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.
anime
G2 drops limited-edition One Piece streetwear capsule on June 25
The esports organisation’s second anime apparel collaboration will be sold exclusively via g2esports.com/shop.
G2 is launching a limited-edition G2 | One Piece capsule collection on June 25, with the drop available exclusively through the organisation’s online store at g2esports.com/shop.
The collection is inspired by One Piece’s Gear 5 Monkey D. Luffy and includes hoodies, zip-ups, t-shirts, caps, sleeves, and tote bags. According to G2, the items use a black-and-white palette and feature a minimalist embroidered logo alongside a custom G2 | One Piece Jolly Roger that combines the G2 samurai emblem with Luffy’s straw hat.
“At G2, we’re continuing to push the culture and fashion of esports beyond competition alone, and this One Piece collection is a natural extension of that,” says Sabrina Ratih, COO of G2 Esports. “We wanted to create a capsule that continues to elevate the esports fashion space – understated, premium, and stylish enough for everyday wear, while still carrying the spirit of adventure, ambition, and individuality that defines One Piece and G2 alike. Every piece is designed to bridge the gap between fandom and everyday style, and continuing our mission to redefine what esports fashion can be.”
G2 described the drop as its second anime collaboration, following a previous apparel collaboration with Solo Leveling. The company positioned the release as part of its broader effort to connect esports, anime, and streetwear.
One Piece debuted in 1999 and remains one of the largest anime franchises globally. G2 cited over 600 million manga copies sold and more than 1,160 episodes for the series.
The post G2 drops limited-edition One Piece streetwear capsule on June 25 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
eSports
Study: 400m Gen Z esports fans say brand activations drive purchases
EFG, Hero Esports and Niko Partners survey 8,000 fans across eight markets; 74% report ads and brand presence influence buying.
ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), Hero Esports and Niko Partners have released a multi-country Gen Z esports study claiming around 400 million Gen Z consumers (20%) regularly engage with esports. The findings were published on 25th June 2026 in Cannes, France, in a white paper titled The Esports Generation: Who They Are & Why They Spend.
The report is based on survey data from 8,000 Gen Z esports fans aged 13-30 across eight markets. It positions esports as a high-attention channel for brands: 85% of respondents said they notice branding in esports, while 74% self-reported that advertising and brand participation in gaming spaces influences their purchasing behaviour. The study also reports that 66% have bought a product following a collaboration or co-branding partnership with an esports team, game or player.
On consumption and fandom touchpoints, the study found 71% regularly watch gaming content, including 66% who watch gaming livestreams and 33% who watch or listen to gaming podcasts. It also points to offline reach: 21% said they regularly attend gaming conventions and esports events, with the average respondent attending at least one in-person event in the past nine months.
The white paper also breaks out claimed purchase categories linked to esports collaborations over the past year, led by food and beverage (33%), electronics (33%) and fashion (32%). Beyond core categories, it reports 28% bought esports-related collectibles, 17% purchased makeup, beauty, or skincare products, and 10% bought from partnered brands in other categories.
Niccolo Maisto, CEO at ESL FACEIT Group said: “Esports has evolved into one of the most effective channels for companies looking to connect with Gen Z audiences at scale. What makes it unique is not just its reach, but the depth of engagement and trust that exists between fans, players, teams, and events. This research shows that esports fans are highly invested participants, not passive viewers, creating an opportunity for brands that show up authentically and build meaningful and lasting connections with this key audience.”
Danny Tang, Co-Founder and CEO of Hero Esports said: “This whitepaper confirms what we at Hero Esports have long believed: esports has evolved into a global cultural and economic force. The data shows an audience that is young, diverse, and deeply engaged. For brands, the message is clear—esports is no longer a niche market; it is the premier platform to connect with the next generation of consumers. We are proud to partner with Niko Partners and EFG to provide this blueprint for understanding and succeeding in this dynamic industry.”
Lisa Hanson, CEO at Niko Partners said: “Our data shows that, much like fans of other sports, Gen Z esports fans are incredibly passionate and have formed strong bonds within their communities. However, their media and consumer affinities extend well beyond gaming and esports, with our research revealing naturally connected interest areas that create valuable overlapping opportunities for brands and partners that show up authentically in this ecosystem.”
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eSports
How Not to Tilt When Facing Challenges: NAVI Performance Coach Urszula Klimczak and GG.BET Have Released a Special Project about Mental Health
NAVI Performance Coach Urszula Klimczak and NAVI’s title sponsor GG.BET have unveiled Tilt Management, a special project dedicated to mental health. The initiative consists of three in-depth articles covering demotivation, burnout, and dealing with hate – some of the most common mental health challenges faced not only by esports players, but also by their fans. The project places a strong emphasis on practical value, featuring real-life esports cases, proven advice and everyday practices, as well as self-support exercises readers can apply on their own.
Mental health is becoming increasingly relevant year after year, regardless of profession or lifestyle. Many of the challenges professional players experience are familiar to millions of people in their everyday lives. These include loss of purpose, poor work-life balance, conflicts within teams, vulnerability to criticism, and more. While esports professionals can rely on performance coaches and team staff for support, people outside the industry often have to seek professional help on their own – something that does not always happen. One of the key goals of the project is to support people who may not have access to professional guidance by explaining how different issues manifest themselves, offering practical tools for self-care and recovery, and highlighting when it is important to seek help from specialists.
The first article focuses on demotivation. It explains how to recognize its early signs, how to distinguish it from simple exhaustion, and what NAVI does to prevent players from reaching this state. Particular attention is paid to techniques that help regain focus, manage daily routines, and gradually restore energy.
The second article explores burnout both within and beyond esports. Readers can assess themselves using descriptions of the five stages of burnout and their symptoms, learn about NAVI’s approach to maintaining performance under a demanding schedule, and discover why variety in everyday life and taking smaller, more frequent breaks are essential elements of burnout prevention.
The final chapter of the project addresses hate and negativity. It explains why hatred and aggression ultimately say more about the hater than the target, how to establish healthy boundaries, and how to avoid being consumed by criticism – especially self-criticism. NAVI’s strategy for dealing with hate, combined with practical exercises, can help readers to challenge negative thoughts and distinguish constructive feedback from a stream of harmful negativity.
All articles from the Tilt Management special project are available on EGamersWorld.
The post How Not to Tilt When Facing Challenges: NAVI Performance Coach Urszula Klimczak and GG.BET Have Released a Special Project about Mental Health appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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