eSports
Sports Stars Align As Eurosport Brings Solidarity Challenge To Screens

- Eurosport to show the Solidarity Challenge celebrity charity esports tournament this weekend in partnership with organizers ORSEN SA
- All funds raised on behalf of the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO
- Antoine Griezmann, Giorgio Chiellini, Tommy Fleetwood and Sir Mo Farah among stars to take part
Stars from football, golf, rugby and athletics will unite this weekend as Eurosport is set to broadcast an exciting new tournament, the Solidarity Challenge. The unique event will help raise awareness and donations for the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Solidarity Challenge brings together 16 of sport’s highest profile and influential celebrities in an eFootball PES 2020 tournament with the aim of encouraging donations by serving fans with engaging content and unique behind-the-scenes access to international sporting stars.
Eurosport viewers will be able to see the skills of their favourite football players in action including current and former internationals Antoine Griezmann, Blaise Matuidi, Giorgio Chiellini and Yaya Touré, as well as global sporting icons such as Tommy Fleetwood and Sir Mo Farah, via any platform they choose.
Fans in more than 75 markets and territories* will be able to tune in to the best of the action via Eurosport 1, broadcast from Saturday 13 – Sunday 14 June, with the knockout fixtures being screened at 22:00 – 23:30 CEST. The Eurosport App will cover all the action from Friday 12 June. Players will battle it out in matches over 21 minutes, including pre and post-match interviews and analysis, with viewers being able to see both the gamer’s screen and the players on camera reacting to in-play moments.
Trojan Paillot, VP Rights Acquisitions at Eurosport, said: “With the much-anticipated return to live sport, Eurosport has been working creatively with its partners to produce and screen the most interactive and engaging content for fans to enjoy, while protecting the health and safety of our staff as the number one concern. We’re looking forward to treating football fans to a unique experience this weekend with the opportunity to see how their PES skills compare with some of sport’s most internationally recognised names.
“By harnessing the scale of Eurosport’s channel and platform portfolio to screen the Solidarity Challenge across more than 50 countries in Europe, we will drive as many eyeballs as possible to this significant event and we are proud to help to generate funds for such an important cause as the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.”
The Solidarity Challenge is the latest in a series of innovative virtual programmes Eurosport has brought to its viewers recently. Last month, Eurosport partnered Global Cycling Network (GCN) to bring an exciting new live series – the Zwift Tour for All – to screens across Europe with interactive experiences available for fans via the GCN app, bringing them closer to the world’s best road cyclists. This weekend, it will also be feeding the passion of motorsport fans by showing the first ever 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual live and on-demand, which features iconic drivers including Max Verstappen, Pierre Gasly, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa.
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Compliance Updates
ESIC Issues Lifetime Ban to StarCraft II Player Xue “Firefly” Tao Following Match-Fixing Investigation

The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) announced the outcome of its investigation into serious integrity breaches involving professional StarCraft II competitors Xue “Firefly” Tao and Jinhui “Jim” Cao. Mr. Xue has been banned from ESIC Member events and competitions for life, while Mr. Jinhui has been provisionally suspended pending further sanction.
Following a detailed inquiry spanning April to July 2024, ESIC uncovered evidence of a coordinated match-fixing and profit-sharing scheme. The investigation found that Mr. Xue deliberately manipulated match outcomes to benefit illicit betting activity orchestrated by Mr. Jinhui, with whom he had a long-standing association.
Key findings include:
• Pre-match wagers placed by Mr. Jinhui predicting Firefly’s losses — often by precise scorelines.
• Consistent match losses by Firefly aligning with those wagers across seven tournaments.
• Large Alipay transfers from Jim to Firefly immediately following these matches.
• A WeChat exchange on 21 August 2024 directly referencing prior payments and an effort to conceal evidence.
ESIC has concluded that Xue “Firefly” Tao committed 21 breaches of the ESIC Integrity Programme, spanning both the Anti-Corruption Code and Code of Conduct. As a result, he has been handed a lifetime ban from all ESIC member events and competitions in any capacity.
Mr. Jinhui has been provisionally suspended and served with a Notice of Charge. He has until 14 July 2025 to respond before ESIC issues a formal sanction.
The post ESIC Issues Lifetime Ban to StarCraft II Player Xue “Firefly” Tao Following Match-Fixing Investigation appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
BETER Wins Esports Betting Supplier Award at the EGR B2B Awards 2025

