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Champions crowned as Riyadh Masters 2023 wraps up Dota 2 action at Gamers8

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The Dota 2 Riyadh Masters 2023 competition wrapped up yesterday after 12 days of thrilling matches featuring 20 elite teams vying for victory and taking home a share of the $15,000,000 prize pool. As one of the premier tournaments in the Dota 2 calendar, Riyadh Masters 2023 ran the globe’s greatest teams through a round-robin group stage and then double-elimination playoffs in the popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA).

Among the teams competing for the top prize was Dota 2 powerhouse Team OG, the first team in Dota 2 history to win four Dota Major Championships. Team Tundra Esports, reigning champions of Dota’s iconic “The International” tournament, also headed into the 2023 Masters amongst the favorites. Of course, there could only be one winner, and this achievement went to  Team Spirit, who triumphed in the final, beating Team Liquid in an encounter for the ages.

The $15,000,000 prize pool is the largest available of any Dota 2 competition this season, and the action did not disappoint, with the stakes being so high. Over 120,000 fans tuned in to the official broadcast on Twitch to witness the epic showdown. Team Spirit reached the Grand Final for the second year in a row, knocking out the season’s most dominant performer, Team Gaimin Gladiators, along the way and beating Team Liquid 2-1 in the upper-bracket final as the team looked to banish last years demons and finish in first place rather than second. Team Liquid earned a shot at their redemption by crushing Team Talon 2-0 in the lower bracket final. But the result of this eagerly anticipated rematch in the five-game Grand Final went to Team Spirit, an unassailable 3-1. As champions, Team Spirit left Gamers8 and Boulevard Riyadh City $5,000,000 richer, the runners-up collecting $2,500,000 from the overall prize pool.

Faisal bin Homran, Chief Esports Officer at the Saudi Esports Federation, said: “The Dota 2 Riyadh Masters tournament at Gamers8: The Land of Heroes has captured the imagination of the thousands in attendance at Boulevard Riyadh City’s Esports Arena and the tens of millions watching avidly across the globe. Since July 19th, the global gaming and esports scene has been captivated by the exploits of the best Dota 2 teams and players in the world. Competing for a $15 million prize pool – the biggest third-party prize pool for a tournament ever – the action has been even more dramatic than anticipated and epitomizes the level of standard for which Gamers8 has become renowned. We congratulate Team Spirit on their success and thank all the teams, players, fans, sponsors, and partners at the Dota 2 Riyadh Masters for being part of a special moment in Saudi Arabian gaming history.”

Although the Riyadh Masters may have finished, there’s plenty more action on offer as part of Gamers8: The Land of Heroes in its 2023 edition. Esports athletes from around the world are competing in a 12-tournament lineup with a prize pool of $45 million to the soundtrack of musical superstars like Imagine Dragons, Alan Walker, and Metro Boomin’, who are putting on a show for the crowds at Gamers8. The festival, the world’s largest for gaming and esports, has been full of action since it kicked off in July, with seismic impacts such as Pakistan winning the Nations Cup in Tekken against a well-favored Korean team. Among the other titles taking center stage at Gamers8’s home in Boulevard Riyadh City are Rocket League, PUBG Mobile, FIFA, and Counterstrike.

Fans can enjoy further exciting events as the festival continues through August 27th, following which the Gamers8 festival will conclude with a gaming and esports forum.  Known as the ‘Next World Forum,’ it brings together sector leaders and experts from around the world to Saudi Arabia. Gamers8 is playing a key role in developing the grassroots esports scene in Saudi Arabia and providing opportunities for esports athletes around the world. Over 67% of Saudi citizens are gamers, and multiple world champions have come from the Kingdom already to win on the world’s largest stages.

Adam Conway General Manager of the Esports Business Unit at BETER

BETER strengthens eFootball roster with rollout of 4,200 monthly events ahead of 2026 World Cup

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With the excitement of FIFA World Cup 2026 approaching, BETER is assisting operators in providing continuous bettor interaction by adding over 4,200 new eFootball matches monthly.

BETER, the recognized supplier of quick-betting content, live streams, real-time data, and odds for esports and sports, has broadened its eFootball portfolio with new specialized tournaments designed for World Cup 2026, providing over 4,200 events each month to assist operators in maintaining bettor engagement throughout the day, even during lulls and match intervals.

