Aurora Gaming

   Main sponsor1xBetWebsiteauroragg.com

Aurora Gaming, or simply Aurora (stylized in all caps),[2] is a Serbian esports organization. Founded in 2022, the org fields professional rosters in Apex Legends, Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), and Dota 2 competitions.

Founding and sponsor

Aurora Gaming was founded in 2022 in Serbia.[2] Their main sponsor/partner is 1xBet.[3] In November 2023, their CS2 roster appeared in an ad camapign with Russian adult film actress Eva Elfie; the ad received criticism, with some fans calling it "misogynistic".[4] 1xBet is one of both Aurora's and Elfie's main sponsors.[4]

History in Apex Legends

A Serbian org, Aurora competes in the EMEA region for the Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) competition.[5]

ALGS Year 3

Aurora played with an all-Russian squad to being the 2022–23 (ALGS Year 3) season, with the players previously completing on Team Empire roster,[6] from which they were dropped when Team Empire left competitive Apex in August 2022.[7] On 4 November, Aurora signed the roster consisting of "RANCHES", "cleaveee", and "Maliwan".[8]

In EMEA play, Aurora was dominant during Split 1, winning the region.[9][10] This qualified them for the Split 1 playoffs, but they encountered visa issues which marred Aurora all season.[5][6][9] These visa issues rendered them unable to play in the ALGS Split 1 Playoffs, held in London.[10]

During the ALGS Split 2 Pro League, Aurora had a middling performance and Alexey "Mailwan" Rusinov stepped down from the active roster, with Danila "Sunset" Soloviov filling the vacant roster spot.[9] Their performance improved and they were able to qualify for the Split 2 Playoffs as the EMEA region's ninth seed.[9] However, visa issues further complicated Aurora's competitive efforts, as Sunset was forced to miss the ALGS Split 2 Playoffs.[9] Maliwan returned and filled-in for Sunset during the competition.[11] In the 2023 ALGS Split 2 Playoffs, they selected drop spots alongside other teams on both the Storm Point and World's Edge maps.[12][13] After a 31st-place finish in the Split 2 Playoffs, Aurora disbanded the roster in August.[5][14]

Later in the month, Aurora would re-enter Apex competition, signing the then free agent Fire Beavers roster.[5][15] This team consisted of Kiryl "9impulse" Kostsiu, Lev "taskmast33r" Grigoriev, and Syvatoslav "ojrein" Korochinsky, with the former playing as the team's captain.[16] They qualified for the 2023 ALGS Championship, held in Birmingham.[10] However, visa issues once again came into play, with Jose "Uxako" Llosa and Keenan "Tax" Mackey, serving as substitutes for Aurora.[16] Ultimately, 9impulse received his visa, though taskmast33r was denied entry to the U.K.[17][18] They instead began the tournament with "Uxako" playing the third spot on their roster.[10] Internal team disagreements with Uxako occurred and after the group stage, Aurora attempted to make a swap to Tax.[18] However, ALGS officials denied Aurora's roster swap.[17] As Uxako was registered as a starting player for Aurora in the tournament, a swap to a sub was only allowed in a case such as illness.[17] 9impulse and ojrein would finish the tournament playing as a duo, and Aurora finished the Championship in a disappointing 36th-place.[18]

ALGS Year 4

In December, Aurora benched taskmast33r.[10] Konstantin "Hardecki" Kozlov would complete the Aurora roster as their third player.[19][20] During EMEA regional play in the Split 1 Pro League, the team performed well, securing a spot in the Split 1 Playoffs.[21] In March 2024, 9impulse requested Apex Legends publisher Electronic Arts (EA) to send out official invites to the 2024 ALGS Split 1 Playoffs LAN location, in order for players to be proactive in applying for travel visas.[22] Other pro players spoke up in solidarity of 9impulse.[22]

Heading into the 2024 ALGS Split 1 Playoffs, Hadley Vincent of Dot Esports wrote that "Aurora is known by most as a wildcard team", and cited professional player "Zer0" of DarkZero concurring with that assessment.[19] They are also known as an aggressive team, with their play notably unorthodox in relation to the game's meta.[19][20]

In Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2

Aurora Gaming also fields rosters in Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) and Dota 2.[23] Aurora's CS2 roster won the Skyesports Masters 2024 tournament, defeating OG by a score of 3–1.[24][25] The win clinched a berth in the Skyesports Championship 2024 tournament.[24]

On 13 November 2023, Aurora signed the former Talon Esports roster, the strongest in the Southeast Asia (SEA) region, after Talon and the roster mutually agreed to part ways.[26][27] The roster consisted of Nuengnara "23savage" Teeramahanon,[a] Armel "Armel" Tabios, Anucha "Jabz" Jirawong, Worawit "Q" Mekchai, and Chan "Oli" Chon Kien.[26] In March 2024, Armel was benched.[29] Aurora shortly thereafter announced Artem "Lorenof" Melnik as their new mid laner.[30]

Rosters

Apex Legends
Aurora Gaming Apex Legends roster
Players Coaches
Handle Name Nationality
9impulse Kostsiu, Kiryl Belarus
ojrein Perry, Rhys Russia
Hardecki Kozlov, Konstantin Russia
Head coach

Anatoly "Wrugb" Belousov

Legend:
  • (I) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Substitute player Substitute
  • Injured Injury / Illness
  

Source:[31]

Counter-Strike 2
Aurora Gaming Counter-Strike 2 roster
Players Coaches
Handle Name Nationality
deko Zhukov, Denis Russia
KENSI Gurkin, Aleksandr Russia
Lack1 Boldyrev, Viktor Kazakhstan
Norwi Ermolin, Evgeny Russia
r3salt Frolov, Evgeny Russia
Head coach

Stepan "brain" Sivoronov

Legend:
  • (I) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Substitute player Substitute
  • Injured Injury / Illness
  

Latest roster transaction: 5 April 2024[b].

