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South Africa’s Top Gamers Crowned at 2025 MTN SHIFT Gaming Grand Finals at Canal Walk

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Massive wins, standout talent and a showdown wrapped up five months of fierce competition across the country.

After months of qualifiers and regional heats at eight Hyprop malls across South Africa, the MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience reached its electrifying conclusion at Canal Walk Shopping Centre. With hundreds of spectators and players packing the gaming arena, the national finals brought the heat and crowned South Africa’s best in EAFC 25™, Beat Saber, Call of Duty and more.

In the EAFC National Final, Hamza Moosa (17) from Sandton, proved why he’s one of the country’s most exciting young talents. A professional esports player for Goliath Gaming, Moosa outplayed the competition to take top honours. A familiar name on the international stage, he recently represented South Africa at the Esports World Cup qualifier in Saudi Arabia. Hamza left the MTN SHIFT Gaming national finals with prize money of R25000.

Beat Saber fans saw a fast-paced, high-score battle won by Michael Prange (17) from Pretoria and Garsfontein High School. Ranked #2 nationally, Prange is also a two-time Beat Saber World Cup competitor and has helped shape South Africa’s competitive VR rhythm community through coaching, mentorship, and global participation. As the 2025 MTN SHIFT Gaming Beat Saber national champion, Michael won a Gaming PC valued at R50000.

In the schools division, Ridhaa April, 15, from Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs, took the EAFC title. A prodigious talent who’s been competing since the age of 12, Ridhaa plays professionally for Goliath Gaming and already holds multiple top finishes, including 1st place at the 2025 ASL.

In the Rocket League school tournament, Curro took top spot, followed by Edgemead High in second place.

Meanwhile, Call of Duty Mobile closed out the finals with serious intensity as returning champions Nixuh held onto their title. The dominant team of Magicz (Raees Ismail), Adnaan (Adnaan Bhamjee), Raz (Rahil Bux) and Enigma (Jameen Essa) walked away with a R30 000 cash prize.

“The atmosphere at this year’s finals was absolutely electric,” said Vanessa Herbst, Marketing Manager at Canal Walk Shopping Centre. “The level of skill on display was unreal, and the crowd brought their energy every day. The bar has been set very high for the 2026 edition.”

The MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience is South Africa’s biggest mall-based gaming tournament, played over five months across Gauteng and the Western Cape. Regional heats were hosted at Rosebank Mall, Clearwater Mall, The Glen, Woodlands, Table Bay Mall, Somerset Mall and Capegate Shopping Centre, with the final week of competition culminating at Canal Walk. The tournament drew thousands of players across all skill levels, offering more than R250 000 in prizes and a platform to compete in front of live audiences.

“The SHIFT Gaming Experience is about bringing high-level competition into public spaces and giving players of all ages the opportunity to compete, connect and grow,” said Christie Stanbridge, Brand and Campaigns Marketing Manager at Hyprop. “From pros representing South Africa on global stages to young players discovering their potential, far more than being entertaining, this year highlighted gaming as a space for learning, discipline and community.”

With the 2025 tournament wrapped, planning is already underway for an even bigger return in 2026.

The post South Africa’s Top Gamers Crowned at 2025 MTN SHIFT Gaming Grand Finals at Canal Walk appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Ellis Park Stadium signs five-year naming rights deal with 10bet

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Johannesburg venue rebrands as 10bet Ellis Park under new partnership agreement.

Ellis Park Stadium has signed a five-year naming rights agreement with sportsbook brand 10bet, rebranding the Johannesburg venue as 10bet Ellis Park.

10bet Africa Marketing VP Michelle Colborne said: “We are incredibly proud to announce 10bet as the official naming rights partner of Ellis Park Stadium,” adding, “This is more than a naming rights agreement; it is the start of an exciting journey with a stadium that has played such a powerful role in South African sport.”

Ellis Park Stadium Managing Director Pieter Burger said the deal marks “a fresh and exciting chapter for the stadium,” adding: “We are delighted to welcome 10bet into the Ellis Park family as our official naming rights partner.”

10bet brand ambassador and former Springbok Butch James said: “Ellis Park has always been one of the most iconic stadiums in world rugby, and it’s fantastic to see 10bet committing to such a significant partnership.”

The parties said the partnership will focus on improving the matchday experience and, “in partnership with the relevant stakeholders,” supporting the inner-city project around the stadium precinct.

The post Ellis Park Stadium signs five-year naming rights deal with 10bet appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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PopOK Gaming sponsors Botswana’s TT Cup Challenge horse racing event

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Organisers say the annual community race drew more than 3,500 spectators, with Botswana Gambling Authority and the Ministry of Sport and Arts involved.

PopOK Gaming has sponsored Botswana’s annual TT Cup Challenge Horse Racing Event, backing the community race as it drew what organisers described as its biggest crowd to date.

The company said this year’s TT Cup Challenge attracted more than 3,500 spectators from neighbouring villages. The event is positioned as a community sports fixture celebrating Botswana’s horse racing tradition.

PopOK Gaming said it worked alongside long-standing partners including the Botswana Gambling Authority and the Ministry of Sport and Arts, and with TT Cup founder Mr. Tymon and other sponsors, to support delivery of the event.

The company also used the event for stakeholder engagement, saying its team met with Mr. Kemorwale, CEO of the Botswana Gambling Authority, and the Hon. Minister of Sport and Arts, Jacob Kelebeng. PopOK Gaming said discussions covered the future of Botswana’s gaming sector, industry development, and opportunities for collaboration.

PopOK Gaming said the sponsorship forms part of its wider strategy to build partnerships in regulated markets while supporting community engagement and responsible industry development.

The post PopOK Gaming sponsors Botswana’s TT Cup Challenge horse racing event appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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SpringbokCasino ties July free spins to ‘Minions in the Wild’ campaign

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SpringbokCasino.co.za has launched a July promotion offering players 25 free spins on SpinLogic slot title Seahorse Surge, using coupon code MINIONS. The operator said the offer is valid throughout July on its South Africa-facing site.

The campaign is positioned around a “Minions in the Wild – Nature’s Greatest Helpers” theme, timed to coincide with the release window of a new Minions film. SpringbokCasino’s creative frames the promotion through five animal “archetypes” — meerkats, hyenas, dassies, warthogs and elephants — as analogies for different styles of play.

“Every ecosystem needs its helpers, and every winning session needs the right mix of patience, timing, and a little bit of glorious chaos,” said Daniel Van Wyke, Casino Manager at SpringbokCasino. “This July, we celebrate South Africa’s wildest ‘Minions’—and give our players 25 free spins to cause some fun trouble of their own.”

SpringbokCasino described Seahorse Surge as featuring “cascading wins and rising multipliers.”

The press release also links to a video version of the story hosted at https://lyceum.video/casinonews/260701/260701.mp4.

The post SpringbokCasino ties July free spins to ‘Minions in the Wild’ campaign appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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