Tournament Overview

This year, Riot Games, in collaboration with Red Bull, hosted the fifth series of the Red Bull Home Ground tournament. The event took place in Berlin at Arena Berlin from November 21 to 23, where eight teams from different regions competed for a $100,000 prize pool. In the grand final of one of the most exciting off-season events, T1 defeated Cloud9, earning their first victory in the tournament's history.

Key Highlights and Results

For the third year in a row, the Red Bull Home Ground eluded Cloud9. They reached the finals three years straight, finishing as runners-up twice. However, this year the focus was on the clear favorites, T1, who claimed their first win in their debut appearance at this off-season competition.

The first map, Abyss, saw T1 take control in the first half and maintain their dominance in the second. Although Cloud9 staged a minor comeback, they couldn’t close the gap, resulting in their first loss.

The second map, Pearl, was clearly well-rehearsed by Cloud9. They dominated the first half, but T1 showcased an incredible comeback, closing it with a 6-5 scoreline. The second half, however, highlighted Cloud9 preparation as they won convincingly, 13-8, leaving no room for their opponent to recover.

The third map, Bind, once again saw T1 seize the initiative, securing the map with a 13-8 scoreline. The match itself lacked standout moments but brought the Korean team one step closer to victory..

he final and decisive map, Haven, was dominated by T1 throughout. They closed the first half with an 8-4 lead and extended their advantage in the second half, finishing the match 13-6.

With this resounding win, T1 cemented themselves as champions of the tournament, marking a strong start to their off-season performance.

The Winner’s Journey to the Final

After receiving an invitation to the qualifiers for Red Bull Home Ground #5, the Korean team T1 breezed through the regional stage, securing a decisive 3-1 victory over ZETA DIVISION in the finals—a surprising outcome for many APAC fans. Having earned a spot in the main event, T1 continued to dominate during the Swiss stage, achieving hard-fought wins against FUT Esports and G2 Esports, thus claiming the top spot in the tournament standings.

The playoffs turned out to be smoother for T1. In their second match, they defeated FUT Esports 2-1, confidently navigating through the maps Bind, Pearl, and Ascent. This secured T1 another grand final appearance in the Red Bull Home Ground series.

Top Players of the Tournament

The key to T1 success was the exceptional performance of young talent Yu "BuZz" Byung-chul, who recently joined the team. He recorded the highest KDA and ADR statistics of the event, proving himself as a stellar duelist.

Other players deserving praise include:

Kim "Meteor" Tae-o and Ko "Sylvan" Young-sub, two more newcomers who debuted with T1 revamped roster. This trio demonstrated immense potential, hinting at significant changes in the APAC region next season. The team’s strong lineup suggests they’ll continue to surprise fans in the future.

Memorable Moments of the Tournament

The second day of the off-season Red Bull Home Ground #5 brought unexpected drama when one of the favorites, Team Heretics, withdrew from the competition. In an official statement on Twitter, the team revealed that health issues among the players forced them to forfeit their match against FUT Esports and exit the tournament.

As a result, Team Heretics suffered an automatic loss, while FUT Esports advanced to the playoffs, where they faced T1 to determine who would proceed to the grand final.

This incident saddened Team Heretics fans, who expressed their support and gratitude for the team’s efforts.

Meanwhile, the tournament also marked another disappointing outcome for the American team Cloud9, who suffered their third grand final loss in the Red Bull Home Ground series. This streak of defeats will undoubtedly remain a lasting memory for their fans.

Prize Pool Distribution

• 1st Place, $50,000 - T1
• 2nd Place, $30,000 - Cloud9
• 3rd Place, $10,000 - G2 Esports
• 4th Place, $10,000 - FUT Esports

Exclusive Expert Opinion

Our editorial team reached out to B8 Esports IGL Vladyslav "arch" Svistov for insights on the tournament events. Here’s what he had to say:

1. What were Team Heretics' chances of winning if they hadn’t withdrawn? I think they would have definitely defeated Cloud9 with their main lineup (considering they managed to take 11 rounds even with Weber, who is an assistant coach, playing on Astra—a role he has only played three times and hasn’t competed professionally in a long time). As for FUT, they look strong, so it would have been about a 50-50 matchup.
2. How do you evaluate the performance of Fnatic’s rookie, Sayonara? Will he establish himself in the Tier-1 scene?He played very well in two BO1 matches, but his performance dipped in the BO3 series. He’s only 16, and this was his first Tier-1 tournament experience, so it’s too early to draw firm conclusions. However, I can say that he’s highly promising and has immense potential to become a star.
3. Why do you think Cloud9 performs well in off-season tournaments but struggles in regular season events? They’ve strengthened their roster and were well-prepared for this tournament. Honestly, I don’t recall how they performed in last year’s off-season, but their current form suggests they have a strong chance to deliver in the upcoming VCT season with their new lineup.
4. What lessons should teams take away from this tournament? Off-season tournaments are extremely valuable because, while everyone wants to win, they also serve as excellent warm-ups for 2025. These events offer great practice opportunities to identify weaknesses and mistakes. The key is to draw the right conclusions and analyze what needs improvement to be ready for the next season. Each team must figure this out for themselves.

This was a valuable warm-up for teams ahead of the next VCT season. Ultimately, T1 emerged as the new favorites heading into 2024, while Cloud9’s roster still has areas to improve.

Will these teams maintain their dominance in the upcoming season? Stay tuned for updates on the Red Bull Home Ground #5 finalists as their journeys continue!