Source:[34]

Dota 2
Aurora Gaming Dota 2 roster
Players Coaches
Handle Name Nationality
23 Teeramahanon, Nuengnara Thailand
Jabz Jirawong, Anucha Thailand
Q Mekchai, Worawit Thailand
Oli Chon Kien, Chan Malaysia
Lorenof Melnik, Artem Ukraine
Head coach

Lee "Sunbhie" Jeong-jae

Legend:
  • (I) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Substitute player Substitute
  • Injured Injury / Illness
  

Latest roster transaction: 16 March 2024[30].

Source:[28]

Notes

  1. ^ Teermahanon's handle is now listed as "23" on Aurora's website.[28]
  2. ^ Esports organization 1win announced their new roster, including the signing of lattyk, on 5 April 2024.[32] lattyk had been previously been on the bench for Aurora.[33]

References

  1. ^ "Logo Book" (PDF). auroragg.com. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b "About". auroragg.com. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Partners". auroragg.com. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b Mclaughlin, Declan (3 November 2023). "Fans call esports org ad with Eva Elfie "misogynistic"". Dexerto. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d Labilles, Justin-Ivan (24 August 2023). "Aurora carries CIS Apex banner forward, signing one of EMEA's best teams for ALGS Championship". Dot Esports. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  6. ^ a b Snavely, Adam (1 February 2023). "ALGS Split One Playoffs plagued by visa issues and some favorite teams are at risk of missing the tournament". Dot Esports. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  7. ^ Team Empire [@team_empire] (8 August 2022). "Today we're leaving competitive Apex Legends and announce the departure from our Apex ex-squad" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ Aurora Gaming [@TheAurora_GG] (4 November 2022). "Today we are announcing the opening of the composition of the Apex Legends discipline" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via Twitter.
  9. ^ a b c d e Labilles, Justin-Ivan (11 July 2023). "Apex Legends star player forced out of ALGS Split 2 Playoffs due to last-minute visa issues". Dot Esports. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d e ZT Marie, Hannah (19 December 2023). "EMEA Apex legend Hardecki could make ALGS return after Aurora benches taskmast33r". Dot Esports. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  11. ^ @TheAurora_GG (11 July 2023). "A few words about ALGS: Playoffs 👇" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ Landis, Robbie (13 July 2023). "Aurora Challenges DarkZero in ALGS Split 2 Playoffs Group Stages". Esports Illustrated. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  13. ^ Landis, Robbie (12 July 2023). "Apex Legends Global Series: 2023 Split 2 Playoffs, Where Are Teams Dropping?". Esports Illustrated. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  14. ^ Aurora Gaming [@TheAurora_GG] (6 August 2023). "For almost a year now, our team has been an integral part of every big Apex Legends tournament" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via Twitter.
  15. ^ Aurora Gaming [@TheAurora_GG] (24 August 2023). "Here is a mysterious story about a wandering beaver who fears nothing and is willing to take risks to achieve the highest results in his business" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via Twitter.
  16. ^ a b Labilles, Justin-Ivan (5 September 2023). "ALGS Championship will be missing some of its best players once again due to visa issues". Dot Esports. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  17. ^ a b c Labilles, Justin-Ivan; Snavely, Adam (8 September 2023). "ALGS Championship team forced to play as a duo after realizing they can't drop their sub". Dot Esports. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  18. ^ a b c Labilles, Justin-Ivan (28 December 2023). "The most disappointing performances of the 2023 ALGS". Dot Esports. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  19. ^ a b c Vincent, Hadley (26 April 2024). "Best teams to watch at the ALGS 2024 Split One Playoffs". Dot Esports. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  20. ^ a b Snavely, Adam (2 May 2024). "ALGS heavyweights Aurora drop at 3 different POIs at Split One Playoffs—and win every contest". Dot Esports. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  21. ^ Bull, Tom (2 March 2024). "Aurora win anther week of ALGS Pro League". esports.gg. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  22. ^ a b Labilles, Justin-Ivan (5 March 2024). "ALGS pros call for LAN invites ahead of playoffs to avoid visa issues—again". Dot Esports. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  23. ^ "New G2 CS2 lineup defeated by Aurora". BetUS. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Aurora Gaming Wins Skyesports Masters 2024, Earns Spot in Skyesports Championship 2024". ABP Live. 15 April 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  25. ^ Taifalos, Nicholas (14 April 2024). "Skyesports Masters 2024 CS2: Schedule, results, streams, and more". Dot Esports. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  26. ^ a b Soetjipto, Devin (13 November 2023). "Aurora Gaming acquires ex-Talon Dota 2 squad". esports.gg. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  27. ^ Aurora Gaming [@AuroraDota2_GG] (13 November 2023). "New season, new players and new challenges for us!" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via Twitter.
  28. ^ a b "Aurora Dota 2 Team Composition". auroragg.com. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  29. ^ Zulkiflee, Sarah "KZ" (14 March 2024). "Aurora's midlaner Armel benched to inactive roster". esports.gg. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  30. ^ a b Aurora Gaming [@AuroraDota2_GG] (16 March 2024). "We welcome Artem «Lorenof» Melnick to Aurora as our new position 2 mid laner!" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via Twitter.
  31. ^ "Aurora Apex Team Composition". auroragg.com. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  32. ^ 1win [@1winesports] (5 April 2024). "The jokes are over" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via Twitter.
  33. ^ "Aurora complete deko signing, name hooch as head coach". HLTV. 8 November 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  34. ^ "Aurora CS2 Team Composition". auroragg.com. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
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