OMG?! WHATTT?!!!!
What did I just witness?
Am I dreaming? Did this really just happen??
Did Falcons FINALLY win a Grand Final??
After rubbing my eyes to make sure that I was indeed awake, I bolted fully out of my seat in Raleigh to celebrate with the crowd and to start writing this article of course!
I just witnessed Rocket League history being made as The Falcons, hailing from Saudi Arabia, became the FIRST non N.A./EU (North America/Europe) team to win a LAN Grand Final. MENA (Middle East/North Africa) was added as a region in RLCS in 2021. TRK from Team Falcons had actually played in that first LAN later that year in Sweden under a different team. The identical twins, RW9 and Killeerz were added in 2023, making up the roster of Falcons as we know it today.
The Falcons are one of the most feared and highly skilled teams ever to be in RLCS.
This powerhouse team from MENA maintained number one offense and defense in Raleigh. There is this incredible synergy among these super talented players that have been playing together as Falcons since the end of 2023. It is a joy to watch them finally win a LAN, after having come so close so many times, making it to the semi finals and finals, often with heart breaking losses.
Denied again at worlds last year, everyone knew that it would just be a matter of time before the Falcons would eventually win a Grand Final. This historic win paves the way for future Rocket League hopefuls that are watching this from the MENA region and other territories beyond NA and EU.
The Raleigh Major consists of sixteen teams that battle it out down to one winner for Championship Sunday. On Sunday, in the finals, there were two teams from Europe, one from NA (North America), one from SAM (South America), and two from MENA (Middle East, North Africa), which is incredible because there were only two MENA teams participating in Raleigh. Team Vitality and Falcons looked to be the strongest already securing a spot in semi finals for Sunday. Each series consists of seven matches, winner is best of seven. Teams receive $22,500 for making it to championship Sunday. The winning team takes home $102,000!
Rocket League fans from all over traveled to Raleigh, for the RLCS major at Lenovo Center which is surrounded by swathes of gorgeous trees and North Carolina greenery. Fans braved the sweltering Carolina heat and humidity to see the best Rocket League esports teams compete inside Lenovo Center and even venturing outside to see freshly coated paint on the incredible Project Octane car that was displayed outside.
Championship Sunday saw a lot of upsets and even an incredible jaw dropping comeback. Before the finals on Sunday, favorite Karmine Corp had been taken out by Twisted Minds, the other team from the MENA region. Karmine Corp had been leading the series, and the trailing, Twisted Minds ended up taking over unexpectedly. They finally found their chemistry by the end of the series and in the final Game 7 it was tied up and NWPO shot the winning goal with a few seconds left. NWPO had been the difference in winning that game series with his impeccable shooting skills from his 1s mastery. NWPO was also the winner of the 1v1s held at Raleigh which was no surprise.
A notable mention was Team Secret from South America. They defied expectations taking out the number four seed in Europe, Gentlemates, and gained popularity with fans by making it to Championship Sunday. Motta and Kv-1 made some very aggressive plays. They were defeated by Dignitas in the quarter finals, but this will not be the last we see of this very solid team.
NRG vs Twisted Minds was the other matchup in the quarter finals and it just might be the best series from Raleigh. This series looked to be over by Game 2 as Twisted Minds were easily dominating. It was a very slow start for NRG but then to everyone’s surprise they get back into it and started turning it around by Game 3. Game 4 was scoreless going into sudden death in OT. By Game 5, NRG needed to win three in a row to win this series they were trailing so behind on. The games were so incredibly close and had everyone’s hearts pumping out of their chests! The crowd became incessantly loud by Game 6, chanting “WE WANT 7”, desperately wanting to see a game 7 in this epic series. Game 6 went into OT, with some crazy shots and insane saves being made in overtime! The crowd was going absolutely nuts and getting louder and fever pitched during the two minute overtime. Game 7 arrives to the roaring delight of the crowd, both teams had won 3 matches each, NRG had somehow unbelievably caught up to Twisted Minds. In a stroke of luck for NRG, the match goes into overtime right after Rise makes a pass in front of the NRG goal which no one in Twisted Minds was in position for. That goal could have won the match for Twisted Minds and ended up being the difference maker. NRG makes the most unbelievable comeback to win in this exciting series in OT after Beastmode wins them the game from a fly pass by Atomic.
