Bwipo

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Bwipo
Bwipo in 2024
Current team
TeamFlyQuest
RoleTop Laner
GamesLeague of Legends
LeagueLCS
Personal information
NameGabriël Rau
Born (1998-12-24) 24 December 1998 (age 25)
NationalityBelgian
Team history
2018–2021Fnatic
2022Team Liquid
2024–presentFlyQuest

Gabriël Rau (born 24 December 1998), better known as Bwipo, is a Belgian professional League of Legends player for FlyQuest. He currently plays in the LCS, and has previously competed in the LEC for Fnatic, where his team was the runner-up of the 2018 League of Legends World Championship.

Professional career[edit]

Fnatic[edit]

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[edit]

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. For the 2023 season, Bwipo was moved off the team's starting roster and continued on Team Liquid as a streamer. [44]

FlyQuest[edit]

After a year away from competitive play, LCS team FlyQuest announced Bwipo as their starting top laner for the 2024 season on November 29, 2023.[45]

References[edit]

  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. 9 September 2018. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  9. ^ "Worlds 2018: Meet the Teams". na.leagueoflegends.com. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  10. ^ Bishop, Sam (12 November 2018). "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. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  16. ^ "FLY PHOENIX FLY — FPX WINS WORLDS". nexus.leagueoflegends.com. 10 November 2019. 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.
  44. ^ "Bwipo Taking a Break From Pro Play and Focusing on Content Creation". Esports.net. November 29, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  45. ^ "FlyQuest reveals full LCS Spring 2024 player roster | ONE Esports". www.oneesports.gg. 2023-11-30. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
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