eSports
F1 Esports Series presented by Aramco returns remotely for fourth season with record prize fund
Formula 1® has announced the F1 Esports Series presented by Aramco will return for a fourth season, with one of the biggest cash prize funds in sports simulation esports on offer at $750,000. The action gets underway with the “Pro Draft Reveal Show” on 27 August 2020, where the official F1 teams will reveal their selected roster of talented drivers. A record breaking number of participants of over 237,000 attempted to qualify for this year’s competition as F1 Esports continues to enjoy its most exciting year yet.
As with other major sporting events, the F1 Esports Pro Series, which will take place this autumn, has adapted to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and will therefore be operating remotely in 2020, with competitors racing from their own homes and team factories to ensure the safety of all the teams and drivers involved.
The F1 Esports Series has been more anticipated than ever before following the success of the Virtual Grand Prix series, which featured a host of sports and music stars and achieved over 30m views globally across eight events between March and June this year. The 2019 F1 Esports Series saw Ferrari’s David Tonizza crowned drivers’ champion alongside Red Bull, who took home the constructor’s championship, with over 8.7m viewers across digital platforms and TV, and 169m social media impressions, making it the most successful season to date.
MAKING THE CUT AT THE “PRO DRAFT REVEAL SHOW”
This season’s “Pro Draft Reveal Show” will air on 27 August, where teams will announce their line-ups for the 2020 season for the first time, with each team required to add at least one qualifying draft member to their three-driver roster from a group of 45 qualifiers. The 2020 qualfication routes saw record participation of over 237,000 entrants, a growth of +118% from 109,000 in 2019, with players competing on traditional consoles and also mobile for the first time.
All Pro Draft qualifying drivers are available for selection, with no knockout racing qualification as the series adapts to a shorter process due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the online draft and team picks will take place online in advance.
For the first time, the two winners of the highly successful inaugural season of the F1 Esports Series China Championship (organised by licensed partner Juss Intellisports), Tang Tianyu and Yuan Yifan, will also be available for team selection after their success in last year’s regional campaign, where they came out on top as the fastest two drivers in the competition.
A BIGGER AND BETTER PRO SERIES
The Pro Series will run between October – December, following the same format as last season with a 12-round championship made up of four online events featuring three races, but races will now be run at an increased distance of 35%. There will also be a new full qualifying format for the 2020 season in line with real-life F1 World Championship.
F1 Esports Pro Series drivers will be racing on a bespoke version of the recently released F1 2020 official video game developed by Codemasters, with equipment provided by official supplier Fanatec, the world leader in professional simulator hardware, for a third season. Points scoring will once again follow real-life World Championship rules, with F1’s Official Logistics Partner DHL rewarding an extra point to the driver with the fastest lap.
MORE CONTENT THAN EVER BEFORE
This year’s Pro Series will provide fans with more content than ever before with eight live broadcasts, doubling last season’s offering. There will be live racing on Wednesday and Thursday across an event week, and this season will also see the introduction of supplementary livestreamed qualifying sessions on both days further adding to the content proposition for fans across the globe.
The F1 Esports Pro Series 2020 will be broadcast on F1’s social channels (Facebook, YouTube, Twitch and Huya), as well as select TV broadcast partners, with two live shows per event from the Gfinity Arena.
Julian Tan, Head of Digital Business Initiatives and Esports said:
“F1 Esports has had a huge year with the massive success of the Virtual Grand Prix series that we ran through lockdown. This has set us up well for the launch of the 2020 F1 Esports Series which will be our biggest and most innovative season yet. With over 237,000 participants this year, up from 109,000 participants in 2019, we are seeing incredible growth. We also continue to push boundaries by offering our largest ever cash prize fund of $750,000 which is industry-leading as well as continue to innovate by adapting quickly in the current landscape and operating the series entirely remotely as we look to ensure an enjoyable, but safe, Pro Series this year – we can’t wait to get started!”
