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Intel® Extreme Masters Sydney 2023: FaZe Clan crowned the first-ever Counter-Strike 2 Champions following an electrifying Grand Final

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The Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) Sydney 2023 Grand Finals have concluded today, with powerhouse FaZe Clan emerging victorious with a score of 2-1 against Complexity. The first international in-person tournament played on Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) saw a nail-biting final, with FaZe Clan claiming the victory after an exhilarating double overtime final set, in what will surely go down as an iconic IEM final.

IEM Sydney 2023 is both the fastest-selling and largest Australian esports tournament in history. Australian Counter-Strike fans returned in force to the first live IEM Sydney in over 4 years, with 20,000 fans in attendance throughout the Playoffs in the Aware Super Theatre.

Group Stage

The tournament commenced on October 16 with a Group Stage during which the teams were divided into two groups of eight. Group A saw MOUZ dominate the upper bracket, with BetBoom Team coming in a close second. Both teams made it through to the Playoffs, alongside FaZe Clan who fought through the lower bracket for their spot, knocking out Natus Vincere in the process.

In Group B, G2 Esports and ENCE secured the top two spots in the upper bracket, and Complexity beat out Monte in the lower bracket final to claim the final spot in the Playoffs.

Playoffs

The Playoffs kicked off on October 20 with the quarterfinals that saw MOUZ, FaZe Clan, G2 Esports, and Complexity make it to the top four.

FaZe Clan showed their strength early during the Playoffs with a 13-0 win over ENCE, the first time a team has 13-0’d a competitor in a live Counter-Strike 2 tournament. Complexity also started their playoffs run strong with a 2-0 against BetBoom Team.

In the semi-finals, FaZe Clan dominated MOUZ winning 2-0, taking the first set 13-4 on Nuke, before converting a closer win of 13-9 on Vertigo.

Complexity also scored a 2-0 semi-final victory, dispatching G2 Esports, storming home 13-8 on Anubis, before winning the second set more comfortably 13-3 on Ancient, with Ricky “floppy” Kemery posting some impressive stats.

Grand Final

FaZe Clan and Complexity both booked their places in the Grand Final with impressive performances during the Playoffs where neither team dropped a map.

The first set of the Grand Final was incredibly tight, with Complexity eventually edging out a 13-11 win in the final round of the set, following a brilliant comeback. FaZe Clan rallied for set 2, winning it 13-11 and bringing the match to the decisive third set.

The third set nearly saw one of the greatest comebacks of IEM history, with Complexity recovering from 9-3 down, to win six consecutive games to bring it back to 10-9. In a nail-biting final few rounds, Complexity continued their magical form to take the Grand Final to overtime, and then a second overtime. Despite Complexity’s resurgence, FaZe Clan were able to recover, dominating the second overtime to take home the trophy, with Robin ‘Ropz’ Kool taking the title of ESL Pro Tour DHL MVP.

“It feels amazing to be the first CS2 champions,” said Håvard “rain” Nygaard of FaZe Clan. “I want to say thank you to all our fans here and around the world. This was hands down the best crowd I’ve ever played in front of.”

“It feels great, we’ve spent so much time practicing CS2 together before this,” said Robin ‘ropz’ Kool. “The first loss against GamerLegion hurt, but we stuck with it and managed to come back. It’s been a turbulent year for us, but I’ve been playing as much as possible, and CS2 gave us the motivational boost to improve our performance and work harder for this IEM.”

IEM Sydney 2023 saw a peak viewership of more than 463,081* concurrent viewers, over 6.6 million hours watched and attracted more than 20,000 attendees.

THE CACHES IV Showmatch

Ahead of the Grand Final on October 22, THE CACHES IV Showmatch Powered by Intel® and Acer Predator took place, which saw Team Australia and Team UK face off once more following a 4-year hiatus. Chad “SPUNJ” Burchill, Joshua “INS” Potter, Christopher “dexter” Nong, Justin “jks” Savage, Declan “Vexite” Portelli, Chris “GoMeZ” Orfanellis (Coach) represented Australia, while Alex “Hawka” Hawkins, Guy “NertZ” Iluz, Sebastian “volt” Maloș, Vladislav “nafany” Gorshkov and Henry “HenryG” Greer lined up in the British corner.

The match started closely, with both teams taking a few rounds each. However, Team Australia eventually got into a winning rhythm and swept away Team UK 13-7, winning The Caches for the fourth consecutive time. The showmatch also marked the launch of the Intel® Core™ 14th Gen Desktop Processor.