The launch features matches inspired by the World Cup, plus extra events scheduled around peak betting times to maintain bettor interest before, during, and after the World Cup 2026 games, providing operators with expanded eFootball coverage leading up to one of the largest events in the international sports schedule.

The updated material improves BETER’s extensive, dynamic eFootball framework, providing operators with more options to maintain bettor engagement around the clock.

Tournaments tailored to U.S. betting hours, delivering over 4,200 monthly matches

BETER added 140+ daily matches designed to suit U.S. bettors and maintain engagement throughout the day.

All of these matches are delivered in the 2×4 format and are scheduled daily (UTC+2) as follows:

01:00–03:00 — Premier League
03:10–05:10 — World Cup B
05:30–07:30 — Conference League
16:10–18:10 — Serie A
18:20–20:20 — World Cup B
20:40–22:40 — Europa League
22:50–00:50 — LaLiga

This new content addition is focused on supporting operator performance ahead of and during World Cup 2026 by maintaining betting activity across relevant time slots for U.S. audiences and helping fill downtime between major football fixtures.

World Cup–inspired tournaments, delivering over 3,600 monthly matches (within the 4,200+ expansion)

As part of this content boost, BETER is rolling out three dedicated World Cup–themed eFootball leagues. These form a major part of the expansion and mirror the excitement, structure, and national-team focus of the tournament, delivering 120+ matches per day and featuring teams such as the United States, the Netherlands, Norway, Mexico, Morocco, France, England, Portugal, Argentina, Spain, and more canonical world best teams.
The schedule includes the following (UTC+2):

World Cup A: 12:00–14:00 and 01:20–02:20 (2×4 format)
World Cup B: 18:20–20:20 and 03:10–05:10 (2×4 format)
Volta World Cup: 00:10–01:40 and 07:00–08:30 (2×3 format)

These World Cup–inspired eFootball matches reflect the build-up to the tournament and help operators drive bettor engagement ahead of kick-off.

With this rollout, which is already available with the majority of BETER’s partners, the supplier now delivers over 40,000 esports matches each month, further strengthening its position as one of the industry’s most in-demand providers of fast-paced content.

BETER exclusively delivers nearly 500,000 esports events annually through its exclusive ESportsBattle tournaments, which include eFootball, eBasketball, eHockey, and eTennis, offering up to 50 markets per match and an average operator margin of 7.5%+, exceeding the market standard.

Adam Conway, General Manager of the Esports Business Unit at BETER, said: “World Cup 2026 is the pinnacle of football excitement, and it presents an incredible opportunity for operators to keep fans and bettors engaged around the clock. Our expanded eFootball offering is designed to capture that energy, with content built to mirror the drama, intensity, and rivalries of the tournament.

“By combining dedicated World Cup–inspired competitions with strategically timed matches during key betting hours, we’re helping operators fill downtime, bridge match gaps, and keep bettors active before, during, and after every fixture.

“With over 40,000 fast-paced esports matches delivered every month, BETER now offers one of the largest and most dynamic content portfolios in the industry, bringing the thrill of the World Cup straight to every screen.”

The post BETER strengthens eFootball roster with rollout of 4,200 monthly events ahead of 2026 World Cup appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Esports Nations Cup 2026 Awards Official Partner Status Across 100+ Nations to Build the Future of Nation-Based Esports

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The Esports Foundation (EF) awarded National Team Partner status to organisations and individuals across more than 100 countries and territories for the Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC), the global nation-based esports competition set to debut in Riyadh from November 2-29, 2026.

This marks the first time esports introduces a structured global system for national teams at scale, adding a new layer to the industry’s ecosystem alongside club-based competition. Designed to complement existing frameworks rather than replace them, the ENC will work with local stakeholders closest to the sport to strengthen connections and support long-term national development.

National Team Partners will lead team formation, mobilize local communities and establish the structures needed to enable participation and the growth of esports. To ensure worldwide participation, countries and territories without a partner will be supported through regional structures provided by the EF.

The EF received more than 630 applications from 150 countries and territories, reflecting the global interest in and opportunity for nation-based esports. The partners represent legacy esports organisations that have shaped their national scenes for decades alongside emerging forces driving the next wave of competitive gaming. The list of organisations and individuals who have been awarded this status is available on the ENC website and will be updated as additional appointments are confirmed.

