Patrick Visan

Cal League of Legends stands on the edge of making the College League of Legends Championship, a first in Cal history. Does this team have what it takes?

Video games and esports are seeing an unexpected boom as many people are confined to their homes. Similarly, student organizations focused on gaming are staying connected in ways that other clubs can’t.

Revenge for the Bears’ defeat in the finals of the PAC-E Invitational last year and a recent regular season loss was the cherry on top of the title.

A new year always brings tough adjustments for college teams in any sport; with players rotating out on a four-year basis, it can be hard to predict success. For Cal League of Legends, this year’s changes have been positive so far.

Three out of the five starting players for Cal League of Legends are new additions, so the preseason will critical for building synergy as the team prepares for the 2020 College Championship.

The games were tense, with both teams struggling to keep their seasons alive and increase their potential tournament winnings — prizes start at $1,000 per player and doubles for improvement, going all the way up to $8,000 per player for first place.

Even with a relatively uncontested victory under its belt, Cal is preparing for a challenge. The Bears will compete against the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos next Saturday as they hope to continue their strong start.