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United States71 Posts
Carlsbad, Calif. – October 31st, 2011 – Razer, one of the world’s pioneering supporters of e-Sports, and Team Empire, Russian multi-gaming organization, have forged an alliance to upset the balance of competitive gaming by arming them with the very best high performance gaming hardware.
Team Empire’s flagship StarCraft II squad have most recently emerged as winners of multiple WCG National finals earlier this year and have a massive showing of six players attending the grand finals in Busan, South Korea, in December. In what is already a thriving e-Sports culture in Russia and eastern Europe, Razer and Team Empire will look to build on the previous successes there and catapult gaming to the mainstream.
This fire squad of win comprises of ![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/mirror/smilies/terran-big.gif ) Mikhailo “Kas” Gaida, previous Grand Master Rank 1 on the EU servers and a semi-finalist in the latest installment of Team Liquid’s Star League; Dmitry “Happy” Kostin, a former top-tier Warcraft 3 combatant and two-time WCG semi-finalist; ![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/mirror/smilies/terran-big.gif) Aleksandar "Beastyqt” Krstic, winner of WCG Serbia 2011, a second place Grand Master ladder competitor whose own beastly play inspired his nickname; ![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/mirror/smilies/zerg-big.gif) Anton “Aristeo” Vasilyev, one-half of a highly-feared 2v2 StarCraft II duo and WCG 2011 qualifier; and Andrei “ho8ot” Mikheev, Team Empire’s charismatic captain.
“Our partnership with Razer is an important step in the development of Team Empire. With the backing of the best pro-gaming hardware maker, we hope to make giant steps as a pro-gaming clan,” said Alexander “StrangeR” Solomonov, HR Manager, Team Empire. “And not only for StarCraft II, but for all the other competitive games our clan participates in, Razer is the best go-to brand as they provide a whole range of peripherals that specifically suits each and every game we support from Battlefield to Fifa.”
“My game depends of many things, the most important of which is the gaming peripherals I use,” Empire player Mykhailo “Kas” Gaida said. “I’m very happy the world’s top peripheral designer has decided to support us. Professional gaming demands use of only the very best and high quality hardware. Razer provides this – and more. I’ll use my new equipment with pleasure.”
“Team Empire is a great clan built around strong individual and team-play, evident in games like StarCraft II, League of Legends and Call of Duty 4,” said Robert “RazerGuy” Krakoff. “Their individual player and team achievements for SC2 in particular are making immense waves across Europe – from impressive Grand Master rankings to multiple WCG Finals entrants."
About Razer:
Razer has been a pioneering supporter of e-Sports since its conception. It is in our blood and we are driven to further the culture of professional gaming in all that we do. We work hand in hand with our pros to forge weaponry for the players who stake their livelihood on podium placements. Our gear is designed to perform flawlessly in high-stress tournament conditions where winning is everything and mistakes cost championships. Those who compete with our equipment will attest – We live by our words: For Gamers. By Gamers.
For more information, please visit www.razerzone.com.
About Team Empire:
Team Empire is one of Russia’s largest and best known gaming organizations, sporting past and present teams in the Battlefield series, Call of Duty series, Heroes of Newerth, Warcraft III, League of Legends, Fifa, Quake Live, StarCraft II and Team Fortress 2. Empire has been home to some of the world’s biggest names in competitive gaming and continues to push limits across the board.
Team web page: http://www.team-empire.tv
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/empireEsports
Press contacts:
Razer
Christopher “Razer|Right” Mitchell
Razer e-Sports Manager
sponsorships@razerzone.com
Team Empire
Alexander ‘Empire|StrangeR’ Solomonov
Team Empire HR Manager
empire.a.solomonov@gmail.com
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Two fantastic teams getting together= profit.
Good luck to Empire and Razer, can't wait to see the results out of this new venture.
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Very good for Empire.
Good luck, hope it all goes well.
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Great to see this, I'm a big fan of Beastyqt and Kas, glad to see their team getting some attention.
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Great news!  Best of luck to both parties!
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So is this "just" a hardware deal or is there more to it? (thinking financial benefits here)
Either way, great to see the great team Empire deservingly getting some reckognition! They really proved themselves (at least to a lot of people) for real this weekend taking 2nd place at the EGMC.
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Congrats and good luck to both parties.
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Nice. Hoping for big tournament results.
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Russian Federation9 Posts
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Empire are a very strong team, looking forward to seeing more tournament appearances.
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Two of the coolest logos in esports teaming up.
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ITs not really a team razer though is there? so is it just like a sponsorship or is there players joining up i just failed to read?
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Congrats to both parties. ^_^;
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Congratulations and good luck to both!
