eSports

Everything you need to know as UK players battle with the world’s best in London at Red Bull Golden Letters, the unique Tekken 7 LAN event

Published

4 years ago

March 25, 2022

Reading Time: 3 minutes

This weekend, Red Bull Golden Letters will see scores of the UK’s best Tekken 7 players descend on London’s Red Bull Gaming Sphere to compete for a chance to play the very best in the world on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th March.

The LAN event, streamed live from the Red Bull Gaming Sphere and hosted by UK Tekken caster Hassan “Spag” Farooq, will also feature Red Bull’s Tekken superstar Hoa ‘Anakin’ Luu, widely recognised as one of the best fighting game players in the world.

A landmark event for the fighting game scene, Red Bull Golden Letters promises fans a spectacle with a unique format that emphasises perfect plays and showing poise under pressure to earn ‘Perfect’ and ‘Great’ scores – Tekken’s iconic ‘Golden Letters’, that ramp up the stakes.

Here is all you need to know about Red Bull Golden Letters:

Open qualifiers will see 96 players from the UK battling it out against a packed field of challengers, professional players and Tekken superstars, aiming to beat the best in the world and be crowned Red Bull Golden Letters Champion.

The event at London’s Red Bull Gaming Sphere will feature Red Bull’s Tekken icon Hoa ‘Anakin’ Luu, alongside other pro players Super Akouma and Joey Fury, as UK players get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to play the very best live on stream and in person.

In typical Red Bull fashion, Red Bull Golden Letters switches up the traditional formula with a unique format that ramps up the drama and tension by rewarding perfect plays and poise under pressure.

In Red Bull Golden Letters, players who manage to achieve three ‘Perfect’ or ‘Great’ scores automatically win the entire set in the epic ‘First to Three’ clashes. Incentivising high risk for high reward plays, Golden Letters switches up the traditional Tekken gameplay for unforgettable matches and moments.

The event will feature even more mouth-watering action for Tekken 7 fanatics, with a five-on-five Europe Vs The World clash on Sunday, alongside a Legion: Beat the Pro challenge that gives players another chance to take on the Red Bull Players and win exclusive Legion by Lenovo prizes throughout the weekend.

Making the competition even more of a spectacle, one of Tekken’s favourite figures, Hassan “Spag” Farooq will be hosting the event’s broadcast live from the Red Bull Gaming Sphere.

Format

Red Bull Golden Letters’ unique format offers a fresh and scintillating twist to the classic Tekken 7 formula. In best of five sets, players who can carry out dominant wins or clutch plays and earn ‘Perfect’ or ‘Great’ scores – Tekken’s iconic golden letters – will reap the rewards with automatic wins.

Players who manage to achieve three ‘Perfect’ or ‘Great’ scores automatically win the entire set in the epic ‘First to Three’ clashes, which incentivises high risk for high reward plays that shake up the format and gives fans more unforgettable matches and mouth-watering moments.

With 96 players entering from open qualifying, the field of competitors will be pitched against each other in intense bracket pools on day one, eventually whittling them down throughout the day to the top four players who will progress to the Championship Sunday.

Day two will see those four joined by well-known Tekken champions including Red Bull’s Anakin, leading to an epic Grand Finals to battle it out to be named Red Bull Golden Letters Champion.

The weekend will be punctuated with additional segments and challenges. The ‘Lenovo Legion: Beat the Pro’ challenges throughout the weekend will offer players a separate opportunity to take on the best Tekken players in the world for a chance to win exclusive Legion by Lenovo prizes.