BETER, the in-demand provider of fast-betting content, data, and odds for esports and sports, has been awarded Esports Betting Supplier at the prestigious EGR B2B Awards 2025.
It is the first time BETER has received this award, marking a significant milestone in the company’s journey and reflecting the growing demand for its fast-paced esports products.
The EGR B2B Awards celebrate the companies powering the global iGaming industry, recognizing excellence and rewarding those leading in innovation, reliability, and client service.
BETER’s esports offering features the fan-favorite ESportsBattle tournaments, providing non-stop betting action across popular disciplines such as eFootball, eBasketball, and eHockey, with eTennis set to become available to all partners soon. It means bettors can wager on approximately 500,000 matches annually, with up to 50 markets per event, while operators benefit from an average margin of 7.5%.
In addition, BETER provides a comprehensive Esports Odds Feed, delivering market-leading odds for over 40,000 pre-match and live events per year. These odds are calculated using official data and compiled by a team of expert traders.
With a team of over 130 esports traders, BETER ensures that players across all partner operators can place bets on the provider’s events with more than 90% uptime.
All ESportsBattle`s matches come with 24/7 live streaming, real-time data and odds, and are closely monitored by BETER’s in-house Integrity team to ensure strict adherence to fair play standards. As a result, only 0.01% of matches have been flagged as suspicious in the past 12 months.
Gal Ehrlich, CEO of BETER, said: “We are incredibly proud of the entire BETER team for the hard work that led to this achievement.
“Their tireless efforts to deliver best-in-class esports products for the next generation of bettors have paid off—not just in winning this award, but in delivering a top-tier product and experience to our partners and their players, consistently exceeding expectations.
“This award rounds off an incredible six months for BETER, and we head into the second half of the year with strong momentum behind us.”
Adam Conway, General Manager of Esports Business Division at BETER, added: “Our esports betting products are unmatched—led, of course, by our ESportsBattle tournaments.
“These tournaments truly set the standard for what a fast-betting esports experience should be, and we’re thrilled to see that recognized by the EGR B2B Awards judges.
“Our Esports Odds Feed is equally impressive and has become an essential tool for operators looking to offer the best accurate odds in the industry.
“I’d like to thank the entire BETER team for their dedication and to EGR for this recognition. We couldn’t be happier to add our first EGR B2B Award to the trophy shelf.”
The post BETER Wins Esports Betting Supplier Award at the EGR B2B Awards 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
Esports World Cup Foundation Renews Partnership with Albaik

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has announced the renewal of its partnership with Albaik for a second consecutive year, aimed at enriching the experience of both visitors and players participating in the Esports World Cup (EWC). With a deep-rooted history in Saudi Arabia since 1974, Albaik will continue supporting the Kingdom’s gaming and esports sector through this prestigious partnership, aligned with its broader mission to empower youth and foster local talent in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
This partnership is built on a shared commitment to the future – bringing diverse entertainment offerings to the largest esports and gaming event in history. With audiences attending from across the globe, EWC 2025 offers visitors an exciting mix of competitive matches, immersive experiences and cultural programming.
Albaik’s continued involvement in EWC 2025 reflects its long-standing commitment to social, sporting and economic development in the Kingdom. It also reinforces the company’s belief that meaningful community impact is a core part of doing business – a principle that shapes its contributions to national development and youth empowerment.
Returning to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 to August 24, 2025, the Esports World Cup will unite global gaming communities for a celebration of esports culture. With 25 tournaments across 24 games, 2000 elite players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries, the EWC will feature the largest prize pool in esports history, over $70 million. Fans can expect exclusive experiences, from high-stakes competition to live music, anime cafes, retro arcades, cosplay and more, drawing millions of fans online and in person.
The post Esports World Cup Foundation Renews Partnership with Albaik appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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