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Escape Studios partners with Epic Games and leading European animation schools to deliver world’s largest training programme in Unreal Engine

Published

5 years ago

July 23, 2021

Mark Flanagan, Education Partner Manager, Epic Games said: “The Summer of Unreal is an incredible opportunity that is open to professionals in animation and VFX all across Europe, and we couldn’t be happier to invite the industry to participate. Escape Studios is a wonderful partner who, along with a number of Europe’s best animation schools, are running this programme, which is set to be the biggest Unreal Engine training that we’ve undertaken to date. We’re excited to help all learners find new ways to tell awesome stories and express their creativity using Unreal Engine.”

Saint Walker, Deputy Dean of Escape Studios, said: “The Summer of Unreal is a fantastic opportunity for animation and 3D CGI professionals across Europe to discover more about the cutting-edge technology on offer with Unreal Engine.

“We’ve worked with top animation companies to create a novel animation-centric way of teaching Unreal Engine, in one of the most ambitious training programmes that Escape Studios has been involved with – our vision of a pan-European festival of learning in Unreal Engine has gained us amazing academic partners in the form of some of the best animation schools in the world. We invite learners across Europe to join us. Make your summer staycation Unreal!”

The Summer of Unreal will be taught online in English and is free-of-charge to professionals working in the animation, motion graphics and VFX industry who want an informal group experience of learning Unreal Engine over the holiday period. The course will feature daily workshops covering all the major aspects of using Unreal Engine interspersed with practice time, teamwork, as well as demonstrations and masterclasses from some of Europe’s premiere companies and artists showing how they use the platform in their work.

Mark Spevick, Escape Studios’ Head of 3D VFX will be the main ‘showrunner’ for the Summer of Unreal. The unique role used in Escapes’ larger courses ensures that tutors get to hear and address the most important questions from the online shop floor through Mark’s advocacy. Mark combines teaching and programme design with senior industry experience, having worked at Peerless Camera, the production house co-owned by Terry Gilliam.

Partner quotes

Timothy Leborgne, Head of Talent & Skills Development, The Animation Workshop/VIA University College
“A course such as Summer of Unreal is very welcome. Whether you look at film, animated series, or games we can all see a growing demand for rapid development and competent animators. And Unreal Engine is one particularly advanced tool and software we can’t avoid as professionals in the future. So, I am excited and happy we bring such a valuable course to professionals in our industry. By partnering with such competent institutions and studios across Europe, we have ensured that the course will deliver the best training.”

Gilbert Kiner, President, ARTFX
“Since its creation in 2004, ARTFX has been dedicated to training students using the latest technology and software. Beyond using this engine for our Games courses, Unreal has also been integrated into the previz pipeline for our VFX programs. We are very happy and proud to have been chosen as the exclusive French partner for this collaborative initiative.”

Felix Balbás, Area Director of Animation & VFX at La Salle-URL
“Unreal Engine is a reality we can’t ignore. No longer only in videogames and recently virtual production, now more than ever the future of any visual content creation and in particular animation and VFX, must take this evolution into account. Not only in previs stage, but also in full production. This is why La Salle-URL’s commitment towards promoting state-of-the-art training along with leader institutions at a European level is reflected in the Summer of Unreal.”

Miljana Jovović, Executive Director, Crater Training Center
“We are happy to join the Summer of Unreal as partners for Southeastern Europe, as we see this project as a great chance to upskill and connect professionals across the continent. We have spent the first part of 2021 educating university professors in Serbia in Unreal Engine so they could implement the newly-gained knowledge to their study programs and introduce the software to their students.”

Katja Schmid, Visual Effects and Post Production Professor, Hochschule der Medien
“Many artists in the industry have been waiting for this course. Now the time has come. At the moment, Unreal is one of the most in-demand tools in the industry. The response to the course announcement has been fantastic. It’s just an amazing opportunity not only to get trained for free but also to be part of a most inspiring community! We are very impressed by this large-scale project and excited to be contributing.”

Gareth Lee, Screen Skills Ireland Manager
“Screen Skills Ireland is hugely excited to be part of the Summer of Unreal. This is a unique opportunity for Irish screen sector professionals to learn about the powerful capabilities of Unreal Engine from industry experts, as well as connect with their peers across Europe.”

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away day experience

Midnite completes hat-trick of fan-led activations with Sheffield United

Published

21 minutes ago

January 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

midnite-completes-hat-trick-of-fan-led-activations-with-sheffield-united

Midnite — the UK sportsbook and casino — brought Sheffield United supporters closer to the club with a triple rollout of fan-first experiences. Across matchday travel, street art and a pop-up salon, Midnite delivered practical support, community investment and memorable moments for Blades fans.

