eSports
Alonso and Barrichello team up for Le Mans Virtual assault with Torque Esports’ simulator company Allinsports
- The Spanish/Brazilian combination have an incredible 633 Formula 1 race starts and 43 wins between them
- Sim racing stars Olli Pahkala and Jarl Teien to join F1 stars
- Torque Esports’ sim manufacturer Allinsports throw support behind Le Mans entry
Formula 1 legends Fernando Alonso and Rubens Barrichello are teaming up for an assault on the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual – launching the FA/RB Allinsports team for the virtual version of the fabled French endurance racing event.
The duo are two of only five men with more than 300 Formula 1 race starts to their credit, with Barrichello holding the record at 322 with Alonso not far behind on 311.
Scheduled for June 13/14 – the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual will fill the date that was originally scheduled for the 88th running of the legendary French endurance race, which Alonso has previously won twice.
The Alonso/Barrichello team is backed by Torque Esports (TSX-V: GAME) (OTCQB: MLLLF) and its market-leading simulator manufacturer Allinsports, which build and supply Formula 1-level simulators to both racing legends.
Headed by ex-Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull development and electronics expert Anton Stipinovich, Allinsports not only design and build full-size, full-motion simulators from its base in Maranello, Italy, but also market the eRacer simulator that is used by leading motorsport stars including Alonso, Barrichello, Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen, Charles Leclerc, Emerson Fittipaldi, Tony Kanaan, Helio Castroneves, Gil de Ferran, David Brabham, Conor Daly and Nicholas Latifi
The Torque Esports team has a long history at Le Mans with President and CEO Darren Cox creating the Nissan PlayStation GT Academy program which turned gamers into real-world race drivers and spearheaded the successful Le Mans debut for the likes of Jann Mardenborough and Lucas Ordonez.
Joining the Formula 1 stars for the event will be top Nordic sim racing racers Olli Pahkala (Finland) and Jarl Teien (Norway).
“I’ve been very fortunate to have two victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the past two years, but the level of competition for the virtual race could be even tougher,” Alonso said.
“I’m thrilled to team up with Rubens and delighted to add Olli and Jarl to our team. Allinsports played a big role in getting both Rubens and I involved in sim racing, and we’re very excited to be working together with Anton and his team as well as the guys from Torque Esports who are putting this together.”
Allinsports’ Stipinovich previously worked closely with both Barrichello and Alonso during their Ferrari Formula 1 stints. The South African-born electronics expert worked with Barrichello during the dominant Ferrari Schumacher/Barrichello era and worked with the Ferrari Driver Academy during Alonso’s stint.
“Anton and I had a lot of success together back in the day and he has been a huge help in getting me involved in esports racing,” Barrichello said.
“I did Le Mans back in 2017 and loved the experience, and now I’m really looking forward to going back and doing it virtually with this great team. We have a lot of work to do to prepare for the race, but it is going to be a brilliant challenge.”
Both Alonso and Barrichello have showcased their virtual talents in the Torque Esports’ The Race All-Star Series powered by ROKiT Phones in the Legends Trophy division.
Alonso starred last week at Indianapolis, taking two victories, including a win in the reverse grid event. Barrichello has also been to victory lane in the series, taking a victory at NOLA Motorsport Park earlier this year.
The FA/RB Allinsports team has also enlisted the support of former Le Mans LMP2 winning squad Greaves Motorsport to support the virtual Le Mans assault. Jacob Greaves and his team will handle the preparations and in-race strategy for the team.
The Greaves Motorsport squad is no stranger to tackling the 24 Hours of Le Mans with gamers. Torque Esports’ Cox previously worked with the UK-based squad for the GT Academy graduates.
“We have a massive task ahead, but we’re doing everything we can to make sure we give this the best shot we can,” Cox said.
