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Thunderpick World Championship 2025 Announces Finals Dates and Teams

Published

3 days ago

September 9, 2025

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Thunderpick World Championship (TWC), one of the largest independently sponsored CS2 tournaments in the world, today announced the dates and teams for its 2025 Finals. With a $1 million USD prize pool on the line ($850,000 for the finals), the championship will bring together 20 of the top Counter-Strike teams to compete in front of a global audience this fall.

The TWC Finals Closed Qualifier will run Sept. 9 to 11, determining the final teams punching their ticket to the TWC Finals (LAN stage) in Malta on Oct. 15 to 19.

Teams competing at TWC 2025 include:

The MongolZ – Defending Thunderpick World Champions, currently ranked #3 in the world
NAVI – Ukrainian powerhouse, former Major champions, and a perennial top 10 team
FURIA – Brazil’s top CS2 roster, known for their aggressive playstyle (#8 world ranking)
Aurora – Rising Russian squad, solidified as a global top five contender (#5 world ranking)
Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP) – Legendary Swedish organization with a rich Counter-Strike legacy
SAW – Portugal’s leading team, climbing steadily in the European scene
BB – Prominent CIS roster competing at the highest international level
ECSTATIC – Denmark’s up-and-coming team with upset potential
TNL – South Korean squad representing Asia’s growing CS2 presence
Nemiga – Belarusian veterans with experience on the international stage
BIG – German giants, fan favorites with multiple international titles
ENCE – Finnish-led team, known for deep runs at Majors and top-tier consistency
PARIVISION – Fast-rising CIS squad making waves in qualifiers
KOLESIE – Underdog team emerging from the Eastern European circuit
OG – European mix team, returning to TWC after competing last year
JiJieHao – One of China’s strongest representatives in CS2 competition
Team Legacy – International lineup with veteran leadership
M80 – North America’s breakout team with a young, talented roster
Imperial – Brazilian fan favorites led by seasoned veterans
9z – South America’s rising stars, representing Argentina and Uruguay

This year’s tournament features four Top 10 ranked teams, setting the stage for one of the most competitive editions yet. The MongolZ’s return to defend their 2024 title among the presence of perennial powerhouses like NAVI, FURIA and Aurora.

“As we enter our third year, the Thunderpick World Championship continues to push the boundaries of competitive Counter-Strike,” said Kelly Sanders, Head of Strategy at Thunderpick. “With top teams from around the world converging on Malta and the return of defending champions The MongolZ, fans can expect an unforgettable event full of high-stakes gameplay.”

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

The TWC 2025 Finals are presented in collaboration with Hotspawn, the leading hub for esports news and analysis. Together, Thunderpick and Hotspawn are committed to elevating the fan experience with innovative production, compelling storytelling, and fair play at the heart of the competition.

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Kongebonus statement: Norway’s election result signals gambling policy continuity, but licensing debate is set to intensify

Published

10 hours ago

September 11, 2025

Adrienn Sarkany

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With the centre-left retaining a narrow majority, Norway’s gambling framework is set to remain largely unchanged in the near term.

Norsk Tipping’s monopoly will continue, and enforcement tools such as payment and DNS blocking of unregulated operators are likely to remain in focus. While a shift to a licensing model appears unlikely this parliamentary term, the Progress Party’s stronger position as the main opposition keeps the reform debate active.

For industry stakeholders, the sensible course is to concentrate on compliant, sustainable strategies and to track policy signals closely as the debate continues.

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Slots Temple Announces Exclusive Free-to-Play Tournament Partnership with Pragmatic Play

Published

12 hours ago

September 11, 2025

Adrienn Sarkany

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Leading online casino operator Slots Temple is excited to announce a brand-new partnership with the UK’s number one slot provider, Pragmatic Play. This exclusive new deal will allow Slots Temple to integrate Pragmatic Play’s industry-leading products into its free-to-play tournament platform.

As part of this collaboration, Pragmatic Play’s renowned online slot portfolio, which features popular titles like Big Bass Bonanza, Big Bass Splash, and Gates of Olympus, will be available on Slots Temple’s tournament platform.

This is a landmark moment for Slots Temple as it continues establishing itself as a unique proposition in the UK marketplace. The operator became the first affiliate site to receive a full United Kingdom Gambling Commission license, enabling it to offer real-money prizes and slots to its customers. Through this partnership, Slots Temple will also be the first operator in the UK to offer free to play Tournaments (on Pragmatic Play Slot Games) that award real cash prizes

Slots Temple is committed to giving its players access to the latest and best slots available, and this new partnership underscores that dedication.

Fraser Linkleter, CEO of Slots Temple, said: Tournaments are the beating heart of everything we offer here at Slots Temple. By signing this exclusive partnership, we are continuing to demonstrate to our players our commitment to collaborating with the best the industry has to offer.

“Slots Temple has repeatedly proven itself to be a trailblazer in the UK slot scene, and we’re excited for their players to engage with our titles through dynamic tournaments. Our games are designed with player engagement in mind, making them a perfect match for this format.” Beatriz Chamero, Business Development Manager at Pragmatic Play commented.

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iGP Partners With BetComply to Support Strategic Expansion

Published

12 hours ago

September 11, 2025

Adrienn Sarkany

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iGP, the full-service iGaming platform, aggregator, and lottery provider, has partnered with regulatory consultancy BetComply to accelerate its strategy to expand its presence in regulated markets. This marks a key milestone in iGP’s multi-year transformation project into a leading B2B iGaming solutions provider, following a strategic shift to become a purely B2B-focused business.

BetComply, the leading compliance advisory business, will provide iGP guidance across licensing applications, documentation preparation, internal controls, and technical compliance. This ensures iGP and its operator partners are fully equipped to launch and scale successfully in regulated markets.

The strategic collaboration adds further strength to iGP’s full-suite offering, which includes a feature-rich iGaming Platform, the next-generation iGaming Deck aggregator, turnkey casino and sportsbook offering, integrated crypto and retail capabilities, as well as the latest lottery solution. With BetComply’s expertise, iGP reinforces its ability to deliver long-term compliance assurance alongside the robust infrastructure operators depend on.

Having evolved from a fast-growing tech provider to a trusted partner for scalable growth, iGP empowers operators to expand with confidence and achieve sustainable success in competitive regulated markets.

Jovana Popovic Canaki, CEO at iGP, said: “Partnering with BetComply marks a significant milestone that underscores both our ambition and momentum. It strengthens iGP’s position as a serious player in regulated markets worldwide, and I’m immensely proud of the teams and partners who made this possible. With BetComply’s support, we are ready to deliver our technology and vision to operators across regulated markets. We look forward to announcing our new market launches shortly.”

Mike de Graaff, Chief Compliance Officer at BetComply, said: “We’re excited to support iGP as they target to expand into regulated markets. Our role is to ensure that iGP and its partners enter every jurisdiction on a strong and sustainable compliance foundation, giving operators the confidence to focus on growth.”

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