eSports
Champions of Inaugural Global Esports Games Prove that Esports is Truly a Global Movement

After two days of intense competition, the first-ever champions of the inaugural Global Esports Games have emerged.
And staying true to the Global Esports Federation and GEG’s vision of connecting the world through the power of esports, the diversity of the winners — nine member nations walked away with the 12 medals on offer — have made the inaugural Games a truly global celebration of a #worldconnected.
Without further ado, here are the Singapore 2021 Global Esports Games champions.
eFootball 2022
Brazil, widely regarded as the best footballing nation, can now lay claim to also being the best in the virtual version of the Beautiful Game.
And it couldn’t have been scripted any better, with the inaugural eFootball 2022 gold a fight between Brazil and South American rivals Argentina. Imagine Neymar vs Messi, virtual style.
And when the dust settled, it was Brazil’s João Vitor “CSC_jvictor” Lopes who beat Argentina’s Iván Pablo “MelianTheKing” Melian.
Lopes showcased superior gameplay and was calm and patient when making split-second strategic decisions as the 17-year-old eFootball prodigy earned the gold with a 2-0 win.
Despite the traditional Brazil-Argentina rivalry, both Lopes and Melian shared a heartfelt hug, congratulating each other sincerely after the match.
Iran’s Morteza “esultimates” Mohammadi also scored a resounding 2-0 victory against Singapore’s Dennis “DENNISZZ0910” Zhao to take home a bronze medal.
Women’s DOTA 2
Shining a beacon for women esports, the first-ever major international Women’s DOTA 2 final was an electrifying display of skill and teamwork.
Despite losing the first round to Team Great Britain, Team Singapore showed determination and grit to make an astounding comeback to first tie the game 1-1 before winning an 80-minute decider to clinch the gold. Team Mongolia won the bronze medal.
Street Fighter V: Champion Edition
In the world of Street Fighter V, Chinese Taipei’s Yu-Lin “GamerBee” Hsiang is widely recognised as one of the world’s top gamers. But for all his talent, a major win on the world stage has proved elusive — until the GEG.
Up against the Dominican Republic’s Saul “MenaRD” Mena, Hsiang prevailed to become the GEG’s first Street Fighter V: Champion Edition gold medallist.
“I feel extremely happy because it’s been a long time since I’ve participated in an offline tournament. Facing the best players in the world and emerging the champion means a lot to me. I want to thank all my friends and my country for their support. Without them, I couldn’t win,” Hsiang said.
Hsiang picked Luke against his opponent’s Balrog, who posed a real threat to the veteran throughout the entire match. Despite losing the first game, Hsiang made a comeback and proceeded to win three consecutive games to secure his win.
Mena received the silver medal and Pakistan’s Ahmed “Amu_PS4” Shahid clinched the bronze.
DOTA 2 Open
Team Brazil ended the competition with a convincing 2-0 win against Team Singapore, and in doing so, made history as the first GEG DOTA 2 Open gold medallists.
“Everyone is super happy (about the win). This is our first time coming so far to this part of the world. There are some players who have never experienced an international LAN so this is something new for them,” Team Captain Matheus “KJ” Santos said.
Santos and some of his Brazil teammates have had the experience of playing at the highest level of DOTA 2, having featured at The International in October. And they showed their experience and quality throughout the tournament.
Powered by WPeMatico
eSports
Ninjas in Pyjamas Renews Partnership with Red Bull

NIP Group subsidiary Ninjas in Pyjamas (NIP), a legendary esports organisation founded in Sweden in 2000, has officially renewed their partnership with iconic energy drink brand Red Bull. Originally teaming up in November 2022, NIP and Red Bull will strengthen operations, drive growth and expand their reach in esports. Red Bull’s global reputation opens new doors across content creation, fan engagement and operational stability for NIP, whilst Red Bull can reach NIP’s young and engaged audience as part of their continued commitment to the esports industry.
This renewed agreement will engage esports fans through exclusive player content – such as behind-the-scenes tournament footage – alongside the integration of Red Bull branding in Ninjas in Pyjamas’ social media, streams, player jerseys across multiple teams and events.
NIP and Red Bull will also work together on various activations, including the annual [SWE] CS Summit held at Red Bull Gaming Sphere in Stockholm, which sees leaders in the Swedish Counter-Strike scene come together to discuss and shape the future of their national scene. Supporting the Swedish esports scene and driving positive change at a national level is a key pillar of this partnership, which both will take steps to achieve through various activations.
Hicham Chahine, Co-CEO of NIP Group, said: “It has been a pleasure working with Red Bull over the past two years, collaborating on a series of highly successful projects. The more we work together, the clearer it has become that we align strongly on values and how to create meaningful experiences for our fans. We are truly delighted to continue this journey with them. Their passion for innovation and excellence aligns perfectly with our vision, and together, we look forward to pushing the boundaries of this industry even further.”
The post Ninjas in Pyjamas Renews Partnership with Red Bull appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
PandaScore and Orenes Grupo unite

