Rogue (esports)
Professional esports organization with teams in Europe and the United States.
Rogue was a professional esports organization that fielded teams in multiple games across both Europe and the United States. In League of Legends, the organization operated two European rosters: a main squad competing in the League of Legends European Championship (LEC) and a developmental team in the Ultraliga. The organization was established in 2016 by Franklin Villarreal and Derek Nelson. Two years later, in 2018, it was acquired by ReKTGlobal—a parent and management company that also owned the Call of Duty League franchise Carolina Royal Ravens. Notable co-owners included DJ Steve Aoki and YouTuber Vikram "Vikkstar123" Barn, while additional investors ranged from Imagine Dragons and Rudy Gobert to Nicky Romero, Nick Gross, and Landon Collins.
On October 6, 2022, Rogue announced a merger with KOI, an esports organization owned by Ibai Llanos and Gerard Piqué. As a result, all existing Rogue teams were set to rebrand under the KOI name. Following a split between Infinite Reality and KOI in 2023, the team was later reestablished.
**League of Legends** Rogue was named one of ten franchise partners for the newly rebranded League of Legends European Championship (LEC) on November 20, 2018. For the 2019 LEC Spring Split, the team signed Kim "Profit" Jun-hyung, Mateusz "Kikis" Szkudlarek, Chres "Sencux" Laursen, Martin "HeaQ" Kordmaa, and Kim "Wadid" Bae-in. On December 21, 2019, Rogue partnered with Polish esports organization x-kom AGO in the Ultraliga, with Rogue retaining control of the team while x-kom AGO handled training facilities in Warsaw and marketing.
After finishing 10th in their debut split, Rogue promoted most of their academy roster for the 2019 LEC Summer split. This move yielded a sharp turnaround: the team improved from a 2–16 record to 7–11, qualified for playoffs, and lost 1–3 to Schalke 04 Esports. Hans Sama then replaced Woolite, and the team contended for the top spot for the first time, placing first in the 2020 LEC Summer regular season. Despite a 2–3 playoff loss to G2 Esports, Rogue qualified for the 2020 World Championship, where they finished 13th–16th with a single group-stage win against PSG Talon.
Heading into 2021, the roster saw major changes. Odoamne joined from Schalke 04, and Trymbi was promoted from the academy team. The team climbed to second place in the 2021 LEC Spring Split, losing to MAD Lions in
- founded
- 2016
- founders
- Franklin Villarreal, Derek Nelson
- field
- Esports
- notable_titles
- League of Legends, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
- key_achievement
- Won LEC Summer 2022; first Western team to reach Knockout Stage at 2022 League of Legends World Championship; won Six Major Berlin 2022 in Rainbow Six Siege
Lore & Background
Rogue was founded in 2016 and acquired by ReKTGlobal in 2018. On November 20, 2018, Riot Games announced Rogue as one of ten franchise partners in the newly rebranded League of Legends European Championship (LEC). The League of Legends team initially struggled, finishing 10th in the 2019 Spring Split with a 2–16 record, but improved after promoting academy players, reaching playoffs in Summer 2019. The team qualified for the 2020 World Championship, finishing 13–16th. In 2021, Rogue finished second in the LEC Spring Split and third in Summer, qualifying for Worlds again. In 2022, Rogue won its first LEC title by beating G2 Esports in the Summer Split, and became the only Western team to reach the Knockout Stage at the 2022 League of Legends World Championship, finishing 5–8th after losing to JD Gaming.
Reader's Guide
Rogue's significance in esports stems from its rise from a 10th-place finish in its first LEC split to winning the LEC title in 2022, and its achievement as the only Western team to reach the Knockout Stage at the 2022 League of Legends World Championship. In Rainbow Six Siege, Rogue won the Six Major Berlin 2022, earning the EU region its first international trophy since 2019. The organization also had a notable merger with KOI in October 2022, which led to rebranding, though the teams split in 2023. Rogue's League of Legends slot was bought out by NAVI on June 13, 2025, with all players, coaches, and analysts transferred. The organization's legacy includes its role in developing talent and competing at the highest levels of both League of Legends and Rainbow Six Siege.
Did You Know?
- Rogue was co-owned by DJ Steve Aoki and YouTuber Vikram 'Vikkstar123' Barn.
- Rogue's League of Legends team became the only Western team to make it to the Knockout Stage at the 2022 World Championship.
- Rogue won the Six Major Berlin 2022 in Rainbow Six Siege, the EU region's first international trophy since 2019.
- On June 13, 2025, NAVI bought out Rogue's slot in the LEC league, transferring all players, coaches, and analysts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rogue (esports) as a Smash Bros. player sponsor?
Rogue is a professional esports organization that fields competitive teams across multiple titles in both Europe and the United States. It was founded in 2016 by Franklin Villarreal and Derek Nelson and has since become a recognizable name in the broader esports sponsorship landscape.
What games and rosters does Rogue (esports) operate?
The organization has run teams in League of Legends and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege, among other titles. In League of Legends they maintained a main European squad competing in the LEC alongside a developmental roster in the Ultraliga.
What is Rogue (esports)'s most notable achievement?
Rogue captured the LEC Summer 2022 split and became the first Western team to reach the Knockout Stage at the 2022 League of Legends World Championship. They also took home the Six Major Berlin 2022 trophy in Rainbow Six Siege.
Who owns Rogue (esports) and how did the ownership change?
In 2018, ReKTGlobal—a parent and management company that also held the Carolina Royal Ravens franchise in the Call of Duty League—acquired the organization. DJ Steve Aoki was listed among the notable co-owners tied to the group.
Why is Rogue (esports) significant in the competitive gaming scene?
Rogue built a multi-regional, multi-title brand that provided a competitive home for players on both sides of the Atlantic. Their 2022 League of Legends campaign, in particular, marked a historic breakthrough for Western teams on the global stage.
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