Gaming
Everything you need to know as The International stars clash at the GAMERS GALAXY: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022, starting March 2nd
The broadcast begins on Wednesday at 09:00 UTC / 10:00 CET / 13:00 Dubai Time, with the first group matches between Fnatic and Team Spirit, as well as TSM FTX versus Tundra Esports.
Hosted by Galaxy Racer, the largest esports, gaming and lifestyle organization in the world, the tournament stands as the MENA region’s biggest ever Dota 2 competition.
Here is all you need to know about GAMERS GALAXY: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022:
Ten of the world’s best Dota 2 teams will be battling it out in an epic LAN Invitational Event in Dubai. The GAMERS GALAXY: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022 will play host to TI10 winners Team Spirit and back-to-back TI champions OG, as well as ESL One Fall 2021 winners Tundra Esports and powerhouse teams TSM and Fnatic.
Taking place from March 2nd, the best Dota 2 teams from around the world will descend on Dubai Studio City to compete for an AED 1,000,000 prize pool over four intense days. This is the first high-tier Dota 2 tournament to be held in the region this year, and the biggest of its kind in the MENA region, as Dubai continues to grow and thrive as a destination for prestigious esports events.
The competition will kick-off with spectacular opening match-ups in the ground round, including between Fnatic and Team Spirit, OG versus Team Secret and home team Nigma Galaxy taking on Tundra Esports. All five days will be broadcast directly from Dubai Studio City, and live on YouTube and Twitch.
Making the competition even more of a spectacle, Dota 2 star Sheever will be leading a lineup of talented broadcast pros bringing the GAMERS GALAXY experience to life throughout the Invitational Series, including two-time TI Champion N0Tail.
Where to watch:
The LAN competition will be played behind closed doors to ensure a safe environment for competitors, but broadcast live from Studio City Dubai on YouTube and Twitch. Galaxy Racer has also arranged a variety of ‘pubstomp’ viewing parties across Dubai’s best gaming venues. Pubstomps at popular Gaming Cafes including Que Club, Rails Billiards, Geek Station Abu Dhabi, DZZRT ESPORTS, Last Resort Gaming Cafe as well Dubai Media City Courtyard.
Format
With ten teams in total, the GAMERS GALAXY: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022 will see two groups of five teams compete in a group stage best of one round-robin. The top two teams from each group will proceed to the upper-bracket playoffs’ semifinals. Third and fourth placings of each group will proceed to a best of three play-in and the winners will proceed to the lower-bracket of the playoffs.
Only a total of six teams will advance to the playoffs best of three double-elimination brackets. The grand finals will see the top two teams battle out in a best of five series. The format allows teams to have multiple opportunities to secure a spot in the final, while fans at home will have the chances to witness potential upsets and miracle bracket runs.
Gameplay Patch 7.31 – one of the most long-awaited updates to the game – has now gone live bringing sweeping changes to the game, making the Invitational Series the first major tournament played with the new gameplay patch. One of the biggest patches in recent memory, the update will offer an extra layer of intrigue to the tournament as players and teams tackle the new meta.
Schedule
- Wednesday March 2nd – Group Stage: Broadcast – from 09:00 UTC / 10:00 CET / 13:00 Local Time
- Thursday March 3nd – Group Stage, Tiebreakers and Play-In – Broadcast – from 09:00 UTC / 10:00 CET / 13:00 Local Time
- Friday March 4th – Playoffs: Broadcast – from 12:00 UTC / 13:00 CET / 16:00 Local Time
- Saturday March 5th – Semi-Finals: Broadcast – from 12:00 UTC / 13:00 CET / 16:00 Local Time
- Sunday March 6th – Grand Finals: Broadcast – from 12:00 UTC / 13:00 CET / 16:00 Local Time
Teams
- Nigma Galaxy
- Fnatic
- Team Spirit
- Virtus.pro
- Team Secret
- Nigma Galaxy SEA
- OG
- Tundra Esports
- TSM FTX
- BOOM Esports
English Language Broadcast
Stage Host & Interviewer:
- Jorien “Sheever” van der Heijden
Co-Host & Caster:
- Austin “Cap” Walsh
Analysts & Casters:
- Johan “N0tail” Sundstein
- Ioannis “Fogged” Loucas
- Dominik “Lacoste” Stipić
- Kyle “melonzz” Freedman
Analysts:
- Roman “Resolut1on” Fomynok
- Mira “Ephey” Riad
- Andrew “Jenkins” Jenkins
Observers:
- Jonathan “PimpmuckL” Liebig
- Rikard “skrff“Holm Melin
Offsite Casters:
- Gabriel “Lyrical” Cruz
- Trent “TrentPax” MacKenzie
Russian Language Broadcast
Stage Hosts & Interviewers:
- Alexey “yXo” Maletskiy
- Olesia “Olesami” Denysenko
Analysts & Casters:
- Yaroslav “Tekcac” Petrushyn
- Yevhen “Sh4dowehhh” Alekseiev
- Alexander “DkPhobos” Kucheria
- Ilya “Lil” Ilyuk
- Oleksandr “XBOCT” Dashkevych
- Andrii “Ghostik” Kadyk
- Ivan”Akamai” Danishevsky
- Anton “4liver” Pavliukovets
- Aren “VeRsuta” Zurabyan
Offsite Casters:
- Alexander “LanigirO” Potapov
- Darya “Autodestruction” Medvedeva
Broadcast
The GAMERS GALAXY: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022 will be streamed live on the official Galaxy Racer channels and a variety of ‘pubstomp’ venues across Dubai at several gaming cafes such as Que Club, Rails Billiards, Geek Station Abu Dhabi, DZZRT ESPORTS, Last Resort Gaming Cafe as well Dubai Media City Courtyard. across the five days.
