BLVKHVND have announced that they are taking a trip across the pond to go compete in the FTX US Fragadelphia 17 Last Chance Qualifier in Philadelphia, on the 8th of September. The UK team and EPIC36 runners-up are set to become the first ever UK team to make the trip across the Atlantic to partake in Fragadelphia, with the only other appearance of a UK team on American soil being Endpoint’s appearance at Dreamhack Anaheim 2020.
The last chance qualifier provides an opportunity for the eight best-placed teams to progress to the main event, a day later, to compete for the lion’s share of $100,000. This is a major step-up in prize pool in comparison to what BLVKHVND have previously played in, with EPIC offering up a comparative measly £3,000 and even EPS (the regional ESL league) offering up only £15,000.
BLVKHVND’s second place finish at EPIC.LAN and third-fourth place finish in EPS has put them on their way to bridging the gap between them and the top UK teams and the trip to America offers up another chance to prove their metal. BLVKHVND will be the second EU team to make the trip after Apeks Rebel’s failed attempt to usurp the American teams at Fragadelphia 16, ultimately ending up with a second-place finish behind Strife.
Although they are the first to travel to our loud and rowdy neighbours, this is the latest example of UK teams trying to expand their horizons by travelling abroad for tier two/three LAN’s, BLVKHVND follows in the footsteps of coalesce, EKO and most recently Into the Breach. The creation and capitalisation on these opportunities for UK teams are allowing the scene to grow in a way previously impossible and adds to the exciting optimism that is currently growing inside the scene.
