eSports
OMEGA LEAGUE announcement
The leading European teams, WePlay! Esports, and Epic Esports Events decided to build something special for the fans.
The leading European teams, WePlay! Esports, and Epic Esports Events decided to build something special for the fans. To bring the Dota 2 community an event that would provide the top level of competition, production, and content.
We are very happy to announce OMEGA League.
OMEGA League is an online tournament with a massive prize pool of $600,000 that will run from July 20th, 2020 (the beginning of the Open Qualifiers) until September 6th.It will include multiple competitive regions and divisions.
The English broadcast will be handled by WePlay! Esports, and RuHub will be in charge of its Russian counterpart. The teams will bring the best level of competition possible, alongside massive amounts of unique content to create a truly unforgettable experience.
WePlay! Pushka League Season 2 is postponed.
The suspension of the DPC has thrown our competitive scene into a sort of twilight zone populated by an array of small tournaments making it very taxing on players, and hard for fans to engage emotionally.
We decided to work together as a coalition of organizations, driven by our commitment to the fans, our love for this game, and the will to create a more sustainable competitive ecosystem around Dota 2. OMEGA LEAGUE is the first tournament coming from this partnership and everyone involved has poured their hearts into making it worthy of those mythical weeks in August.
We’ve found fantastic partners in Epic Esports Events and WePlay! Esports, both willing to commit to the higher level of integration that’s required to reach the quality fans have come to expect from Major-level tournaments. OMEGA League is our first large-scale initiative towards a more sustainable Dota 2 scene. Together we hope to breathe new life into the highest tiers of Dota 2 competition, and we can’t wait to show the world what we’ve been building.
We are excited about the future of the DPC, and we’re committed to supporting Valve and the rest of the ecosystem in their efforts to make competitive DotA better for fans, players, and partners alike.” – Alliance, Liquid, NAVI, Nigma, NIP, OG, Secret, and VP
“We are excited about the opportunity to work on interesting ideas and very curious about the reaction of the community. Our team and colleagues from Epic Esports Events are giving this event everything that we have. I really hope the audience will enjoy the results. The event takes place on the dates when we are used to seeing The International, and that impacts the level of responsibility we feel about OMEGA LEAGUE.” – Vitaliy “Nexius” Bozhko, Lead Esports Manager at WePlay! Esports.
“OMEGA League is a unique product. We are extremely thankful to the teams and our partners at WePlay! for working together on the vision of what an online event can and should be. We hope that this event will set the benchmark on the level of production and provide the fans many hours of premium content.” – Mark Averbukh, representative of Epic Esports Events.
League structure
The league is divided into two regions:
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Europe (includes CIS)
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Americas (North America and South America)
Europe format and prize pool
Immortal Division ($500,000)
Twelve teams will participate in the group stage of Immortal Division. They will be divided into two groups of six. Each group will see teams play each other in a BO3 series.
The two best teams from each group advance to Immortal Playoffs Upper-Bracket Round 1. The teams that take third place in their groups advance to Immortal Playoffs Lower-Bracket Round 1. The fourth and fifth place teams will enter the Play-in Stage to fight for two more Immortal Playoffs Lower-Bracket Round 1 seeds.
Immortal Playoffs is a double-elimination bracket. All matches are BO3, and Grand Finals are BO5.
Teams that lose in the Play-in Stage advance to Divine Playoffs Upper-Bracket Round 2.
The teams that take sixth place in their group advance to Divine Playoffs Upper-Bracket Round 1.
Divine Division ($50,000)
Divine Division starts with two groups of six squads. Each group will see teams play each other in a BO3 series.
The teams that take first place in their group advance to Divine Playoffs Upper-Bracket Round 1. The teams that take second and third place in their group advance to Divine Playoffs Lower-Bracket Round 1.
Divine Playoffs is a double-elimination bracket. All matches are BO3, and Grand Finals are BO5.
The rest of the teams are eliminated from the tournament.
The group stage for the European region will take place on August 10 – 26. The Playoffs will be held on September 31 – August 5.
Americas format and prize pool
Divine Division ($31,500)
Ten teams will participate in the group stage of Divine Division. They will be divided into two groups of five. Each group will see teams play each other in a BO3 series.
The two best teams from each group advance to Divine Playoffs Upper-Bracket Round 1. The teams that take third and fourth place will enter the Play-in Stage to fight for two Divine Playoffs Lower-Bracket Round 1 seeds.
