For the fifth time, EarlyGame honored streamers, gamers and eSports athletes with its own community award at the weekend. It was celebrated in style in Cologne.
CGN Esports is the “Esports Team of the Year”. At this year’s EarlyGame Awards, the Valorant team from Cologne left illustrious names such as RBLZ Gaming, Eintracht Spandau and G2 behind them to win the community prize.
Almost-promoted in carnival frenzy
However, the quintet from the Rhine did not only deserve the award because of their loyal fans. The sporting arguments were also convincing. After all, CGN 2024 almost made it into the VCT. As the winners of a Challengers Split in the DACH region, they went through the Play-Ins to the “Ascencion” promotion event. There, the team from the carnival stronghold only just missed out on a sensational result, finishing a strong third.
“It’s so crazy. Thanks to everyone who voted for us,” said CGN co-founder David Dick enthusiastically in a video message shown during the awards ceremony. No wonder, after all, Dick and his colleagues had two reasons to throw a big party: “We are celebrating Carnival right now and got the message.”
‘Karina’ celebrates individual award
The individual equivalent of the award for CGN went to Karina Wurm of FOKUS Sakura on Sunday. The Valorant player and her colleagues stirred up the scene in 2024 and played at the top throughout. When the Project Queens split into three, they always made it at least to the semi-finals before finishing the year with third place in the Wingwoman Series.
“I didn’t expect to be nominated, so I was really happy about that,” said the longest-serving Sakura player about being included in the group of potential award winners. To have actually won the award means “an incredible amount to me. Thanks to every single vote.”
Nerlich expands “GOTY” series
Beyond the eSports categories, the gamers of the year were also chosen on Sunday evening. There was no surprise in the men’s category. Once again, the serial winner Elias ‘EliasN97’ Nerlich triumphed. The female counterpart was Fibi Evelyn Pfeifer, who is known online as ‘xFibii’.