Frank Sagnier, Codemasters CEO said:
“The appetite for F1® content has never been greater. We saw tremendous success from the Virtual Grand Prix Series, and that momentum has carried through to the launch of F1® 2020. It’s now time for the esports professionals to rise to the challenge. The 2020 F1 Esports Series presented by Aramco promises to be the most exciting and competitive to date. We can’t wait for the virtual racing to begin.”
John Clarke, Gfinity Chief Executive Officer said:
“The F1 Esports Series goes from strength to strength. Formula 1 has benefited from being an early adopter in the gaming space, with millions of young fans now engaging with the series. It is hitting the right notes in terms of driver performance, competitive racing and all round entertaining content. This year is going to raise the bar even higher. Expect high octane racing with lots of tension. Gfinity is proud to be a long-term esports operator for F1 and be at the heart of the design and delivery of this industry-leading competition”.
2020 F1 Esports Series presented by Aramco:
| Teams | |
| Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN F1 Esports | Mercedes-AMG Petronas Esports Team |
| BWT Racing Point F1 Esports Team | Red Bull Racing Esports |
| FDA Hublot Esports Team | Renault Vitality |
| Haas F1 Team Esports | Scuderia AlphaTauri Esports Team |
| McLaren Shadow | Williams Esports |
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Bet builder
GG.BET launches Bet Builder for a new way to bet
Reading Time: < 1 minute
Customers can now use Bet Builder, a format that lets them build their own set of markets on one match into a single bet with higher odds. Bet Builder is available for both esports and sports events. You can try out the new feature with a deposit bonus of up to 150% and a free bet worth up to $50.
Customers can now place a combined bet on a single match by picking various options for how events in the match will play out. For example, in CS2, customers can choose which team will win on a specific map, how many kills a specific player will rack up, how many rounds will be played on a single map, and so on.
To place a Bet Builder bet, pick an event that hasn’t started yet, press the ‘Bet Builder’ button, put together your selection of markets from those available, get higher combo odds, and finish placing the bet in one click. At this initial stage, GG.BET is offering Bet Builder on football, basketball, hockey, CS2, Dota 2, LoL, and VALORANT, with more sports and disciplines to be added down the line.
“GG.BET has always been known for embracing unconventional markets and elaborate betting options. Bet Builder is there to meet customer demand for more interesting formats in a single match. The ability to make predictions right down to a specific round and any other tiny detail of a match is what gives users variety and improves their skills,” the GG.BET press office explained.
GG.BET is offering customers the opportunity to test out the Bet Builder format with a deposit bonus of up to 150% and a free bet of up to $50.
The post GG.BET launches Bet Builder for a new way to bet appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
IESF Officially Opens the World Esports Championship 2025 in Kuala Lumpur
Reading Time: < 1 minute
The World Esports Championship 2025 (WEC25) is officially open in Kuala Lumpur, welcoming athletes, fans, and delegations from around the globe. With 19 nations taking part in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), this year’s event stands as the most internationally diverse MLBB competition in IESF history.
After a year filled with national and regional qualifiers and preparations from teams around the world, the world’s top esports athletes have arrived in Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur. The opening ceremony set the tone for the days ahead, offering fans a first glimpse of the excitement and atmosphere surrounding this year’s championship.
“WEC25 reflects the continued growth of esports as a space for connection, competition, and shared passion,” said IESF General Secretary Boban Totovski. “Bringing together 19 nations for MLBB is a milestone not just for the title, but for the entire esports ecosystem. We are proud to bring this edition of the championship to Kuala Lumpur.”
As the competition officially kicks off, the schedule is fully packed with exciting match-ups among Nations, competing for their flag and country. The best from all over the world will have the unique opportunity to become the MLBB World Champion.
IESF extends its gratitude to the Malaysian government and the Ministry for Youth and Sports, partners, athletes, and global supporters who continue to elevate the championship’s reach and impact.
