Aches

Early Career and Rise to Prominence

Patrick Price, known by his gamer tag ACHES, began his professional career as a teenager. Before he turned 18 years old, he had already earned prize money from multiple tournaments, demonstrating early talent. His career took a major leap forward when he became a core member of the dominant compLexity Gaming roster, a team that would define an era in Call of Duty esports.

Alongside teammates like Crimsix, Karma, and TeePee, ACHES helped build what many consider a Call of Duty dynasty. This period established him not just as a skilled player, but as a strategic leader and a central figure in the competitive scene's narrative.

Championship Success and Legacy

ACHES's competitive legacy is anchored by his two World Championship victories. His first title came at the Call of Duty Championship in 2014 with compLexity Gaming. Four years later, he captured his second world title at the 2018 Championship while playing for Evil Geniuses.

This achievement places him among an elite group of only nine players who have won two or more Call of Duty Championships. Across his career, ACHES accumulated 19 major tournament victories, confirming his status as one of the most accomplished players in the history of the game.

The Rivalry with OpTic Gaming and Villain Persona

Throughout his career, ACHES cultivated a reputation as the primary antagonist in Call of Duty esports, often centering on a fierce rivalry with OpTic Gaming. This dynamic was most famously illustrated at the UMG Chicago tournament in late 2012.

During the grand final, after OpTic Gaming defeated his team, a heated exchange occurred with OpTic player Matthew 'Nadeshot' Haag. In the aftermath of the match, ACHES physically shoved Nadeshot, creating a brief but intense altercation that became a well-known moment in esports history.

This incident, among others, kept his role as a polarizing villain. He embraced this identity, which fueled narratives and added significant drama to the professional scene, making his matches against popular teams like OpTic must-watch events.

Controversies and Suspension

ACHES's confrontational style occasionally led to official disciplinary action. In 2016, Major League Gaming suspended him from events for what they described as repeated harassment.

This suspension prohibited him from attending four games of the Call of Duty Pro League starting on August 6, 2016, and also barred him from participating in the MLG 2K Tournament on July 27 of that same year. These penalties highlighted the fine line between his villain persona and the conduct standards of professional leagues.

Retirement and Transition to Development

ACHES officially announced his retirement from competitive Call of Duty on January 27, 2022. His departure from playing was not an exit from the industry. Simultaneously with his retirement announcement, he revealed he was consulting with a video game studio on a new AAA title and joining two Call of Duty League-based podcast series, The Flank and Dexerto's Reverse Sweep.

Shortly after, on March我们这个, 2022, he confirmed he had joined Ubisoft San Francisco Studio to work on their new title, XDefiant. This move transitioned him from a player on the virtual battlefield to a developer helping to create them.

Personal Background

Patrick Price was born on July 18, 1994, to parents Lesa and BJ Price. He grew up in Sanford, North Carolina, and was a graduate of Southern Lee High School in 2012. His early life in North Carolina preceded his rise to fame in the global esports arena.

In his post-playing career, he maintains a public presence as a podcast host, leveraging his deep knowledge and experience to analyze the competitive scene he once helped shape.