James Baker - eSports
James joined Frys as an U6 in 2002 playing for the Colts team. At U11 his dad Maurice started the Wanderers team assisted by James' older brother Tom, who took over the Manager role at U14. James received his Les Stroud 10 Year Loyalty Award in 2012. James started out signing for Playn With Pain Is Pain, followed swiftly by Team SK. It didn't work out so after six month he and two others went independent and formed Team Bob? (named because an eSports commentator had asked why there were no basic team names like Bob?). They were signed by Team Dignitas just before the European Championships held in Prague in October 2015 where they came runners-up, qualifying for the Blizzcon World Finals in Los Angeles in November 2015 where they gained revenge over the European Champions in the semi-final, but losing to the American Champions in the final, winning $120,000 for being the second best team in the world. In March 2016 they travelled to Katowice where this time they won the European Title, and went to Seoul in April for the World Finals. Team Dignitas now are aiming to be the best team in the world! If you read the Blogs, most commentators agree that James was the best Kharazim in the world before meta changes saw him move to other avatars! There were three regional tournaments every year where the eight regional champions plus the runners-up from China, Europe, Korea, and North America completed the field of 12 at the respective Spring, Summer, and Fall Championships. Now however they have organised Regional Leagues on a full time basis, and after competing for the first year, James retired from competitive gaming. Working now behind the scenes for Team Dignitas, James continues to be at the heart of the development. For more on James, follow him on Twitter.
James Presents Online Esports Award - February 2021
James was a guest presenter for an online eSports award show.
James Promoted To Dignitas Director of Esports - September 2020
James was promoted to Director of all Esports for all Dignitas competitive teams.
James Interviewed By BBC Sounds - August 2019
James was part of an interview about the the business of esports in an industry worth over $1bn globally. Scheduled to be available on the BBC Sounds Website for at least a year, so it may eventually disappear.
James Interviewed By The British Esports Association - May 2019
James was interviewed about the esports career pathway and how to become a pro-gamer.
James Managing The Team @ Mid Season Brawl - June 2018
As well as working for Dignitas on the product, James helped manage the Dignitas Heroes Team at the Mid Season Brawl at Dreamhack 2018, and was interviewed in the Heroes Lounge.
James Retires From Competitive eSports - December 2017
James initially announced that he wouldn't be taking part in the next round of matches due to start in the New Year, but followed up by officially announcing his retirement as he took up a full-time position behind the scenes at Team Dignitas.
Read James' Press Release as he retires, and thanks key people he has played and worked with.
Read reaction to James' retirement on the Reddit Fan's Forum to see just a sample of how James influenced people around the world.
Town Hall Heroes Episode 161 - November 2017
James regularly took part in Town Hall Heroes, a two hour weekly podcast hosted by Solid Jake with discussions on all things Heroes. On episode 161, they took a look at James' decision to take a sabbatical from playing.
Nexus Games - November 2017
James had a go at Casting in the analysis role at the Nexus Games. He enjoyed it, and learned from the experience.
Blizzcon: Los Angeles, USA - October 2017
For some reason it just didn't click at Blizzcon and changes followed. That said, backstage decorators knew which team were the best!. Quarter Finals at Blizzcon. Line-up: Bakery, Snitch, JPL, Mene & Zaelia
Continue the Grind | HGC Finals - Group Stage
The Team Dignitas Heroes of the Storm team fights their way through the HGC Finals group stage and qualify for the playoffs!
James Interviewed On ESPN eSports
Prior to Blizzcon, James was interviewed by Susie Kim on the ESPN eSports channel to get his views on the coming tournament!
James Give His Guide To Playing Uther
As part of the Dignitas University series, Team Dignitas' Bakery presents his Heroes of the Storm Uther Guide as seen at HGC matches!
James And Snitch Discuss Their Blizzcon Motivation
Patch changes made whilst they were at the Mid-Season Brawl meant that they were behind the curve going into the next round of qualification and ultimately failed to make it to the Western Clash Phase 2, which meant that they had ground to make up on the teams above them to get to Blizzcon. They were equal to the task however and qualified runners-up from starting fourth after Phase 2.
Mid-Season Brawl: Stockholm, Sweden - June 2017
From the League, the top two then qualify for the Mid-Season Brawl held against the best in the world. World Runners-up. Line-up: Bakery, Snitch, JPL, Mene & Zaelia
Town Hall Heroes Episode 142 - April 27, 2017
James regularly took part in Town Hall Heroes, a two hour weekly podcast hosted by Solid Jake with discussions on all things Heroes. On episode 142, James joined the lineup as a regular co-host.
Western Clash Phase 1: Katowice, Poland - March 2017
Blizzard introduced a League format at the start of 2017, held amongst the best eight European teams, with the top two qualifying for the Western Clash held amongst the European and Americas qualifiers. Western Champions. A replacement was finally found for Alex/Athero and so the line-up: Bakery, Snitch, JPL, Mene & Zaelia
Recap Video
Gold Club World Championship: Beijing, China - December 2016
5th at the GCWC in China. Held in the Water Cube, the 2008 Summer Olympics Swimming venue. Line-up: Bakery, Snitch, JPL, Mene & AtheroAngel
The final episode of 'Beyond The Nexus' for 2016 followed four teams at Blizzcon, with Team Dignitas featuring heavily in the 45 minute episode.