The ESL Pro Tour (EPT) for Counter-Strike continues with the currently ongoing ESL Challenger League Season 46, which will conclude on December 3. The year will be closed off by ESL Challenger Jönköping on November 24-26 and ESL Challenger Atlanta on December 15-17, before kicking off 2024 with a bang with the EPT Championship IEM Katowice 2024 on January 31-February 11.

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TEAM VITALITY RETURNS TO FORTNITE WITH WORLD CHAMPION PLAYERS

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Team Vitality has officially returned to competitive Fortnite after a three-season absence, unveiling a high-profile roster built around world championship pedigree and international ambitions.

The organisation’s comeback is anchored by two champions from the Fortnite Championship Series, alongside an experienced figure from the French competitive scene who will guide the team’s performance and community engagement.

Championship pedigree joins the roster

Egor “SwizzY” Luciko, a 2025 FNCS World Champion, joins as one of the scene’s most promising young competitors, recognised for his fast-paced mechanical play and strong performances on major stages. He is joined by fellow 2025 FNCS World Champion Aleksa “Queasy” Cvetkovic, widely regarded for his consistency and strategic approach at the highest level of competition.

Former French professional player Clément “Skite” Danglot completes the lineup as Team Manager and Coach. In addition to overseeing competitive operations, Skite will co-stream official matches, offering fans expert analysis throughout the season.

Team Vitality President Fabien “Neo” Devide described the return as a performance-driven project aligned with the organisation’s long-term vision of excellence, combining elite talent with experienced leadership to compete at the highest level.

Strategic focus on global competition

The organisation’s return is closely tied to its ambitions on the international stage, particularly qualification for the Esports World Cup in Riyadh and continued success across FNCS competitions. The announcement follows the introduction of Fortnite Reload mode at the Esports World Cup, which has further strengthened the club’s commitment to the title.

Beyond competition, Team Vitality aims to position its Fortnite revival as a community-focused initiative. Skite’s live broadcasts and analysis are intended to provide fans with deeper insight into the team’s progress from qualification stages through major international events.

Global Operations Director Danny Engels emphasized that the organisation’s return signals broader strategic growth across multiple esports titles, with a clear objective of securing international trophies and reinforcing Team Vitality’s presence at the top tier of global competition.

With a championship-calibre roster and renewed competitive focus, Team Vitality enters a new phase in Fortnite with ambitions to re-establish itself among the world’s elite teams.

The post TEAM VITALITY RETURNS TO FORTNITE WITH WORLD CHAMPION PLAYERS appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Reckoning Esports and GodLike Esports to Represent India at the Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League 2026 in Japan

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Indian Pokémon UNITE esports is set for a return to international competition as Reckoning Esports and GodLike Esports secure qualification for the Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League 2026 in Japan.

Both teams advanced through India’s official Pokémon UNITE competitive circuit, organised by Skyesports in partnership with The Pokémon Company.

Reckoning Esports claimed India’s primary slot by winning the Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League 2026 – India League, a $20,000 multi-stage online competition featuring ten of the country’s leading esports organisations. The tournament adopted a circuit-based group stage across five matchdays before concluding with King of the Hill Playoffs.

In a tightly contested grand final, Reckoning Esports defeated GodLike Esports 3–2 to secure the championship and confirm their place at the PUACL Finals.

Reckoning Esports player Jeet “Swifty” Kundra said the victory reflected the team’s resilience throughout the season, adding that representing India on the international stage is both an honour and a significant challenge.

GodLike Esports secured India’s second qualification slot through the Pokémon UNITE Winter Tournament 2026 – India, an additional pathway featuring open qualifiers that welcomed both established organisations and emerging teams.

After their narrow India League defeat, GodLike Esports delivered a dominant performance in the single-elimination bracket, drawing on experience to capture the title. Their run included a decisive 3–0 victory over underdog finalist Orange Flag, one of the tournament’s breakout performers.

GodLike Esports player Om “Scepter” Gore said the team used its earlier loss as motivation, emphasizing confidence and consistency as key factors behind their qualification. Founder and CEO Chetan “Kronten” Chandgude described the achievement as a milestone for both the organisation and the wider Indian esports community.

The Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League 2026 Finals will take place on March 28–29 at Yokohama BUNTAI. Reckoning Esports and GodLike Esports will join 16 teams competing for the championship title and a share of the $200,000 prize pool.

