eSports – Page 12

Introducing the Valhallan Esports League: a new competitive gaming experience for youth esports teams in the UK and Europe

May 13, 2023 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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Valhallan Esports League (VHEL), a youth esports league exclusively designed for youth esports with players aged 10-16 years, is excited to announce its launch in the UK and Europe. The new initiative expands the US-based league’s footprint following three years of growth in North America.

This summer season, starting on June 12th, the league is inviting coach-led youth esports teams of 2-5 players to participate for free, in a thrilling opportunity to compete across a variety of popular games. The league is open to teams associated with schools, clubs, community organisations, LAN centres and independent teams.

The league features five highly popular esports titles: Valorant, Overwatch 2, Rocket League, Apex Legends and Fortnite. For this initial season, the registration fee that normally starts from £57 per team per season for non-Valhallan teams is waived, offering a competitive, safe and fun platform for young gamers to showcase their skills and teamwork.

Christopher Baarstad, Vice President of League Operations, said, “After three successful years of shaping the North American youth esports landscape with club teams and scholastic programmes, we’re thrilled to expand our reach and bring the unparalleled VHEL experience to the UK and Europe. Youth teams will have a unique opportunity to compete, develop their skills and foster lasting friendships. The VHEL difference lies in our unique approach, offering a supportive, affordable and anti-toxic league environment that has already attracted over 100 organisations and 2,000 student-players in the US. Now our aim is to create a vibrant gaming community that empowers kids to engage in healthy competition and have fun across the UK and Europe too.”

Registration for the league is open until June 11th, and teams can sign up on the Valhallan Esports League website. Participants will compete against other teams from the UK and Europe throughout the season. Moreover, twice a year, they will also have the opportunity to compete against their counterparts from the US arm of the league, adding an exciting international dimension to the competition.

The Valhallan Esports League is committed to creating a safe, inclusive and enjoyable environment for young gamers, emphasising fair play, sportsmanship and teamwork. With this launch, the organisation looks forward to fostering a thriving esports community for kids across the UK and Europe.

Here’s what coach-led teams in the US like so much about the league:

Safety & Collegiality – the highly moderated Discord server and strict anti-toxicity rules ensure a positive, collegial experience for all participants. VHEL prioritises safety and fair play, relieving the fear and anxiety of allowing kids to play others online, so coaches can focus on what matters most – guiding their teams to a successful, educational and fun season.

Cost Effective – VHEL keeps costs as low as possible to sustain league operations. The pricing model is based on a “team” model as opposed to the notorious “pay per player” model, so that teams are free to use roster cap sizes and substitutes without additional costs.

Unparalleled Support for Teams – VHEL understands the importance of timely assistance, which is why a dedicated support team is available around the clock via Discord, especially during crucial match-up times.

Competitive Divisional Play – forget the standard swiss model – VHEL’s divisional play structure guarantees exciting, evenly matched contests that foster growth and skill development. Divisional champions advance to face other top teams in the playoffs.

Volvic extends partnership with BIG by two years

May 9, 2023 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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Heading into 2023 together, Volvic and BIG have agreed to extend their partnership for another two years until the end of 2024

Working together since 2020, Volvic has provided incredible support for BIG’s competitive aspirations, being one of the key partners of their League of Legends and Trackmania teams, and making sure the whole BIG Family is properly hydrated. Over the course of the past three years, BIG and Volvic have worked on campaigns such as the Volvic Charity Race – an annual Trackmania tournament organized together with players and influencers to raise funds for charity projects.

BIG’s League of Legends team is one of the most distinguished ones in the Prime League with numerous trophies under their belts, reaching second place in the PRM Super Cup most recently. Representing the BIG colors are two of the best German Trackmania drivers as well: Dennis “massa” Lotze and Nico

“GranaDy” Gyarmati. The two form a duo in the recently established Trackmania World Tour circuit, where BIG participates as a member team.
Moving forward, Volvic extends their portfolio of sponsored titles to BIG’s CS:GO division, including the BIG OMEN Academy and BIG EQUIPA, the organization’s talent development project and women’s Counter-Strike team, respectively. BIG Chroma, the female and non-binary League of Legends talent project of BIG will also be supported by Volvic.

