eSports
GAMING ELITE CONVERGE FOR ESPORTS AWARDS RIYADH 2024, ATTENDEES INCLUDE PATRICE EVRA, CASPAR LEE, AND MAGNUS CARLSEN

The Esports Awards, the most prestigious night in the esports calendar, concluded its Riyadh ceremony with a spectacular ceremony at the Four Seasons Kingdom Centre, celebrating the very best in esports. The prestigious event brought together the industry’s elite for an unforgettable evening of recognition as they celebrated the best of the best in esports across fifteen competitive categories.
Among the evening’s top honorees were Riot Games who took home the awards for Esports Publisher of the Year, Esports Game of the Year for VALORANT, Content of the Year for GODS ft. NewJeans (뉴진스) and Esports Breakthrough Game of the Year for Teamfight Tactics. Dota 2 professional Stanislav “Malr1ne” Potorak was celebrated as Esports Breakthrough Player of the Year, while Red Bull claimed Esports Commercial Partner of the Year.
Hosted by the legendary President for OpTic Texas Hector “Hecz” Rodriguez, esports caster Chris Puckett, and pro Call of Duty player for OpTic Texas and content creator Seth “Scump” Abner, the Esports Awards Riyadh ceremony was an evening to remember, filled with captivating moments. The red carpet was graced by notable figures such as former Manchester United Captain Patrice Evra, Maya Rogers, CEO of Tetris, as well as YouTuber and investor Casper Lee, adding extra glamour to the night.
The complete list of the Esports Awards Riyadh ceremony winners are:
Entertainment
- Esports Game of the Year – VALORANT
- Esports Mobile Game of the Year presented by HONOR – Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
- Esports Personality of the Year presented by Qiddiya – Seth “Scump” Abner
- Esports Content Group of the Year – S8UL Esports
- Streamer of the Year – Samy “Rivers” Rivera
Industry
- Esports Commercial Partner of the Year – Red Bull
- Esports Content & Coverage Platform of the Year – Liquipedia
- Esports Publisher of the Year – Riot Games
- Esports Breakthrough Game of the Year – Teamfight Tactics
- Esports Community Leader of the Year – Marc Robert “Caedrel” Lamont
- Lifetime Achievement in Esports – Jens Hilgers
Creative
- Esports Content of the Year – GODS ft. NewJeans (뉴진스) (Official Music Video) | Worlds 2023 Anthem – League of Legends
- Esports Creative Team of the Year – Team Liquid
Pro
- Esports Breakthrough Player of the Year – Stanislav “Malr1ne” Potorak
On-Air
- Esports Analyst of the Year – Jacob “Pimp” Winneche
Alongside the fifteen main awards, the Esports Awards Riyadh ceremony has introduced the “Ones To Watch” awardees, honouring new and upcoming talent in the industry.
Ones To Watch
- Content and Creative – Z1MT Creative
- Emerging Agency – Ulti Agency
- Emerging Team – Gaimin Gladiators
- Fan Engagement – S8UL Esports
- Content Creation – Full Squad Gaming
- Emerging Region – Philippines
- Regional Ambassador – Bruno “Nobru” Goes, Brazil
The Esports Awards Lifetime Achievement Awards was presented by His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud to industry veteran, Jens Hilgers. Hilgers has dedicated his entire professional life to the growth of the industry. Since entering the industry in 1997, Hilgers has gone on to Found some of the most well-known organisations in the industry including ESL, G2 Esports, and Bayes Esports. Hilgers’ visionary leadership and substantial contributions have had a direct impact on the evolution of the esports industry over the past 27 years, making him a truly deserving recipient of this prestigious honour.
The Esports Awards Riyadh ceremony took place at the Four Seasons Kingdom Centre, joining the New Global Sport Conference’s agenda. Taking place a day before the Esports World Cup closing ceremony, the Esports Awards Riyadh saw alive performance from musical creators Rob Landes and Marcus Veltri, well known for wowing fans online playing song requests live on piano and violin.
As the Esports Awards Riyadh comes to a close, the Esports Awards has once again set a new standard for celebrating excellence in gaming. It is our privilege to provide a platform that elevates the esports industry and beyond, and we are deeply honoured to recognise and reward the outstanding contributions made by talented individuals in this ever-growing industry,” commented Mike Ashford, CEO of the Esports Awards. “We are proud to have expanded our event circuit across the globe with our first ever Middle Eastern ceremony. It has been fantastic to host the ceremony during the historic first-ever Esports World Cup. To the entire esports community, we are grateful for your passion, dedication, and support. A massive congratulations to all of those awarded tonight, and I can’t wait to see you at the next ceremony!”
