The top seeds: Inside the camp of the military gamers aiming to conquer the esports world

After a season of hard work and brilliant performances, the British Army Buzzards sat on top of the pile as the best in the BFBS Pro League Season 2.

But winning those matches and winning the big one at the Grand Final at the RAF Museum in London was something completely different.

The team entered at the semi-final stage as number one seed, but standing in their way of glory was two RAF teams and a civillian team dreaming of the trophy.

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The star and the experience

Gunner Daniel 'Bluey' Bluett

Bluey is the star man of the team. His experience is unmatched by anyone in the tournament. In his esports career, he became one of Europe's most prominent Rocket League competitors, competing for teams such as Paris St Germain, FC Barcelona and Galaxy Racer.

His crowning achievement came in 2018 when he finished first in the Dreamhack Open in Leipzig, Germany.

Now, he's swapped an esports career for a life in the British Army which is a familial route.

"My whole family has basically been British Army. I was like, yeah, why not? I'll do it," explained Gnr Bluett.

"Honestly, I wasn't going to join the British Army Esports Rocket League team. [I] wasn't going to do it. I wanted to, you know, build myself a new life, get new skills, but all the guys at work just told me to go for it. I just went for it and now I'm here.

"I got my name from my dad, actually. [Bluey] was his nickname when he was in the Army. And he used that on all sorts of networks, like the PlayStation Network, like Steam, everything like that.

"When I was very young, I used to play on his account and I kind of just took the name."

Signaller Kieran 'Onza' Smith

"He's been one of the best players in the Army for a long time now." – Staff Sergeant Matthew Fender, British Army Esports Manager.

For Onza, this was what it had all built up to. He's been there from the start of the esports growth in the British forces and now he wanted that trophy to show for it.

Speaking prior to the action, he said: "I've been here, done that so many times. I've just come close every single time. Always come second. So, I think this is my time now.

"I really hope it is anyway."

His experience would be vital for the Buzzards and Bluey even joked: "I see Onza as like the dad of the team. He's a bit older, but yeah, he's absolutely amazing."

The semi-final success

The RAF Typhoons stood in the Buzzards' way of the final, but the trio of Bluey, Onza and potential future star Aruc were too strong for the Air Force team.

The Typhoons won the first match by a Cedric golden goal, but that just angered the monster as the favourites for the trophy won the next two matches to win the series 2-1.

The frustrating final

So could the Buzzards get over the line and become BFBS Pro League Season 2 champions?

Despite some strong moments from Bluey, a few rare mistakes allowed the S.E.A. Dragons, the only civilian team in the competition, to take the trophy after winning the series by a by a 4-2 scoreline.

Disappointment at the end for a team who have been so strong for the whole season.