📖 Estimated read time: 676 words, 2.5 minute read
UC Irvine Takes the Crown: #1 Champions in the PlayVS College League (PCL) League of Legends Championship
After three months of fierce competition among 24 of the nation’s top college teams, UC Irvine’s League of Legends student athletes rose to the elite final eight to claim the championship title at the Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup May Madness—held in the May 2 weekend at the Texas WACO Convention Center.
Cloud9 Watch Party! Don’t miss out!
UC Irvine Esports is hosting a watch party at our very own arena next month! Get ready for an electrifying match-day atmosphere as we bring the community together to cheer on your favorite players.
- When: May 14 and 15 · 1 – 8 p.m. 📅
- Live match viewing with fellow fans. 🎮
- Free prizes and catered food! Enjoy some cool C9 swag! Available while supplies last. 🤝
- Free play on the arena PCs. 🖥️
Scholarships
Applications just closed for The Pokimane Scholarship and The NZXT Awards. However, the impact of these awards is just getting started. As we look toward the next year, we are focused on growing these opportunities and continuing to invest in the students who shape our community.
- Celebrating this year’s applicants and future scholarship recipients. 🎓
- Expanding opportunities to support even more students next year. 🌱
- Building long-term sustainability through continued scholarship support. 🚀
10th Year Anniversary Jersey Contest—Coming Soon!
10 years of UC Irvine Esports—an amazing feat for the program! Be on the lookout for defining our historic milestone with your own personal touch—designing our jerseys for the upcoming season!
Zot Playfest 2026
Our spring event was successful! Thank you for joining us at the Student Center Terrace and meeting some of the best gaming clubs we offer. We hope you enjoyed the popcorn, refreshments, and cosplay contest!
If you missed it …
- Stamp rally to explore affiliated clubs 🎟️
- Games, sponsor activations, and community moments 🕹️
- Cosplay showcase + opportunity drawings 🦸
Bigger, louder, and all the more connected—make sure to join the next one!
Giving Day
We thank all those for coming #TogetherForUCIrvine in the 10th annual campus Giving Day! Sincere gratitude for those who gave on April 28 or during the early giving period.
Why every gift matters:
- Funds travel for national competitions. ✈️
- Supports student development + career pathways. 🎓
- Strengthens one of the top collegiate esports programs. 🤝
UC Irvine Homecoming
This year, we had the lovely pleasure of collaborating with two of our affiliated clubs, TAG Smash Ultimate Club at UCI and Anteater Sim Racing Club to bring an arcade for Homecoming Day!
- Fighting game setups + racing simulators in action. 👾
- Hundreds of students, alumni, and families joined! 👥
- Memorabilia showcase highlighting our growth. 🏆
- Kiddos + guests enjoying games and refreshments. 🍿
Thank you to everyone who came through—we loved seeing the community show out ⚡
CVAL and CLOL West Champions!
This past month has been a huge upcoming for our teams. We’ve had some fun and intense matches, but they all cumulate into our biggest win of the month—securing first seed in College VALORANT (CVAL) and College League of Legends (CLOL) West Conferences!
- League of Legends: In addition to our PCL win, our players climbed to the top six in CLOL—now at season end. 🛡️
- VALORANT: Showed absolute domination in PlayVS College League and CVAL West Conference. We also took home a huge tournament win in a close 3 – 2 series against San Jose State University Esports in the PlayVS × ReWired Tourney! 💥
- More to come! Keep following our socials to hear more on how we’re doing! 🤝
Thank you to everyone who’s been supporting our teams along the way. We’re excited to keep this energy going. 🥳
📖 Estimated read time: 629 words, 2.5 minute read
Topping the Leaderboard
UC Irvine Esports kicks off 2026 with momentum—fresh roster, new platforms, and championship—level play already underway.
Team Roster Reveal
The lineup is here. Our varsity teams have been ready since the start of fall quarter, and we’re excited to formally introduce the rosters for VALORANT and League of Legends!
🔴 VALORANT Roster
Duelist – kookInitiator – L4CE
Flex / Sentinel – add3r
Smoke – jjasonl
Duelist – derekdmo
Initiator – richie
Viper / Sentinel – jas0n
Coach – CurryShot
Manager – Strider
🔵 League of Legends Roster
Starting LineupTop-Lane – Armao
Jungle – RoseThorn
Mid-Lane – Cinnamon Bread
ADC – minui
Support – Kurulean
Substitutes
Sub Mid-Lane – Strompest
Sub ADC – Kyriii
Sub All-Rounder – Draxyr
Coach – Joey
Manager – burreido
These players represent UC Irvine Esports in collegiate competition. Stay tuned for highlights, clips, and team updates on our socials!
Introducing the UC Irvine Esports Mobile App
UC Irvine launched what may be the first dedicated collegiate esports program mobile app.
- Expands access and engagement across the program.
- Creates one hub for updates, match schedules and announcements.
- Showcases UC Irvine’s leadership in collegiate esports.
Download now on the App Store or Google Play!
Now Hiring: Content & Media Team Member
We’re hiring current UC Irvine students passionate about gaming and esports to help create content and promote the UC Irvine Esports Program.
The Job:
- Create social media content (video, graphics, photos).
- Help cover esports events and matches.
- Follow and contribute to social media trends.
- Collaborate with marketing and esports teams.
- Flexible hours (up to 19.5 hours per week).
- Hybrid role—remote work with in-person support as needed.
All-New and Improved Esports Website
The UC Irvine Esports website has been completely redesigned to showcase one of the nation’s premier collegiate esports programs.
- Explore our competitive teams and players.
- Follow highlights, clips, and match results.
- Connect with our growing esports community.
Visit the new site to see what’s happening in the arena and beyond.
Team Jerseys for the ’25 – ’26 Season
Ready to dominate the Rift and defuse the Spike … in style.
UC Irvine Esports is hitting this season with our brand-new jerseys! Sleek, minimalistic, and designed for maximum performance and team pride, these jerseys represent our roster in every match, stream, and tournament.
UCEI Recap
This year, UC Irvine’s Esports hosted and competed for the University of California Esports Initiative LAN Championships in League of Legends and VALORANT!
- UCEI Invitational was hosted by a university campus for the first time.
- UC Irvine’s League of Legends and VALORANT teams were victorious!
- Hosted Networking Night which brought together students and industry professionals.
Mark’s Interview With Voyage LA
UC Irvine Esports Director Mark Deppe was recently featured in Voyage LA to share the story behind building one of the nation’s top collegiate esports programs.
Highlights from the interview:
- Launched the UC Irvine Esports Arena in 2016.
- Focused on fostering a culture that prioritized long-term growth.
- Strong industry partnerships and career pathways.
- A nationally recognized model for collegiate esports.
From vision to arena to national championship—the journey is just getting started for Mark.