Statement Daniel Finkler, CEO Bigleet GmbH – Berlin International Gaming (BIG):
Following the beginning of our partnership with Volvic in 2020, I am very pleased that we will continue our journey for at least two more years until the end of the season in 2024. Volvic has contributed significantly to our sporting successes with its great support over the past three years and has now decided to further expand its commitment to BIG. In addition to the ongoing partnership in League Of Legends and Trackmania, Volvic will also support our CS:GO teams including the BIG OMEN Academy and BIG EQUIPA. Furthermore, I am very happy that Volvic supports our ambition to promote tolerance and diversity in esports by adding the BIG Chroma team to its partner list. We now look forward to 2023 and the many exciting projects we will implement together in the future. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Volvic for their trust and great support over the past three years!

Statement Antoine Hours, Marketing Director EDP & Waters Germany, Danone Deutschland GmbH:
We are pleased to continue and extend our cooperation with Berlin International Gaming. As market leader for still natural mineral water**, we are happy to be ‘Hydration Partner’ with Volvic to the growing esports community. Of course, we will continue to provide the right refreshment for the BIG players. We are looking forward to another successful season and are rooting for the teams.

ESFI onboards FITGMR Inc. for Training & Skill development of Indian Esports Athlete

May 8, 2023 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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The Esports Federation of India (ESFI) has partnered with FITGMR Inc., a renowned Esports technology and training firm, to create a top-notch player and coaching development initiative to foster healthy, high-performing, and sustainable growth within the Indian Esports industry.

The partnership, which is set to span multiple years, will see FITGMR working closely with ESFI teams providing in-game coaching and performance training. By utilizing cutting-edge technology, curriculum, and a comprehensive coach training program this partnership will empower India’s competitive players to train and develop the skills they need to play and perform at their best.

Additionally, FITGMR will also be providing comprehensive training to coaches throughout India, equipping them with the expertise and understanding required to guide players toward success.

“We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with FITGMR that will bring a wealth of resources to our players, helping them to take their game to the next level. ESFI is committed to providing the best possible environment for its athletes to excel in the world of competitive gaming and this partnership is a testament to our “Athlete-First” approach which will fuel the much-needed growth in the grind of our athletes. With prestigious tournaments such as the Asian Games, World Esports Championships, Global Esports Games coming up, FITGMR’s team of experienced coaches as well as their unique approach to training and development will help our athletes not only hone their skills to reach their full potential but also give them a competitive edge to excel on the international stage. We are excited for the positive impact this association will bring and are looking forward to commencing with it,” said Mr. Lokesh Suji, Director, Esports Federation of India & Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF)

Having partnered with the globally distinguished Esports organization Cloud9 as well as the International Esports Federation, FITGMR has a proven track record of training players to help them reach peak performance levels and build a foundation for long-term success. By partnering with ESFI, the company will aid the growth of the country’s gamers by not only developing healthy habits and mindsets but also providing the data, in-game coaching, and feedback that the players require.

“ESFI and FITGMR are both committed to delivering results and doing it the right way. Having the opportunity to create the proper infrastructure, with player physical and mental health incorporated from the outset, means players will thrive in their games while maintaining a balanced lifestyle. If Esports is to succeed in the long-term, developing an infrastructure like this is paramount. We were deeply impressed by ESFI’s unwavering dedication and commitment to nurturing Indian Esports talent. Collaborating with them is a great honor and privilege for us.” said Kristin Anderson, CEO and Co-Founder of FITGMR.

As per the recent ‘Windows of Opportunity’ report by FICCI-EY, The number of Esports players across all competitive level games in India increased from 600,000 in 2021 to 1 million in 2022, and the number is expected to reach 2.5 million in 2023.

The partnership between ESFI and FITGMR represents a significant step forward for Esports athletes’ well-being and highlights the importance of physical fitness and health in the Esports industry.

Saudi Thai Esports Invitational Friendly Match First Leg to be hosted by Pattaya City, Chonburi Thailand

April 29, 2023 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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Thailand Esports Federation (TESF) and Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) are pleased to announce the first Esports invitational event between the two countries, with the first leg to be held in Pattaya City, Chonburi Province Thailand from 28th to 30th April 2023.

The event comes as part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in September 2022 during The Next World Forum and Gamers 8 Festival in Riyadh last year between the two National Esports Federation to foster bilateral relations between the two nations and to explore opportunities for future collaboration and cooperation amongst Saudi Esports Federation and Thailand Esports Federation.

