A Legendary Rivalry Lights Up DreamHack Atlanta

DreamHack Atlanta 2025 delivered one of the most electric moments in fighting game esports this year, as William ‘Leffen’ Hjelte defeated Dominique ‘SonicFox’ McLean to win the 2XKO championship. The two legendary figures of the fighting game community (FGC) clashed in a thrilling showdown that highlighted the early competitive potential of Riot Games’ new 2v2 platform fighter.

The event, which carried a $5,000 prize pool, was part of Riot’s First Impact program, a global initiative supporting 22 community-led tournaments designed to jumpstart the 2XKO esports scene.

Congrats @TSM_Leffen on winning 2XKO at DreamHack Atlanta! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/qnliUuvIgW

— 2XKO Intel (@2XKOIntel) November 2, 2025

Leffen’s Path to Victory

Both Leffen and SonicFox were dominant throughout the tournament, cruising through the early brackets with commanding performances. The Upper Bracket matchup between the two set the tone for the weekend, with Leffen taking the set 3-1 to advance directly to the Grand Finals.

SonicFox, ever the competitor, bounced back in the Lower Bracket by defeating Jo’siah ‘Hikari’ Miller in a clean victory to earn a rematch. What followed was an incredible display of skill, strategy, and grit that had the Atlanta crowd roaring.

In the Grand Finals, SonicFox managed to pull off a wild comeback, even surviving with just 4 HP to reset the bracket with a 3-1 win. But in the end, it was Leffen who prevailed, edging out a close 3-2 victory in the reset to secure the title and $2,000 in prize money.

“Absolutely insane finals, had so much fun. GGs to Sonic and everyone else,” Leffen tweeted after the win. “Just won in 2XKO and all I wanna do is keep playing to keep getting better so I can play to my potential. Been since Melee since I felt this hunger.”

A New Era for the Fighting Game Community

Leffen’s win marks a major statement for the competitive 2XKO scene. Known for his success in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Guilty Gear Strive, the Swedish player seems fully committed to mastering Riot’s new fighter. Many fans are already calling this victory his “God Killer” return, a reference to his infamous Melee days when he regularly took down the top players in the world.

SonicFox, meanwhile, remains one of the most decorated FGC competitors in history, boasting multiple EVO titles across Mortal Kombat, Injustice, Dragon Ball FighterZ, and Skullgirls. Despite the loss, they showed remarkable adaptation and creativity throughout the tournament, proving why they remain one of the best in the business.

After the event, SonicFox praised the 2XKO competitive environment but expressed curiosity about the game’s future balance updates. “The biggest thing I’m hoping for is an update on when the next balance changes for 2XKO are,” they said. “I’m excited to go home and study more 2XKO though! My next study is Duos.”

Leffen replied with a simple but telling response: “Same.”

2XKO’s Esports Future Looks Bright

With standout performances from both players, DreamHack Atlanta offered a glimpse into the future of 2XKO esports. Riot’s early support through its First Impact program, which has already hosted events like EVO France 2025 — is setting the stage for what could become one of the next big titles in the FGC.

Leffen currently mains Teemo and Yasuo, while SonicFox continues to experiment with various team combinations. With more patches, balance changes, and new champions expected soon, both players are poised to remain key figures in shaping the early meta.

As 2XKO continues to evolve, one thing is clear, the rivalry between Leffen and SonicFox is far from over, and fans are here for every match.

The post Leffen Crowned 2XKO Champion at DreamHack Atlanta 2025 After Beating SonicFox in Grand Finals appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

EVO France 2025 has made history as the first-ever European edition of the world’s most iconic fighting game tournament, and it already delivered a legendary moment. French prodigy Marwan “Wawa” Berthe claimed victory in the inaugural 2XKO tournament, securing his place as the first-ever champion in Riot Games’ new 2v2 fighter.

Just won 2XKO at EVO France! Congrats to my goats, it was so fun playing them again. Merci la famille pour le support c’était aussi incroyable… Can’t wait to play and learn more about the game! (And still free agent) https://t.co/O91uKvyxRX

— Wawa (@Wawa_FGC) October 12, 2025

Held from October 10 to 12 in Nice, EVO France marked the start of Riot’s First Impact series, a global initiative designed to introduce 2XKO to the competitive fighting game community. With the game freshly launched in early access on PC, this debut event was packed with world-class talent, including FGC superstars Dominique “SonicFox” McLean, William “Leffen” Hjelte, and Steve “Supernoon” Carbajal.