Divine Playoffs is a double-elimination bracket. All matches are BO3, and Grand Finals are BO5.
Teams that lose in the Play-in Stage advance to Ancient Playoffs Upper-Bracket Round 1.
The teams that take fifth place in their group advance to Ancient Playoffs Upper-Bracket Round 1.
The group stage for the Americas region will take place on August 17 – 26. The Playoffs will be held on August 28 – September 5.
Ancient Division (8,500)
Eight teams will participate in the group stage of Ancient Division. They will be divided into two groups of four. Each group will see teams play each other in a BO3 series. The two best teams from each group advance to Divine Playoffs Upper-Bracket Round 1.
Ancient Playoffs is a double-elimination bracket. All matches are BO3, and Grand Finals are BO5.
The rest of the teams are eliminated from the tournament.
OMEGA League Participants (Europe, Immortal Division)
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Team Secret
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Team Liquid
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Team Nigma
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Alliance
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OG
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Ninjas in Pyjamas
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NAVI
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Virtus.pro
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Evil Geniuses
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FlytoMoon
Closed Qualifier participants (Europe)
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HellRaisers
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Vikin.gg
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B8
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Team Empire
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Team Unique
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CyberLegacy
Details regarding the qualifiers will be announced soon.
Prize Pool Distribution
Europe Immortal Division:
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1st – $200,000
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2nd – $125,000
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3rd – $60,000
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4th – $30,000
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5th – $20,000
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6th – $20,000
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7th – $15,000
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8th – $15,000
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9th – $5,000 + a chance to win up to $10,000 in Divine Division
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10th – $5,000 + a chance to win up to $10,000 in Divine Division
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11th – $2,500 + a chance to win up to $10,000 in Divine Division
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12th – $2,500 + a chance to win up to $10,000 in Divine Division
Europe Divine Division:
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1st – $10,000
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2nd – $7,000
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3rd – $6,000
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4th – $5,000
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5th – $3,500
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6th – $3,500
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7th – $2,500
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8th – $2,500
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9th – $2,000
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10th – $2,000
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11th – $1,500
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12th – $1,500
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13th – $1 000
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14th – $1 000
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15th – $500
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16th – $500
Americas Divine Division:
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1st – $12,000
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2nd – $6,500
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3rd – $4,500
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4th – $3,500
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5th – $2,500
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6th – $2,500
Americas Ancient Division:
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1st – $2,200
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2nd – $1,600
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3rd – $1,200
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4th – $1,000
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5th – $750
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6th – $750
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7th – $500
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8th – $500
An additional $10,000 will be allocated in the form of gaming gear to Open Qualifier participants.
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Astana
Astana to host IESF World Esports Championship 2027
IESF signs host agreement with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Qazaq Cybersport Federation in Astana.
Astana has been confirmed as the host city for the IESF World Esports Championship 2027 (WEC27), following a host agreement signing ceremony involving the International Esports Federation (IESF), the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Qazaq Cybersport Federation.
IESF said the event is expected to draw participation across more than 150 IESF Member Federations through the qualifiers, with national teams competing via IESF-recognized national member structures.
“WEC27 will be more than a championship. It will be a global celebration of nations, athletes, and the future of esports,” said Vlad Marinescu, President of IESF. “For every player, there is no greater honor than competing under their national flag and officially representing their nation on the world stage. That is what makes the World Esports Championship so powerful and so unique. In 2027, Astana will welcome the world and proudly stand as the Esports Capital in the World of Esports, uniting our Member Federations, athletes, fans, and communities. Kazakhstan has shown remarkable vision, ambition, and commitment, and we are confident that WEC27 will deliver an unforgettable championship and a lasting legacy for the global esports family.”
Yerbol Myrzabosynov, Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, said: “We are honored that the International Esports Federation has entrusted Kazakhstan with hosting the World Esports Championship 2027. This reflects the confidence in our country’s ability to deliver an event of the highest international standard. Hosting WEC27 reinforces our commitment to advancing esports and creating new opportunities for young people through sport, technology, education, and international cooperation. We look forward to welcoming the World of Esports to Astana and showcasing Kazakhstan as a destination capable of delivering world-class international events.”