TESF President, Mr. Santi Lothong, said, “We are thrilled to host the first leg of the Esports invitational event with Saudi Arabia. The MOU signed between the two federations is an essential step towards fostering a strong relationship between our countries, and this event marks a significant milestone in the growth of the Esports industry not just only in Thailand but for Saudi Esports Industry as well, if not regionally in Asia but other parts of the world can adopt and replicate what both Saudi and Thai has historically achieved.”

SEF President HRH Prince Faisal Bin Bandar Bin Sultan Al Saud added, “This match is more than just a friendly competition – it’s an opportunity to shape our skills and exchange cultures. The esports industry is growing rapidly, and this match is a testament to that growth. It’s also a chance to bring together two diverse nations and foster a mutual understanding of each other’s skills, values, and cultures. Esports is an amazing way to bring people together and show how similar our lives are.

Through this match, players from Saudi Arabia and Thailand can come together and show the world what it means to be a part of a global community.”

The event will take place in Pattaya City, Thailand between the 28th and 30th April 2023, and is an opportunity for Thailand and Pattaya City to develop its tourism industry with great international sporting event and attracts international tourists to the region as a major sporting destination. Pattaya City came in as co-host of this event due to its large and vibrant gaming community with the second largest number of gamers in Thailand, as well as the city’s potential to become a sports hub in the country, Pattaya City is an ideal location for Esports events.

Pattaya City Mayor Mr. Poramet Ngamphichet said “Our city of Pattaya aims to introduce a new sports trend and raise awareness of esports among the people, youth, students, and the community at large. By embracing the use of technology and leveraging its benefits, we hope to stimulate the economy of Pattaya and Chonburi. This event also presents an opportunity to foster stronger relations between Saudi Arabia and Thailand, especially in Pattaya, while showcasing the potential of Pattaya tourism and creating more opportunities for Saudi tourists to visit our city.”

As the host of the first leg of this event, Pattaya City is proud and honored to welcome both National Teams and His Royal Highness Prince Faisal Bin Bandar Bin Sultan Al Saud, of the royal family of Saudi Arabia and President of the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF), leading the Saudi esports athletes to attend this friendly match.

The athletes from both countries will gather in Central Pattaya Mall venue and compete and defend their flag in friendly matches in two popular game titles in the region: DOTA 2 and STREET FIGHTER V. The official friendly matches between Saudi Arabia and Thailand will take place on the 30th April 2023. The format will be a best of 9 matches for STREET FIGHTER V and best of 3 matches for DOTA 2. The athletes will have the opportunity to warm up before the official start of the friendly match. The warmup will take place on the 28th and 29th April with a format of best of 9 matches for STREET FIGHTER 5 and a format of best of 2 matches for DOTA 2.

In addition, a panel will be held at the venue on during the Opening Ceremony on the 28th April 2023, with representatives from both National Esports Federation Ms Rawan Albutairi, Senior Director of International Affairs of Saudi Esports Federation. Mr. Samart Benjamin Assarasakorn, Chief Executive Secretary of Thailand Esports Federation, and Mr. Boban Totovski, General Secretary of the International Esports Federation (IESF) will be our VIP guests panelists.

The second leg of the Saudi Thai Esports Invitational Friendly Match will follow and be held in Saudi Arabia. The event is an excellent opportunity for both countries to showcase their Esports talents and to establish themselves as key players in the global Esports industry. Both national Esports Governing Bodies are committed to promoting Esports as a professional competitive activity as well as to strengthen the ties between Saudi Arabia and Thailand. Both federations believe that this event will contribute significantly to the growth of the Esports industry, and they look forward to future collaborations and cooperation, starting from the second leg of the Invitational Esports Friendly Match to be held in Saudi Arabia later this year.

Chief Executive Secretary of Thailand Esports Federation Mr. Samart Benjamin Assarasakorn concluded: “The Saudi Thai Esports Invitational Friendly Match marks a significant milestone for growth of the Esports industry in Asia, and is the first step towards fostering a strong collaboration between SEF and TESF as part of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two National Esports Federations signed during The Next World Forum and Gamers 8 Festival in Riyadh at the end of 2022, which will not only span tournaments such as this one, but also education, exchange of knowledge, technology and other fields pertaining to Esports. I am very much looking forward to seeing the display of skills and sportsmanship from both Saudi and Thai athletes in the upcoming friendly match, as well as to seeing the cultural exchange and friendships that will arise from this event.”