Building excitement on day two ahead of the Quarter Finals, Tekken 7 fans will also be able to watch continents collide in a special exhibition match. Pitching five of Europe’s best players against the best the world has to offer, the 5-on-5 Europe versus The World match will see the likes of Anakin, Super Akouma and Joey Fury in a matchup for the ages

Schedule

Saturday March 26th:

11:30 GMT – Broadcast begins
12:00 GMT – Bracket Pools Wave 1
14:00 GMT – Bracket Pools Wave 2
16:00 GMT – Top 32 – Top 4 Knockout Rounds

Sunday March 27th:

12:30 BST – Broadcast begins
13:00 BST – Special Exhibition Match – 5-on-5 EU versus The World
14:00 BST until finish – Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and Grand Final

Broadcast

The LAN event will be hosted in London’s home of esports at the Red Bull Gaming Sphere in Shoreditch, and broadcast live on twitch.tv/redbull.

Saturday’s broadcast will begin at 11:30 on Saturday and Sunday.

Broadcast Talent

Host:

Hassan ”Spag” Farooq

Casters:

Rasheed “Bubsy” Jenkins
Hussain “Gosain” Shah
Kobi “K-Wiss” Scarlett

Partners

Red Bull Golden Letters is delivered in partnership with Lenovo Legion, official hardware partner of The Red Bull Gaming Sphere.

eSports

Decade of Impact — World Esports Summit Marks Its 10th Edition

Published

7 hours ago

February 11, 2026

Wladimir P.

decade-of-impact-—-world-esports-summit-marks-its-10th-edition

The International Esports Federation (IESF) has successfully wrapped up the significant 10th edition of the World Esports Summit 2025, reinforcing its position as a key event for the progress of the World of Esports and global collaboration.

Focused on the theme “Shaping the World of Esports,” the 2025 Summit convened federations, publishers, global sports organizations, technology innovators, and integrity agencies to collaborate on the future of esports as a structured, credible, and universally unified field.

This anniversary edition showcased a robust and varied group of speakers, demonstrating IESF’s dedication to collaboration across sectors. Significant input was provided by Gustavo Arellano (FIBA), Eric Stranne (FIA), Ray Ng (Moonton), James Yang (Tencent), Valentin Capelli (WADA), Junghwan Han (KADA), Dipesh Makwana (Alibaba Cloud), Tomica Madjercic (Sportradar), and Ivan Dimitrijevic (EXPO 2027 Belgrade), as well as senior esports officials from across the globe.

Conversations during the Summit focused on essential aspects of IESF’s mission, such as governance and federation development, maintaining competitive integrity and anti-doping measures, technological advancements, and fostering sustainable ecosystem growth. The emphasis on diplomacy and collaboration emphasized esports’ increasing alignment with global sports standards and international organizations.

With the 10th edition of the World Esports Summit, IESF has once more showcased its leadership by uniting the global esports community, connecting regions, aligning stakeholders, and establishing common priorities for the future.

With unprecedented involvement, elevated discussions, and a distinct strategic vision, World Esports Summit 2025 represents a pivotal milestone in IESF’s continuous endeavor to influence the future of esports via unity, trustworthiness, and global cooperation.

The post Decade of Impact — World Esports Summit Marks Its 10th Edition appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

eSports

Esportes da Sorte to be official sponsor of Brazil’s leading Carnival celebrations in 2026

Published

21 hours ago

February 10, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

esportes-da-sorte-to-be-official-sponsor-of-brazil’s-leading-carnival-celebrations-in-2026

Tuesday 10th February 2026: Leading Brazilian iGaming company Esportes da Sorte will deliver one of the most extensive Carnival activations in the industry for Carnival 2026, with an official presence at the country’s most iconic and emblematic celebrations.

The brand will serve as the official sponsor of festivities in seven Brazilian capitals — Recife, Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Natal and Maceió — as well as having a strong presence in Olinda, a city of major cultural significance. The national project will also include special activations in Caicó (RN), a key production hub for the brand’s promotional merchandise.

This initiative reflects Esportes da Sorte’s continued investment in Brazilian popular culture, built over several years across different regions of the country. In 2026, this positioning takes shape through a structured national project that embraces the diversity of Carnival formats — from traditional street blocos to electric trios and major urban stages — with visual identity and activations designed city by city, respecting local symbols, aesthetics and narratives.

