eSports
Alpine officially enters esports with Alpine Esports Team: driver lineup and competition schedule revealed
Alpine Esports Team officially launched its 2021 campaign today to compete in the biggest virtual racing competition in the world, the F1 Esports Pro Championship. The team, in partnership with Sim racing experts Race Clutch, represent Alpine’s first official venture into virtual racing.
As the team’s official partner this year, Race Clutch will help the drivers with their training and preparation for the 2021 competition from its HQ in Limoges, France. The team’s goal is to hire and train the best Esports racers in the world to compete in the biggest virtual racing competitions.
Suiting up for the team in this year’s F1 Esports Pro Championship starting in September, will be the returning driver pairing of Nicolas Longuet and Fabrizio Donoso, who led the team to third in last year’s championship.
The drivers will be guided by the leadership of Team Principal Richard Arnaud, Race Director Robin Bondon, Performance Manager Julien Southon, Ambassador Thom “Thomb” Brouwer and Coach Samba Sy.
In addition to competing in this year’s F1 Esports Pro Championship, Alpine Esports will act as an organiser to the Alpine Esports Series due to start next month. The series will run on Assetto Corsa Competizione, the official game of the competition in a championship of six races, with various prizes available to the winners.
Laurent Rossi, Alpine Cars CEO: “We are delighted to announce the first Alpine Esports team participating in virtual competitions and championships this year. By partnering with Race Clutch, Alpine Esports Team will seek out and train the best Sim racers in the world with the ultimate goal of winning. The team have fantastic facilities and a superb line-up to make it happen. The Esports team will also continue to bridge the gap between virtual and real races, as these bridges move closer and closer each year between the two worlds. It will also learn from our Formula 1 and Alpine Racing programs. We can’t wait to see our team and our drivers compete virtually in 2021.”
Richard Arnaud – Race Clutch president & founder, Team Principal of Alpine Esports:
“The entire team at Race Clutch is proud and excited to become part of the Alpine family! Our expertise and years of experience in Sim racing will give Alpine Esports the best environment to continue to compete at the front. The goal is to win championships, with the F1 Esports Series as a first target. I believe in the team we have put together. I am sure this collaboration will increase the interest for the sport, bringing new F1 fans with us, and opening new opportunities for Alpine in the virtual world of racing. This is an exciting new journey that starts for Esports racing in France.”
Nicolas Longuet, Alpine Esports Team driver:
“I am happy to continue my career with Alpine after a successful 2020 season. For sure, after a first full campaign, now the goal is to fight for the championship and add more wins. The experience from last year will help to not repeat some mistakes. Some other teams seem stronger than last year already, but I feel confident and I am looking forward to the 2021 F1 Esports Series.”
Fabrizio Donoso, Alpine Esports Team driver:
“Considering last season, it’s great to have a chance to compete again this year. I’ve had time for myself on and off the sim. My main goal now is to focus only on performance and my driving. I am happy with the way things are going and I am looking forward to the season with the reshaped team and our new colours.”
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betting brand marketing
Esportes da Sorte Secures Major Sponsorship for FIFA World Cup 2026 Broadcasts on SBT and N Sports
Leading Brazilian iGaming brand Esportes da Sorte has announced a high-profile sponsorship agreement for the FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcasts on SBT and N Sports, reinforcing its presence during one of the most influential sporting events in the world.
The partnership includes extensive brand activations throughout the entire tournament, spanning television, streaming, and digital media.
The sponsorship package delivers wide national exposure through SBT’s free-to-air broadcasts, simulcast coverage, the +SBT streaming platform, and the N Sports pay-TV channel. In addition to traditional broadcast placements, Esportes da Sorte will activate across the broadcasters’ digital ecosystems, including official websites, YouTube channels, and other owned digital platforms.
According to Marcela Campos, Vice President of the Esportes Gaming Brasil Group, which owns the Esportes da Sorte brand, the initiative strategically aligns the company with one of the largest moments of audience engagement in global sport. The FIFA World Cup represents a unique opportunity to amplify brand recall, increase engagement frequency, and strengthen emotional connections with football fans.
“The World Cup is a global event that concentrates attention, conversation, and excitement on an unparalleled scale. In Brazil, it represents one of the most powerful moments of sports audience mobilisation. Maintaining a consistent and high-frequency presence on SBT’s broadcasts allows us to expand our brand positioning and deepen Esportes da Sorte’s connection with the football fan experience,” Campos explained.
On television, Esportes da Sorte will feature prominently through promotional spots, opening and closing idents, commercial break placements, and video inserts. The agreement also includes sponsorship of a dedicated FIFA World Cup 2026 programme, airing throughout the competition, alongside integrated editorial content within the broadcasters’ schedules.
Digitally, the brand will be embedded within the official World Cup broadcasts on SBT and N Sports, while also appearing in additional content initiatives produced by both channels. This multi-platform strategy ensures comprehensive coverage of the tournament, maximising visibility and engagement across broadcast and online audiences.
With this partnership, Esportes da Sorte further cements its position as a major player in Brazil’s regulated iGaming market, leveraging the cultural power of football and the global reach of the FIFA World Cup to strengthen brand equity and long-term consumer affinity.