Kuanyshbek Yessekeyev, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Qazaq Cybersport Federation, added: “We sincerely thank the International Esports Federation for the trust and confidence placed in Kazakhstan to host the World Esports Championship 2027. This is a historic milestone for our esports community and a testament to the progress we have achieved together with our partners. Alongside IESF, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and our national stakeholders, we are committed to delivering an outstanding championship for athletes, fans, and the World of Esports. WEC27 will inspire future generations, accelerate the growth of esports in Kazakhstan, and strengthen our country’s position as a leading esports and digital innovation hub.”
IESF said more details, including schedule, qualification pathway, venues, official titles, ticketing, and the event program, will be announced in the coming months via its official channels.
The post Astana to host IESF World Esports Championship 2027 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BLAST
BLAST opens New York HQ as 2025 revenue tops $133m on 40%+ growth
Esports and live events operator says it stayed profitable in 2025 and plans 15 arena events across 13 cities in 2026.
BLAST has opened a New York City headquarters in Brooklyn as the company reported record growth and profitability in 2025, including more than $133 million in revenue and over 40% year-over-year growth.
The new U.S. headquarters is located at 45 Main Street in Brooklyn within a shared 55,000-square-foot office space. BLAST said the hub will support partnerships, live events and commercial growth across North America as it expands its U.S. operations.
The North American push is being led by Chief Business Officer Leo Matlock, who has relocated to New York, alongside Steve Rossi, who joined earlier this year as SVP of Brand Partnerships. BLAST said its U.S. team has grown to eight full-time employees.
BLAST said it has staged seven tier-one esports events in North America over the past 16 months, across Austin, Fort Worth, Boston, Raleigh, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. The company cited “more than $102 million” in economic impact from the 2025 BLAST.tv Austin Major alone, including more than $9 million in hotel expenditures. It also recently announced the Rocket League World Championship will return to Fort Worth in September 2026.
In 2025, BLAST said its broadcasts delivered more than 2 billion live views globally and 300 million hours watched, spanning live events in 22 cities worldwide. The company also said it distributes content via 29 broadcast partners, including SuperSport, France TV and RTBF, reaching audiences in more than 150 territories and 30+ languages.
“Competitive entertainment has become one of the fastest-growing sectors in global media because it combines community, technology and live experiences in entirely new ways,” said Robbie Douek, CEO of BLAST. “The next generation of fans want entertainment that feels participatory, social and global by default. That shift is creating enormous opportunities for brands, publishers, creators and host cities, and we believe BLAST is uniquely positioned to help lead that evolution after a landmark year in 2025.” BLAST said it plans to host 15 arena events across 13 cities and three continents in 2026.
The post BLAST opens New York HQ as 2025 revenue tops $133m on 40%+ growth appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BLAST
BLAST reports 40% revenue growth in 2025, opens New York headquarters
BLAST, the Denmark-founded competitive entertainment and esports events company, reported record growth and continued profitability in 2025 and said it has opened a New York headquarters as it expands across North America.
The company said it delivered more than 40% year-over-year growth and generated more than $133 million in revenue in 2025, while remaining profitable and continuing to invest in global expansion. BLAST said its U.S. headquarters at 45 Main Street in Brooklyn sits within a shared 55,000-square-foot office space and will serve as its central base for partnerships, live events and commercial growth across North America.
The expansion is being led by Chief Business Officer Leo Matlock, who has relocated to New York, and Steve Rossi, who joined earlier this year as SVP of Brand Partnerships. BLAST said its U.S. team has grown to eight full-time employees.
BLAST pointed to recent North American activity, saying it has hosted seven tier-one esports events across Austin, Fort Worth, Boston, Raleigh, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City over the past 16 months. The company said these events have generated economic impact for host destinations, including more than $102 million from the 2025 BLAST.tv Austin Major alone, including more than $9 million in hotel expenditures. BLAST also said the Rocket League World Championship will return to Fort Worth in September 2026.
On content reach, BLAST said its 2025 broadcasts delivered more than 2 billion live views globally and 300 million hours watched across live events in 22 cities, distributed through 29 broadcast partners across online platforms and linear broadcasters. “We’re seeing tremendous momentum globally and all across North America, not just in esports fandom, but in how brands, game publishers, cities and entertainment companies are thinking about gaming culture, engaging competitions and digital-first audiences,” said Leo Matlock, Chief Business Officer at BLAST. The company said it plans to host 15 arena events across 13 cities and three continents in 2026.
The post BLAST reports 40% revenue growth in 2025, opens New York headquarters appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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