“Even though the weather, safety cars, and everything may be virtual, we’re treating this like the real thing, and Jacob and his team have that race-winning experience that we’re adding to our ‘virtual’ pit wall. We had great real-world success with Jacob and his team with gamers in the past – now we’re taking two real-world motorsport legends into the virtual world. It is a perfect flip from what we’ve done previously.”
The Formula 1 stars’ sim racing teammates have equally as impressive resumes. Pahkala finished third three times in the iRacing World Championship Grand Prix Series in 2014, 2015 & 2016, and second in the Road Pro Series in 2013. He finished fourth in the Formula 1 Esports Pro Series Team Championship in 2018 and was third in the Formula E Visa Vegas eRace in 2017.
Teien is a two-time LFSCart champion and has driven for G2 Esports in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual will kick off at 15:00 (CEST) on Saturday, June 13, with racers greeting the chequered flag at the same time on Sunday.
Source: Torque Esports
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The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) today announced that Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the most celebrated athletes of all time, has been appointed as the Global Ambassador of the Esports World Cup 2025 (EWC), further solidifying EWC’s position as one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events.
Ronaldo’s appointment marks a defining milestone for the Esports World Cup and signals the continued rise of competitive gaming as a global sport. A five-time Ballon d’Or winner and a symbol of elite performance, Ronaldo brings a powerful presence and cultural resonance that transcends traditional sports, helping connect millions of fans to the next generation of esports athletes.
“Cristiano Ronaldo connects generations — from lifelong football fans to today’s emerging competitors,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation. “His pursuit of greatness mirrors the spirit of the Esports World Cup: the biggest stage for the best players. As Global Ambassador, he bridges traditional sport and competitive gaming, helping spotlight the next generation of athletes competing for global glory. We’re humbled to have the greatest of all time stand with us in this moment for esports.”
Ronaldo has already played a formative role in the evolution of the Esports World Cup. He participated in the global announcement of the creation of EWC in 2023 and attended last summer’s Closing Ceremony in Riyadh, where he celebrated Team Falcons’ historic Club Championship win. With unmatched reach and fan engagement across every major platform, Ronaldo has helped elevate EWC’s profile since its inception.
As Global Ambassador, Ronaldo will headline the tournament’s global campaign leading up to and throughout the seven-week competition and festival in Riyadh. He also stars as a playable character in FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, one of the 25 tournament titles in this year’s Esports World Cup games lineup. With a social media following of over one billion, Ronaldo’s voice will help bring the tournament to new audiences, and introduce the next generation of fans to the elite players of competitive gaming.
Ronaldo’s participation will also highlight the Esports World Cup’s 2025 creative theme, “Rise Above,” a campaign celebrating unlocking human potential, pushing the boundaries and going beyond the norms in the pursuit of greatness — values exemplified by Ronaldo and mirrored by the athletes competing across 25 tournaments this summer.
“Sport is always evolving – and esports is one more frontier,” said Ronaldo. “The commitment, drive, talent, and intensity I have been able to see in esports athletes is no different from what I’ve experienced on the pitch. I’m proud to stand alongside these competitors and be part of a global event that’s inspiring a new generation.”
The Esports World Cup 2025 will once again unite gaming and esports communities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for a global competition that will crown the next Esports World Cup Champion. The tournament’s unique cross-game format will reward Clubs and players competing for a life-changing prize pool across a mix of platforms and genres, bringing together esports’ best teams, players and games under one banner in the largest-ever celebration of esports.
The EWC 2025 will feature 2,000 elite players and 200 Clubs from more than 100 countries, competing in 25 tournaments across 24 games for a record-breaking $70+ million prize pool. Tickets are now available at esportsworldcup.com.
To learn more about EWC, visit esportsworldcup.com and follow Esports World Cup Foundation on LinkedIn. “Esports World Cup: Level Up,” a five-part docuseries directed by Emmy winner R.J. Cutler that chronicles the inaugural EWC, is now streaming exclusively on Prime Video with new episodes released weekly.
