eSports
Red Bull Flick returns to challenge the world’s best CS:GO duos
The ultimate 2v2 CS:GO tournament is back! Starting in April, players will battle it out to find the best Counter-Strike: Global Offensive duos in the world. Custom maps, exciting teams and a new futuristic narrative mean this tournament is one to keep an eye on.
- Red Bull Flick 2021 is the opportunity for CS:GO duos around the world to put their skills to the ultimate test with unique maps alongside a new narrative for players to immerse themselves in a futuristic sci-fi setting.
- Red Bull Flick first launched in 2019 with a local event in Turkey, taken to a new level in 2020 with a global launch and 45,000 registrations in over 30 countries competing. Legendary G2 Nikola “NiKo” Kovač will be the Red Bull Flick Brand Ambassador, making appearances and providing his expert opinion throughout the tournament.
- International online qualifiers will kick off the season in April, with the exciting Red Bull Flick Invitational – Helsinki to conclude the year in November 2021.
- SteelSeries comes on board as the official Peripheral Partner to support with their world-renowned gaming headsets, keyboards and mice. AOC returns as the official Monitor Partner to provide phenomenal visual clarity and ultra-high refresh rate monitors.
Red Bull Flick, the premier 2v2 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament, is returning for 2021 with a futuristic twist and brand new custom maps. Open to players around the world, Red Bull Flick will see skilled duos battle it out in national tournaments and international online qualifiers for the chance to be crowned number one and challenge their CS:GO idols in the official pro-am competition, the Red Bull Flick Invitational, Helsinki, to conclude the season. This year’s tournament weaves in a futuristic narrative, an alternative reality in which esports is the ultimate form of public entertainment, which will take players to custom maps and arenas across multiple planets and space stations.
This year’s game mode features capture points, with each duo fighting for control of the map. This will be the first time that a narrative of this kind, along with themed maps and content, has been incorporated into a Red Bull event. Red Bull Flick began in 2019 as a local event in Turkey and is now a prestigious global tournament, with over 45,000 registrations and duos from some of the biggest teams on the scene competing in 2020. For Red Bull Flick 2021, G2 NiKo will join as the official Red Bull Flick Brand Ambassador. As an expert rifler and one of the best CS:GO in-game leaders in the world, NiKo will give fans expert insight and commentary on the top plays of the tournament.
Last year’s 2020 Red Bull Flick Pro EU Invitational saw exciting upsets and incredible duos from Team Vitality, BIG Clan, ENCE and G2, with Team Germany emerging victorious over the likes of Kévin “misutaaa” Rabier and the undisputed best player in the world, Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut. Red Bull Flick 2021 will comprise national tournaments in more than 30 countries and international online qualifiers open to all. Winners will earn a spot in the Red Bull Flick Invitational Helsinki. There they will compete against other regional winners, as well as some of the best pro players in the world.
Red Bull Flick has partnered with world-class partners to bring cutting edge hardware to competitors. The tournament welcomes SteelSeries as the new official Peripheral Partner, providing headsets, keyboards and mice to players, ensuring full immersion with tools built for both high performance and durability. Additionally, AOC, the global leader in gaming monitors, returns as the Official Monitor Partner for the event, bringing exceptional visual clarity and ultra-high refresh rates to competitors.
The first 2021 Red Bull Flick International Online Qualifiers are open for registration now on FACEIT, and national tournaments begin in April.
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eSports
Esports Foundation books Paris Expo Porte de Versailles for Esports World Cup 2026
The Esports Foundation (EF) has confirmed Paris Expo Porte de Versailles as the venue for Esports World Cup 2026, scheduled to run in Paris, France, from July 06 through August 23.
EF said tickets for all 25 competitions will go on sale from Friday, May 29, 2026, via esportsworldcup.com/tickets. The organiser said the venue will host competition arenas, broadcast operations, and fan activations across the seven-week programme.
According to EF, more than 2,000 players from over 200 Clubs and more than 100 countries will compete for a $75 million prize pool as part of the event’s cross-game Club Championship. The tournament lineup spans major competitive genres, including first-person shooters, strategy, sports, MOBAs, battle royales, fighting games, racing games, and Chess.