The Esports Awards 2024 Riyadh ceremony is brought to you in partnership with Oakley, Qiddiya, HONOR, and the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF).
The post GAMING ELITE CONVERGE FOR ESPORTS AWARDS RIYADH 2024, ATTENDEES INCLUDE PATRICE EVRA, CASPAR LEE, AND MAGNUS CARLSEN appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
Esports Charts Becomes Official Viewership Analytics Partner of StarLadder Budapest Major 2025

Esports Charts, the leading esports viewership analytics provider, has partnered with StarLadder, a pioneering tournament organiser. The Budapest Major 2025 marks a highly anticipated comeback for StarLadder, as it is their first Counter-Strike Major since 2019 and a significant return to the top-tier esports arena.
As the official analytics partner of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, Esports Charts will provide comprehensive, real-time audience data and insights throughout the event. This will empower organisers, teams, sponsors and fans with unparalleled transparency and a deeper understanding of the tournament’s global reach.
Artyom Odintsov, Co-founder and CEO of Esports Charts, said: “We are thrilled and proud to provide viewership analytics for StarLadder for the Budapest Major 2025. Since both Esports Charts and StarLadder are Ukraine-born companies, we share similar values and deal with similar challenges, which brings us even closer.
“It’s genuinely exciting to follow how viewership will develop at this Major. But knowing the expertise, drive, and passion that the organizers are bringing, I have no doubt we’ll witness some incredible things happen in Budapest.
“Esports Charts has always been driven by a mission to provide the esports community with accurate, actionable data, and we look forward to showcasing the impact and audience engagement of this world-class event.”
StarLadder has been a driving force in global esports for almost 15 years now, since hosting its first tournaments in 2011. Renowned for its innovation and reliability, the company has organised some of the industry’s most iconic events. These include the StarLadder Berlin Major 2019, which accumulated over 44 million hours watched and remains in the top 10 CS events by this metric, and the legendary StarSeries tournaments which started back in 2012.
Viacheslav Shcherbakov, Sales and Partnerships at StarLadder, said: “We’ve been working with Esports Charts since their founding and have always valued their professionalism and integrity. In a market where reliable data is essential, Esports Charts provides honest, transparent numbers, exactly the kind of insights sponsors and stakeholders rely on when assessing the potential reach of a World Championship event.
“We’re confident that this partnership will result in a high-quality analysis of our tournament’s performance and the audience data we’ll report to our partners. It’s a collaboration built on trust, shared values, and a deep understanding of what it takes to elevate esports to the next level.”
The Starladder Budapest Major 2025 will be held from November 24 to December 14 in Budapest, Hungary. The event will bring together the world’s top 32 Counter-Strike 2 teams to compete for a $1.25 million prize pool and one of the most prestigious titles in esports.
The post Esports Charts Becomes Official Viewership Analytics Partner of StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Claire Hungate
Mirage Digital Announces Partnership with Team Liquid

Mirage Digital, the next-generation content studio shaping the future of digital entertainment, announced a groundbreaking partnership with global eSports organization Team Liquid. With over 35 million social media followers across platforms, 100+ championship titles with its over 120+ players and content creators worldwide, Team Liquid is the highest earning eSports team in the world to launch a 24/7 live-streaming programming experience surrounding the fan-favorite World of Warcraft: Race to World First event.
Mirage has created a new content monetization model for creators and enterprising entities, unlocking previously untapped non-traditional revenue streams. The company helps its clients with repurposing, redistributing, licensing, and selling content across numerous platforms and territories. Resulting in over a million dollars for its eclectic roster of over 300 creators, the company leverages its extensive creator network and expertise in original content development, to redefine digital content syndication. Mirage Digital is bridging the gap between creators and enterprise opportunities by sourcing high-quality content from creators and repurposing it for expanded deal flow and pipeline of distribution across OTT and FAST platforms.
Team Liquid, coming off a championship win in March, is set to make history with its most ambitious Race to World First campaign yet, with live coverage kicking off in July. For the first time, the tournament and its surrounding content will be broadcast beyond Twitch to OTT and FAST audiences, expanding access for new and longtime fans alike.
“This launch marks a huge moment not just for Team Liquid, but for the future of all eSports and creator content. We’re unlocking a format that merges always-on content with world-class competitive play, giving fans a reason to tune in every hour of every day. This is a monumental moment for both television networks and eSports to recognize the boundaries they are breaking in both parallels,” said Griffin Haddrill, Founder of Mirage Digital.