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I hope this involves the players going full pro and not just hardware - they certainly have the talent required : )
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Awesome announcement !
This guys are some of the best in the scene, i wish them luck !
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This is awesome, grats to both, I hope this gives Empire the funding to allow their players to travel to more tournaments, so much potential, nobody more deserving!
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Why call it team Razer when they have no team with players in it?
Anyway, good for Empire. They really showed that they are a great team in the EGMC.
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EmpireHo8ot is such a crack up =] hopefully picks up his game a little and gets more known. gl
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yep, its "just" a sponsorship for Team Empire.
Well deserved though, especially after the EG Masters Cup performance.
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I didn't know Razer had a sc2 team.
Though I do recall something about some Taiwanese woman playing sc2 sponsored by Razer, but that was a long time ago (I remember it says something about her being number 1 diamond lol)
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Nice, empire has some sick players, hopefully we get to see more of them.
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Wow, I'm so jealous! Good for Empire! Fantastic for Razer!
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lol misguiding title. but congrats nonetheless for the sponsorship
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Congrats to Empire for the sponsorship. And good luck with making it go a long way.
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On November 01 2011 11:14 Bagi wrote:
Why call it team Razer when they have no team with players in it?
Anyway, good for Empire. They really showed that they are a great team in the EGMC.
There are some players with a RAZER team tag. For example, RAZERServoya, and some Protoss guy whos name I forgot.
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Congratulations to empire! kas is such a boss xD
and damn razor sponsoring so many different things lol
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Wow, congrats to Empire! From what I recall, they were a team without much funding which is why their players weren't seen in too many live tournaments, but hopefully this changes that! They are definitely a deserving team.
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Grats to Empire they did great in Eg masters cup with nice nice upsets if u can call em that now this grats guys
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Your move Steelseries. Your move.
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Canada1637 Posts
Good to see Empire growing!
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did razer drop eg or something?
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I'm pretty sure that this is just Razer sponsoring Empire and has nothing to do with players moving teams or such. I think Razer just calls all the teams/players they sponsor "pat of team Razer." Grats to Empire for picking up such a big sponsor, they have a really good bunch of players.
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I'm for anything that supports Beasty! :D
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Nice, another solid pickup by Razer
On November 01 2011 14:15 striderxxx wrote:
did razer drop eg or something?
Since when did Razer support EG? SteelSeries and Razer are rivals, I'd hope
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How many teams does Razer sponsor now? o_0
I swear there are at least 2-4 more teams they sponsor.
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On November 01 2011 11:32 Geovu wrote:
I didn't know Razer had a sc2 team.
Though I do recall something about some Taiwanese woman playing sc2 sponsored by Razer, but that was a long time ago (I remember it says something about her being number 1 diamond lol)
Razer sponsors these ESPORTS teams that have a SC2 division:
Liquid
FXO
EMPIRE
Wayi Spider
Gamania Bears
Mouz
Dignitas
ROX
and the MYM SC2 division is barely alive with three players.
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Canada1637 Posts
On November 01 2011 14:58 LanTAs wrote:Show nested quote +On November 01 2011 11:32 Geovu wrote:
I didn't know Razer had a sc2 team.
Though I do recall something about some Taiwanese woman playing sc2 sponsored by Razer, but that was a long time ago (I remember it says something about her being number 1 diamond lol)
Razer sponsors these ESPORTS teams that have a SC2 division: Liquid FXO EMPIRE Wayi Spider Gamania Bears Mouz Dignitas ROX and the MYM SC2 division is barely alive with three players.
Might not wanna forget SlayerS 
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Congrats to Empire and welcome to the Razer family!
On November 01 2011 14:58 LanTAs wrote:
Razer sponsors these ESPORTS teams that have a SC2 division:
Liquid
FXO
EMPIRE
Wayi Spider
Gamania Bears
Mouz
Dignitas
ROX
and the MYM SC2 division is barely alive with three players.
Don't forget ReIGN!
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So is this basically just a free mouse and keyboard? Or something more substantive?
If it's not the latter... big whoop...
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thanks to razer for sponsoring all these teams!
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Congratz to both.
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Wow! Thank you razer! Congratz Empire - showing some insane play!
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Awesome for team empire!
hope this guys do well.
happy, kas, aristeo, beastyqt.
awesome players! gl hf to them!
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A very showy way to announce a new sponsorship.
Congrats on it regardless; one of my favourite EU teams.
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Yay Empire! Beast(l)y team.
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Well deserved, good job ! . More power to kas.
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That is awesome. Beneficial to both! Awesome!
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well good luck guys!!!
Empire is a beast team, shame that bratok left!!!
