Immortals CEO Noah Whinston Excited About the Rebranded MIBR Team
Last weekend, Immortals announced the acquisition of the renowned SK Gaming roster, which will now be known as Made in Brazil (MIBR). The team includes former SK players Marcelo “coldzera” David, Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo, Fernando “fer” Alvarenga, Ricardo “boltz” Prass, and Jake “Stewie2k” Yip. This move is significant for Immortals as it now has the most successful core CS:GO roster of 2017, with eight international titles.
During the ELEAGUE Boston Major in January, there were reports that SK’s roster would be joining Immortals. Those rumors turned out to be true as the Brazilian-majority team gradually distanced themselves from SK, both in-game and outside. Some players even chose not to wear SK jerseys at events like StarSeries Season Five, while others adorned Immortals skins in the form of stickers and graffiti sprays. This tension between the players and organization remained behind the scenes until the SK players made the move to Immortals.
The players will now compete under the MIBR brand, representing not only Immortals but also the country of Brazil. Brazil has an unparalleled passion for esports, making this an exciting venture for Whinston and the team.
Immortals’ Focus on the Brazilian CS Scene
Whinston has been involved in Brazilian Counter-Strike since Immortals joined the CS:GO scene in 2016. When asked about his interest in the Brazilian CS scene compared to picking up a European team, Whinston expressed the intense passion and large fan base in Brazil. He believes that Brazil is in an interesting position in terms of the development of esports and sees potential in the Brazilian esports scene. Brazil, being closer to the mainstream than any other country, has celebrities like Neymar and institutions like Globo investing in and promoting esports. Bringing back MIBR with this roster allows Immortals to be part of a social movement in Brazil and set a new model for esports around the world.
The Acquisition of MIBR and Immortal’s Approach
Immortals wanted to acquire MIBR because they believe the team is popular and sustainable enough to support its own organizational brand. Unlike other organizations that combine every team under the same brand, Immortals wanted to give the players their own affinity with the brand. The goal is to create a partnership closely aligned with the players’ goals and to establish a better scenario in Brazil for esports and Counter-Strike. Immortals plans to work closely with the players, with them being based at the organizational headquarters in Los Angeles. By building something together, Immortals aims to make an impact in the future trajectory of esports in Brazil and globally.
The Future of Immortals and MIBR
The launch of MIBR represents a significant shift in the model for esports organizations. Immortals believes that what they’re doing with this team and brand will become a model for the rest of the world, similar to how the Overwatch League and Los Angeles Valiant have become a model for localized team structures. While there is a lot of work ahead and no guarantee of success, Immortals is excited about the challenge and looks forward to innovating in the esports space.
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