Despite fierce competition, it was the home hero Wawa who stood tall. Known for his Dragon Ball FighterZ dominance, including an EVO title and the 2022 World Championship, Wawa showed that his precision and adaptability translate perfectly into Riot’s new brawler.

He stormed through the upper bracket, defeating SonicFox 2-1 in the Winners Semi-Finals before taking down Supernoon 2-0 to reach the Grand Final. There, he met Supernoon again and sealed the deal 3-1 in front of an electrified French crowd. Across nine matches, Wawa dropped only three rounds, an impressive feat considering the calibre of players in attendance.

He also reminded fans he’s still a free agent, a detail that’s sure to get esports organisations’ attention after such a performance.

The top three for 2XKO’s EVO France debut were:
🥇 Marwan “Wawa” Berthe (France)
🥈 Steve “Supernoon” Carbajal (United States) – Twisted Minds
🥉 Dominique “SonicFox” McLean (United States) – Luminosity Gaming

Other notable names in the Top 8 included Kev “K7 Showoff” Hunt, Callum “Mystic” White, Jo’siah “Hikari” Miller, William “Leffen” Hjelte, and Senshii.

Wawa’s win marks the beginning of 2XKO’s competitive journey, and if the EVO France crowd was anything to go by, Riot Games’ League of Legends-inspired fighter has a bright future ahead in the FGC.

The post Wawa Becomes First 2XKO Champion at EVO France 2025 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Luminosity Gaming, one of North America’s most recognisable esports names, is being sold. The organisation is set to be acquired by Vertiqal Studios, a gaming and lifestyle company, in a deal worth around C$900,000 (~US$645,000). The acquisition, which also includes Enthusiast Gaming’s YouTube network Omnia, is expected to close on September 5th, 2025.

For Vertiqal Studios, this move is all about scale. The company already has a strong presence on platforms like TikTok and Snapchat, but with Luminosity and Omnia onboard, it’s expanding its reach across Twitch, YouTube, and beyond. Vertiqal’s CEO Jon Dwyer said the deal was more than just adding brands, it’s about combining audiences, sales networks, and cross-platform capabilities to create a much bigger digital advertising ecosystem.

The End of an Era With Enthusiast Gaming

This acquisition also signals the end of Luminosity’s run under Enthusiast Gaming. The Canadian holding company had owned the org since 2019, but its CEO made it clear earlier this year that Luminosity wasn’t part of its long-term future. Instead, Enthusiast will now turn its focus to publications like Pocket Gamer and Icy Veins.

Luminosity’s Legacy

Founded in 2015, Luminosity Gaming quickly became a household name in esports. The org first broke through in CS:GO, signing the Brazilian roster led by Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo and featuring stars like coldzera, fer, TACO, and fnx. That squad etched their names into history by winning MLG Columbus 2016, the first-ever Counter-Strike Major held on American soil.

Relive the historic day, when @Luminosity won the $1,000,000 @MLG Columbus Major!
Read More: https://t.co/4tC7INgHcN pic.twitter.com/Lqq0K0pqXw

— Luminosity Gaming (@Luminosity) April 10, 2016

While the roster left for SK Gaming soon after and went on to win back-to-back Majors, Luminosity’s place in esports history was already secured. The organisation stuck with the Brazilian scene until 2019, but never managed to reach the same heights again.

Luminosity and SK Gaming are one of our biggest inspirations.

— The MongolZ (@1mongolz) June 21, 2025

Outside of CS, Luminosity has remained active across multiple titles. The org currently competes in Apex Legends, League of Legends, and PUBG, and it also represents fighting game legend Dominique “SonicFox” McLean. In the past, it has also fielded squads in Call of Duty, Super Smash Bros., and Rainbow Six.

What Happens Next?

With Vertiqal Studios now steering the ship, questions remain over Luminosity’s competitive future. The organisation pulled out of Rainbow Six earlier this year after its cosmetics were removed from the in-game store, and its roster went on to play as “Orgless” in the North America League.

Given Vertiqal’s focus on digital content and platforms, it’s still unclear whether Luminosity will stay committed to esports in the long run or transition more into content creation and community building.

Either way, the acquisition is a big moment, both for Vertiqal Studios’ growth strategy and for Luminosity Gaming as it enters a brand new chapter in its storied history.

The post Vertiqal Studios Buys Luminosity Gaming in $645k Deal appeared first on Shane the Gamer.