Karmine Corp
{{Short description|French esports organization}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox sports team
| name = Karmine Corp
| short_name = KC / KCorp
| nickname = Blue Wall
| logo = Karmine Corp logo.svg
| logo_size =
| alt = Karmine Corp logo
| caption =
| city = Paris, France
| parent_group =
| founded = {{Start date and age|2020|03|30|df=y}} (as Kameto Corp)
{{Start date and age|2020|11|16|df=y}} (as Karmine Corp)
| division = {{flagicon|FRA}} Top tier (2021–2023)
{{flagicon|EU}} Top tier
| league = {{ubl
| League of Legends EMEA Championship
| Valorant Champions Tour EMEA
}}
| director_general = Amine "Prime" MekriStated as found in company statutes. Both Prime and Kameto are often referred to as the company's co-CEOs in press releases and news articles.{{Cite web|date=2021-09-13|title=Kameto et Prime fondateurs et CEO de la Karmine Corp nous plongent dans la folle aventure de cette équipe française mais aussi une nouvelle manière d'aborder le monde de l'esport|url=https://www.forbes.fr/sport-et-esport-business/kameto-et-prime-fondateurs-et-ceo-de-la-karmine-corp-nous-plongent-dans-la-folle-aventure-de-cette-equipe-francaise-mais-aussi-une-nouvelle-maniere-daborder-le-monde-de-lesport/|access-date=2021-09-24|website=Forbes}}
| president = Kamel "Kameto" Kebir
| managing_director = Zouhair "Kotei" Darji{{Cite web|date=2021-06-09|title='When we saw the movement, we knew we shouldn't let it fade': The making of KCorp and the 'blue wall'|url=https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/14219/when-we-saw-the-movement-we-knew-we-shouldnt-let-it-fade-the-making-of-kcorp-and-the-blue-wall|access-date=2021-09-24|website=InvenGlobal|language=en}} (esports)
Xavier Oswald{{Cite web|title=Xavier Oswald rejoint la Karmine Corp|url=https://www.team-aaa.com/fr/actualite/xavier-oswald-rejoint-karmine-corp_120589|access-date=2021-09-24|website=Against All Authority|language=fr}} (business & strategy)
| partners = Chupa Chups, Direct Assurance, Logitech, Michelin, Red Bull, RhinoShield, Samsung Odyssey, ekWateur
| sport_label = Divisions
| sport = League of Legends
Valorant
TrackMania
Teamfight Tactics
Rocket League
| website = {{Official URL}}
| colors = {{color box|#01c8fe}} Blue
| fanclub = Ultras{{Cite web|title=Karmine Corp TRACKS|url=https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/104501-000-A/karmine-corp-tracks/|access-date=2021-09-24|website=Arte|language=fr}}{{Cite web|date=2021-04-13|title=Kameto revient sur six succès du jeux vidéo pour GQ (League Of Legends, Football Manager, Trackmania…)|url=https://www.gqmagazine.fr/video/article/kameto-revient-sur-six-succes-du-jeux-video-pour-gq-league-of-legends-football-manager-trackmania|access-date=2021-09-24|website=GQ|language=fr-FR}}{{Cite web|title=Ultras dans l'e-sport : la Karmine Corp montre la voie|url=https://www.sofoot.com/ultras-dans-l-e-sport-la-karmine-corp-montre-la-voie-496941.html|access-date=2021-09-24|website=SOFOOT|language=fr}}
}}
Karmine Corp ({{IPA|fr|kaʁmin}}; or simply KCorp) is a French professional esports organization incorporated and headquartered in Paris, France. The team employs professional players across six divisions, namely League of Legends, TrackMania, Teamfight Tactics, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Valorant and Rocket League.{{Cite news|date=2021-05-15|title=Karmine Corp, un club atypique au sommet de l’e-sport français|language=fr|work=Le Monde|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2021/05/15/karmine-corp-un-club-atypique-au-sommet-de-l-e-sport-francais_6080299_4408996.html|access-date=2021-09-19}}