Good luck both teams in the endeavours!!!
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On November 01 2011 18:35 Tommylew wrote:
well good luck guys!!!
Empire is a beast team, shame that bratok left!!!
Good luck both teams in the endeavours!!!
Bratok was in RoX.Kis not Empire.
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Empire hasn't sent their players to very many lans in the past, which is a shame, hopefully we get to see Kas, Happy and Beastyqt at more lans now they have Razer to sponsor. Empire has maybe the most talented Terrans in the Foreign scene, I am quite excited about this. The foreign scene needs more top Terrans!
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Gratz Empire, more or less learnt everything i know about playing terran from watching kas and beastyqt
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Empire - home of the best terrans in Europe finally get some $$$. Hopefully we now see some more of your guys in major tournaments.
gratz!
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I thought it said Acer and I laughed when it said "very best high performance gaming hardware". But this is great.
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Gratz to both Empire very underrated team 
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cool...we'll see what that brings for the future
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These guys are really good, congrats to them
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I don't think giving them nice mice would be as helpful as good practice, but good for them anyway. wp in EG master cup;
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sick news! empire has alot of potential
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"Razer Empire" the ultimate world in which all facial hair dies. xD
Interesting announcement. Nice to see these sponsors investing in esports even more!
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whooo go Empire! congrats
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Can someone tell me who's who on the picture in this post? I realize Happy is the one at the left, but from there on, I don't know who's who
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Russian Federation138 Posts
On November 01 2011 21:51 Chrobbus wrote:Can someone tell me who's who on the picture in this post? I realize Happy is the one at the left, but from there on, I don't know who's who
Happy, ho8ot, Siw, Aristeo
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On November 01 2011 21:52 fAiryqt wrote:Show nested quote +On November 01 2011 21:51 Chrobbus wrote:Can someone tell me who's who on the picture in this post? I realize Happy is the one at the left, but from there on, I don't know who's who Happy, ho8ot, Siw, Aristeo
Thanx
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How awesome would it be to be totally outfitted with brand new Razer gear... oh man...
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Could we please re-name the thread title please? It's a bit misleading to be honest.
In other news, good for Empire, hopefully with this we'll be able to see some more Europeans hit up Providence, or the MLG 2012 Circuit, and maybe even train in Korea
Glad to see another positive step for ESPORTS
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Very happy for Team Empire they defiantly deserve it.
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Great sponsorship, grats to Empire.
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Very cool, the empire team has had some awesome unappreciated potential, they deserve a good sponsor like this
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Congrats guys. Hope to see some improved play!
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Team Empire is just getting stronger and stronger! They are doing great!
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Empire is amazing. If anyone needs proof of this look at the beast that is Kas
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After seeing Empire's super impressive run in the EGMC this weekend, I don't think anyone can possibly say Empire hasn't more than earned this. Congrats!
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Finally! I think no European team deserves stronger sponsorship more than Empire. So many solid and dedicated player that couldn´t attend many major lans because of their limited finances. I´m really looking forward to see the members of this beastly team in the spotlight. Maybe then people will stop underestimating a team, that is IMO the 3rd strongest EU team after Mouz and liquid.
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Great sponsor, fun team. Grats guys.
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Seeing more and more sponsorships from Razer makes me more and more biased to buy their products. Big grats to Empire!
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Glad that I bought the Imperator. Great mouse.
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Well done & congrats to Empire and thanks to Razer for putting more into ESPORTS.
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COngrats a lot and GL!!
Empire rocks!!
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good for empire
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What team doesn't razer sponser now-a-days o.O
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On November 02 2011 10:03 FryktSkyene wrote:
What team doesn't razer sponser now-a-days o.O
All the teams Steelseries does
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Not bad at all! Empire deserves it a lot of course after EG Masters Cup Finals and because they have so many underrated players that need to be known more!
Congrats!
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Congrats to everyone involved however I do have to say that I am confused. Doesn't Razer sponsor other teams like liquid and IM. Isn't kind of strange to sponsor the competition? That being said it is great to see a company help e-sports as much as Razer has.
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Thats pretty cool, got to give credit where it is due ! Hope they continue with the ownage.
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Awesome for Empire!! Always been a big Kas fan Congratz!!!
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Nice! Another partnership for Razer!
Congratulations to Empire which really have good players! :D
OT: Wonder what the tally is between Steelseries and Razer?
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How many teams is Razer sponsoring good God
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woohoo! Go Team Empire! Beastyqt for president!
Hopefully we can see some of these guys get sponsored to come to international events now.
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EPT![[image loading]](http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll96/Drew7uk/TeamEmpire.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll96/Drew7uk/groupshot1.jpg)