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Gaming
Soft2Bet Introduces MEGA11, a Football Manager Experience Designed to Elevate Sportsbook Activity
Soft2Bet has revealed the debut of MEGA11, a football management game aimed at enhancing sportsbook interaction and improving player loyalty. Acknowledging that football manager and fantasy games rank among the most favored genres with the longest typical gameplay durations, MEGA11 provides a progression-oriented and captivating football manager experience focusing on fantasy league team construction, allowing players to tactically oversee their own teams and make important choices while competing in leagues and matches.
Users of sportsbooks are inherently used to waiting before making their next wager. That inactivity naturally leads to a decrease in daily engagement, even among bettors who are very focused on football. MEGA11 addresses this issue by providing users with a football management game seamlessly connected to the sportsbook experience. Rather than waiting for the upcoming kickoff, players can remain engaged by forming their team, modifying lineups, and battling in their personal matchups or leagues. This establishes a distinctive two-way interaction cycle, effortlessly integrating real-money wagering with social, engaging gameplay, transforming these calmer times into organized activity with defined objectives, advancement, and a motivation to come back.
MEGA11 is developed as an independent game featuring its own soft-currency system, without any direct links to sportsbook deposits or casino operations. The main experience is free-to-play, enabling players to advance at their own speed. For players seeking to advance quickly or enhance their team, MEGA11 provides optional purchases, such as more powerful player cards and boosters that speed up progress and offer a strategic advantage.
The engagement of the sportsbook is fueled by a straightforward, quantifiable mechanism. Each wager allows players to accumulate points that enhance their advancement in the football manager game. This advancement, consequently, activates sportsbook bonuses, actively encouraging ongoing involvement and strengthening consistent engagement. Advancement is organized via a five-level loyalty and gamification framework that reflects a football career trajectory: Beginner, Amateur, Professional, World Class, and Legend. The tiering aims to maintain motivation over time, providing a consistent feeling of progress that fosters longer-term retention instead of brief spurts of engagement.
The new engine enhances Soft2Bet’s larger MEGA portfolio, which currently features mechanics like MEGA Chance, MEGA Round, and MEGA Clawee. It further enhances Soft2Bet’s sportsbook offering with instant payouts, 24/7 support, and over 200 pre-match football markets, by introducing a perpetual football format designed to maintain fan engagement beyond the live match calendar.
The design of the product continues to prioritize player protection and compliance. MEGA11’s soft-currency, non-deposit model promotes secure and compliant interactions, emphasizing entertainment and advancement while adhering to responsible gaming standards in regulated regions.
Yoel Zuckerberg, CPO at Soft2Bet, stated: “MEGA11 is built to keep football fans engaged between matchdays, pairing a manager-style progression loop with a soft-currency model that supports compliant, long-term sportsbook loyalty. Football manager games are renowned for having the highest player immersion and longest session times in the industry. By bringing this experience to our partners, we are combining real betting with social gameplay to deliver authentic player experiences that resonate with fans and drive sustainable engagement.”
The introduction of MEGA11 enhances Soft2Bet’s emphasis on product-driven engagement, merging game design, loyalty strategies, and a robust regulatory framework to assist operators in achieving more reliable retention during the football season. The technology has received significant industry awards and is eliciting a strong positive reaction from players, confirming its influence on engagement and long-term value generation.
The post Soft2Bet Introduces MEGA11, a Football Manager Experience Designed to Elevate Sportsbook Activity appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Gaming
58% of respondents like the“warmy” archetype. Rocket Match by RocketPlay became “ Valentine’s Tinder in Gaming”.
This Valentine’s, RocketPlay tested a playful idea: players who seek thrills in gaming don’t necessarily want intensity in everything — including relationships. Instead of asking users to pick a “perfect partner,” RocketPlay launched Rocket Match, a fast, flirty quiz that matches players with a vibe: Bold, Sunny, Dreamy, or Adventurous.