IESF Expands Female’s CS:GO Tournament for 2023 World Esports Championships

April 25, 2023 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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The International Esports Federation (IESF) today announced the expansion of the women’s CS:GO tournament from four to 10 teams at the 2023 World Esports Championships Finals, taking place from August 24 to September 4 in Iași, Romania. The expansion comes after the success of the inaugural installment of the tournament at the 2022 WE Championships Finals in Bali, Indonesia.

The 2022 WE Championships was a historic moment for female gamers, as the introduction of the women’s CS:GO tournament drew large crowds and was a massive stride towards greater inclusion in esports. IESF aims to uplift and empower female gamers in all competitions, and the women’s CS:GO tournament allows for more of the world’s best all-female teams to compete at the highest level.

IESF President Vlad Marinescu said: “We are thrilled to announce the expansion of the women’s CS:GO tournament at this year’s World Esports Championships. This reflects the progress we have made in making esports more inclusive for all. We can’t wait to see what these incredible teams will bring to this year’s competition. IESF strongly believes in removing barriers to access for female gamers, and providing them with more opportunities to shine on the world’s biggest stage.”

IESF Chief Marketing Officer Ana Karakolevska said: “I am proud of IESF for leading the charge in making esports more inclusive for all. We have made rapid progress in just a few years and IESF hopes to continue providing opportunities to promote gender equality in the World Esports Family and beyond. We can’t wait to watch 10 of the world’s best teams battle it out in fast-paced CS:GO action in Iași!”

IESF’s regional qualifiers for the WE Championships will get underway in May and June, and the top ten female CS:GO teams will secure their spots in the Finals, which will begin in August. IESF also works with several organizations, including Women in Games and Girl Gamer Esports Festival, to help foster and promote a safe and equitable environment for women in the esports industry.

Team Vitality is victorious at Intel® Extreme Masters Rio 2023 and qualify for IEM Cologne later this year

April 25, 2023 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) Rio 2023 has come to a thrilling end, with Team Vitality emerging victorious after an intense competition between 16 of the best Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) teams from around the world. The competition was held from April 17-23, and the final three days took place in front of a passionate crowd at the iconic Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Group Stage began on April 17, with the participating teams competing in two groups of eight. The six best teams – BIG, Cloud9, FURIA, Heroic, Natus Vincere, and Team Vitality – then proceeded to the live Playoffs on April 21-23, where they faced off against each other in front of an energetic crowd. In the first Semi Final, Team Vitality completed the reverse sweep over Cloud9 to advance to the Grand Final on April 23. During the other Semi Final, Heroic managed to close out the match with back-to-back rounds, 16-9, meaning they secured their spot as Finalists of an IEM competition in the Brazilian coastal city for the second time.

Team Vitality kicked off the Grand Final strong by winning the first seven rounds back-to-back, and managed to fend off a powerful Heroic comeback to clinch the first game on Vertigo. In the second round, things were looking good for Team Vitality, but Heroic came back strong to tie the match after 11 rounds. However, this wasn’t enough to stop the French organization from claiming their deserved place as the Intel® Extreme Masters Rio 2023 champions, and denying Heroic their first IEM title.

After a hard-fought and exciting match, Team Vitality beat Heroic, with a score of 2-0 winning the coveted trophy and taking home the lion’s share of the $250,000 prize pool and a win in the race to the Intel® Grand Slam V and its $1,000,000 cash prize. As the winners of IEM Rio 2023, they join G2 Esports and FaZe Clan as the third team to qualify for a spot in the Group Stage of IEM Cologne 2023. Team Vitality player, Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, also secured the DHL MVP award which is judged on a combination of player performance, fan voting, and broadcast talent voting.

Starting the Group Stage from the lower bracket, Team Vitality defeated MIBR, FaZe Clan, and OG, 2-0, 2-0, 2-1, respectively to qualify for the Playoffs which saw the international squad only lose one game throughout the final phase of the tournament.

