eSports

SAF Global Gaming to Launch FIFA eSports Academy

Published

5 years ago

April 23, 2021

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

SAF Global Gaming has announced that they are going to launch their own esports academy.

Tommy Mackie will be the first player to join the academy team, recently turning 15 he has already achieved multiple Top 200 finishers in FIFA Weekend League and has several 30-0 weekends. He could have a very bright future in FIFA esports with the guidance of SAF.

The SAF FIFA academy will be a way for SAF to identify FIFA players who are not yet eligible to play in FGS events at an early age and help develop them, guiding them into future esports when eligible.

The SAF coaching team will apply a similar process to traditional sports clubs in developing FIFA talent. Academy players will undergo a regime to help them initially identify and then improve areas within their FIFA and personal skills to mould them into an all-round esports athlete.

SAF has an extensive network with over half a million followers across various social media and streaming platforms within gaming and esports. This will allow the team to run large-scale talent searches globally via online and in-person tournaments.

SAF will work closely with players’ parents to ensure that players that join the team are achieving academic results, receive mentoring within the mental health aspects of esports and have a safe environment to hone their skills and learn.

The academy players will have access to the SAF FIFA trading team, which will allow players to trade effectively, minimising the need for huge spend within the game.

Within the SAF esports team, 4 players qualified for this year’s ePremier League representing Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Aston Villa, respectively. SAF also has 3 players qualified for the FGS playoffs with hopefully a 4th joining them to play for a chance to play in the FIFAe World Cup.

“I am delighted to announce our esports academy team, it has been something we have planned to do since I joined SAF over 18 months ago,” SAF esports Manager Jon Jarvis said.

“Having spoken to Tommy and his family about our intentions for the academy, we have found a player that matches our ethos, and we are delighted to be able to work with the next generation of FIFA players.”

“As more brands look to enter the esports space, we feel that it’s vital for our players to understand the importance of creating their own brand within SAF and the wider FIFA esports ecosystem. The SAF academy will be an important part of our organisation’s ability to create esports stars of the future,” Partnerships Manager Craig Winfield said.

eSports

FURIA Pulls Off the Reverse Sweep to Win Thunderpick World Championship 2025

Published

15 hours ago

October 28, 2025

Niji Narayan

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Reading Time: < 1 minute

Thunderpick, the leading esports betting platform delivering fans cutting-edge tools and experiences, announced that FURIA has emerged victorious at the Thunderpick World Championship 2025 — one of the tournament’s most competitive editions yet, featuring four of the world’s top 10 ranked teams. FURIA takes home the $500,000 first-place prize, with KSCERATO earning his first Grand Final MVP.

FURIA’s steady performance and relentless focus were on full display throughout the tournament, culminating in a Finals victory over Natus Vincere. After NAVI went up two maps to zero, FURIA did what many thought was impossible and completed a dominant reverse sweep with a 13:1 on the decisive map.

Natus Vincere finished second place, earning $150,000. The MongolZ, who won the Thunderpick World Championship last year, finished third after defeating Aurora earlier in the day, receiving $70,000 and $50,000, respectively. Venom, 9z, Imperial and OG all placed fifth through eighth, taking home $20,000 each.

“It is a privilege to congratulate FURIA as the Thunderpick World Champions! This tournament was thrilling, featuring exceptional gameplay. The success of our World Championship is thanks to the incredible teams, streamers, partners, staff, and everyone behind the scenes who made it possible, as well as the passionate fans who make this event so special,” said Kelly Sanders, Head of Strategy at Thunderpick.

This year marks the third consecutive Thunderpick World Championship. Last year, The MongolZ stunned HEROIC to claim their third international title of the season, cementing their status on the global CS2 stage. In 2023, FaZe Clan took the crown after defeating Virtus.pro, with Robin “ropz” Kool earning the MVP title. The TWC 2025 Finals are presented in collaboration with Hotspawn, a leading hub for esports news and analysis.

The post FURIA Pulls Off the Reverse Sweep to Win Thunderpick World Championship 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Betting

LEON Esports announces partnership with GamerLegion’s CS2 team

Published

5 days ago

October 23, 2025

Zoltan Tundik

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Reading Time: < 1 minute

LEON Esports is excited to announce a new partnership with GamerLegion’s Counter-Strike 2 team — a leading German esports organization ranked among the top 15 teams in the world, renowned for its consistent top-tier performances.

This collaboration marks a new chapter for LEON Esports, as the brand continues to expand its presence in competitive gaming. Over the years, LEON has become an active force in esports — supporting professional teams and hosting its own tournaments across titles like CS2, Dota, Free Fire and Deadlock.

Together with GamerLegion, LEON Esports aims to bring even more action and engagement to fans — with exclusive offers, special markets, social media giveaways, and more challenges made for true esports and betting enthusiasts.

This partnership follows LEON’s successful collaborations with other major esports organizations such as SAW (Portugal), FlyQuest (Australia), and NFA (Brazil) — strengthening its position as one of the key players in the global esports scene.

Get ready for the next level — follow the action on our channels:

LEON Esports Linktree

The post LEON Esports announces partnership with GamerLegion’s CS2 team appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

eSports

HAVIT Partners with Legendary Galatasaray Esports

Published

5 days ago

October 23, 2025

Niji Narayan

havit-partners-with-legendary-galatasaray-esports

Reading Time: < 1 minute

HAVIT, a leading global consumer tech brand, announced a strategic partnership with Galatasaray Esports, one of Turkey’s most iconic and influential esports teams. This collaboration aims to energise the rapidly growing Turkish gaming ecosystem with cutting-edge gear.

Galatasaray, a symbol of pride, passion and excellence with over a century of sporting heritage, has extended its winning spirit into the digital arena through Galatasaray Esports, now a powerhouse in competitive gaming. By partnering with Galatasaray Esports, HAVIT is not only equipping the team with cutting-edge gaming gear to enhance professional performance but also bringing more high-performance gaming gear to redefine the esports experience in Turkey.

With this partnership, HAVIT and Galatasaray Esports will work together to open a new chapter for Turkish esports. In upcoming competitions, Galatasaray Esports will continue to showcase its strength and team spirit, representing Turkey with pride on the international stage. Meanwhile, HAVIT will provide full support with its outstanding gaming gear, empowering the team to reach new heights.

The post HAVIT Partners with Legendary Galatasaray Esports appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.