R8 Esports has allowed its roster to explore options heading into offseason

Ghazi "Ghaazi" Al-Otaibi announced on X that R8 Esports has allowed its Rocket League Esports roster, also featuring Mohammad "M7md" Almutairi and Abdullah "Abdullah" Alsanie, to look for a new organization heading into the offseason. The trio remain under contract with the organization, but are now able to explore their options ahead of the RLCS Club Championship in November. Head coach Fahad "Zez0nix" Albulayhid and manager Abdulhadi "Adot" Alilooks look set to depart with the squad. R8 Esports attended the most recent RLCS World Championship as MENA’s third seed, but bowed out unexpectedly during the opening Play-In Stage.

The roster features some of the finest players in the Middle East outside of the top two teams, Twisted Minds and Team Falcons. Ghaazi and Abdullah appeared in just their second World Championship this season, while M7md, who was the joint-youngest player at the event, was one of the eight debutants. R8 Esports first entered the esport back in RLCS 2024 and has since reached two RLCS LANs, both with this current roster in 2026. The Saudi Arabian organization has a substantial following in the Middle East, having participated in multiple mobile games, Fortnite, and Rocket League.

R8 Esports enjoyed a successful campaign in MENA. In a region that tends to be dominated by just one or two teams, R8 Esports built a roster that challenged and eventually unseated the usual titans of the region, Team Falcons. In January, the organization acquired the ROC Esports core of Ghaazi and Abdullah, while adding 16-year-old prospect M7md to complete the lineup. They instantly became contenders, finishing top two in all but one Regional Open during the domestic season.

In the lead-up to the Paris Major, the team won its first title during Open #4 and eventually appeared at the Major ahead of Team Falcons, who they defeated twice during Split 2. While the team failed to pick up any wins in Paris, they later appeared at the Esports World Cup finishing in the top 12. The height of their season came when they successfully navigated the MENA Last Chance Qualifier to reach the RLCS 2026 World Championship, a first in the organization’s history.

The team ultimately disappointed at the tournament having come in as one the four favourites to make it out the Play-In Stage. Their opening match was a 3-2 win versus APAC opposition TSM, before they then lost to regional rivals Team Falcons 3-1. The team exited the event after suffering a 2-3 upset against South American free-agents, Bigodes, in the lower bracket final.