The multi-day broadcast includes full tournament coverage alongside exclusive behind-the-scenes content, player profiles, real-time strategy breakdowns, and each day’s highlights – providing an unprecedented level of access to Team Liquid’s journey and personalities within the event.
Team Liquid will bring its world-renowned Race to World First event to new audiences with a livestream on The Roku Channel in late August. Widely regarded as one of the most thrilling competitions in MMORPG gaming, Race to World First draws millions of global viewers eager to watch elite teams battle for supremacy in World of Warcraft. Known for pushing the boundaries of eSports entertainment, Team Liquid is once again innovating – this marks the first time the iconic event will be available via a dedicated OTT streaming platform, giving fans an even more immersive viewing experience.
“This collaboration is the result of our mission to re-imagine where and how gaming and creator content lives. All parties saw an opportunity to take one of the most anticipated eSports events of the year and expand its reach to new audiences through OTT and FAST distribution. This is about creating long-term value for teams, fans, and platforms alike—and Race to World First is just the beginning,” said Robin Bigge, Co-CEO of Mirage Digital.
“This is a historic evolution in how we bring eSports to the world. We’ve built a legacy on competitive excellence, and this partnership lets us showcase the heart, hustle, and humanity of our players in a way we’ve never done before—24/7, across every screen,” said Claire Hungate, President & COO of Team Liquid.
This moment also marks the first time Team Liquid has programmed content specifically for a FAST Channel, a move that speaks to the maturation and crossover appeal of eSports for general audiences.
The post Mirage Digital Announces Partnership with Team Liquid appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
eSports
Mastercard Extends Partnership with Esports World Cup 2025

The collaboration will introduce a range of immersive on-ground activations, Priceless Experiences and seamless payment solutions to enhance the fan journey
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced the return of Mastercard as an official event supplier for the 2025 Esports World Cup, the world’s largest esports event, set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 to August 24. The renewed partnership underscores Mastercard’s continued commitment to elevating digital experiences, championing youth engagement, and supporting the Kingdom’s rapidly growing gaming ecosystem.
Through the collaboration with the Esports World Cup, Mastercard will introduce a range of immersive on-ground activations and seamless payment solutions designed to enhance the overall fan journey. This will include creating a bespoke version of the Mastercard Gamer Academy, where Mastercard, in collaboration with G2 Esports and Esports World Cup, designed a one-of-a-kind experience that will provide 10 successful applicants with the opportunity to be mentored by professionals on how they could pursue a career in esports. Further, fans can collect Priceless Points by interacting with the games and activities available at the Mastercard booth for the chance to win ultimate gaming gear that will be rewarded to the top scoring players. Further, there will be live appearances by G2 Esports players to be hosted as fireside chats to talk about areas like pro esports. The brand’s presence will emphasize the intersection of technology, gaming, and culture, anchored by initiatives that highlight and support local Saudi talent.
“Mastercard’s return as a partner reflects the Esports World Cup’s evolution from a tournament into a global cultural platform,” said Mohammed Al Nimer, Chief Commercial Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation. “Together, we’re creating impactful experiences that go beyond gameplay, uniting youth empowerment, digital inclusion, and immersive fan engagement. Mastercard’s focus on Priceless experiences and innovation makes them an ideal partner to help us inspire the next generation of gamers and connect with fans in meaningful and memorable ways.”
Saud Swar, Country Manager, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan and other Levant, Mastercard added, “We are proud to deepen our partnership with the Esports World Cup Foundation as we continue to unlock the potential of gaming in the Kingdom. In line with Saudi Vision 2030, Mastercard is committed to connecting people to their passions, driving innovation, and inspiring the next generation. Our priceless experiences help empower youth, promote digital inclusion, and celebrate Saudi Arabia’s vibrant esports culture.”
This partnership builds on Mastercard’s long-standing global support for the gaming and esports industry, including its strategic sponsorship of Riot Games’ League of Legends and VALORANT. It reinforces Mastercard’s leadership in digital payments and its role in shaping future-facing experiences through youth engagement and innovation.
The 2025 Esports World Cup will host 25 tournaments across 24 game titles, bringing together over 2,000 elite players and 200 Clubs from more than 100 countries. With a record-breaking prize pool of over $70 million, the event will offer fans a comprehensive entertainment experience, from high-stakes competition and live music to anime cafés, retro arcades, cosplay showcases, and more, cementing Riyadh’s position as a global esports and entertainment hub.
The post Mastercard Extends Partnership with Esports World Cup 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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