eSports

2020 NBA 2K League APAC Invitational: Recap

Published

5 years ago

January 27, 2020

The NBA 2K League APAC Invitational has been run and won for another year, and a new MVP was crowned and subsequently established himself as a serious NBA 2K League draft candidate.

The tournament of course established in part to identify regional talent did just that, as 20 of the very best players from the region put on a show of extremely high level NBA 2K basketball befitting of the end-goal, a chance to impress team management and talent evaluators alike and be drafted onto a NBA2K League team.

Seoul, South Korea was the venue, a fitting backdrop for a rapidly growing esports venture in the NBA 2K League. The event was a double header in that the League made a special announcement by officially unveiling and welcoming the Gen.G Tigers of Shanghai as the 23rd franchise.

Enough of the formalities however. It is time to look at how the tournament played out. I thought it would be interesting to provide some overarching thoughts on how the tournament played out including any outstanding individual efforts.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Michael ‘BearDaBeast’ Key from T-Wolves Gaming said it best in his pre-tournament interview with Jeff Eisenband – “The competition is great. I’m not gonna lie to you. I tell you the truth (sic). I didn’t think these guys could play on the level we play on, so that has shocked me the most”.

The standard of play at the APAC Invitational has been extremely high considering players are thrown together in a short space of time and expected to perform underneath the bright lights of the stage and broadcast cameras which is exactly the type of crucible which forges strong willed players who find a way to win.

The Chinese and South Korean playing contingent impressed me with their overall skill and knowledge of the game. Their task made all the more difficult with language barriers and limited experience on the retail version of NBA 2K. Zhang ‘Cherry_Zi’ Wenxuan on a lock build and Haoyu ‘Ironman’ Li particularly impressed, Cherry_Zi was everywhere on defence and set the tone, perhaps didn’t stuff the stats but snuffed out actions before they happened and Ironman blew game two wide open with some impressive sharp shooting. An honorable mention to Poon Shing Ki ‘TR-Gobert-AP’ George of whom has potential, perhaps didn’t have the best outing but was active, engaged and in the right spots to contribute.

As expected the tournament was a hard-fought battle between ball-handlers and lockdown builds as every game turned into a point guard dual to create space and scoring opportunities. Lockdown builds as expected had a huge say in each game in particular in trying to keep a lid of their matchup.

It was difficult to select a ‘first-team lockdown’ with a three-way battle between xMonaa-, iAmMarioXXIII and Cherry_zi. All three set the tone defensively for their teams by disrupting the point guard play as best they could, blowing up screen-and-roll-actions and jumping passing lanes. However, it was Eugene ‘iAmMarioXXIII’ Pillai who rose above and took first team honours, managing to give a much needed scoring boost to the team with transition buckets and flying around the court on defence picking up the opposing point guard full court.

The story of the tournament was the extreme proficiency, scoring and shot creation shown by Jordan ‘JaeDubb’ Walden at point guard on ‘Team L5’ leading them to a tournament victory and in the process – collecting a much deserved and unanimous Most Valuable Player Trophy and really announcing himself on the world NBA 2K stage. Jaedubb is well known to the NBA 2K community in Australasia for point guard play. Jaesubb’s performance across both games were complete all round ‘floor general’ performances – setting the table for teammates and scoring at will dropping 34 points and 11 assists in the final.

JaeDubb moves into the draft pool for the upcoming season three NBA 2K League and undoubtedly skyrockets up the draft boards as teams are still searching for franchise cornerstone ball handlers. Season two champions T-Wolves Gaming BearDaBeast showed just how important it is to build around dynamic point-guard-play.

It’s time to nominate this writer’s All-Tournament-First and Second teams. In the interest of fairness, players were selected by position only. There is no fluidity however I’m aware many players are skilled at many positions.

Please note the following is the opinion of the author and not that of the NBA 2K League.

First Team

PG Jordan ‘JaeDubb’ Walden – MVP.
SG Eugene ‘iAmMarioXXIII’ Pillai
SF Lynard Clark ‘PBE_Clark’ Banzon
PF Li ‘Ironman’ Haoyu
C Meason ‘Milo’ Camille

Second Team

PG Aiden ‘TheGoldenDunk-’ Fleming
SG Zhang ‘Cherry_zi’ Wenxuan
SF Aminolah Jr. ‘PBE_Rial’ Polog
PF Benjamin ‘iki-ll_illuminati’ Teitzel.
C Poon Shing Ki ‘TR-Gobert-AP’ George

Team ‘L5’ are your 2020 APAC Invitational champions. Their starting line-up included:

