eSports
Newzoo Partners With Excel Esports To Share Esports Data And Insights
The partnership will see the leading analytics firm leverage Excel Esports’ deep industry knowledge and years of experience to further power Newzoo’s market intelligence.
Excel Esports, Britain’s top esports organisation, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with leading games and esports analytics firm Newzoo. With the esports industry constantly on the rise, data is key in providing a core understanding of its current state and driving forward for the future. The partnership will see the sharing of intelligence and insights which will enable both Excel Esports and Newzoo to understand the different aspects of esports in various markets, helping solidify the team’s growth.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Excel Esports. Born as a passion project of Kieran and Joel Holmes-Darby, it’s been great to see Excel’s ascendancy over the past year into a leading light in both British and European esports,” said Remer Rietkerk, Newzoo’s Head of Esports. “Their model of having a deep local market identity—as well as a strong regional presence—is a fresh approach to building an esports organization, and we look forward to working with them to continue growing the scene both regionally and globally. Importantly, and as always, our partnerships are fundamental to our continuous effort to improve accuracy in reporting.”
With their recent hire of CCO Robin McCammon from iconic sportswear brand adidas and a ground-breaking partnership with British telecoms giant BT, the organisation sits among the leaders of the esports industry. Excel’s partnership with Newzoo will enable Excel to present a data environment which will enable all their partners’ insights into the growing esports market.
“Excel Esports’ strategic decision-making has always been rooted in our deep understanding of the esports industry. Our partnership with Newzoo will enable us to continue to field our data-driven approach to building and growing our communities, not only in the UK but also around the world. Understanding and analysing where the esports industry is heading is key in recognising our global vision. ” said Robin McCammon, CCO, Excel Esports
Newzoo is the leading market intelligence and analytics firm with a primary focus on games and esports. Its core business provides direct access to both global and country-level data that informs strategic and daily decision-making. Most recently, Newzoo launched its pioneering Analytics Platform, featuring an array of actionable games and esports data in one easy-to-use place.
About Excel Esports:
Excel Esports is the boldest British esports organisation with a global presence. Founded in 2014 by brothers Joel and Kieran Holmes-Darby, Excel has fast become a power brand synonymous with British esports. The organisation has developed top-performing teams in the world’s most popular esport League of Legends, is one of ten founding partners of the LEC, Europe’s most-watched esports league, and competes in the UKLC, the UK’s premier esports league.
Headquartered in London in partnership with the famous Twickenham Stadium, Excel Esports has high profile partnerships with some of the biggest brands in the world including BT, Neosurf, HyperX and Belong stores.
Mumbai turned into a gamer’s paradise as Red Bull hosted the first-ever Red Bull AFK Party – a one-of-a-kind celebration that brought together gaming, music, and culture in a way India has never seen before. Described by many as the coolest party for gamers, the night united the country’s top gaming creators, esports stars, and fans for an immersive, high-energy experience done the Red Bull way.
The party welcomed people the Red Bull way, with a real static Formula 1 car right at the entrance. Inside, the venue transformed into a playground for gamers: an adrenaline-pumping RC Racing Track hosted by Ocean Sharma, Red Bull Athlete V3nom’s Reflex Challenge to test reaction speeds, Retro Arcade Section with a life-sized PAC-MAN and Tetris arcade, while the Console Gaming Zone buzzed with intense matches in EA FC 25 and Street Fighter.
As the night wore on, the gaming gave way to a packed dance floor with sets from OG Shez and DJ Kaartl.
V3nom on Red Bull’s Push for Gaming in India
The Red Bull AFK put Red Bull’s gaming athletes at the heart of the experience, showing the brand’s commitment to growing the ecosystem. As V3nom summed it up:
“Red Bull is getting into gaming full-on, hosting a lot of events and bringing together top creators and gaming athletes at gatherings like Red Bull AFK. It’s a huge and positive step for the community. I’m really happy to see it, and I hope events like this continue because we have so much more to do for gaming in India, ensuring future generations can make the most of the opportunities ahead.”
When asked about his favorite part of the party, V3nom added: “I think my V3nom Reaction Challenge, because it combines a bit of fitness with reaction time, and tests your reflexes — which are essential for gaming.”
From Mumbai to Dubai – The Tetris Challenge
One activation that had everyone talking was the Tetris challenge, inspired by Red Bull Tetris. Here, players could stack their way up the leaderboard for a chance to represent India at the Red Bull Tetris World Finals in Dubai later this year — bringing a global competitive pathway right to the AFK floor.
Jonathan’s Championship Moment
Another highlight was the Street Fighter x BC One Dance-Off, a crossover where gaming skill met dancing. Four creators — Jonathan, Ocean, Sharkshe, and V3nom — each teamed up with a professional dancer for a two-part battle.
After Sharkshe edged past Ocean and Jonathan toppled V3nom in the semis, the grand finale saw Jonathan dominate in Street Fighter before his dance partner delivered a flawless routine to seal the win.
The post From Street Fighter Glory to a Global Tetris Path: Inside the First-Ever Red Bull AFK Party appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
BASILISK, the global esports organization built to champion science, announced the signing of legendary fighting game competitor Justin ‘Jwong’ Wong as captain of its newly formed Fighting Game Community (FGC) Division. Wong will lead BASILISK’s entry into the FGC by recruiting players, developing community events, and creating FGC – science crossover content.
“Justin isn’t just a competitive genius – he is a cultural icon and humble leader within the FGC. We are incredibly proud to have him leading our FGC division and support the amazing work he already does for the community,” said BASILISK co-founder Christopher Bothur.
