KoKae Esports are your ECL '24: Spring - Core Champions

In a thrilling Finals series that took 7 games to decide, #14 seed KohKae Esports defeated #3 seed Darra Stars in a 1-0 Game 7 victory to win the ECL '24: Spring - Core Division Championship. This is the first ECL championship in KohKae Esports' history. They are the second team in Core Division history to win the title as a double-digit seed and are also the second team in Core Division history to knock off each of the Top 3 seeds (Resurrection did both in ECL 12 as the 16th seed in the Core Division's inaugural season).
 

KohKae Esports' ECL 24' Spring Core championship roster pictured from left to right: @TenkaRolle @Royalcombat96 @Eashl_kalle @Joona41 @khassu-- @NiQLaSSS @LihaPoni90

KohKae Esports has been competing in the league since ECL 11 (2020). Their deepest playoff run prior to this season came in the ECL '23: Spring season, when they made the Core Division Quarterfinals. The club has played 446 games across all competitions and has a record of 183-222-41.

Going into the playoffs KohKae Esports were one of the hottest teams in the division; winning each of their last 8 games of the regular season and then sweeping their Round 1, Round 2, and Quarterfinals series. This resulted in a 20-game win streak, including a 12-game win streak in the playoffs. This streak was finally snapped during the Quarterfinals when they lost Games 1 and 2 against #2 seed ARMEIJAN KURI, but they then won four straight games to clinch their place in the Finals. 

Though the runner-ups Darra Stars should be proud of their efforts this season, this loss will leave an especially bitter taste in their mouths. This marks the second Finals loss in the club's history, as they also lost in the Neo Division Finals against Flashback Skewed in the ECL '23: Spring season. In both Finals' they lost in the championship-clinching game by one goal in a series that went to full distance (the Neo Division is decided by a best-of-five series). Both teams will now turn their attention to the Lite Division, as they have both clinched promotion for the ECL '25: Winter season.

After their Game 7 victory, we had the opportunity to talk with KohKae Esports' captain Timo @LihaPoni90 Tuominen about their championship journey and why family is the reason this title means so much to them.

LihaPoni Interview:

KohKae Esports' Road to the Championship:

• Regular Season: 11-2-2-7 (39pts) - 4th in Group 3, 14th overall in Core Division
• Round 1: 4-0 series win vs (19) TRAINING GROUND
• Round 2: 4-0 series win vs (7) Lutunilkat
• Quarterfinals: 4-0 series win vs (1) Prowlers
• Semifinals: 4-2 series win vs (2) ARMEIJAN KURI
• Finals: 4-3 series win vs (3) Darra Stars

 KohKae Esports' ECL '24: Spring - Core Championship Roster

🇫🇮 Timo @LihaPoni90 Tuominen (C)

🇫🇮 Teemu @TenkaRolle Tuominen (A)

🇫🇮 Joona @Joona41 Järvinen (A)

🇫🇮 Niklas @NiQLaSSS Ihajärvi

🇫🇮 Viki @Royalcombat96 Tuominen

🇫🇮 Kalle @Eashl_kalle Tauriainen

🇫🇮 Kasper @khassu-- Rantanen