Pro player Ben ‘Bance’ Bance officially announces his retirement, having achieved success with Toronto Ultra and Minnesota Rokkr in Call of Duty. Following his departure from the Esports World Cup, Bance leaves as one of Europe’s most successful players in the game’s recent history.
Reactions and Last Achievements
It got a lot of backing from the players and the esports fraternity, which was announced through social media. Bance left Minnesota Rokkr in 2023, after which, he had stints with several high-profile Challengers teams like Team WaR, Noctem Esports, and Team Orchid. He finished in the top 16 at an event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with Team Orchid.
Team Orchid made a name for themselves in Europe through their good performance over the years. Moreover, in June, the team managed to secure fourth place at the Challengers Finals. As a result, they won a prize of $12,000 here. The confirmation of Bance being a valuable player on every team certainly came as no surprise.
A Look Back at Bance’s Career
Bance joined the competitive Call of Duty scene in November 2014 with Advanced Warfare. At first, he played for teams like Team Infused and Exertus eSports. However, his switch to Splyce in late 2015 would lead to his rise in the global arena.
Bance gained his fame because he was able to make valuable plays with Specialists that would flip the game on its head in Call of Duty: Black Ops 3. In 2016, he assisted Splyce in becoming the first European team to reach the Worlds final since 2011. Despite finishing as runners-up, the team’s result has set a new precedent for European sides.
Transitioning through the Franchise Era
After leaving Splyce in 2019, Bance kept on playing at the highest level. Eventually, he joined Toronto Ultra when a franchised league was introduced in the Call of Duty League. Toronto Ultra hoisted the Stage 2 Major title in 2021. As a result, Bance became one of the few Europeans to have won a major tournament while being part of a European squad.
End of an Era, Rise of New Talent
For the past 10 years, Bance has been one of Europe’s top players and has been getting deep into tournaments. With his departure, a chapter of Europe Call of Duty closes and the next generation of players get the opportunity to pave a new way forward.