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Professional video gamer Mathew “Royal 2” Fiorante has been winning Halo championships for more than a decade, but his latest victory in Salt Lake City might be one of the most meaningful of his career.
Earlier this month, the Regina-born esports star and his team Shopify Rebellion, took down powerhouse OpTic Gaming to capture the Halo Championship Series (HCS) Major title. For Fiorante, a three time world champion, it wasn’t just another trophy.
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“It feels different because of the team I have,” Fiorante said. “They’re young, they’ve never won before. I have three people — my coach and two players — who have never won a tournament before, so its kinda like winning for them.”
From local LANs to the world stage
Fiorante’s rise to the top of competitive Halo started in the most grassroots way possible: a local tournament in Regina when he was just nine years old. He and his brother entered a two-versus-two bracket and came away with a win, sparking a passion for competitive gaming.
By the age of 15, he was the youngest player in Major League Gaming and competed at his first international event in 2009. That debut — a 19th-place finish at the event with more than 1,000 competitors — left him hungry for more.
Just three years later, he won his first major championship at MLG Columbus 2012, beating some of the players he grew up admiring.
Regina’s Mathew “Royal 2” Fiorante lifts the HCS Major trophy before a cheering crowd in Salt Lake City. (Mathew Fiorante/Submitted)
Growing up in Regina, Fiorante didn’t have easy access to large esports events or teams. Instead, he honed his skills online, often competing against American players in lobbies where every match was a test of speed, precision, and adaptability.
“There wasn’t really a roadmap back then,” Fiorante said. “You had to pave your own way. I just kept playing and trying to get better.”
That persistence paid off. Over the next decade, Fiorante became one of the most consistent and respected players in the game, known for his clutch performances in high-pressure situations.
He’s since collected three Halo World Championships and multiple major titles, building a reputation as one of world’s most successful Halo players.
While many pro players relocate to the United States for esports careers, Fiorante has continued to call Regina home.
“It feels good … Regina being such a smaller city, and especially the gaming that I do is very uncommon. So doing it from this city especially from Canada, but also in Saskatchewan, I love to represent this city.”
That sense of local pride has made him a role model for aspiring players, showing that talent and dedication can turn a kid from Saskatchewan into a world-class competitor.
A focused Mathew “Royal 2” Fiorante walks off stage moments after the HCS Major win. (Mathew Fiorante/Submitted)
A breakthrough for Shopify Rebellion
The Salt Lake City win was Shopify Rebellion’s first major title in Halo.
The Canadian esports organization brought Fiorante on in late 2024, pairing him with longtime teammate Bradley “Frosty” Bergstrom, and rising talents Preston “Cykul” Sipes and Wyatt “Lastshot” Gowan, as well as coach Nick “Beastman” Johnson.
After six months of building chemistry, Fiorante said the turning point came when his younger teammates gained enough experience to handle the pressure of top-level play.
“I think what clicked was just more of an experience thing,” Fiorante said. “Them having the experience of playing a couple of tournaments; since they’re so young, it just finally clicked.”
With the momentum from Salt Lake city, Fiorante and Shopify Rebellion now have their sight set on the HCS Major in Charlotte, Carolina, and the biggest event of the season — the Halo World Championship in October.
Despite his long list of accomplishments Fiorante said this chapter feels different.
“I’ve been competing for more than half my life,” he said. “At this point, it’s about winning with the people around me and helping them experience what I’ve been lucky enough to experience.”
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