Team Vitality’s Dan “⁠apEX⁠” Madesclaire commented: “I’m proud of the boys but what we need to remember is that last time, we won the last tournament before the Major and we messed up. So, now we know what [we] have to do. It’s a game of confidence for sure and I think we were the better team today.

I think the biggest improvement we had was our map pool, right now it is getting really good. We worked a lot on our weakest map; this shows it. That’s one tournament win in 2023 and I hope for some more.”

Fans from Brazil and beyond had the opportunity to experience the excitement of the competition live during the Playoff Stage and witness the top teams in action. IEM Rio 2023 saw a peak viewership of more than 562,000* and attracted more than 15,000 fans over the final three days.

Local favorites FURIA, MIBR, and Imperial Sportsbet thrilled the home crowds, showing their skills and determination against top-tier teams from around the world. FURIA managed to get all the way through to the quarterfinals where they were eventually defeated by Heroic, while both MIBR and Imperial Sportsbet got eliminated after losing their first two matches.

While at IEM Rio, fans around the world got to see some of their favourite players compete in a one-off show match on Counter Strike 2 with Team Brasil, featuring Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo, Epitácio “TACO” de Melo, and Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato, going against Team World, including Christopher “GeT_RiGhT” Alesund and Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyljev. In the end, Team World bagged the win with a result of 16-8.

Next up in the ESL Pro Tour for CS:GO are the currently ongoing ESL Challenger League Season 45 concluding on May 28, ESL Challenger Melbourne in Melbourne, Australia, on April 28 – 30, and IEM Dallas 2023 in Dallas, Texas, USA, on May 29 – June 4. For more information the latest updates about ESL’s CS:GO esports ecosystem, head to the official ESL Pro Tour website, and follow ESL CS on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

*According to Escharts

Everything you need to know ahead of ESL One Berlin powered by Intel®

April 24, 2023 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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ESL’s Dota tournaments will soon return to Germany with the ESL One Berlin Dota 2 Major powered by Intel®. 18 of the top Dota 2 teams from around the world compete for a prize pool of $500,000 and aim to secure prized Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) points for The International 12 qualification. Fans will witness intense competition with the final matches to be held at the iconic Velodrom in the German capital.

Here is all you need to know about the ESL One Berlin Dota 2 Major:

Following an incredibly successful Major in Stockholm, Sweden, last year, ESL One is returning to the 2023 DPC calendar with the top 18 organisations worldwide competing for a $500,000 prize pool as well as valuable DPC points in the German capital this May. The 18 teams will be whittled down to eight for the live finals weekend of May 5 – 7. Because the ESL One Berlin Major is sold out, around 15,000 fans are expected to come over the weekend, with around 5,000 fans per day, to watch the top teams battle it out for the top spot at the Velodrom in Berlin.

Dota 2 teams from Eastern Europe, Western Europe, North America, South America, Southeast Asia, and China can look forward to a spectacular conclusion of the DPC Spring Tour 2022-2023.

Schedule and Format
Group Stage: April 26 – 30

Two groups of nine teams will see six teams qualify from each group. The games will be played in a single round-robin format and all matches in this stage will be best-of-two.

Playoffs: May 2 – 7

The top 12 teams from the Group Stage will face off in a double-elimination bracket, with all matches being played in a best-of-three format. Eight teams will progress to the finals at the Velodrom.

Finals: May 5 – 7

The Finals, in front of a live crowd at the sold-out Velodrom, will see the remaining eight teams battle in a best-of-three format to find the top two teams for the Grand Final, which will be played in a best-of-five format.

Teams involved:

beastcoast	BetBoom	Evil Geniuses
Execration	Gaimin Gladiators	9Pandas
Invictus Gaming	OG	PSG.LGD
Shopify Rebellion	TALON	Team Aster
Team Liquid	Team SMG	Team Spirit
TSM	Tundra Esports	Xtreme Gaming

Commentators and Analysts

Hosts:
- Neal “Tsunami” Khandheria
- Jorien “Sheever” van der Heijden
- Ted “PyrionFlax” Forsyth