Early Results Flip the Stereotype
Around 58% of participants matched with the Sunny archetype — defined by warmth, charm, and easy-going fun. The experiment suggests that when it comes to Valentine’s, RocketPlay’s community prefers light-hearted connection over drama or high stakes.
What Rocket Match Is
Rocket Match is a Valentine’s matchmaking quiz built inside the RocketPlay Universe. Players answer five simple, no-wrong-answer questions and instantly discover their match vibe.
The goal: move away from typical Valentine’s content that swings between overly serious romance or clichéd tropes. Rocket Match keeps it flirty, playful, and moment-focused, letting players discover a vibe rather than a label.
The four vibes include:
-
Bold – confident, high-energy, loves bigger sparks
-
Sunny – easy-going, playful, social, effortlessly charming
-
Dreamy – soft, romantic, focused on atmosphere and emotion
-
Adventurous – playful risk-taker, spontaneous, curious
Community Insights from Rocket Match
The quiz quickly gained traction, with 7,000+ completions, revealing a strong preference: Sunny, the archetype defined by warmth, lightness, and charm.

Alex Martin, PR Lead at RocketPlay, said:
“What we liked most about Rocket Match is how clearly it captured the mood people actually want on Valentine’s. It wasn’t about labels or big statements — it was about light energy, easy chemistry, and a feel-good kind of connection. That’s the vibe we try to build across the brand: simple to join, fun in the moment, and positive without the drama.”
Why It Matters
Rocket Match was more than a Valentine’s gimmick. It offered a snapshot of what RocketPlay’s community enjoys most: light energy, playful interaction, and feel-good connections. By turning a pop-culture moment into a small experiment, RocketPlay gained insight into player preferences, informing how the brand continues to design engaging, fun, and positive experiences.
The post 58% of respondents like the“warmy” archetype. Rocket Match by RocketPlay became “ Valentine’s Tinder in Gaming”. appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Gaming
58% of respondents like the“warmy” archetype. Rocket Match by RocketPlay became “ Valentine’s Tinder in Gaming”.
This Valentine’s, RocketPlay tested a simple idea: people who come to iGaming for thrill don’t necessarily want the same intensity in everything — including relationships. Instead of asking players to choose a “perfect partner,” we launched Rocket Match, a fast, playful quiz that matches players with a vibe — bold, sweet, dreamy, or adventurous.
Early results flipped the stereotype. Around 58% of participants matched with the same vibe — built around warmth, charm, and easy fun — suggesting that when it comes to Valentine’s, our community prefers light-hearted connection over drama or risk.
What Rocket Match is
Rocket Match is a Valentine’s matchmaking quiz built as a small cosmic adventure inside the gaming RocketPlay Universe. Players answer 5 light questions — no right or wrong answers — and instantly unlock a Rocket Match that compliments themself. The idea was simple: Valentine’s content online often swings between two extremes — overly serious romance or pure cliché. Rocket Match was created to do something different: keep it flirty, keep it playful, and let players discover a vibe that feels like a moment, not a label.
There were 4 vibes to match with:
Bold — confident, high-energy, loves a bigger spark and bolder choices.
Sunny — easy-going, lighthearted, funny, good communicator
Dreamy — softer, romantic, drawn to atmosphere and emotion.
Adventurous — playful risk-taker energy; spontaneous, curious, and always up for something new.
The lightweight Valentine’s experiment quickly gained traction, with 7,000+ players completing the quiz. The unexpected value came after: the answers revealed a clear preference in what players wanted Valentine’s to feel like — and that insight became the story.
Across responses, around 58% of participants landed on the same Rocket Match vibe — the “sunny” archetype. It’s defined by warmth, lightness, and easy charm: playful, social, and effortless to be around.
What it says about RocketPlay’s community
Rocket Match offered a clear read on the kind of Valentine’s energy players gravitate toward — and it’s lighter than the usual “high-stakes romance” stereotype. As Alex Martin, PR Lead, puts it: “What we liked most about Rocket Match is how clearly it captured the mood people actually want on Valentine’s. It wasn’t about labels or big statements — it was about light energy, easy chemistry, and a feel-good kind of connection. That’s the vibe we try to build across the brand: simple to join, fun in the moment, and positive without the drama.”
What started as a fun Valentine’s experiment quickly became a snapshot of what the community enjoys most: light energy, easy chemistry, and feel-good connection. Valentine’s was simply the right moment to test a playful, pop-culture format — and see what kind of “match” people gravitate toward.
The post 58% of respondents like the“warmy” archetype. Rocket Match by RocketPlay became “ Valentine’s Tinder in Gaming”. appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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