Founded as Kameto Corp on 30 March 2020 by Twitch streamer duo Kamel "Kameto" Kebir and Zouhair "Kotei" Darji,{{Cite web|title=La Kameto Corp rejoint la Division 2|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Esport/Actualites/Esport-league-of-legends-la-kcorp-rejoint-la-division-2/1123891|access-date=2021-09-24|website=L'Équipe|language=fr}} the team took its current name when rapper and entrepreneur Amine "Prime" Mekri joined it as a founding member and joint owner on 16 November 2020. Under its new leadership, the organization underwent a major restructuring and purchased Nantes-based Team Oplon's Ligue française de League of Legends (or LFL) slot, thereby replacing it beginning with the 2021 season of France's top-level national league.{{Cite web|title=Kameto : " On a voulu voir plus haut avec Prime "|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Esport/Actualites/Esport-kameto-on-a-voulu-voir-plus-haut-avec-prime/1195223|access-date=2021-09-26|website=L'Équipe|language=fr}}{{Cite web|date=2021-05-15|title=L'esport emporté par la vague Karmine Corp|url=https://www.france24.com/fr/info-en-continu/20210515-l-esport-emport%C3%A9-par-la-vague-karmine-corp|access-date=2021-09-19|website=France 24|language=fr}}{{Cite web|title=League of Legends : la Karmine Corp championne de France|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Esport/Actualites/Esport-league-of-legends-la-karmine-corp-championne-de-france/1236160|access-date=2021-09-19|website=L'Équipe|language=fr}}
In 2023, Karmine Corp's League of Legends division was EMEA Masters titleholder.{{Cite web |title=Esport – League of Legends : la Karmine invincible |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Esport/Actualites/Esport-league-of-legends-la-karmine-invincible/1418741 |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=L'Équipe |language=fr}} With their 2022 European Masters Spring Split victory, they became the first team to win it thrice, as well as the first team to win a hat-trick.{{Cite web|last=Arrivé|first=Paul|date=2022-05-07|title=Esport – League of Legends : intouchable, la Karmine Corp conserve son trophée des European Masters|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Esport/Actualites/Esport-league-of-legends-intouchable-la-karmine-corp-conserve-son-trophee-des-european-masters/1331824|access-date=2022-05-12|website=L'équipe|language=fr}}{{Cite web|title=Karmine Corp defeat LDLC OL 3–1 to win 2022 EU Masters Spring Finals|url=https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/17126/karmine-corp-defeats-ldlc-ol-3-1-to-win-2022-eu-masters-spring-finals|access-date=2022-05-12|website=Inven Global|language=en-US|first=John|last=Popko|date=2022-05-07}} Karmine Corp's Rocket League team won the WePlay Esports Invitational (EMEA region) in 2021.{{Cite web|date=2021-09-20|title=Karmine Corp wins WePlay Esports Invitational 2021 EMEA|url=https://egamersworld.com/rocketleague/news/10166/karmine-corp-wins-weplay-esports-invitational-2021-aY3AtdAcs|access-date=2023-04-11|website=EGW EGAMERSWORLD|language=en}} The group's Rocket League team also won the RLCS Fall and Winter EU Regional tournaments held in 2022 and 2023, as well as the RLCS Winter Split Major tournament in 2023.{{Cite web|date=2023-04-10|title=Karmine Corp captures Rocket League Winter Split Major|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/esports-other-rocket-league-winter-recap-idUSFLM6VZGk/|access-date=2023-04-11|website=Reuters|language=en}} In October 18th, 2023, Kameto announced the team would be joining the LEC after acquiring stake in the slot owned by Danish esports organisation Astralis.