The post IESF Officially Opens the World Esports Championship 2025 in Kuala Lumpur appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
League of Legends Fans Flock to Munich for a Thrilling Edition of Red Bull League of Its Own 2025
Reading Time: 3 minutes
- Red Bull League of its Own 2025 saw Europe’s finest and global icons collide in a showcase of skill, creativity, and pure entertainment, marking another standout chapter for the one-of-a-kind tournament series
- Featuring some of the wildest matches ever played, highlights include G2 securing a huge 45-16 kills against T1 and Los Ratones facing off and beating T1 for the second year in a row
- MSI returned with its MSI Gaming Arena, joined by Sony INZONE as official headset partner and Herman Miller Gaming as official gaming chair partner
A new chapter in European esports history was written this weekend as Red Bull League of Its Own 2025 lit up Munich’s iconic SAP Garden, welcoming over 11,500 live attendees and countless online viewers for a full day of spectacle, strategy, and pure passion. The lineup read like a who’s who of League of Legends greatness – with reigning world champions T1 facing off against Europe’s most celebrated squads, including G2 Esports, Karmine Corp, NNO Old, and Los Ratones. Each team brought their signature flair, creative strategies, and unforgettable personalities, setting the tone for a day filled with unforgettable clashes.
Returning for its third edition, the one-of-a-kind event brought together these global legends and European fan favourites for a show built on daring play. For the first time, the stage was set in Munich’s state-of-the-art SAP Garden, transforming the city’s Olympic Park into a high-energy esports arena that buzzed with anticipation from the opening match to the closing moments. Fans were treated to a thrilling slate of best-of-one showdowns throughout the day, that kept the pace sharp and the competition unpredictable.
G2 Esports and NNO Old opened the event, with G2 coming out on top as attendees witnessed the team setting the tone for the day-long tournament with a huge KDA spike right off the bat. Match 2 saw Karmine Corp emerging victorious after a rigorous battle with Los Ratones, establishing themselves as one of Europe’s strongest. However, G2 pulled no stops showcasing why they are the leading European team in match 3, dominating the match against Karmine Corp and earning them the European title match.
Next came the clash of the titans which saw T1 facing off back-to-back against Europe’s best. G2 Esports vs T1 saw Steven “Hans Sama” Liv dropping 18 kills, resulting in G2 Esports slamming T1 with 45-16 kills in an unprecedented and shocking twist. T1 managed to scrape back after their previous loss, with Faker landing his signature outplays and bringing the team to victory against NNO Old. Then finally the showdown everyone was waiting for: the rematch between Los Ratones and T1. The battle was relentless and the most dominating, lightning-paced showmatches of the day, with 81 kills seen in 28 minutes. T1 countered with their signature flair but Los Ratones proved their might once more, driving T1’s base and closing the show in an absolute tailspin. Each match pushed competitors to their limits, celebrating the creativity and spontaneity that make Red Bull League of Its Own, unlike any other tournament in the scene.
Dynamic host Sjokz led the charge, guiding fans through every twist and turn of the event with trademark charisma and energy. The atmosphere inside SAP Garden was electric – a seamless blend of top-tier esports production, immersive visuals, and a fan community united in their love for the game. Whether watching from the front row or on stream, viewers experienced the full force of Red Bull’s commitment to pushing competitive gaming beyond the ordinary.
By the end of the day, Red Bull League of Its Own 2025 had once again proven why it stands as one of the most unique and beloved events in the League of Legends calendar. With moments that had fans holding their breath, the event captured the true spirit of modern esports – bold, unpredictable, and endlessly entertaining. From cheering for their favorite pros to discovering new matchups and witnessing once-in-a-lifetime plays, fans left Munich with memories to last long after the lights went down, with anticipation already building for what the next edition of Red Bull League of Its Own will bring.
The post League of Legends Fans Flock to Munich for a Thrilling Edition of Red Bull League of Its Own 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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