eSports
EXCEL ESPORTS appoints ex FUSE Director Shahin Rasti as new Head of Partnerships
Today, EXCEL ESPORTS is pleased to announce the appointment of Shahin Rasti as the new Head of Partnerships. Shahin moves into esports having previously worked at sport and entertainment agency – FUSE. In his new role, Rasti will support EXCEL’s existing set of partners, bringing on new commercial partners as well as continuing to grow the organisation’s partnerships team.
With over 10 years of experience within the sports and entertainment marketing industry, Shahin specialises in the creation, strategy and activation of brand partnerships. Working with some of the largest brands and rights holders across the industry, his previous clients include the likes of Subway, Formula 1, Samsung, VISA, Arsenal FC, Santander, ASICS, Allianz and FedEX. With an increasing interest in esports from the sports industry, Shahin has also provided consultancy with esports rights holders including FACEIT, SK Gaming and the UEFA eChampions League.
Shahin will be leading the servicing of EXCEL’s existing partner portfolio, which boasts industry-leading partners including FTSE 100 companies JD Sports and EE as well as the UK’s largest food delivery platform Just Eat, through supporting and creating their core partnership strategy as well as activating and managing their contractual rights. He will also be ensuring the team is driving as much value for existing sponsors at major esports events throughout the year, starting with this year’s League of Legends European Championship Summer Split.
With an overarching vision to create the best partnership offering, platform and content creation in gaming and esports, Shahin will work on bringing in new commercial partners, making sure that all brands EXCEL works with will drive value for the organisation in both the short and long term but also engage with its community in a meaningful and effective way. He will also lead a continuously growing partnerships team, making sure the organisation develops and recruits the best talent within the industry. Shahin’s appointment follows a recent string of new hires for the organisation’s commercial team, including new Partnerships Executive, Sara Leghari.
Shahin Rasti, EXCEL ESPORTS new Head of Partnerships comments: “I’m excited to be joining EXCEL as their new Head of Partnerships. It felt like the right time to move into the ever growing esports space and EXCEL’s journey and vision really stood out to me. The organisation are doing things the right way; with the Power of Better manifesto and building the brand authentically, which continues to resonate and attract a multitude of fans. This strong cultural growth has attracted some of the largest brands in sponsorship, so I am really excited to be a part of the team!”
Mark Carter, Commercial Director at EXCEL ESPORTS comments: “I’m delighted to welcome Sha to the EXCEL family. Sha’s experience working in leading agencies and with major UK and international brands, will be pivotal in how EXCEL develops, articulates and activates its partner propositions as we continue our expansion in the UK and beyond.”
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The Esports Foundation (EF) has opened applications for its 2026 Creator Program, committing $2 million (~INR 19 crore) in rewards for co-streamers supporting the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 in Paris and the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026 in Riyadh. EF announced the program on June 12, 2026, from Paris and Riyadh, and said applications are open now, including for creators across India.
EF said co-streaming was a key driver of EWC reach last year, citing 3,500 co-streamers as “one of the key growth pillars” for EWC viewership in 2025. The Foundation is positioning the 2026 Creator Program as a scaled-up initiative, targeting 5,000 creators “across new regions and platforms.”
“This isn’t just an esports trend; it’s a media trend,” said Wasae Imran, Director Broadcast & Distribution at the Esports Foundation. “Across music, video, news and sport, audiences don’t just watch what they’re given anymore. They choose their own experience: what to watch, where to focus, and how deep to go. Esports just lives further down that road than most, and traditional sport is heading the same way. It’s not about delivering a match in one format, it’s about opening up every way into the same moment and letting fans choose how they want to consume it. The Creators Program is how we build for that, by enabling the growth of creators that fans already trust to carry the world’s biggest esports event into every community.”
According to EF, approved creators can co-stream selected tournaments, complete missions, and progress a “Battle Pass” tied to rewards ranging from gift cards and hardware to platform perks and invitations to EWC and ENC. EF said the program supports multiple streaming platforms, including Twitch, YouTube, Bilibili, Huya, and CHZZK.
EF also confirmed operational details for EWC 2026: the event is set for Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from July 6 through August 23, featuring more than 2,000 players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries across 25 tournaments and 24 games, with a $75 million+ prize pool. ENC 2026 is scheduled for November in Riyadh and will extend the creator program to a nation-based competition format.
The post Esports Foundation opens 2026 co-streaming Creator Program with $2m rewards pool appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Deal covers travel and hospitality packages across BLAST’s event slate, starting with BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals in November.
BLAST has signed a one-year partnership with MATCH to develop premium fan travel experiences and related commercial opportunities across BLAST events in 2026 and 2027, including the BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals 2026. The companies said the work will start immediately, with an initial focus on the BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals event in November.
BLAST VP of Destinations and Market Development James Woollard said: “We’re thrilled to partner with MATCH, a company with an unrivalled track record in delivering top-tier fan travel experiences at the biggest sporting events in the world. As BLAST continues to grow globally and attract growing numbers of travelling fans, this partnership represents an exciting opportunity to further elevate the live event experience for fans and audiences across esports.”
MATCH is best known for hospitality and accommodation programmes at major sports events, including four consecutive FIFA World Cups
from 2010 to 2022, as well as Ryder Cup tournaments, Formula 1 Grands Prix and ATP tennis tournaments. MATCH Director of UK Events and Business Strategy Richard Parker said: “Esports is one of the most exciting growth frontiers in live entertainment, and BLAST stands out as a world-class platform with incredible potential. At MATCH, we see a tremendous opportunity to bring our expertise in creating premium fan experiences into the esports arena. We are very enthusiastic about the possibility of working together with BLAST to deliver innovative, unforgettable experiences for esports fans worldwide.”
BLAST said MATCH will also bring its network of clients, sponsors, federations, agents and media partners to support international attendance and partner activation, alongside MATCH’s technology and operational infrastructure. The announcement follows BLAST’s 2025 live events activity, where the organiser said it delivered 15 arena shows across 10 countries spanning five titles and sold 194,421 tickets.
The post BLAST partners with MATCH on premium fan travel for 2026-27 events appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Team Vitality is launching an official fan zone, V.Hub, to coincide with the 2026 IEM Cologne Major. The venue will run June 18-21 at KWB im Stadtpalais, a short walk from the LANXESS Arena.
Access to V.Hub will be free for fans who sign up, with limited availability. Team Vitality said the space is intended to bring together its community, partners and Counter-Strike fans attending the event.
The fan zone will include dedicated areas hosted by Team Vitality and partners Skin.Club, ASUS ROG, EVNIA and Blacklyte. The club said activations will include hands-on experiences and opportunities to play bespoke Counter-Strike maps.
Team Vitality also plans match watch parties, a pop-up shop for official merchandise and giveaways, including an ASUS ROG x Team Vitality co-branded mousepad. During the playoff stage, the club said V.Hub will be set up for trophy photo opportunities with its Major trophies.
Food and drink will be available on site throughout the event, including vegetarian options.
The post Team Vitality opens V.Hub fan zone for IEM Cologne Major appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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