eSports
BOOM Rivalry named champions in GAMERS GALAXY: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022 in epic finale comeback
BOOM Rivalry emerged victorious at the Grand Finals of the GAMERS GALAXY: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022, pulling off an incredible comeback run to stake its claim as one of the top Dota 2 teams in the world and taking home the bulk of the AED 1,000,000 prize pool.
The five-day series came to an epic conclusion on Sunday, as Galaxy Racer, headquartered in Dubai, played host to a thrilling clash between BOOM Rivalry and Tundra Esports, having battled through a field of nine of the biggest Dota 2 teams across a series of gruelling group matches and knockout rounds.
The final day began with a scintillating lower bracket final clash between BOOM Rivalry and Nigma Galaxy, giving Dota 2 fans a fast-paced and right-to-the-wire battle. While Nigma Galaxy equalised the tie to take the match to a final third match, BOOM Rivalry put in a fantastic comeback performance to progress and set the stage for a pulse-racing Grand Final against Tundra Esports.
Tundra Esports dealt ‘first blood’ in the Grand Final, putting in a thrilling first game display to lead the tie, but BOOM Rivalry immediately fought back in a dominant performance in the second game to even things up. The third map could have gone either way, with BOOM Rivalry looking strong in the early phases, but Tundra Esports eventually fought back in an incredibly attritional battle to win the game and step within one win from claiming the Championship.
With everything on the line, BOOM Rivalry showcased their poise under pressure and turned in some clutch plays to give fans a fifth and final game. The two teams saved the best round for last, with a spectacular fifth match that showcased some of the best Dota 2 combat and tactics in motion. Eventually, BOOM Rivalry’s momentum proved too much to handle, and the team came away with the match and Championship after a string of unlikely comeback victories.
With a gruelling round robin in the first round and a tough bracket in the knockouts, getting to the final was no easy feat for BOOM Rivalry, playing eight intense rounds on the Final day, after having to overcome the likes of OG, Team Secret and The International (TI) Champions Team Spirit en route to the final
BOOM Rivalry Captain, Rolen Andrei Gabriel “skem” Ong, said: “It was amazing that we managed to make it through the final day of the competition, playing eight games to win the Championship, and it gives us a lot of confidence. Our mentality is to keep learning every game and every tournament, it doesn’t matter where as long as we’re still learning and playing as a team.”
“This tournament in Dubai was great, especially as a LAN tournament, the atmosphere you get between teams while you’re playing is unlike any other experience, and the ping is just so much better.“
Broadcasted live from Dubai Studio City, the GAMERS GALAXY: Invitational Series Dubai 2022 was the first significant Dota 2 LAN event of the year, while the latest Gameplay Patch 7.31 shook up the meta to add an extra layer of complexity and intrigue to the competition.
The tournament, hosted by Galaxy Racer, was the biggest Dota 2 event in MENA history and starred a talented roster of teams competing for the AED 1,000,000 prize pool, seeing over 2 million concurrent viewers across all livestream channels globally.
Founder and CEO of Galaxy Racer, Paul Roy, said: “Congratulations to BOOM Rivalry, they’ve been exceptional throughout the tournament and have given fans around the world a real spectacle in the Grand Finals. As MENA’s largest-ever Dota 2 tournament, we’re so proud to have delivered what has been an amazing event, showcasing the best teams and players in an exceptional broadcast production, once again putting the region on the map as one of the most exciting esports hubs in the world.”
Dota 2 presenters, Sheever and Kyle helped bring the competition and the playoffs to life for viewers, while the Grand Finals also saw Cap, along with an all-star casting team of past TI winners, N0tail, KuroKy and SumaiL as a broadcasting first, with the trio bringing unparalleled strategic insight into the fascinating matchup to the delight of the Dota 2 community.
GAMERS GALAXY host, Kyle “melonzz” Freedman, added: “There was a lot of doubt about Tundra Esports after all the roster changes, but they’ve shown that they are real competitors, while BOOM Rivalry looks like it has a global superstar in the making with Yopaj. He plays with a ton of confidence and it looks like he’ll be a top player for a long time.
