NAVI in BLAST Open playoffs, Bamb1ni interview — news digest for March 20

We have prepared a digest of the main esports news for March 20, 2026.

NAVI reached the BLAST Open Rotterdam playoffs

• Today was a celebration for Born to Win, as they defeated Falcons in the match for a playoff spot. Despite Falcons playing with kyousuke, who had only recently arrived after obtaining his visa and joined the team during the tournament, NAVI managed to push through and secured a 2:1 victory.

Interview with Boars coach Dmytro Bamb1ni Kuzmenko about language barriers, patriotism, and the future of mobile esports

• Boars Gaming PUBG Mobile roster coach Dmytro “Bamb1ni” Kuzmenko gave an interview to Players.
• He spoke about building the new roster and about balancing his work as a coach with teaching at a university.

B8 eliminated from BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026

• The Ukrainian team B8 faced NRG in the lower bracket elimination match at BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026.
• Both teams reached this match after losing to significantly stronger opponents in the upper bracket.
• B8 could not withstand the American club and lost the series 0:2.

Eternal Fire to replace ULF Esports in VCT EMEA

• Riot Games announced that the Turkish esports organization Eternal Fire will join the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) EMEA until the end of the 2026 season, replacing ULF Esports. This decision followed ULF’s withdrawal due to “publicly reported operational issues,” including long-term salary payment delays to players and staff since joining the league.

Riot confirms LEC will remain in Berlin in 2027, but considers limited online matches

• Riot Games commented on rumors about the future of the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC), confirming that the league will continue to operate primarily from the Riot Games Arena in Berlin in 2027. At the same time, the publisher stated that it is evaluating the possibility of introducing limited online matches.