The Midnite Express: luxury free coach travel to St Mary’s

Midnite relaunched The Midnite Express, providing free coach travel for 100+ Sheffield United fans to the Championship away game at Southampton. The 410-mile round trip included:

Club legends on board: Michael Brown, Paddy Kenny and Rob Kozluk.
On-coach entertainment: quizzes, Q&As and giveaways.
Easy joining process for selected fans and a full away-day experience.

The trip ended in a 1–0 result for Southampton, but fans returned with memories of a well-organised, fan-focused day out.

“We loved creating The Midnite Express… We know how difficult it can be travelling to and from midweek away games with the high costs and time it takes, so we were always going to help out those lucky Sheffield United supporters by giving them an unforgettable away day experience.” — Andrew Mook, Head of Brand Marketing, Midnite

Painting the town red (and white): Chris Wilder mural & community support

Midnite unveiled a 50-square-metre mural celebrating club legend and manager Chris Wilder on The Railway pub opposite Bramall Lane. Key details:

The mural recognises Wilder’s playing and managerial legacy, including his role in returning the club to the Premier League in 2019.
Midnite donated £1,000 to The Railway to support a revamped outdoor area, improving the matchday atmosphere for Blades supporters.

The public artwork reinforces local identity while giving fans a new visual landmark close to the stadium.

New year, fresh trim: The Blades Salon pop-up

To kick off 2026, Midnite partnered with TaylorTaylor barbershop in Sheffield city centre to create The Blades Salon, a pop-up offering free haircuts for fans. Highlights:

Sheffield United players Callum O’Hare and Michael Cooper joined the event and even tried the clippers, bringing fans up close to the squad.
The activation was timed to lift spirits after a tough 2025 and reward supporters during a positive turn in form.

Why it matters

Midnite’s three activations combined practical value (free travel), cultural recognition (mural) and fan reward (pop-up salon). The campaign strengthened ties between the brand and Sheffield United’s community, improved the matchday experience, and created shareable moments that matter to modern football fans.

The post Midnite completes hat-trick of fan-led activations with Sheffield United appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

€20

GG.BET Launches €20,000 CS2 Betting Tournament for IEM Krakow 2026

Published

21 minutes ago

January 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

gg.bet-launches-e20,000-cs2-betting-tournament-for-iem-krakow-2026

GG.BET has announced the launch of a dedicated €20,000 betting tournament to coincide with Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Krakow 2026, one of the most anticipated Counter-Strike 2 events of the year. Running from January 22 to February 9, the promotion rewards GG.BET customers for placing winning bets on CS2 matches, with the top 100 participants sharing the total prize pool.

Betting meets competition during IEM Krakow

IEM Krakow 2026 will take place from January 28 to February 8, marking a historic moment for the Intel Extreme Masters series. For the first time, the iconic IEM playoffs will move away from Katowice and be hosted in Krakow, adding an extra layer of excitement to an already legendary esports tournament.

As the world’s best CS2 teams battle on the main stage, GG.BET is offering fans an opportunity to compete off the server through its Legendary Krakow Tournament, designed to reward consistency and smart betting throughout the event.

How the GG.BET tournament works

Participation in the tournament is simple and open to eligible customers:

Log in or register at GG.BET (21+ only).
Navigate to the Competition section, select “Legendary Krakow Tournament”, and click Join.

All winning bets placed on IEM Krakow 2026 and other CS2 tournaments at odds of 1.50 or higher count toward the leaderboard. Each successful bet earns points equal to the stake amount — for example, a €100 winning bet earns 100 points.

€20,000 prize pool and leaderboard rewards

The tournament features a €20,000 total prize pool, distributed among the top 100 players on the leaderboard. The highest-ranked participants can earn cash prizes of up to €2,000, making every winning wager an opportunity to climb the standings.

The more points accumulated during the tournament period, the greater the chance of securing a top-100 finish and a share of the prize money.

Multiple betting options, including Bet Builder

GG.BET customers can earn points using a wide range of betting formats, including:

Single bets
Accumulators
System bets

Players can also take advantage of Bet Builder, which allows the creation of custom bets by combining multiple markets from a single CS2 match. Available options include map winner, individual player kills, total rounds played, and other popular CS2 markets, often with boosted combined odds.