“The success of the GAMERS GALAXY: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022 shows that Dota 2 is a truly international game, and proves how important the LAN experience is for players and what it can bring to fans, even if it’s behind closed doors. LAN is where the biggest Championships should be decided.”
GAMERS GALAXY: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022 was the largest esports tournament in MENA, and featured the first-ever Augmented Reality (AR) implementation, showcasing elements of Dubai including the iconic skyscraper Burj Khalifa, together with the desert dunes through state-of-the-art animation and visual graphics animation. The flawless AR implementation and next-gen production quality received tremendous praise from the Dota 2 community.
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eSports
DreamHack Dallas Hosts Over $1M in Esports Competitions Across Marquee Titles
ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), the leading esports and video game entertainment company, and DreamHack, a leading global gaming festival, have announced a full slate of esports programming for DreamHack Dallas, taking place the weekend of May 31-June 2, 2024, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.
One of DreamHack’s longest-running North American gaming festivals, DreamHack Dallas features everything gaming under one roof. From the world-famous bring-your-own-computer (BYOC) LAN party, panels, and an expo, to art, cosplay, creator meet-and-greets, and much more, DreamHack Dallas offers attendees a great variety of activities for an unforgettable experience. Furthermore, the festival will host 13 unique esports competitions – including iconic titles like Counter-Strike 2, Overwatch, StarCraft® II, and more to come – with over $1 million in total prizing.
For the first time, several DreamHack Dallas esports events – including competitions in EA SPORTS FC 24, Tekken 8, Street Fighter 6, and more – will offer aspiring competitors the chance to qualify for this summer’s debut Esports World Cup. With new pipelines to a $60 million prize pool and a global audience in Riyadh, DreamHack is offering more opportunities than ever for grassroots talent to fight their way to the world stage.
“Esports has been part of the fabric of DreamHack Dallas since the festival’s inception, and we’re excited once again to welcome tens of thousands of fans this summer to celebrate their favorite competitive titles,” said Shahin Zarrabi, Vice President, Festivals, ESL FACEIT Group. “From the 100th IEM event to the first-ever OWCS live event and qualifiers for Esports World Cup, DreamHack is celebrating every type of gamer, from world-class competitors to the next breakout stars.”
Dallas Hosts 16 Top Counter-Strike 2 Squads for 100th IEM Event
The birthplace of North American Counter-Strike esports will invite 16 of the world’s best teams to clash in Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) Dallas, the 100th IEM event. With an ESL Pro Tour (EPT) Masters trophy, $250,000 in prizing, and qualification to an EPT Championship up for grabs, fans will watch as hometown heroes challenge international hopefuls in the US’s biggest Counter-Strike event of the year.
Overwatch Luminaries Assemble for First-Ever International Live Event for OWCS
The first-ever in-person Major tournament of Blizzard Entertainment and EFG’s Overwatch Champions Series invites eight of our competitive region’s top teams for a three-day showcase of industry-class talent. Featuring a prize pool supported by crowdfunding, fans can watch the action unfold live – or at home with the official broadcast or partnered co-streams – as teams face off to be the first team to claim an international OWCS title and qualify to compete at Esports World Cup.
ESL Impact Returns to DreamHack Dallas with $123K Season Finale
ESL Impact, a global all-women Counter-Strike circuit, returns to DreamHack Dallas for the exciting conclusion of Season 5 of competition. Eight of the world’s best women’s Counter-Strike teams representing North America, Europe, South America, and Asia will face off to see who will claim the title and the lion’s share of the $123,000 prize pool.
ESL Pro Tour in StarCraft® II Makes Masters Stop at DreamHack Dallas
The EPT in StarCraft® II, the title’s premier global esports circuit, continues with the ESL SC2 Masters: Spring 2024 Finals at DreamHack Dallas. Not only will competitors battle for their share of the $100,000 prize pool, but the opportunity to qualify for StarCraft® II competition at this summer’s inaugural Esports World Cup.