Sideline Reporter
- Jake “SirActionSlacks” Kanner

Commentators / Analysts
- Mira “Ephey” Riad
- Alexandra “Sheepsticked” Roberts
- Andrew “Jenkins” Jenkins
- Owen “ODPixel” Davies
- Ioannis “Fogged” Loucas
- Austin “Cap” Walsh
- Avery “SVG” Silverman
- Peter “ppd” Dager
- Brian “BSJ” Canavan
- Troels Lyngholt “syndereN” Nielsen
- Shannon “SUNSfan” Scotten
Remote commentators / Analysts
- Gareth “Gareth” Bateson
- Dominik “Lacoste” Stipić
- Lachlan “Ares” Williams
- David “GoDz” Parker
- Ricky “rkryptic” Peterson
- John “johnxfire” Nathan Fernandez
- Gabriel “Lyrical” Cruz
- Clinton “Fear” Loomis
- Trent “Trent” MacKenzie
- Kevin “Purge” Godec
- Tim “Dktruman” de Lange
- Filipe “Astini” Astini

Prize Money:

TOTAL	$500,000
1st	$200,000
2nd	$100,000
3rd	$75,000
4th	$50,000
5th – 6th	$25,000
7th – 8th	$12,500

In-Arena experience
ESL One Berlin will host numerous other on-site activities. There will be signing sessions for fans to get players’ autographs, a balloon artist to sculpt your Dota heroes and an airbrush tattooist, so you can show your colors and support your team! Fans also have the opportunity to visit partner booths inside the arena – including DHL, Intel and Monster Energy – participate in several exciting activations and win amazing prizes.

Virtus.pro and Kappa announce partnership and introduce Change the Game collection

April 20, 2023 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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Virtus.pro and Kappa brand announce partnership, the first stage of which is going to be the participation of the team in the brand’s new campaign — Change the Game. Later this year, a joint collection of Kappa and Virtus.pro will also be presented.

Club’s players in CS:GO, Jame, Qikert, FL1T, n0rb3r7, fame took part in the campaign dedicated to the release of the new Kappa spring collection. The photo set immerses everyone in Kappa Virtual Hub, an inspiring environment where real abilities and talents become super skills. Players open new doors for themselves and each one of them sets his own rules of the game. The digital avatar of Kappa, representing the female part of the capsule, becomes the companion of the players in the virtual world. She tells the heroes about the principles of the virtual space and watches how they reveal their capabilities.

“Modern day esports players are in constant motion, development, and search. This brings them close to the values of the Kappa brand. They do not stop there, they learn and try new things to become better, to show that they are the ones to create the rules of the game. Even now, esports players are changing the perception of reality before our eyes, blurring the lines between the physical and digital worlds, thereby bringing us closer to the futuristic universes that we tell our audience about from season to season. It has always been important for us to be able to cooperate and support people whose goals and interests we share. Therefore, the partnership with Virtus.pro, one of the biggest esports clubs in the world, is a huge and significant step for Kappa as a brand. It will allow us to contribute to the development of both the club itself and the entire industry as a whole, and will make the world of the future that we talk about so much even more real,” said Anton Chesnokov, Kappa Senior Brand Manager.

“Kappa is a global brand that has been around for over 100 years and supplies equipment to a huge number of sports clubs around the world. But even with such a solid background, Kappa remains an innovator in the world of sportswear. It doesn’t simply follow modern trends, but also sets them. Therefore, we are pleased that Kappa is transferring its historical heritage to the digital world with such a large-scale collaboration in the territory of esports, and doing it together with Virtus.pro. We are confident that the club’s fans will appreciate the results of our cooperation, because style and passion are what unites us with Kappa,” said Nikolai Petrossian, CEO of Virtus.pro.

Kappa’s new collection is inspired by some of the classic models and the brand’s football heritage. The collection is made in recognizable colors: black, white, gray and blue. Solid color silhouettes are accompanied by brand logo print and color-block coloring.

Does prize money for Esports fall under the Gambling Act?

April 18, 2023 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is the world’s oldest national federation for esports having been founded in 1985 and is the custodian for all esports in South Africa.

With the development of esports in South Africa, there are more-and-more private operators wanting to start their own competitions. Many of these private operators do not want to seek official accreditation in order to avoid regulatory bodies and the law.

eSports are not governed by gambling legislation and therefore a licence from the provincial gambling boards is not required should events be accredited by MSSA.

If the event meets the requirements for an eSport event, then the event would be governed by the eSport regulator.

Online gaming has gained significant momentum in South Africa. There are dedicated leagues that host local competitions where entrants pay fees (similar to the Registration Fees) and compete for the opportunity to win cash prizes.

