Former Kochava, DeNA and EA executive to lead Asia-Pacific commercial growth and regional strategy.

Golden Whale has appointed Jaime Ocampo as Managing Director, Asia, as the company pushes deeper into the Asia-Pacific iGaming market.

Ocampo will lead commercial growth and regional strategy across the region, with a focus on supporting operators adopting “continuously learning models” for decisioning across engagement and incentives, the company said.

He brings more than 20 years of experience across digital technology, gaming and data-driven growth, and has held senior roles at Kochava, DeNA, Funstage GmbH and Electronic Arts.

Eberhard Dürrschmid, CEO at Golden Whale, said: “Asia is a strategically important region for us, with a diverse and fast-moving market. Jaime brings a rare combination of experience across gaming, data and commercial strategy, which aligns closely with how we support operators today. His understanding of both the operational challenges and the underlying data opportunities makes him ideally positioned to lead our expansion in the region.”

Jaime Ocampo, Managing Director, Asia at Golden Whale, added: “The opportunity in Asia is significant, particularly as operators look to move beyond traditional campaign structures and adopt more adaptive, data-driven approaches to player engagement. Golden Whale’s technology is built to support that transition, and I am looking forward to working closely with partners across the region to help unlock new levels of performance and efficiency.”

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In a heart-pounding display of tactical precision and mental fortitude, S8UL Esports has been crowned the VALORANT Challengers South Asia (VCSA) 2026 Split 1 Champions. The victory came after an intense five-map Grand Final against Revenant Xspark, where S8UL emerged victorious with a 3-2 scoreline, solidifying their dominance in the regional VCT ecosystem.

With this win, S8UL takes home the lion’s share of the prize pool—INR ₹9,00,000—and sets a high benchmark for the remainder of the 2026 season.

The Road to the Trophy

S8UL’s journey through Split 1 was a testament to their growth following the 2025 season. Their path to the podium included:

• League Phase Dominance: Consistent performance against seven of South Asia’s elite teams.

• Semifinal Sweep: A commanding 2-0 victory over Asterisk, showcasing a roster peaking at the perfect moment.

• The 5-Map Thriller: A back-and-forth Grand Final against Revenant Xspark that tested the limits of both skill and composure.

Strategic Growth and Leadership

The victory highlights the successful vision of Mithul “8bit Binks” Nayak, the driving force behind this revamped roster. Under the leadership of veteran captain Ganesh “SkRossi” Gangadhar, the team displayed evolved coordination and the ability to clutch out decisive rounds under immense pressure.

“Winning Split 1 gives us confidence, but we know the season is long,” said SkRossi. “I’m proud of how the team stayed focused in the crucial moments.”

Impact on the VCT Ecosystem

VCSA Split 1 serves as the critical pathway for South Asian teams to climb into the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT). By securing the first title of the year, S8UL not only establishes themselves as the team to beat but also positions themselves favorably for international qualification opportunities in Split 2 and beyond.

Animesh ‘Thug’ Agarwal, Co-Founder and CEO of S8UL, noted: “The team showed incredible composure in a high-pressure final. This result is a testament to the work they’ve been putting in behind the scenes. We’ve always believed in this roster.”

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QTech Games, the leading game aggregator for emerging markets, has been named Innovation of the Year 2026 at the prestigious SPiCE South Asia Awards, held at the iconic Shangri-La Colombo in Sri Lanka, overcoming strong regional competition.

The award celebrates the South Asian iGaming innovator that has demonstrated groundbreaking technological innovation, delivering tailored solutions over the past 12 months while excelling in user engagement and sustained growth.

QTech’s recognition follows the successful launch of QTech Hybrid, a platform that enables players to seamlessly transition between retail and digital gaming environments. The solution combines QTech Games’ AI-powered casino lobby, QTech Play, with a retail management system and a state-of-the-art Agent Management System (AMS), allowing operators to scale brick-and-mortar operations online. QTech Hybrid represents a next-generation omnichannel solution, bridging the gap between physical and digital casino experiences.

“We’re thrilled to be recognised for Innovation of the Year in South Asia,” said Philip Doftvik, CEO of QTech Games.
“This award reflects the collective effort of our team and our network of innovative suppliers. From QTech Hybrid to QTechLabs and our Value Added Services, we continue to deliver solutions that drive revenue and engagement for our partners worldwide.

“Being acknowledged for our innovation, market impact, and operational results validates our strategic direction. It underscores QTech’s commitment to setting the gold standard in emerging markets and shaping the future of online casino gaming across Asia and beyond.”

With this accolade, QTech Games reinforces its position as a pioneer in emerging market aggregation, demonstrating that innovative technology and omnichannel solutions are key to scaling operations and enhancing player experiences across the globe.

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