“Carnival is part of Brazil’s cultural identity and also part of Esportes da Sorte’s journey. Being present at the country’s main Carnival celebrations is a strategic choice that reinforces our long-term commitment to popular culture, to the cities, and to the people who live this festival in the streets,” said Darwin Filho, CEO of Esportes Gaming Brasil.

“Our Carnival project was designed city by city, respecting the unique characteristics and culture of each sponsored location. The idea is to ensure a real presence and unique experiences for Carnival-goers, integrating the brand organically into the rhythm of each celebration. Whether through blocos, trios or major urban hubs, we want to strengthen ourselves as the brand that elevates the connection between culture and entertainment,” said Marcela Campos, Vice President of Esportes Gaming Brasil.

Beyond its on-the-ground presence, Esportes da Sorte’s Carnival 2026 strategy includes an integrated media and engagement approach, featuring activations across TV, radio, out-of-home media and a national PR operation before, during and after the festivities, focused on high-quality coverage and organic content generation.

The project will also include content and influencer engagement initiatives across multiple locations, expanding organic reach while capturing behind-the-scenes moments and Carnival experiences.

In 2025, the brand was present in more than 100 blocos and street parties across different regions of the country. For 2026, Esportes da Sorte is taking things to the next level, consolidating a nationwide project and reinforcing its leadership role in Brazil’s largest popular event.

The post Esportes da Sorte to be official sponsor of Brazil’s leading Carnival celebrations in 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Alexander Lewin SVP of Commercial Revenue at BLAST

Polymarket Joins BLAST as Official Prediction Partner for BLAST Premier and BLAST Slam 2026

Published

1 day ago

February 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

polymarket-joins-blast-as-official-prediction-partner-for-blast-premier-and-blast-slam-2026

Polymarket to activate across seven BLAST events across both Slam and Premier ecosystems
Partnership introduces integrated prediction formats and new fan engagement experiences

Competitive entertainment firm BLAST has revealed a new alliance with Polymarket, the globe’s largest prediction market, designating the platform as its ‘Official Prediction Partner’ through 2026. The partnership will encompass BLAST’s Counter-Strike and Dota 2 tournament events, BLAST Premier and BLAST Slam, enhancing prediction-based interaction for fans during various international tournaments.

Polymarket will be featured in seven of BLAST’s worldwide Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2 events, starting this week at BLAST Slam VI in Malta. Dota and Counter-Strike events will include custom content pieces utilized in broadcasts and desk segments showcasing the platform’s involvement in BLAST’s events.

Polymarket will gain significant exposure through live broadcasts, arena events, and digital media as BLAST enhances fan interaction with premier competitive entertainment. Polymarket’s branding will be prominently displayed throughout BLAST’s broadcasts through digital integrations and physical advertisements.

In addition to broadcasting, the collaboration expands to live arena events, with Polymarket integrated into the in-person fan experience through elements like the Polymarket Fancam and the opportunity to accommodate creators and streamers in the arena using designated event streaming booths.

Alexander Lewin, SVP of Commercial Revenue at BLAST said: “Esports is evolving rapidly into a more interactive, data-driven entertainment experience, and we are delighted to team up with Polymarket to bring exciting new engagement opportunities to our fans all around the world. Together, we’re creating something that feels native to esports culture: fast, live, and deeply connected to the action. This partnership is about enhancing how fans experience competition, whether they’re watching online or inside an arena. We’re proud to join Polymarket’s industry-leading group of partners, alongside the NHL, UFC and the MLS among others, reflecting the growing global recognition of BLAST’s events.”

Matthew Modabber, CMO of Polymarket, said: “Esports has long been dominated by traditional sportsbooks, but prediction markets open the door to a more transparent and community-driven way for fans to engage with competition. Partnering with BLAST brings that experience to a global audience and helps make prediction markets a natural part of how people watch, debate, and follow competitive gaming. We see this as the beginning of a new chapter for fan participation in esports.”

The post Polymarket Joins BLAST as Official Prediction Partner for BLAST Premier and BLAST Slam 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.