EF also outlined ticketing tiers, including Regular Tournament Passes, Premium Tournament Passes (with fast-track entry and a limited-edition goodie bag), Daily Regular Tournament Passes, and tiered Final Day seating zones (Gold, Silver, and Bronze) for select championship matches across VALORANT, League of Legends, Rocket League, and Counter-Strike 2.
The published schedule lists Week 1 events including VALORANT (July 9–12), ALGS Year 6 Split 1 Playoffs (Apex Legends) (July 7–11), Dota 2 (July 7–12), and FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves (July 8–11), with Counter-Strike 2 closing out Week 7 from August 19–23 alongside Fortnite Reload Elite Series Championship, Trackmania, and CROSSFIRE.
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eSports
Esports Foundation sets Esports World Cup 2026 venue at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles
Tickets go on sale May 29 for the seven-week Paris event running July 6 to August 23, with a $75 million prize pool across 25 competitions.
The Esports Foundation (EF) has confirmed Paris Expo Porte de Versailles as the venue for the Esports World Cup 2026, scheduled for July 06 through August 23 in Paris, France.
Ticket sales open Friday, May 29, 2026 via esportsworldcup.com/tickets. EF said the event will run for seven weeks and span 25 competitions, with more than 2,000 players from over 200 Clubs and more than 100 countries competing for a $75 million prize pool.
EF said Paris Expo Porte de Versailles will host competition arenas, broadcast operations, fan activations, and festival experiences. The organiser also pointed to the venue’s track record as the home of Paris Games Week since 2010 and as a site used during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Ticketing includes Regular Tournament Passes and Premium Tournament Passes, alongside Daily Regular Tournament Passes. For select championship matches across VALORANT, League of Legends, Rocket League, and Counter-Strike 2, EF said “Final Day Seating Zones” will be split into Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers.
The published schedule lists Week 1 events including VALORANT (July 9–12), ALGS Year 6 Split 1 Playoffs for Apex Legends (July 7–11), Dota 2 (July 7–12), and FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves (July 8–11), concluding in Week 7 with Counter-Strike 2 (August 19–23), Fortnite Reload Elite Series Championship (August 19–22), Trackmania (August 19–22), and CROSSFIRE (August 18–22).
The post Esports Foundation sets Esports World Cup 2026 venue at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Asia
S8UL streamer Payal Dhare and OWND! launch gamer-curated fashion capsule
S8UL gaming creator and streamer Payal Dhare has partnered with OWND!, the Gen Z-focused fashion brand from Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited, to launch a gaming-inspired fashion capsule called ‘Gamer Drop’. The companies describe it as India’s first female gamer-curated capsule. The collection will be available on OWND!’s website and in the brand’s stores across India.
According to the press release, ‘Gamer Drop’ includes menswear and womenswear pieces built around gaming culture and streetwear, positioned as a creator-led collection rather than conventional creator merchandise. The campaign leans on the growing overlap between gaming culture, creator communities, and youth fashion.
Marco Agnolin, Chief Executive Officer, OWND!. said, “We see gaming today as a powerful cultural force that is shaping how young consumers express themselves, communicate, and engage with fashion. As one of India’s biggest gamers, Payal Dhare represents this new generation perfectly through her authenticity, confidence, and deep connection with the gaming community. Her influence extends far beyond gaming content, making her an ideal face for our gaming collection. Through this collaboration, we aim to celebrate individuality and connect with India’s digitally native youth in a way that feels relevant, inclusive, and culture-driven.”
Payal Dhare aka Payal Gaming said, “Gaming today has become a culture and a form of self-expression for millions of young people across the country. That’s what makes this collaboration with OWND! so exciting for me. With this curation, I wanted to create something that genuinely reflects my vibe and the energy of my community. It’s stylish, comfortable, expressive – and made for people who want to own who they are.”
The release also points to India’s expanding creator economy. Citing a Boston Consulting Group report, it says India has nearly 2 to 2.5 million creators, with more than 60% of consumers exposed to creator-led content and over 30% of shoppers influenced by creators in purchase decisions.
The post S8UL streamer Payal Dhare and OWND! launch gamer-curated fashion capsule appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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