The post Cristiano Ronaldo Named Global Ambassador of the Esports World Cup 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
GRID, an in-game data infrastructure platform trusted by the leading game publishers and sportsbooks, has unveiled GRID Insights — a new AI-driven product delivering real-time, predictive context to live esports broadcasts and betting experiences.
GRID Insights transforms raw gameplay data into dynamic, predictive insights in milliseconds — surfacing real-time narratives like player streaks, weapon stats and record chases, all tailored to the stream’s brand and audience.
“With GRID Insights, we’re building the storytelling engine of live esports, powered entirely by official data. We use official in-game data and real-time pipelines to generate predictions, contextual stats, and behavioral patterns that previously required an analyst team. Now it’s automated and scalable, enabling our partners to create more immersive, informative, and engaging experiences that today’s digital-native audiences expect,” said Moritz Maurer, CEO of GRID.
Thanks to GRID’s deep partnerships with top game publishers and tournament organisers, Insights is built on structured, official data, enhanced by large language models (LLMs) and available via plug-and-play SDKs or APIs. The product supports major esports titles including CS2, Dota 2, League of Legends and VALORANT, with full customisation across branding and output formats.
GRID Insights made its live debut during the Champion of Champions Tour Season 3 (CS2), with broader adoption already underway. Among early adopters is the European Pro League (EPL), now integrating GRID Insights into its tournament broadcasts.
“GRID Insights is a game-changer for how fans engage with the action. At EPL, we’re always looking for new ways to elevate the viewer experience—and with GRID Insights, the instant, story-driven context keeps fans both informed and immersed. Whether you’re a dedicated follower or a casual viewer, it makes every moment more exciting,” said Oleksii Krasnikov, CEO of EPL.
The post GRID Launches GRID Insights: Real-Time AI Context for Esports Tournaments appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Ana Carolina Luna Maçães
Esportes Gaming Brasil unveils Ana Carolina Luna Maçães as Compliance Manager to reinforce regulatory commitment
Esportes Gaming Brasil, the owner of Onabet and Esportes da Sorte, has unveiled Ana Carolina Luna Maçães as its new Compliance Manager. The hire reinforces the company’s commitment to transparency, integrity, and good governance in Brazil’s evolving betting market.
Esportes Gaming Brasil’s new Head of Compliance, Ana Carolina Luna Maçães, commented: “Esportes Gaming Brasil has set a high standard in Brazil’s betting market with its total commitment to integrity, governance, and responsible gaming. It’s a privilege to join this exceptional team as Compliance Manager. My role is to reinforce our culture of compliance, navigating us through complex regulatory frameworks across multiple jurisdictions with as little friction as possible. Our mission is to deliver secure, transparent, and competitive services for our partners and clients.”
A seasoned legal and compliance professional who has spent time at NSX Brasil, Maçães joins with expertise in financial crime prevention, responsible gambling, and corporate ethics. She has earned a CPC-A certification from LEC (Legal, Ethics & Compliance), and she significantly strengthens the group’s in-house compliance work.
Esportes Gaming Brasil CEO Darwin Filho, added: “It’s more than just complying with and supporting regulations. Esportes Gaming Brasil has been actively leading the process of maturing the betting sector in the country. Our commitment to governance has been an essential part of our business model since the beginning. The arrival of Ana Carolina represents a strategic reinforcement, further strengthening the culture of compliance that has always guided the company.”
Esportes Gaming Brasil is proud to be one of the Brazilian-licensed operators under the SPA/MF framework and is renowned for impactful responsible gambling measures, including self-exclusion tools, behaviour monitoring, and an addiction support network.
With deep relationships to national sport and culture through major football sponsorships and experiential collaborations, and a growing digital presence via Onabet, the group is committed to shaping a safe, sustainable, and responsible future for Brazil’s gaming sector.
The post Esportes Gaming Brasil unveils Ana Carolina Luna Maçães as Compliance Manager to reinforce regulatory commitment appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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