Online gaming on a competitive level is considered an eSport. The recognition of eSports in South Africa has taken great strides by MSSA. In this way, competitive and online gaming is regulated in terms of sporting regulation and not under gambling laws.

In the 2013 White Paper on Sport and Recreation for the Republic of South Africa (White Paper), the definition of sport in a development context includes a broad and inclusive spectrum of activities which people of all ages and abilities can participate.

In 2008, the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Sport for the Development and Peace defined sport, for the purposes of development, as “all forms of physical activity that contribute to physical fitness, mental wellbeing and social interaction, such as play, recreation, organised or competitive sport, and indigenous sports and games”.

Fortunately, Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) (the official organisation with the rights to give out South African colours to eSports teams at a national and provincial level) makes a clear provision for the recognition of eSports in their constitutional document. eSports are recognised as sports and are, as such, regulated in terms of sporting legislation and not gambling legislation.

Thus, it is MSSA’s opinion that in order to avoid approaching a gambling regulator, a private operator needs to have its event registered as an accredited eSport event.

India’s First-Ever Franchise-Based eSports League, Skyesports Masters, Announced with a Whopping Prize Pool of INR 2 Crore

April 15, 2023 Published by EuropeanGaming.eu

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Organized by Jet Skyesports, the Skyesports Masters will be India’s biggest gaming tournament featuring eight franchised teams

Setting a new benchmark in the Indian eSports industry, Jet Skyesports, the leading eSports tournament organizer in South Asia has unveiled its latest IP; the Skyesports Masters which is not only the country’s first-ever franchise-based eSports league but also the biggest gaming tournament to date in India with a whopping INR 2 crore prize pool.

The groundbreaking league will feature a total of eight franchise teams comprising the biggest national as well as international names in CS:GO and will happen as an on-ground event (LAN) with a live audience in Mumbai, India.

By leveraging its position in the market to unlock revenue streams for all eight franchised teams in the Skyesports Masters with sponsorships, merchandise sales and media rights deals, Jet Skyesports will act as an enabler for the creation of a sustainable ecosystem for Counter-Strike in the years to come.

Sharing his thoughts on the creation of the Skyesports Masters and its vision, the founder and Chief Executive Officer for Skyesports, Shiva Nandy, said: “The Skyesports Masters is set to redefine and raise the bar for eSports in India. With our franchised system, we have found eight fantastic partners to be a part of the inaugural season of the league. Our goal for the league is not to just create one of the grandest tournaments for audiences to enjoy but also to build a viable ecosystem for eSports organizations while unlocking many revenue streams for them. This is the need of the hour for the Indian eSports industry as a lot of organizations are reeling under huge losses and we hope Skyesports Masters can be the much-needed game changes for the industry.”

The Skyesports Masters league will kick off with the cafe qualifiers followed by the main event in Mumbai. Here, the eight franchise teams will battle it out in front of a live audience to choose the ultimate Skyesports Masters.

In order to provide the emerging and highly talented gamers of the country a platform to showcase their talent, Jet Skyesports has tied up with local gaming cafés across 20 different cities such as Chennai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and several others to scout for the best CS:GO players during the qualifiers. The Skyesports Masters will provide franchise teams with an option to add the best of the scouted players from the qualifiers to their star-studded rosters.

Commenting on the unique format, the Gaming Division Chief Executive Officer at JetSynthesys, Anuj Tandon, added: “Over the years, Skyesports has hosted various tournaments in association with some of the popular games. Counter-Strike has been at the heart of India’s gaming café culture for decades and Skyesports’ association with CS:GO will usher in a revival of the game ahead of the release of Counter-Strike 2. It’s a significant milestone for us as we gear up to bring forth Skyesports’ first-ever franchised eSports league that will see a lot of talent emerge and contribute to the growth of the Indian eSports industry at the grassroots level.”

In spite of being a traditional eSports title, CS:GO is still a prominent part of the eSports ecosystem with more than 36 million players playing the game in March of this year.

The schedule for the qualifiers, exact venue and ticketing information will be announced soon on Skyesports’ Instagram, Twitter and Facebook handles. Fans who won’t be able to attend the event live can tune into the electrifying action of the league live on the official Skyesports YouTube channel in multiple languages.

Tag: eSports

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