eSports
Student Champs 2023/24 Registration Now Open
British Esports, the national body established to support grassroots esports in the UK, announced that registrations for the 2023/24 Student Champs Winter Split are now officially open.
Featuring some of the biggest and most popular esports games available today, including; League of Legends, Overwatch 2, Rocket League and Valorant, the British Esports Student Champs is the UK’s largest amateur grassroots esports tournament for students aged 12 + at secondary schools, further education (FE) colleges and alternative provision (AP) schools.
Identifying the next generation of amateur esports talent, the Student Champs featured over 200 individual schools and colleges in 2022/23 alone, including 500 teams and in excess of 5000 students, culminating in a grand final witnessed by a live audience and over ¼ million live views on Twitch.
Brand new for the 2023/24 season is the introduction of the Open and Nationals, designed to showcase the very best teams and talent on a national level, alongside the addition of wider cup competitions featuring StreetFighter 6 and Apex Legends, as well as the return of the Women in Esports Cup and the Williams Racing League, in partnership with Williams Esports.
The Open is intended to offer competition with less higher stakes, perfect for those taking their very first steps in competitive schools and college esports.
The Nationals are all about top tier talent, featuring the very best performing teams from across the UK and limited to one institute per title. The 2023/24 Student Champs season will culminate in a LIVE LAN final at The Arena, the brand new, multifunctional esports and creative complex, part of British Esports’ National Esports Performance Campus in Sunderland.
As part of its ongoing collaboration with College of Esports, the world’s leading university-level institution dedicated to the business of esports and gaming, British Esports announced that all broadcast productions relating to the British Esports Student Champs Open Division, will be exclusively produced by College of Esports students, ranging from production crew, to casting, hosting, observers and more.
“As we launch the 6th season of the British Esports Student Champs, it’s incredible to look back at the growth of institutions competing, as well as the significant increase in the overall quality of players, teams and matches on display. Our goal with the Student Champs has always been to offer amateur grassroots players the opportunity to take part in competitive tournaments and gain valuable experience. Throughout its history the champs has seen a number of institutions grow and develop their esports provision alongside their facilities,” Andy Payne OBE, Chair of British Esports, said.
“We’re thrilled to be involved with the British Esports Student Champs. We pride ourselves on being able to offer students real hands-on opportunities throughout the esports industry, and being the largest amateur grassroots esports tournament for schools and colleges across the UK, the Student Champs is a prestigious British tournament and it’s amazing that the team at British Esports have entrusted the production of these broadcasts throughout the season to our eager students,” Prof. Philip Wilson, Chair of the College of Esports, said.
eSports
Esports Foundation books Paris Expo Porte de Versailles for Esports World Cup 2026
The Esports Foundation (EF) has confirmed Paris Expo Porte de Versailles as the venue for Esports World Cup 2026, scheduled to run in Paris, France, from July 06 through August 23.
EF said tickets for all 25 competitions will go on sale from Friday, May 29, 2026, via esportsworldcup.com/tickets. The organiser said the venue will host competition arenas, broadcast operations, and fan activations across the seven-week programme.
According to EF, more than 2,000 players from over 200 Clubs and more than 100 countries will compete for a $75 million prize pool as part of the event’s cross-game Club Championship. The tournament lineup spans major competitive genres, including first-person shooters, strategy, sports, MOBAs, battle royales, fighting games, racing games, and Chess.
EF also outlined ticketing tiers, including Regular Tournament Passes, Premium Tournament Passes (with fast-track entry and a limited-edition goodie bag), Daily Regular Tournament Passes, and tiered Final Day seating zones (Gold, Silver, and Bronze) for select championship matches across VALORANT, League of Legends, Rocket League, and Counter-Strike 2.
The published schedule lists Week 1 events including VALORANT (July 9–12), ALGS Year 6 Split 1 Playoffs (Apex Legends) (July 7–11), Dota 2 (July 7–12), and FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves (July 8–11), with Counter-Strike 2 closing out Week 7 from August 19–23 alongside Fortnite Reload Elite Series Championship, Trackmania, and CROSSFIRE.
The post Esports Foundation books Paris Expo Porte de Versailles for Esports World Cup 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
eSports
Esports Foundation sets Esports World Cup 2026 venue at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles
Tickets go on sale May 29 for the seven-week Paris event running July 6 to August 23, with a $75 million prize pool across 25 competitions.
The Esports Foundation (EF) has confirmed Paris Expo Porte de Versailles as the venue for the Esports World Cup 2026, scheduled for July 06 through August 23 in Paris, France.
Ticket sales open Friday, May 29, 2026 via esportsworldcup.com/tickets. EF said the event will run for seven weeks and span 25 competitions, with more than 2,000 players from over 200 Clubs and more than 100 countries competing for a $75 million prize pool.
EF said Paris Expo Porte de Versailles will host competition arenas, broadcast operations, fan activations, and festival experiences. The organiser also pointed to the venue’s track record as the home of Paris Games Week since 2010 and as a site used during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Ticketing includes Regular Tournament Passes and Premium Tournament Passes, alongside Daily Regular Tournament Passes. For select championship matches across VALORANT, League of Legends, Rocket League, and Counter-Strike 2, EF said “Final Day Seating Zones” will be split into Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers.
The published schedule lists Week 1 events including VALORANT (July 9–12), ALGS Year 6 Split 1 Playoffs for Apex Legends (July 7–11), Dota 2 (July 7–12), and FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves (July 8–11), concluding in Week 7 with Counter-Strike 2 (August 19–23), Fortnite Reload Elite Series Championship (August 19–22), Trackmania (August 19–22), and CROSSFIRE (August 18–22).
The post Esports Foundation sets Esports World Cup 2026 venue at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Asia
S8UL streamer Payal Dhare and OWND! launch gamer-curated fashion capsule
S8UL gaming creator and streamer Payal Dhare has partnered with OWND!, the Gen Z-focused fashion brand from Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited, to launch a gaming-inspired fashion capsule called ‘Gamer Drop’. The companies describe it as India’s first female gamer-curated capsule. The collection will be available on OWND!’s website and in the brand’s stores across India.
According to the press release, ‘Gamer Drop’ includes menswear and womenswear pieces built around gaming culture and streetwear, positioned as a creator-led collection rather than conventional creator merchandise. The campaign leans on the growing overlap between gaming culture, creator communities, and youth fashion.
Marco Agnolin, Chief Executive Officer, OWND!. said, “We see gaming today as a powerful cultural force that is shaping how young consumers express themselves, communicate, and engage with fashion. As one of India’s biggest gamers, Payal Dhare represents this new generation perfectly through her authenticity, confidence, and deep connection with the gaming community. Her influence extends far beyond gaming content, making her an ideal face for our gaming collection. Through this collaboration, we aim to celebrate individuality and connect with India’s digitally native youth in a way that feels relevant, inclusive, and culture-driven.”
Payal Dhare aka Payal Gaming said, “Gaming today has become a culture and a form of self-expression for millions of young people across the country. That’s what makes this collaboration with OWND! so exciting for me. With this curation, I wanted to create something that genuinely reflects my vibe and the energy of my community. It’s stylish, comfortable, expressive – and made for people who want to own who they are.”
The release also points to India’s expanding creator economy. Citing a Boston Consulting Group report, it says India has nearly 2 to 2.5 million creators, with more than 60% of consumers exposed to creator-led content and over 30% of shoppers influenced by creators in purchase decisions.
The post S8UL streamer Payal Dhare and OWND! launch gamer-curated fashion capsule appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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