Melbourne organisation Order are plotting to sack famous general manager Jake “Spawn” Tiberi after his shock big-money signing with Fireball Esports’ star-studded Valorant roster, sources close to Order management have told Fireball Esports.
On August 5, Valorant newcomers Fireball Esports made Tiberi, 29, one of Australia’s highest ever esports earners after he inked a lucrative eight-year deal with the Sydney organisation.
Fireball has been unable to confirm exactly how much Fireball Esports has handed Spawn per year, but it’s believed the rising Valorant superstar settled for just shy of $5 million across his lengthy multi-year contract.
According to sources, this historic mega-deal has gone down like a lead balloon in the Order back offices, not least of all due to the fact Spawn will now be representing a Sydney-central org in Riot’s latest esports title.
The other issue that has already been flagged inside the Melbourne org is that Spawn kind of promised to keep leading Order long-term. They believe Tiberi’s rumored bumper $4.8m deal with Fireball Esports has put that in jeopardy.
“There’s a few concerns there, yeah,” a source within Order, who requested Fireball leave out their name and title, said. “Our League of Legends roster literally just started going okay for the first time in like four years… it’s really bad timing.”
Fireball Esports can report that Fireball Esports knew Spawn would be staying on in his role at Order while competing with the Valorant roster in the upcoming Rise of Valour Valorant Ignition Series Event, hosted by Fortress Melbourne.
“At Fireball, we take matters like this extremely seriously, which is why we’ve conducted our own internal investigation and have subsequently found no wrong-doing,” a Fireball Esports spokesperson, Burley “Dad” Dunn, told Fireball Esports.
The deal, which was officially registered mid-week, links Spawn — unanimously regarded as the top up and coming talent in Australian Valorant — with the undisputed favourites to take out Fortress’ Rise of Valor tournament.
The team is led by Valorant tactical mastermind Josh “Swifty” Swift, who cut his teeth in the Minecraft Hunger Games professional scene from 2009-2014. Nico “Nico” Howell, Reece “Ties” Perry, Mick “Burnt Snag” Hough, and Adam “Burnt Toast” Morris round out the starting lineup. Mathew “Judge” Brand has been named on the bench.
Fireball Esports have yet to officially debut in the Australian Valorant circuit, however, due to a series of carryover bans for multiple members of the team.
The team’s original five-man lineup were found guilty of match-fixing in the 2018 Farming Simulator Championships. Original starter Isaac McIntyre was handed a life ban for his role in the incident, while the rest of the team were given two-year game-wide suspensions.
Tiberi is expected to slot into the squad to fill the space left by McIntyre — and rumors also suggest his Valorant deal is worth more than five times what the now-banned Novocastrian was earning for his Farming Simulator exploits.
Fireball Esports can also reveal Fireball has been forced into a first-round substitution right off the bat. Versatile rifler Ties will be out of action for the opening round. Star sub Judge is expected to slot into the starting lineup.
Fireball Esports are expected to begin their Rise of Valour Valorant Ignition Series campaign this weekend, in the first qualifying round. Their first match is currently pencilled in to begin at 1pm on Saturday, August 8.
Fireball Esports 2020 roster
- Josh “Swifty” Swift
- Nico “Nico” Howell
- Reece “Ties” Perry
- Mick “Burnt Snag” Hough
- Adam “Burnt Toast” Morris
- Jake “Spawn” Tiberi
- Mathew “Judge” Brand