.

by HiRez ESports | Oct 30, 2014

With Divine Intervention right around the corner we want to take a moment to speculate on a few of the teams and the captains backing their efforts.

by HiRez Dan | Oct 30, 2014

by HiRez ESports | Oct 29, 2014

Learn a little bit more about your 6th seed in the European Regional Championship.

by HiRez Sock | Oct 29, 2014

by HiRez AT | Oct 29, 2014

by HiRez Dan | Oct 28, 2014

Last year, Tiermonster ran an event called Divine Intervention that raised money for the Childs Play Charity. Pro Players & Community Representatives would act as Team Captains and people who donated were given the opportunity to play on their team in a single elimination tournament. It was so successful that they decided to bring it back for 2014!

by HiRez Dan | Oct 27, 2014

The EU Wildcards drew to a close over the weekend, and with that, the top two teams from each region have established themselves as the 5th and 6th seeds heading into the Regional Championship LAN's in November. While these teams are preparing themselves for LAN, let's take a look at what happened in over the weekend in Europe.

by HiRez Dan | Oct 27, 2014

The Regional Wildcards drew to a close over the weekend, and with that, the top two teams from each region have established themselves as the number 5th and 6th seed heading into the Regional Championship LAN's in November. While these teams prepare themselves for LAN, let's take a look at what happened in North America.

by HiRez Dan | Oct 27, 2014