Leading online sportsbook and casino operator in Spain and Mexico integrates provider’s cutting-edge esports odds feed
PandaScore, the award-winning provider of esports data, odds and betting products, has added yet another tier-one operator to its roster of partners after signing a deal with Orenes Grupo.
The partnership sees Orenes Group deploy PandaScore’s powerful Odds feed across its online betting brands in Spain and Mexico, allowing it to offer comprehensive and competitive odds for some of the most popular esports disciplines.
PandaScore’s Odds Feed really is unrivalled in the scope of markets and the value of the odds it allows operators to offer to their players. It uses a sophisticated model backed by a team of experienced traders including specialist traders for each discipline including CS2, Dota 2 and LoL.
PandaScore has seen a surge in demand for its esports betting data, odds and products as the vertical continues to go from strength to strength, especially as more tier-one brands look to get in on the action. This has seen PandaScore pass €1 billion in esports bets through its platform.
In addition to its Odds Feed, PandaScore offers a range of products including a smart BetBuilder, MicroBetting markets and an innovative AI-powered StoryBuilder.
João Carvalho, Senior Sales Manager at PandaScore, said: “Orenes Grupo has established itself as a leading operator in both Spain and Mexico with its sportsbook and casino brands and through this partnership with PandaScore, can really strengthen that position with a compelling esports betting offering.
“Demand for esports betting is on the rise and savvy operators are looking to capitalise on this by offering markets and odds to their players, which is what Orenes Grupo can now while being confident its odds are among the most competitive.
“We are thrilled to add another power player to our network of partners and look forward to working with the Orenes Grupo team to help the operator maximise the opportunity that esports betting presents.”
Vicente Rabasco, Head of Product & PMO at Orenes Grupo, added: “PandaScore is a leading provider of esports betting odds and products and we really couldn’t think of a better partner to be working with.
“We have established and defended our position by embracing new trends and delivering experiences our players demand, and this deal with PandaScore allows us to really build momentum behind our esports betting offering by putting quality at the heart of our proposition.”
The post PandaScore and Orenes Grupo unite appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
BETBY LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVE CUSTOM CS2 LEAGUE FOR CSGOEMPIRE

BETBY, a premium provider of innovative sports betting solutions, has announced the launch of a custom-made Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) league exclusively for CSGOEmpire, a leading operator in the esports sector. This latest addition reinforces BETBY’s commitment to delivering tailored esports experiences that enhance engagement and offer operators unique branding opportunities.
The newly introduced league, integrated into BETBY’s award-winning esports content portfolio BETBY Games, fully replicates the lifecycle of a real CS2 match. It follows a best-of-three (BO3) format with a maximum of 24 rounds (MR24) and overtime, incorporating side switches, weapon purchases, bomb plants, and all the mechanics that define real CS2 gameplay.
Featuring top teams from the HLTV ranking, the league ensures a high level of competition. Additionally, a special guest team, ‘Empire’, representing CSGOEmpire’s brand owners, joins the lineup with an up-to-date roster. This exclusive league was made possible through complex mathematical modeling and advanced infrastructure. It is available only on CSGOEmpire, providing its audience with an unparalleled esports betting experience.
This initiative is part of BETBY’s broader strategic collaboration with Moonrail Limited, the parent company of CSGOEmpire. Through this partnership, BETBY has provided its cutting-edge technology and services to enhance CSGOEmpire’s sportsbook operations, further strengthening its position in the sports betting sector.
Kirill Nekrasov, Head of Sportsbook Product at BETBY, commented: “Our partnership with CSGOEmpire to develop a custom CS2 league highlights our ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of innovation in esports betting. We have meticulously designed this league to replicate the real dynamics of professional CS2 gameplay, ensuring that CSGOEmpire’s users enjoy an authentic and engaging experience that cannot be found anywhere else.”
A representative from CSGOEmpire added: “At CSGOEmpire, we are always looking for ways to bring our users the most authentic and immersive esports betting experiences. BETBY’s ability to develop a fully customized CS2 league that mirrors real gameplay is a game-changer for us. This exclusive league not only strengthens our brand identity but also provides our community with a truly unique betting product they won’t find anywhere else.”
The launch of this league builds upon BETBY’s previous announcement introducing customizable esports tournaments, allowing operators to create tailor-made leagues that align with their brand identity. This framework enables partners to personalize various aspects of their tournaments, from team branding to in-game visuals, making content more engaging and brand-specific. The collaboration with CSGOEmpire is a prime example of how this approach can deliver a unique product that resonates with the platform’s users.
The post BETBY LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVE CUSTOM CS2 LEAGUE FOR CSGOEMPIRE appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
Latest News7 days ago
ACR POKER’S FLAGSHIP ONLINE SUPER SERIES LAUNCHES THIS MARCH WITH $25 MILLION IN GUARANTEED PRIZE POOLS
-
Baltics4 days ago
The Lithuanian Gaming Control Authority (LPT) has completed its inspection: Olympic Casino has been fined almost 8.4 million euros
-
Africa4 days ago
Logifuture and Bolabet deepen partnership with addition of Zoom Soccer
-
Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario4 days ago
Fennica Gaming Granted Supplier License for Ontario Market
-
Australia4 days ago
Foxtel Breaches Gambling Ad Rules
-
Andres Troelsen Belatra Games’ Commercial Director for Latin America3 days ago
Belatra ready to present latest iGaming innovations at SAGSE
-
Asia3 days ago
MiFinity Expands Payment Options in Asia, Strengthening Regional Commitment
-
Diego Mourglia2 days ago
Salsa Technology ready to engage with industry leaders at SAGSE Latam