A timely promotion for CS2 esports fans

With IEM Krakow 2026 set to redefine the Intel Extreme Masters legacy and showcase elite Counter-Strike 2 competition, GG.BET’s €20,000 tournament offers fans an additional way to engage with the action. By combining esports knowledge with strategic betting, participants can turn every winning pick into leaderboard points and real cash rewards.

Further details about the tournament and participation rules are available directly on the GG.BET platform.

The post GG.BET Launches €20,000 CS2 Betting Tournament for IEM Krakow 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

$22.97M prize pool

PokerStars New Year Series 2026 — $22.97M Prize Pool, Ognyan “cocojamb0” Dimov Tops Sunday Million

Published

21 minutes ago

January 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

pokerstars-new-year-series-2026-—-$22.97m-prize-pool,-ognyan-“cocojamb0”-dimov-tops-sunday-million

PokerStars New Year Series 2026 delivers blockbuster prize pool and multiple champions

PokerStars’ New Year Series 2026 finished with a bang — awarding $22,966,447 across 316 tournaments and attracting 699,937 total entries. The 20-day online poker festival exceeded its $18 million guarantee and produced standout winners, massive fields, and headline-grabbing scores. At the top of the leaderboard, Bulgaria’s Ognyan “cocojamb0” Dimov turned a $109 Sunday Million entry into a series-high payout of $138,495.

Fast facts: New Year Series 2026

Total prize pool: $22,966,447
Total entries: 699,937
Events: 316 (low to high buy-ins)
Biggest single score: $138,495 — Ognyan “cocojamb0” Dimov (Sunday Million $109)
Country leaderboard winner: Brazil (80 event wins)

Standout winners and headline results

The series mixed affordable, mass-field action with high-stakes drama. Key results included:

Gabriel “gtavares10” Tavares (Brazil) captured the $5,200 Main Event and $122,131 after outlasting a 106-entry high-stakes field — the series’ second-largest payday.
Patrick “JaegsPL” Lauber (UK) won the $1,050 PKO Main Event for a total of $113,307 (including $63,492 in bounties).
‘nickiou7kos’ (Greece) topped the $109 Mystery Bounty Main Event for $58,237 (including $497 in bounties).
Ognyan “cocojamb0” Dimov (Bulgaria) reinforced his reputation as a crusher with multiple titles and the biggest cash of the series after his $109 Sunday Million triumph.
Triple champions in the series included players under the aliases KAgoulAKboul (Cambodia), King153246 (Albania), Leonard “Grozzorg” Maue, Pavel “silentm0de” Plesuv, and Sintoras.
Low buy-in grinders shone too: Brazil’s “miioon” dominated two massive fields, winning both a $5.50 PKO and an $11 PKO for a combined $9,470.

Country performance and leaderboard insights

Brazil dominated the New Year Series, leading the country leaderboard with 80 wins, followed by the United Kingdom (38) and Canada (16). The results reflect a continued strength from Brazilian grinders across both micro and mid-stakes events, while European pros and seasoned high-roller specialists also made deep runs and collected headline paydays.

Notable pros who won titles

The series featured wins from established pros and past major-event champions:

Fintan “easywithaces” Hand — $530 Bounty Builder High Roller.
Felipe “lipe piv” Boianovsky — 2023 SCOOP Main Event winner (collected a New Year Series title).
Narcis “Narcisus90” Nedelcu — won the $530 Copacobana Mystery Bounty.
Adrian “Amadi_017” Mateos — captured the $1K 7-Max PKO for $20,481 (including bounties), his first title in the series.

Why this New Year Series mattered

The 2026 edition showcased the breadth of modern online poker: huge guarantees, accessible low-stakes offerings that reward volume grinders, and high-stakes events that attract pros and build big narratives. The combination of PKO, Mystery Bounty, and traditional freezeout formats means players of all bankrolls found events that fit their strategy — and the results show a healthy ecosystem of recreational and professional participation.

What’s next: SCOOP returns

PokerStars is keeping momentum heading into the Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP), returning March 1–25, 2026. SCOOP’s multi-tiered schedule and high-stakes events have made it a marquee series for players aiming for major titles and career-defining scores. After the standout performances in the New Year Series, many players will see SCOOP as the next opportunity to chase huge guarantees and prestige.

Bottom line: The PokerStars New Year Series 2026 over-delivered on excitement and prize money. With nearly 700K entries and almost $23 million paid out, the series set a strong tone for 2026 — spotlighting rising stars, veteran champions, and a clear resurgence of Brazil as an online poker powerhouse.

The post PokerStars New Year Series 2026 — $22.97M Prize Pool, Ognyan “cocojamb0” Dimov Tops Sunday Million appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.