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.
data providers
DATA.BET reports 168% turnover growth from virtual content in Q1 2025–Q1 2026
DATA.BET says turnover from its virtual content grew 168% between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026, with the supplier reporting the product accounted for 39% of total virtual sports turnover and 45% of profits over the period.
The company said the content is developed fully in-house and delivered through automated bot-vs-bot matches that run 24/7 without dependence on real-world fixture schedules. DATA.BET positioned the format as a way to provide continuous events and reduce operational overhead for operators.
Across the same period, DATA.BET reported +299% active users, +129% across clients GGR, +246% events per quarter, and +218% bets placed.
DATA.BET also said the audience profile overlaps with live football bettors, which it believes supports retention during seasonal breaks. The supplier added that the algorithm-driven format “carries no fraud exposure,” supports In-Stream Betting overlays, and provides near-zero latency between broadcast and market updates.
“Over the past year, our bot-vs-bot virtual content has delivered consistent, measurable results across every operator deployment. Building e-Football in-house gives us the flexibility to configure it to what each operator actually needs — whether that is a specific league structure, a particular mix of bot and player content, or a branded competition format,” mentioned Rostyslav Likhtin, Head of Product at DATA.BET.
The post DATA.BET reports 168% turnover growth from virtual content in Q1 2025–Q1 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
energy drinks
Team Vitality names FYZIO official sports nutrition and energy drinks supplier
Multi-year deal adds Laboratoires Gilbert’s new brand to jerseys across CS2, VALORANT, Rocket League and LoL teams ahead of a September 2026 launch.
Team Vitality has signed a multi-year partnership with FYZIO, naming the brand its new official sports nutrition and energy drinks supplier. FYZIO is a sports nutrition and hydration brand developed by Laboratoires Gilbert, a French healthcare company established in 1904.
The partnership will put FYZIO branding on the left sleeve of Team Vitality’s official jerseys for several flagship rosters, including CS2, VALORANT (VCT), Rocket League, and League of Legends teams across the LEC, LFL, and Rising Bees. FYZIO will also support Team Vitality teams competing in Teamfight Tactics, Tekken, and Trackmania.
FYZIO is scheduled to launch in September 2026. Team Vitality said the brand will supply products intended to support areas including hydration, fatigue and stress reduction, concentration and memory, and sleep quality.
“We are delighted to announce this partnership with FYZIO and proud to support the launch of this ambitious new brand from the French group, Laboratoires Gilbert. By integrating its specialised nutrition products into our teams’ routines, we are further strengthening our commitment to high-performance excellence,” comments Vas Roberts, Co-CEO of Team Vitality.
“For more than 120 years, Laboratoires Gilbert has been developing solutions dedicated to health and well-being. With FYZIO, we are bringing this expertise to a new ambition: helping everyone achieve their goals, whatever they may be, through a modern, accessible, and responsible approach to sports nutrition. Our partnership with Team Vitality reflects this shared vision of progress, high standards, and sustainable performance. Your performance, our nature“, explains Cédric Batteur, Chairman & CEO, Laboratoires Gilbert.
The post Team Vitality names FYZIO official sports nutrition and energy drinks supplier appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
eSports
McDonald’s Germany signs on as presenting partner for G2 NORD and G2 Hel
McDonald’s Germany has partnered with G2 as presenting partner of G2 NORD, the organisation’s League of Legends academy team competing in Germany’s Prime League. The deal also includes support for the return of G2 Hel, G2’s women’s League of Legends team.
Under the agreement, McDonald’s Germany branding, including the “ich liebe es” (I’m lovin’ it) tagline, will appear on G2 NORD and G2 Hel jerseys. The partners also plan a year-long content programme focused on player storytelling and behind-the-scenes access, including a series featuring team president Niklot “Tolkin” Stüber.
G2 positioned the partnership around its regional development pathway. G2 NORD was formed earlier this year through a collaboration between G2 and NORD Esports, and the organisation said the roster has already won the Prime League Winter Snowdown and reached the playoffs in its first EMEA Masters run.
The company said McDonald’s Germany’s backing enables G2 Hel’s return, with the team set to compete in the upcoming Game Changers circuit. “This partnership goes beyond traditional sponsorship, it’s a shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of talent development and creating meaningful opportunities within the space,” said Alban Dechelotte, CEO of G2. Stijn Mentrop-Huliselan, CMO of McDonald’s Germany, added: “We’re proud to support G2 Nord and to celebrate the return of G2 Hel – a strong signal for equity, visibility and inclusion in esports.”
To launch the collaboration, McDonald’s and G2 released an announcement video featuring Jankos, Sola, Tolkin, Team Nord and Caltys, produced in-house by G2. McDonald’s Germany said its lead agency Scholz & Friends supported the development and execution of the partnership.
The post McDonald’s Germany signs on as presenting partner for G2 NORD and G2 Hel appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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