Virtus.pro has announced that Jacob
"JKnaps" Knapman will stand-in as coach for Michael
"MEMORY" Moss in the
Rocket League Esports World Cup Last Chance Qualifier. The veteran professional, who retired as a player in 2025, worked as Memory’s assistant coach on Shopify Rebellion for the Raleigh Major and
2025 World Championship. He will be hoping he can help Cohen
"Tawk" Hawco, Jayden
"2Piece" Horton, and Dylan
"Wahvey" Thanus build on a strong season and reach the EWC Main Event. Memory will miss the event due to personal reasons.
This will be the first time JKnaps has coached a professional RLCS team at a LAN. However, the 26-year-old has been pursuing the role elsewhere, recently becoming the head coach of collegiate team St. Clair Saints and the Canadian national team, which will be competing at the Esports Nations Cup in November.
Only the top three ranked RLCS teams in North America received a direct invitation to the EWC Main Event, forcing Virtus.pro to register for the EWC LCQ, despite qualifying to the RLCS 2026 World Championship as the region’s 4th seed. The organization will compete against both domestic and international rivals in the qualifier, including teams like Gen.G Mobil1 Racing, Man City Esports, BS+ Competition, and Team Stallions.
Building a coaching portfolio
JKnaps chose to retire following the end of Split #1 in RLCS 2025. The Canadian was representing Pioneers alongside Daniel "aris" S and Christopher "Aqua" Campbell but called it quits after a top-eight finish in the final regional event of the Split. His last LAN appearance as a player came under OG during the RLCS 2024 World Championship. Following his retirement, JKnaps was quickly offered the assistant coach position under Memory at Shopify Rebellion for the 2nd Split of RLCS 2025. He aided the team’s efforts in reaching the 2025 World Championship through the North American LCQ, allowing Slater "Retals" Thomas to experience one last World Championship before retirement.
After Shopify Rebellion disbanded, JKnaps did not immediately take up a new coaching role but has recently signed for the Collegiate program under St.Clair College as head coach, ahead of the CRL Fall Season. He will also join Tawk at the Esports Nations Cup as coach of the Canadian team following their invitation to the event through the ENC rankings.