The post Reckoning Esports and GodLike Esports to Represent India at the Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League 2026 in Japan appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Team Vitality Expands FPS Dominance Ahead of Esports World Cup 2026 With PUBG, Warzone and CrossFire Entry

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Team Vitality Accelerates FPS Expansion Ahead of Esports World Cup 2026

Team Vitality has officially announced a major competitive expansion ahead of the 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC), confirming its entry into three additional shooter titles: PUBG (PC), Call of Duty: Warzone, and CrossFire. The move strengthens the organisation’s growing dominance across FPS and tactical shooter esports, following championship success in Counter-Strike and VALORANT during the 2025 season.

The expansion signals a decisive strategic push as Team Vitality looks to build on its Top 3 overall club finish at the 2025 Esports World Cup, positioning itself as one of the most versatile and ambitious multi-title organisations in global esports.


Call of Duty: Warzone – Vitality Returns With Proven EWC Pedigree

Team Vitality is officially re-entering the competitive Call of Duty: Warzone ecosystem for the 2026 season, assembling a veteran-heavy roster built for immediate impact. The lineup includes Angel “Sage” Quinones, who secured a third-place finish at last year’s Esports World Cup, alongside experienced EWC finalists.

The new Warzone squad begins its EWC qualification journey through the Warzone Resurgence Series, with two pivotal LAN finals scheduled at DreamHack Birmingham and DreamHack Atlanta. Strong performances at these events will be crucial in securing Team Vitality valuable points and a place at the 2026 Esports World Cup.

Call of Duty: Warzone Roster

  • Rasim “Blazt” Ogresevic (USA)
  • Logan “Skullface” Greifelt (USA)
  • Angel “Sage” Quinones (Mexico / Guatemala)
  • Ethan “Ebatez” Bates (USA) – Coach

PUBG (PC) – A Strategic Return to a Global Esports Pillar

Team Vitality is making its long-awaited return to PUBG (PC) competition, marking its first appearance in the title since 2019. The roster is anchored by players recently competing under the Nemiga banner, who finished sixth at the PUBG Global Championship, reinforcing Vitality’s intent to compete at the highest international level.

This return also unlocks strategic synergies with Bigetron by Vitality, the organisation’s established PUBG Mobile powerhouse in Southeast Asia. As PUBG’s global ecosystem increasingly bridges PC and Mobile competition, Team Vitality aims to unite its worldwide fanbase and elevate brand visibility across both platforms.

PUBG (PC) Roster

  • Aliaksandr “Gedrox” Puchko (Belarus)
  • Vladislav “Lev4nte” Tasenko (Russia)
  • Andrey “Qw1zzy” Pobedinskiy (Russia)
  • Artem “hallomybad” Baskakov (Russia)
  • Ramazan “H1RUZEN” Valiullin (Russia) – Coach
  • Sergei “MrTok” Britok (Russia) – Manager

CrossFire – Entering a New Region With Championship Ambitions

Expanding into CrossFire for the first time, Team Vitality has acquired ROC Esports’ former lineup, establishing its operations in Egypt with a dedicated gaming house. The squad will compete in the CrossFire West League (EMEA), with two critical competitive splits scheduled for March–April and June–July.

Success in the regional league is expected to be the gateway to qualification for the Esports World Cup, while long-term ambitions stretch further toward the CrossFire Stars World Championship in China. Team Vitality enters the ecosystem as a dangerous challenger, targeting dominance beyond regional competition.

CrossFire Roster

  • Youssef “tottziN” Nasser (Egypt)
  • Ahmed “SNARE” Salah (Egypt)
  • Mohamed “Snake” Ahmed (Egypt)
  • Mohamed “Horus” Mahrous (Egypt)
  • Abdelrahman “slayer” Fawzy (Egypt)
  • Andrei “strey” Solovev (Russia) – Coach
  • Kislay “Drolo” Satyaj (India) – General Manager
  • Ammar “Apps” Ahmed (Egypt) – Substitute
  • Abdelrhman “Bone” Mahmoud (Egypt) – Substitute

Building Toward a New FPS Dynasty

With momentum from a Top 3 finish at the 2025 Esports World Cup, Team Vitality is targeting even greater success in 2026, driven by the belief that every win counts.

Fabien “Neo” Devide, President and Co-founder of Team Vitality, commented that the expansion reflects the organisation’s commitment to elite competition and long-term growth across shooter esports. Corporate Director of Global Operations Danny Engels added that the move strengthens Vitality’s position to build a true multi-title FPS dynasty on the world’s biggest competitive stage.

As the countdown to the 2026 Esports World Cup begins, Team Vitality’s expanded shooter portfolio signals a clear message to rivals: the organisation is all-in on global FPS supremacy.

The post Team Vitality Expands FPS Dominance Ahead of Esports World Cup 2026 With PUBG, Warzone and CrossFire Entry appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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