Karmine Corp has had rights to operate esports events and tournaments at Les Arènes, a 3,000-seat venue in Paris, since May 2024.{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Michael |title=Karmine Corp unveils 3,000-seat esports stadium, sparking criticism of Riot's 'plastic seat arena' |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/karmine-corp-unveils-3000-seat-esports-stadium-sparking-criticism-of-riots-plastic-seat-arena |access-date=27 May 2024 |work=Dot Esports |date=26 May 2024}} The organization is also part of the Esports World Cup Foundation Club Support Program, funded by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, which gives organizations like Karmine Corp monetary resources if they want to expand into new esports and if they promote the Esports World Cup effectively.{{cite news |last1=Fudge |first1=James |title=30 Teams Selected for the Esports World Cup Club Support Program |url=https://esportsadvocate.net/2024/05/30-teams-selected-for-the-esports-world-cup-club-support-program/ |access-date=May 9, 2024 |work=The Esports Advocate |date=May 6, 2024}}
Divisions
= ''Valorant'' =
Karmine Corp entered Valorant in May 2022, signing the roster of Amilwa, mikee, Shin, TakaS and Newzera.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-05 |title=KCorp Launches Valorant And Joins VRL For Split 2 – Mandatory.gg Esport |url=https://www.mandatory.gg/en/valorant/news/esport/la-kcorp-launches-on-valorant-and-joins-the-vrl-for-the-split-2/ |access-date=2022-09-26 |website=Mandatory.gg}} On 22 September 2022, they were announced as one of the 10 partner teams for the Valorant EMEA league.{{Cite web |title=Full list of the teams accepted to Valorant Partnership Program |url=https://blix.gg/news/full-list-of-the-teams-accepted-to-valorant-partnership-program |access-date=2022-09-26 |website=Blix |language=en}}
Rosters
{{Esports roster multi
| bg1 = #01c8fe
| color1 = #000
|League of Legends|
{{Esports player | handle = Canna | name = Kim Chang-dong| nat = KR}}
{{Esports player | handle = Yike | first = Martin | last = Sundelin | nat = Sweden}}
{{Esports player | handle = Vladi | first = Vladimiros | last = Kourtidis | nat = GR}}
{{Esports player | handle = Caliste | first = Caliste | last = Henry-Hennebert | nat = FR}}
{{Esports player | handle = Targamas | first = Raphaël | last = Crabbé | nat = BEL}}
|Teamfight Tactics|
{{Esports player | handle =Double61 | first = Emre | last = Demirtas| nat = FRA}}
{{Esports player | handle =CanbizZ | first = Muhammed | last = Canbaz | nat = FRA}}
{{Esports player | handle =DarkHydra | first = Christian | last = Lüftner | nat = Germany}}
{{Esports player | handle =Wet Jungler | first = Unknown | last = Unknown | nat = Germany}}
|TrackMania|
{{Esports player | handle = Otaaaq | first = Youen | last = Egler | nat = FR}}
|Rocket League|
{{Esports player | handle = dralii | first = Samy | last = Hajji | nat = MA}}
{{Esports player | handle = Atow | first = Tristan | last = Soyez | nat = BEL}}
{{Esports player | handle =Vatira | first = Axel | last = Touret | nat = FR}}
|Valorant|
{{Esports player | handle = avez | first = Hazem | last = Khaled | nat = Egypt}}
{{Esports player | handle = marteen | first = Martin | last = Pátek | nat = CZ}}
{{Esports player | handle = Elite | first = Efe | last = Teber | nat = TR}}
{{Esports player | handle = SUYGETSU | first = Dmitry | last = Ilyushin | nat = RU}}
{{Esports player | handle = Saadhak | first = Matias | last = Delipetro | nat = Argentina}}
|Valorant (GC)|
{{Esports player | handle = Glance | first = Anastasiya | last = Anisimova | nat = RU}}
{{Esports player | handle = Alkyia | first = Azra | last = Erin | nat = TR}}
{{Esports player | handle = anesilia | first = Anastasia | last = Ivanova | nat = RU}}
{{Esports player | handle = Jiex | first = Şura | last = Yıldırım | nat = TR}}
{{Esports player | handle = safiaa | first = Safia | last = Leghzal | nat = FR}}
|Tekken 8|
{{Esports player | handle = JDCR | name = Kim Hyun-jin | nat = KR}}
|Street Fighter 6|
{{Esports player | handle = Kilzyou | first = Kilyan | last = Faucheux | nat = FR}}
}}
Tournament results
| class="wikitable centre" width="100%" align="center" style="font-size:85%"
|+List of Karmine Corp tournament results ! width="25%" style="color:#FFFFFF; background:#102337;" |League of Legends (7) ! width="25%" style="color:#FFFFFF; background:#102337;" |Teamfight Tactics (6) ! width="25%" style="color:#FFFFFF; background:#102337;" |Rocket League (9) |
| style="vertical-align:top;"
|
| Birmingham Major Winner in 2025
|
|
| style="color:#FFFFFF; background:#102337;" |TrackMania (3)
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:#102337;" |Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (3) ! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:#102337;" |Valorant |
|---|
* Trackmania World Tour – World Championship :
|
|
|
References
{{Reflist|2}}