1. Jordan ‘JaeDubb’ Walden – MVP.
2. Zhang ‘Cherry_zi’ Wenxuan
3. Aminolah Jr ‘PBE_Rial’ Polog
4. Benjamin ‘iki-ll_illuminati’ Teitzel.
5. Hu ‘Lucky_yi_Wesely’ Yi

There are many extremely talented players in the region. What is undeniable is the appetite for NBA 2K basketball in the Asia-Pacific region. The local scene is growing year over year both in regard to localized tournaments and active participants on the five versus five Pro-Am game mode. The establishment of the Gen.G Tigers of Shanghai is an incredibly important milestone in the league’s trajectory and for global expansion coupled with the APAC Invitational which is a fitting capstone event that brings all the Asia-Pacific countries together to compete for all the marbles – glory on the virtual hardwood and spots in the NBA 2K League draft pool.

Best Esports Product award

BETBY SHINES AT SiGMA AMERICAS WITH LOCALISED STRATEGY AND WINS ESPORTS AWARD

Published

2 days ago

April 11, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

betby-shines-at-sigma-americas-with-localised-strategy-and-wins-esports-award

BETBY, the cutting-edge sportsbook provider, has further cemented its position as one of the most innovative suppliers in the sports betting landscape following a standout appearance at SiGMA Americas, the leading event for the iGaming industry in Latin America.

Hosted in São Paulo, Brazil, SiGMA Americas brought together the industry’s most influential stakeholders, with a spotlight on the dynamic and fast-growing Latin American market. BETBY stood out at the event by showcasing the full strength of its flexible sportsbook solution, designed to empower operators with complete control over the betting experience.

A major highlight of the exhibition was BETBY’s showcase of its hyper-localised content capabilities, which empower operators to engage regional audiences with culturally relevant offerings. This strategic focus was exemplified by the industry’s most comprehensive Vaquejada betting solution, a rodeo-style sport particularly popular in northeast Brazil. BETBY’s unique content portfolio, which includes both pre-live markets and an immersive e-sim version of the sport, resonated strongly with operators and attendees. It demonstrated not only a deep understanding of regional preferences, but also the supplier’s ability to create tailored content for any market.

Alongside this, BETBY exhibited continued innovation through its proprietary esports feed BETBY Games, and its comprehensive suite of AI tools AI Labs, which leverages artificial intelligence to deliver personalisation, real-time recommendations, and enhanced operational efficiency.

As further recognition of its ongoing innovation in the iGaming industry, BETBY was honoured with the Best Esports Product award during the SiGMA Americas Awards ceremony. This win underscores BETBY’s vision to redefine the esports betting experience through its BETBY Games solution, which is designed to deliver unmatched flexibility, customisation, and engagement for operators and players.

“This recognition at SiGMA Americas is a proud milestone for our entire team, even though our presence in Brazil this week was about much more than awards,” said Leonid Pertsovskiy, BETBY’s Chief Executive Officer. “It was about connecting with the region, understanding what local players truly value, and showing that we have the technology and vision to meet those needs. We’re building products that scale globally but connect locally, and that’s what sets BETBY apart.”

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eSports

Esports World Cup to Feature Record-breaking Prize Pool of More Than $70M for 2025 Event

Published

2 days ago

April 11, 2025

Niji Narayan

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has announced a record-breaking $70+ million prize pool for the upcoming Esports World Cup 2025 (EWC), the world’s largest esports event, set to return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 through August 24. With the highest stakes in esports history, the $70+ million prize pool elevates EWC as one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events and reinforces the EWCF’s long-term commitment to the sustainable growth of the esports industry. The total prize pool is a $10 million increase from last summer’s inaugural event, marking a significant step in the Esports World Cup Foundation’s mission to create life-changing opportunities and provide sustainable career paths for competitive players and multidisciplinary esports Clubs.

“The record-breaking $70+ million prize pool, along with our commitment to the Club Partner Program and our multi-year publisher agreements, is a privilege to announce and validation of our purpose to elevate the industry, by giving players, clubs, publishers and all other stakeholders the stability needed to invest for future success. While more than $70 million is an incredible, life-changing sum, it’s always aligned with a long-term vision rather than short-term impact. It’s not just to have more money at stake, but to create opportunities for everyone at every level of the ecosystem, and strengthen the industry for generations to come,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of Esports World Cup Foundation.

