Thursday 18 July 2019, 07:55

When ‘it’s coming home’ became a reality for 2017 champion Spencer Ealing

Feared for his exceptional attacking play, Spencer 'Gorilla' Ealing won over all of his critics in 2017 to reclaim the FIFA eSports world title for England after 12 years of hurt. The Englishman topped off a remarkable season by lifting the trophy in the highlight of his career to date. Ealing has continued to impress with his consistent performances in the Global Series ever since.

Victory on home soil

With the stage set for the finals at Central Hall Westminster, the German FIFA eSports scene was hopeful of clinching the first FIFA eWorld Cup for their country after three Germans had made it to the semi-finals of FIFA’s biggest eSports competition, then called the FIFA Interactive World Cup. A blend of newcomers and seasoned campaigners gave Germany a great opportunity to make history and bring the trophy home for the first time. The only man representing another country at this stage of the contest was Spencer Ealing. He redressed this imbalance in the last four to face Kai Wollin, a veteran of multiple FIFA Interactive World Cups, in the final. Once again 'Gorilla' demonstrated his attacking talent, beating his German rival over two legs to hold the trophy aloft with his coach Sean Allen in London.

Another World Cup spot just out of reach in 2019

Yet even Ealing was unable to escape the champions’ curse, crashing out of the FIFA eWorld Cup 2018 at a relatively early stage despite generally having a formidable year. The Englishman has been one of the most consistent players in recent seasons and continued to impress this year. In addition to winning the PGL FIFA 19 Cup in Bucharest in December, he qualified for a total of three FUT Champions Cups during the current campaign and only narrowly missed out on his third consecutive World Cup at the FIFA 19 Global Series Playoffs, having previously qualified for the finals in the British capital in both 2017 and 2018.