‘The Esports Nations Cup introduces something esports has never had before: a global system for national teams at an unprecedented scale. The response we received from across the world shows that communities are ready for this next step. Together with our partners, we are building the structures that will allow players to represent their nations and compete on the biggest stage in esports. With more than 100 nations now part of the system, the Esports Nations Cup moves from concept to reality, establishing national esports as a lasting part of the global competitive landscape,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation.

Recognising that esports has developed differently in many nations, the ENC adopts a partnership-led approach rather than relying on a single model, marking a first in global sport and esports alike. By working with recognised local stakeholders, whether institutions, Clubs or community-led organisations, this model is designed to unlock the full creative and competitive potential of each nation.

National Team Partners will operate through a range of structures, from established national bodies such as the Korea Esports Association and the Saudi Esports Federation, to club-led coalitions in Brazil and the US, and hybrid public-private alliances in countries like Germany, Canada and the UAE.

In markets such as Malaysia, Turkey and Thailand, partners include federations working closely with grassroots communities, while in emerging regions like Indonesia and Mongolia, partners are being supported through structured development to represent their nations on a global stage.

For the first time in the history of esports, national teams will be formed from these local structures, bringing players together to compete for their nation and unlocking a new dimension of fandom built on identity and pride. From South Korea’s legendary League of Legends dominance and India’s Chess affinity, to Brazil’s Counter-Strike tradition, Japan’s fighting games heritage and Southeast Asia’s mobile games’ powerhouses, the ENC creates a new global stage for competition.

The post Esports Nations Cup 2026 Awards Official Partner Status Across 100+ Nations to Build the Future of Nation-Based Esports appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Team India and Türkiye Win Gold at the Global Esports Games Mumbai

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Team India and Türkiye won Gold at the Global Esports Games Mumbai, delivering electrifying performances in front of a packed arena and thousands more tuning in online worldwide. India’s Anuhith Gosala edged Kazakhstan 3–2 in a thrilling Clash Royale Grand Final, while Türkiye secured a commanding 3–1 victory over Mongolia in the Dota 2 Grand Final. With a Gold in Clash Royale and a Bronze in Dota 2, Team India was crowned Overall Champion.

India stormed into the Clash Royale Grand Final with a 2–1 win over the USA in a tense lower bracket decider, setting up a rematch with Kazakhstan. Having fallen 0–2 in the upper bracket, India turned the tables when it mattered most, as Anuhith Gosala delivered a clutch performance to seal a dramatic 3–2 victory and the Gold medal.

In Dota 2, Team India secured Bronze after falling to Mongolia in the lower bracket. Mongolia advanced to the Grand Final, where Türkiye asserted its dominance with a composed 3–1 victory to take the title.

Sharing his thoughts on the victory, Team India’s Clash Royale gold medallist, Anuhith Gosala, said: “This moment is surreal. To win the Grand Finals here in India, in front of a home crowd, makes it even more emotional. The preparation was relentless, the pressure was intense, and every match tested my limits—but that’s what makes this victory so special. Hearing the cheers, feeling that energy, and lifting this title for the country is an indescribable pride. This is for India, and for everyone who believes in us. I hope this win inspires many others to follow in our path.”

Sir Paul J. Foster, President & CEO, Global Esports Federation, said: “As the Global Esports Games Mumbai comes to a close, we celebrate not only the incredible performances of our athletes, but the spirit of unity and connection that defines our global community. Mumbai has delivered exceptional energy, passion, and hospitality, reinforcing our belief that esports transcends borders and brings the world together. We are deeply grateful to our partners in India for setting a new benchmark for excellence—and we now look ahead with excitement to Los Angeles, where this journey continues on an even greater stage.”

Shripad Ashtekar, Founder of Eflag Corp, said: “Over the past few days, we have witnessed not just world-class competition, but the coming together of talent, innovation, and community on a truly global stage. We hope to keep delivering such platforms and strong foundations for future growth by unlocking new opportunities for Indian players, creators, and the broader AVGC ecosystem. We are proud to have played a key role and look forward to building on this momentum in the years ahead.”

Organized by the Global Esports Federation in partnership with Eflag Corp, with the support of Maharashtra Tourism, the Global Esports Games Mumbai was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis. Over four days, Mumbai welcomed 48 elite athletes from 19 countries, emerging from a global field of 78 nations in the Regional Qualifiers.

The post Team India and Türkiye Win Gold at the Global Esports Games Mumbai appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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