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- Team Vitality renewed its contract with Alexis ‘zen’ Bernier for two years, with the ambition to continue making Rocket League history.
- Zen’s meteoric rise highlights the club’s approach to recruiting and supporting the development of young talent.
- The French prodigy has been with the club since before he entered into the professional scene, all the way to his crowning as Rocket League world champion.
- The renewal comes as part of Team Vitality’s ambition to retain its superstar players with its sights set on a third World Champion star for its jersey.
Paris, June 18th, 2024 – Team Vitality, the internationally leading esports club, is proud to announce the renewal of its prodigy player Alexis “zen” Bernier until 2026. In just one year of his career, zen has already made his mark on the history of Rocket League thanks to his unprecedented performances.
This year, the 17-year-old even made it into the prestigious Forbes “30 under 30” ranking in the Sport & Games category for Europe. The renewal of zen’s contract underlines Team Vitality’s desire to maintain its status as the best Rocket League team in the world and to enshrine its players in the club’s legend.
FROM A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH TO WORLD CHAMPION
In 2022, Alexis debuted his talent in 1V1 show matches on Scottish Rocket League caster JohnnyBoi_i’s channel. Undefeated and undeniably talented, he quickly became a phenomenon and reinvented the very way of playing the game. Thanks to his incredible creativity and his unprecedented mechanical accuracy, zen was quickly considered the best player in the world, despite never having played in an official competition before.
At the age of 16, zen finally made his debut in official competition under the colours of the Bees. Joining the roster for the third split of the RLCS in April 2023, he made a sensational entrance alongside his teammates and friends Yanis “Alpha54” Champenois and Andrea “Radosin” Radovanović. Together, they exceeded the club’s wildest expectations.
During the 2023 season, the French trio remained undefeated in knockout matches, securing victories in three Regionals and the Major in the 2023 Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS). Zen’s contributions were pivotal in making Team Vitality the first team to achieve the perfect split. Where his crowning achievement came with Team Vitality’s triumph at the RLCS 2023 World Championships in Düsseldorf, and zen’s stellar performance earned him the MVP title.
In 2024, the team has already won a first regional and two qualifications for the Majors (Copenhagen and London) in fierce European competition. Zen’s rise within the ranks of Team Vitality continues and his in-game performances continue to draw attention.
THE ROAD TO WORLDS AND A THIRD STAR
Zen’s renewal sends a clear message to the world – Team Vitality is here to win another World Championship title. With its powerful roster, Team Vitality is ready to redefine the standards of excellence in the Rocket League circuit and consolidate its position as a favourite in the Rocket League scene. Having recently won the RLCS 2924 Major 2: Europe Open Qualifier 4, beating French rivals Gentle Mates Alpine in a thrilling 4-1 victory in the finals, secured their spot in the Finals of the RLCS Major 2 in London this summer.
A win at the London Major this June would not only solidify their position as the leading team in Europe but would also grant them a coveted spot at the World Championship in Austin, Texas. The global stage would present a golden opportunity for the roster to etch their names in history once again. A victory at Worlds would not only mark their second championship title but also a third star on their jersey, signifying their reign as three-time Rocket League World Champions.
“We have been with Alexis from the start of his professional career in the world of RLCS, and we take immense pride that he has renewed his trust in us. He knows that we are ready to support him in the upcoming chapters of his career because together we have established a healthy and trusting relationship.” said Fabien ‘Neo’ Devide, co-founder and President of Team Vitality, “Our club aims to retain its most talented players, to continue to be the best team in the world for years to come, and zen will continue to remain here and to be apart of the club’s legend and discipline.”
As the club accelerates its international development, Team Vitality wants more than ever to retain its gems. The renewal of zen and its desire to shine on the world stage also coincides with a pivotal moment in the history of the French organisation. His unwavering commitment to performance, his intelligence and his team spirit embody the very essence of the club’s values – enough to push the limits of the game and inspire a whole generation of athletes!
A NEW TEAM VITALITY JERSEY TO CELEBRATE THE RENEWAL
To celebrate the occasion, Team Vitality is proud to announce the release of a special series of very limited edition jerseys. The club’s classic black and blue jersey will feature gold flocking on the player’s name as well as on the two stars on the chest.
Available for purchase online and in store at the V.Shop in Paris, these special versions of classic jerseys are limited to 50 “Vitality 2024 Pro Kit Jersey” jerseys and 50 “Vitality Paris Jersey 2024”.