EA SPORTS FC 24 at DreamHack Dallas Kicks off Esports World Cup Qualifications
Electronic Arts’ soccer title, EA SPORTS FC 24, comes to DreamHack Dallas for the first time this summer with a world-class tournament. With the top two players securing their spot at Esports World Cup this August, the competition offers up to 250 competitors their first opportunity to qualify for EWC, in addition to $100,000 USD in total prizing.
Fighting Games take Center Stage with New DreamHack Fighters, Esports World Cup Tournaments
DreamHack’s marquee fighting game hub, DreamHack Fighters, brings six open tournaments to Dallas, including a mix of modern mainstays and FGC classics. Open to all registered attendees, competitors can face off to claim a slice of the $16,000 total prize pool. Participating titles include:
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – Singles ($5,000)
- UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes (UNI 2) ($2,500)
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising ($2,500)
- Guilty Gear Strive ($2,500)
- Mortal Kombat 1 ($2,500)
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – Doubles ($1,000)
For the first time, DreamHack will also host competitions in Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6, which include the chance to qualify for Esports World Cup. Both tournaments offer $50,000 in prizing each, as well as pipelines to compete on some of the titles’ biggest stages in Riyadh this summer.
Craig Levine
Zenni Optical Announces Partnership with ESL FACEIT Group (EFG)
Zenni Optical, the world’s leading online eyewear retailer, announced a partnership with ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), the leading esports and video game entertainment company. Designed to integrate eye health education with innovative eyewear solutions for the esports community, the partnership will officially launch at DreamHack festival in Dallas, taking place from May 31 to June 2.
This collaboration will showcase a co-branded collection of lifestyle and competitive eyewear and accessories, highlighting Zenni Optical’s commitment to promoting overall eye health, particularly in addressing issues like eye fatigue and strain. Additionally, the initiative will incorporate essential eye health education across various DreamHack Festivals, in alignment with EFG’s broader mission to foster inclusive gaming worlds and engaged, supported communities.
“DreamHack and ESL represent some of the most community-centric and prestigious competitive events in the world. In their own unique ways, they embody esports for everyone. By partnering with these incredible brands across the gaming and esports spaces, we aim to create engaging experiences that combine eye-health education with innovative eyewear solutions for players and fans at all levels,” said Robb Chiarini, Head of Gaming, Sports, & Events at Zenni Optical.
“We are thrilled to partner with Zenni Optical as the Official Eyewear Partner of DreamHack and ESL. The genuine passion that Zenni has for the esports industry is a refreshing sight to see, and a major driving factor for the decision behind our partnership. Zenni’s ongoing commitment to provide eyewear for everyone mirrors our own drive to create worlds beyond gameplay for gamers everywhere,” Craig Levine, Co-CEO at EFG, said.
Bucks Gaming
CREAM CITY CONVERGENCE ESPORTS TOURNAMENT SELECTED AS CAPCOM PRO TOUR EVENT
Bucks Gaming’s Cream City Convergence Esports Tournament has been selected as a Capcom Pro Tour event, becoming one of just three tournaments in North America chosen to be a qualifier for the prestigious Capcom Cup.
The Capcom Cup is an annual Street Fighter 6 competition, hosted by video game developer and esports organizer Capcom, with a $1 million first place prize. Each year, Capcom selects a small number of tournaments worldwide to serve as Capcom Pro Tour events, with the winning players from each event qualifying for the Capcom Cup. As one of the tournaments selected by Capcom for the honor this year, Cream City Convergence will become the first esports event run by an NBA team to work with a major esports organizer.
Top-ranked Street Fighter 6 players will compete at Cream City Convergence when it returns for its second year on Saturday, Aug. 24, at Baird Center. In addition to Street Fighter 6, this year’s tournament will also have brackets for Tekken 8; Super Smash Bros Ultimate; Super Smash Bros Melee; and Guilty Gear: Strive.
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