Team Dignitas Mannequin Challenge - September 2016
So after coming 3rd/4th at Blizzcon, just how did they react...
Blizzcon: Los Angeles, USA - November 2016
3rd/4th at Blizzcon Line-up: Bakery, Snitch, JPL, Mene & AtheroAngel
Bootcamp: Busan, South Korea - October 2016
After qualiying for Blizzcon 2016, they travelled to South Korea for a Bootcamp against some of the best teams in the world, and took the opportunity for some cultural experiences. Alex decided at the last minute that the lifestyle was not for him at this point, and so Athero stepped in to help. Line-up: Bakery, Snitch, JPL, Mene & AtheroAngel
Read about it on the Team Dignitas website
Gamescom: Cologne, Germany - August 2016
Gamescom Champions. Gamescom is the world's 2nd largest Games Trade Fair. Line-up: Bakery, Snitch, JPL, Mene & AlexTheProG
Dreamhack European Fall Championship: Valencia, Spain - July 2016
European Champions. Wubby had been unsure of his commitments and so had left requiring another change to the Line-up: Bakery, Snitch, JPL, Mene & AlexTheProG
Interview with James At Dreamhack Valencia
European Summer Championship: Stockholm, Sweden - April 2016
European Champions. Line-up: Bakery, Snitch, JPL, Mene & Wubby
State Of The Nexus - Heroes of the Storm Podcast - March to May 2016
In March 2016, James was co-host on a new Podcast called State Of The Nexus, discussing various aspects of the game. They ran for six episodes before ending as everyone were getting too hectic in their schedules to commit, and you can watch the very first episode below.
European Spring Championship: Katowice, Poland - March 2016
European Champions. The roster changes made before Dreamhack just didn't gel, so Schwimpi left along with AtheroAngel and just days before the European Finals, Mene and Wubby joined which meant a last minute Line-up: Bakery, Snitch, JPL, Mene & Wubby
Recap Video
Dreamhack Winter Clash: Jönköping, Sweden - November 2015
3rd/4th Position at Dreamhack. Roster changes saw JPL and Schwimpi come in but they didn't have much time to practice together, Line-up: Bakery, Snitch, AtheroAngel, JPL & Schwimpi
World Finals Blizzcon: Los Angeles, USA - November 2015
World runners-up at Blizzcon. Line-up: Bakery, Snitch, AtheroAngel, Zarmony & ADRD
European Fall Championship: Prague, Czech Republic - October 2015
European Runners-up in Prague. The Original Line-up: Bakery, Snitch, AtheroAngel, Zarmony & ADRD
Heroes of the Storm Interview with Dignitas Bakery
Heroes of the Storm - Kharazim Guide by Bakery (James)
Team Dignitas - October 2015 to December 2017
October 01, 2015 - Bob?'s roster is acquired by Team Dignitas
Bob? takes 2nd place in the Stormgrounds Invitational - August 06, 2015
Watch Virtus.Pro vs. Bob? - Map 2 at the Stormgrounds Invitationals #2 Final
Bob? takes 1st place in Go4Heroes Cup #35 - August 02, 2015
Go4Heroes is a series of weekly online cups organized by ESL in the Americas and Europe. Bob? were winners of Tournament #35.
Bob? - July 2015 to September 2015
Unhappy with the way things had gone at SK, They formed their own Team and entered tournaments independently. The Original Line-up: Bakery, Snitch, AtheroAngel, Zarmony & ADRD
PGL Spring Champions of the Storm 2015 : Bucharest, Romania - April 25, 2015
3rd Place at Dreamhack, and whilst they went out at the semi-final 3-1, the match they won can be watched below. The Line-up: Bakery, Snitch, Araragi, Zarmony & Rave
Town Hall Heroes Episode 59 - April 16, 2015
As his career progressed, James regularly took part in Town Hall Heroes, a two hour weekly podcast hosted by Solid Jake with discussions on all things Heroes. His first appearance however was back in episode 59, where James was interviewed.
Heroes of the Storm Interview with SK Bakery - March 30, 2015
PGL Spring Champions of the Storm 2015 Qualifier - March 7 , 2015
Qualifying for Dreamhack whilst beating Fnatic in a best of 3 at a PGL Spring Champions of the Storm 2015 Qualifier. The Line-up: Bakery, Snitch, Araragi, Zarmony & Rave
Planetkey Heroes Invitational - February 20, 2015
Runners-Up at the Planetkey Heroes Invitational. The Line-up: Bakery, Snitch, Araragi, Zarmony & Qmatoboss
SK Gaming - January 2015 to July 2015
January 2015, James was snapped up by SK Gaming and had high hopes of SK's backing leading to great things. Sadly it wasn't to be. The Line-up when Bakery joined: Bakery, Linked, Beezy, BKB & Escape.
James joined Playn With Pain Is Pain late in 2014, but it didn't go as he wanted, so left at the end of 2014. The Line-up : Bakery, Luvi, Gela, Vippelino & Pain.
ESL Heroes of the Storm Open the Nexus #1 - November 11 , 2014
An early competitive battleground for Bakery (back then TNBakery - The New Bakery) which was lost 2-0. The Line-up: Bakery, Luvi, Gela, Vippelino & Pain.