A nine-time Evolution Championship Series (Evo) Champion and Guinness World Record holder, Wong brings unparalleled FGC credibility and expertise to BASILISK. His reach extends across the entire FGC fandom of millions, and he was immortalized in Evo Moment #37 which has over 100 million views.
As Captain of BASILISK FGC, Wong will leverage BASILISK’s data analytics to scout and train the next generation of FGC pros.
“Math is super important to fighting games. I’m excited to join science’s esports team. I’m passionate about finding promising players with a positive mentality and shaping them into the next big thing. I want to see somebody else in the spotlight after me and help them reach their potential. If we can discover the next world champion, that would be fantastic,” said Wong upon joining BASILISK.
The signing comes on the heels of BASILISK’s new partnerships with The Planetary Society and Caltech’s Institute for Quantum Information and Matter (IQIM), announced in July. These collaborations create a powerful bridge between renowned scientific institutions and gamers, which Wong will amplify to his millions of followers and fans.
“Justin is a dream addition to our organization. He exemplifies the dedication and analytical capacity required to be an esports champion or great scientist,” added BASILISK co-founder Hans Kassier.
Wong becomes the second “GOAT” (Greatest of All Time) to join BASILISK, alongside Finnish StarCraft 2 legend Joona “Serral” Sotala, who just captured the SC2 Esports World Cup Championship in July 2025. The signing also creates opportunities for cross-over content with BASILISK’s diverse roster, including chess Grandmaster Vincent Keymer and award-winning science communicator Kyle Hill, who brings over 2.5 million followers and a vast network of science enthusiasts to the organization.
The post Fighting Game GOAT Justin Wong Joins BASILISK, Science’s Esports Team appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Riot Games, in association with Aftermath Ventures, has officially concluded the inaugural Legends Ascend South Asia, with S8UL Esports emerging victorious after four months of intense competition. The win secures them the coveted spot at the League of Legends Championship Pacific (LCP) Wild Card Playoffs, set to take place between August 28 to August 31, where they will face top teams from across the region for a chance at LCP 2026 promotion.
Legends Ascend South Asia, announced in April 2025, set out to provide a structured, competitive platform for the region’s League of Legends talent. With a total prize pool of INR 10,00,000, the tournament brought together 95 teams from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan, competing across three open qualifiers, a round robin league stage, and double-elimination playoffs.
The tournament kicked off with three open-registration qualifiers held from April to May, producing nine standout teams: S8UL Esports, Kakao Gaming, PnX ASCENSION, Revenants, SUVO HATERS, Jetfire’s Dojo, Syndicate, Poro Patrol, and Report Precog Gaming. These teams advanced to the Round Robin Stage in June and July, where S8UL Esports, Kakao Gaming, Revenants, and Syndicate emerged as the top four to enter the playoffs.
The Double Elimination Playoffs in July and August delivered high-stakes best-of-three and best-of-five clashes, with S8UL Esports displaying consistency, adaptability, and fearless drafting en route to the championship title. The final standings were:
-
S8UL Esports – Champions (Advance to LCP Wild Card Playoffs)
-
Kakao Gaming
-
Revenants
Spanning over 29 broadcast days, Legends Ascend South Asia generated more than 1.3 lakh YouTube views and attained a reach of over 7 lakh through the Aftermath Ventures’ FragNation channel. The event also saw 12 community watch parties across the region, amassing an additional 1.25 lakh views from grassroots fan hubs.
Speaking on the conclusion of the tournament, Arun Rajappa, Country Manager, India & South Asia, Riot Games, said: “Legends Ascend was about discovery, growth, and empowering the South Asian League esports landscape by providing them with a structured pathway to compete alongside global talents. Seeing S8UL lift the trophy after such a grueling journey is a testament to the depth of talent here, and we couldn’t be more excited for them as they head to the LCP Wild Card Playoffs.”
Mansoor ‘Nabu’ Ahmed, Founder & CEO, Aftermath Ventures, added: “From the first qualifier to the final game, Legends Ascend showcased what South Asia’s League of Legends community is capable of. The passion from players, fans, and watch-party hosts has been incredible. Congratulations to S8UL Esports for not just winning, but setting an example for the next generation of players in the region.”
As S8UL Esports prepares to represent South Asia at the LCP Wild Card Playoffs, the success of Legends Ascend South Asia underscores Riot Games’ long-term vision of building sustainable competitive pathways for amateur players in the region.
Fans can relive all the action from Legends Ascend South Asia on the FragNation YouTube channel, and follow Riot Games India & South Asia for updates on the region’s next big competitive milestones.
The post S8UL Esports crowned champions of Legends Ascend South Asia 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
Africa5 days agoLogifuture-powered Bet9ja partners with heavyweight boxing sensation Moses Itauma
-
Balkans5 days ago
Amusnet Named Leading Software Company in Bulgaria
-
Central Europe5 days ago
Brightstar Lottery Upgrades Retail Central System for Lotto Saxony in Germany via New Seven-Year Contract
-
Australia4 days ago
Tracy Parker Joins Judging Panel for Inaugural RTG Global Awards
-
Australia4 days ago
JCM Global Celebrates 70 Years of Industry-leading Innovation at AGE
-
AU10TIX5 days agoAU10TIX Launches Free Assessment Tool and Readiness Guide to Help Organizations Navigate Child Safety Age Assurance Compliance
-
Asia4 days ago
Philippine Senate to Launch Inquiry into Online Gaming industry
-
CT Interactive5 days ago
CT Interactive Announces Strategic Partnership with Ondiss
