Solihull Plays Host to High-Octane Rocket League Championship Series

Solihull Arena Hosts Major Rocket League Tournament

Solihull was the epicentre of Rocket League action between 27th and 30th March, as it hosted the RLCS 2025 Major Birmingham. Sixteen of the world's top Rocket League teams battled it out in front of a live audience for a share of the impressive $351,000 prize pool. Ultimately, it was the French team Karmine Corp who emerged victorious, defeating The Ultimates with a dominant 4-0 score in the final to claim the $102,000 top prize.

Birmingham's Esports Scene Ignited by RLCS 2025

The Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) served as the opening act for Birmingham's "Game On Birmingham" initiative, a series of esports events that also includes the WM Esports Unwrapped business summit. Leading up to the main event, local gamers had the chance to participate in the "British Esports Cup," a competition open to UK residents aged 13 and over. The British Esports Cup boasted a total prize pool of £5,000, with £3,000 awarded to the first-place winner, £1,000 to the runner-up, and £500 each to the third and fourth-place finishers.

More than 80 students from Solihull College & University Centre played a vital role in the event's organisation, assisting with tasks such as player registration, ticket management, VIP lounge support, and various other essential duties. The event also received support from official partners including BLAST, the British Esports Federation, West Midlands Growth Company, NEC Group, and the University of Warwick. Furthermore, the competition was backed by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the UK Government.

Karmine Corp's Dominant Run to Victory

Karmine Corp demonstrated their prowess throughout the championship. They made a strong start in the Swiss Stage, securing victories against the Wildcard, Geekay Esports, and Team Falcons. Despite a close 3-2 win against Wildcard, they progressed confidently to the quarter-finals.

In the playoffs, Karmine Corp triumphed over NRG with a 4-2 score and then convincingly defeated Furia 4-0 in the semi-finals. The final saw them face The Ultimates, who had previously defeated Vitality and NRG. Karmine Corp clinched the first game in overtime and followed it up with a decisive 3-1 victory in the second game. They maintained their momentum in the third game, securing the lead and ultimately claiming the championship title.

Viewership Figures Dip for RLCS 2025

While the RLCS 2025 Birmingham Major remains a popular event outside of the World Championship, this year's competition experienced a notable decline in viewership. The championship reached a peak of 287,987 viewers, a drop from the 435,503 peak viewers recorded at last year's Copenhagen Major.

Despite the broadcast lasting slightly longer at 33 hours, the Birmingham Major garnered fewer watch hours (4.1m) and average viewers (121,687) compared to the 2024 edition, which achieved 4.9m watch hours and 159,854 average viewers. Karmine Corp proved to be the most popular team, generating 1m watch hours, followed by The Ultimates with 896,200 watch hours, and then FURIA, NRG, and Team Vitality.