To no one’s surprise, the top four teams that made it to the semi finals were Dignitas, NRG, Vitality, and Falcons. With Vitality and Falcons already having secured their spots earlier in Raleigh.
Dignitas vs Vitality were the first series in the semi finals. Team Vitality bringing the teammate matchup everyone has been wanting to see since last year. Superstars Monkey Moon and Zen on the SAME TEAM, have been playing amazing with incredible support for each other during Raleigh. Zen, one of the most mechanically skilled players EVER in Rocket League, was being his usual GOAT self, averaging 500 pts each match in Raleigh.
On the Dignitas side, Stizzy looking incredible as a rookie relatively new to the LAN scene and being disruptive, constantly foiling Vitality’s plays. Veteran superstar App Jack was dialed in and making some clean shots using his lightning fast speed. Everyone was expecting Vitality to win this series, but shockingly, Vitality ended up losing the first three games. Vitality was only able to win the 4th game with Monkey Moon making some epic shots. Dignitas made Vitality feel off kilter and made them overthink plays. They did not allow Zen to have time on the ball. Dignitas was just playing with excellent defense and challenging a lot. Vitality was not playing their usual self, they were definitely rattled by Dignitas throughout.
The second series in the semi finals were Falcons and NRG. NRG started the series strong by winning Game 1. Falcons however were able to get their stride back by the second game. NRG then wins Game 4, tying up the series. Exciting Game 5 goes into a three and half min overtime with Kiileerrz shooting the winning goal. Kiileerrz dominated this entire series. Falcons put up some excellent defense to shield from some killer NRG shots. NRG played some really great rocket league and played with top form. This series came down to some really small mistakes and could have gone either way.
The Grand Final was Dignitas vs Falcons who had played against each other already earlier in Raleigh. At first Dignitas were easily dominating. Stizzy, the young rookie was on fire. Dignitas unfortunately didn’t have the steam to compete against the Falcons which found their stride again by Game 2. Falcons played aggressively and were not allowing Dignitas too much time on the ball, challenging a lot and disrupting any flow that Dignitas could muster up. Game 3 went into OT, with a three and a half minute overtime which was won by a swift goal made by Kiileerrz. Game 4 also went in Falcons favor.
RW9 made a CRAZY goal in Game 5 and Falcons easily won this series despite Dignitas best attempts to fend off the Falcons. Kiilleerz was named MVP and history was made with Falcons being the FIRST team that is not from N.A. or EU to win a Rocket League Grand Final. Many people have been ready for a winner from a different region to take home the trophy and it couldn’t have been more deserved!
It will be interesting to see what will happen at Worlds this year in Lyon, France. This year marks the TENTH anniversary for Rocket League. Ten years of Rocket League gameplay which is practically ARCHAIC for a game to have lasted so long in popularity!
Can Monkey Moon do a repeat of his incredible win from Worlds last year with help from Zen and Exotiik?
Will Beastmode and NRG battle through and get the win this year that he’s been so close to getting when they were formerly G2?
Will Dignitas continue their skilled methodical performance to take the win?
Will Falcons dominate everyone all over again after finally winning their first major?
Or will there be an unexpected winner, a complete underdog like Team Secret, that takes it all?
I personally CAN’T WAIT to see the live event as it unfolds in front of the ultra hyped up blood thirsty French crowds. I will be as giddy as a schoolgirl watching the RLCS greats battle it out! TEN YEARS of this beloved game that I will always be obsessed with and wish I had started playing earlier. It will truly be one of the greatest RLCS Worlds Championships, fitting for the Rocket League Tenth Anniversary this year!
After all…..
THIS IS ROCKET LEAGUE!!!!!!! 