The post Esportes da Sorte Secures Major Sponsorship for FIFA World Cup 2026 Broadcasts on SBT and N Sports appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
competitive Tekken
Team Vitality Signs 16-Year-Old Tekken 8 Prodigy Neia to Fighting Games Roster
Leading French esports organization Team Vitality has announced the signing of Neia, one of the most promising young talents in Tekken 8, as part of its Fighting Games division.
Following a breakthrough 2025 season and a standout showing at EVO Nice, the 16-year-old phenom has committed to representing Team Vitality for the next two competitive seasons.
Neia now joins an elite lineup within Team Vitality, training alongside renowned Tekken players Jeondding and KingReyJr, as well as the H-DOPE and K-TOPE duo CientifiKOF in Fatal Fury. The signing underlines Team Vitality’s continued ambition to nurture emerging talent while strengthening its presence across the fighting game ecosystem.
A breakout year for a rising Tekken star
Despite her young age, Neia has rapidly established herself as one of France’s most exciting Tekken prospects. Known for her mastery of Lili, she stands out for her aggressive playstyle, creative decision-making, and strong technical execution.
Her rise began on June 8, 2025, during a Kayane Session hosted at V.Hive, Team Vitality’s Paris headquarters. Spotted by French champion and content creator Kayane, Neia impressed immediately by defeating several high-level players, including a professional competitor — a performance that sparked widespread attention within the community.
Strong results on the international stage
Neia’s momentum continued throughout 2025:
- 13th place at Ultimate Fighting Arena (UFA) Paris in September
- 17th place at EVO Nice in October while representing French club BMS, eliminating top international players such as Tibetano
- 4th place at Galaxian Explosion in December, defeating Jodd in the top eight — her best result to date
These performances confirmed her status as a breakout Tekken 8 talent with significant international potential.
The next chapter in yellow and black
For the 2026 season, Neia has chosen to continue her competitive journey with Team Vitality, benefitting from world-class coaching, infrastructure, and performance support. Her next major milestones include Tekken World Tour Sweden (January 2026) and EVO Japan (May 2026).
Team Vitality’s commitment to talent development
As a major force in European esports, Team Vitality places player development at the heart of its strategy. By joining the organization, Neia will train in a high-performance environment alongside seasoned professionals, accelerating her growth on the international fighting game circuit.
Fabien “Neo” Devide, President and Co-Founder of Team Vitality, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Neia to Team Vitality. Her potential, seriousness, and determination fully reflect the club’s mindset. Alongside her mentor Kayane, we are proud to support her in this new phase and confident she will find the ideal conditions to thrive with our fighting game players.”
With Neia’s arrival, Team Vitality strengthens its Fighting Games roster while reinforcing its role in shaping the next generation of esports champions.
The post Team Vitality Signs 16-Year-Old Tekken 8 Prodigy Neia to Fighting Games Roster appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BETER
BETER dominates ICE Barcelona 2026 with prestigious double esports award win
BETER, a Europe-based provider of live streams, live data, and odds for esports and sports, is celebrating a double award win at ICE Barcelona 2026.
The provider took home the trophy for Best Esports Innovation at the European iGaming Awards 2026 and Esports Innovator of the Year at the International Gaming Awards 2026.
The win marks the second consecutive year that BETER has topped the Esports Innovator category at the International Gaming Awards, driven by its commitment to evolving the iGaming industry with new formats of in-demand, fast-paced content.
BETER’s esports offering sets the standard for others to follow, consisting of its exclusive ESportsBattle tournaments. These tournaments deliver non-stop betting action across popular titles, including eFootball, eBasketball, eHockey, and eTennis, with more than 500,000 events scheduled annually.
Underlining the provider’s commitment to transparency, ESportsBattle recently received the ESIC Gold Standard Accreditation, further establishing BETER as one of the most trusted names in high-frequency content.
Operators can also take advantage of BETER’s Esports Odds Feed, delivering market-leading odds with the highest uptime across more than 450 tournaments globally, covering 40,000+ pre-match and live events annually, all powered by a team of in-house expert traders.
The awards follow a hugely successful period for BETER’s esports division, including the launch of eTennis, the first of its kind in the market, as well as the addition of the European Conference tournament to its eBasketball series.
BETER has also strengthened its position in the US market, where ESportsBattle is already live in New Jersey and Colorado with tier-one operator bet365. Internationally, the product was integrated by leading operators and aggregators, including Entain CCE and Meridianbet in 2025.
Securing two major award wins at ICE Barcelona is a testament to the quality of BETER’s market-leading fast-betting product suite, as well as the dedication and professionalism of its team.
Vladyslav Vitrenko, Public Relations Lead at BETER, said: “Winning two major esports awards at ICE is a significant milestone for BETER and marks an incredibly strong start to the year.
“We have worked hard developing the best fast-betting products in the market, and this award is a testament to the effort put in by the team – effort that we continue to make to ensure more players than ever before can access our products.
“We are constantly developing new products while maintaining a strong public presence, openly showcasing our operations, integrity measures, and product updates to remain transparent and trustworthy for our operator partners and their players.
“The demand for fast-betting content will only continue to rise, and these awards further position BETER as the go-to provider on the market.”
The post BETER dominates ICE Barcelona 2026 with prestigious double esports award win appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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