With 25 tournaments in 24 games announced to date, including four new games—Chess, Crossfire, FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves and VALORANT—EWC 2025 will bring together more than 2000 elite esports players and 200 top Clubs for the largest multi-game competition in history, with a life-changing prize pool rewarding more players and Clubs on the world’s biggest stage.

“Winning the Club Championship crown and $7 million at the inaugural Esports World Cup was a defining moment for Team Falcons. The opportunity to compete in front of our home fans, where they made the arenas shake with every great play, motivated us like never before, and it was an honor to secure the victory for them. We’ve used the momentum and winnings from last year to build on our success and we look forward to continuing that legacy this summer,” said Mosaad Al-Dossary, CEO of Team Falcons.

“Competing at the inaugural EWC contributed to one of the most successful competitive years in our 24-year history, securing a strong second-place finish in the EWC 2024 Club Championship. With our winnings, we expanded into new games like chess, strengthened our international presence in Southeast Asia, and supported philanthropic initiatives. The experience, momentum, and rosters we’ve built over the past year put us in the perfect position to claim the Championship crown at EWC 2025. We believe this to be our year,” said Steve Arhancet, Co-CEO of Team Liquid.

The post Esports World Cup to Feature Record-breaking Prize Pool of More Than $70M for 2025 Event appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Asia

ESFI’s Lokesh Suji Re-Elected as Asian Electronic Sports Federation VP, South Asia, Strengthening India’s Esports Leadership

Published

4 days ago

April 9, 2025

George Miller

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

In a significant boost for Indian esports, Lokesh Suji has been re-elected unopposed as Vice President for South Asia in the Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF) during its recent online Electoral General Assembly in Hong Kong for a four-year term. Holding this position since AESF’s inception, Suji’s re-election highlights India’s growing influence in international esports, reinforcing the Esports Federation of India’s (ESFI) role in shaping the region’s competitive gaming landscape.

The AESF Electoral General Assembly, chaired by outgoing President Kenneth Fok, convened representatives from 38 member nations and OCA Deputy Director General Vinod Tiwari. Thailand’s Santi Lothong secured the AESF Presidency with a simple majority, alongside new Vice Presidents for different Asian zones.

“I am deeply grateful for the continued trust placed in me and extend my sincere thanks to Kenneth (Fok) for his leadership and guidance over the years. I also look forward to working closely with Santi (Lothong) for this next phase. This re-election is not just a personal milestone but a testament to the remarkable growth of esports in India and South Asia. Esports in Asia is entering a defining era, and I am committed to ensuring that our players, federations, and stakeholders receive the recognition, opportunities, and platforms they deserve,” said Lokesh Suji, Vice President, South Asia, of AESF and Director of ESFI.

As Asia’s esports governing body, recognised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), AESF has been instrumental in getting esports included in Asian Games and hosting major tournaments like the Asian Esports Games 2018 and the Asian Games 2022, featuring top titles such as Dota 2, Street Fighter 6, and FIFA Online. AESF has also been selected as the Technical Delegate for Esports at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026.

Commenting on Suji’s re-election, Santi Lothong, the incoming AESF President, said: “Having worked alongside Lokesh for years, I have witnessed his unwavering dedication to developing esports in South Asia and beyond. His leadership, vision, and relentless efforts have helped shape the region’s competitive landscape. I look forward to continuing our collaboration and strengthening esports across Asia under this new leadership phase.”

Kenneth Fok, the outgoing AESF President, added: “Lokesh has been a steadfast pillar in AESF’s journey, always pushing to elevate esports across Asia. His passion and commitment have left a lasting impact, shaping key initiatives and strengthening our community. It’s been a pleasure working alongside him, and I am confident he will continue driving esports forward.”

Under Suji’s leadership, India has made significant strides in esports, with historic medal finishes in the Commonwealth Esports Championship 2022, BRICS Esports Championship and Asian Esports Games and strong performances in the Asian Games 2018 and 2022, where Indian athletes proved their mettle against the world’s best. ESFI is further cementing India’s esports dominance with the WAVES Esports Championship (WESC) —a pioneering initiative that fosters homegrown talent and provides Indian players with an international platform to compete at the highest level. WAVES Esports Championship is one of the ‘Create in India Challenge’ as part of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s marque event ‘World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit’ (WAVES) to be held on 1-4 May 2025, Mumbai.

Recognized by and Member of the International Esports Federation, Asian Esports Federation, and Global Esports Federation, ESFI remains dedicated to strengthening India’s position on the global esports stage.

The post ESFI’s Lokesh Suji Re-Elected as Asian Electronic Sports Federation VP, South Asia, Strengthening India’s Esports Leadership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.