eSports

OMEGA LEAGUE announcement

Published

4 years ago

July 17, 2020

George Miller

Reading Time: 5 minutes

The leading European teams, WePlay! Esports, and Epic Esports Events decided to build something special for the fans.

Dota 2 fans are used to summer being the time when all of the teams compete for the title of being the best. This year, however, due to the global pandemic, we saw our summers deprived from this yearly joyful experience.

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.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

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:

Europe (includes CIS)
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)

Team Secret
Team Liquid
Team Nigma
Alliance
OG
Ninjas in Pyjamas
NAVI
Virtus.pro
Evil Geniuses
FlytoMoon

Closed Qualifier participants (Europe)

HellRaisers
Vikin.gg
B8
Team Empire
Team Unique
CyberLegacy

Details regarding the qualifiers will be announced soon.

Prize Pool Distribution

Europe Immortal Division:

1st – $200,000
2nd – $125,000
3rd – $60,000
4th – $30,000
5th – $20,000
6th – $20,000
7th – $15,000
8th – $15,000
9th – $5,000 + a chance to win up to $10,000 in Divine Division
10th – $5,000 + a chance to win up to $10,000 in Divine Division
11th – $2,500 + a chance to win up to $10,000 in Divine Division
12th – $2,500 + a chance to win up to $10,000 in Divine Division

Europe Divine Division:

1st – $10,000
2nd – $7,000
3rd – $6,000
4th – $5,000
5th – $3,500
6th – $3,500
7th – $2,500
8th – $2,500
9th – $2,000
10th – $2,000
11th – $1,500
12th – $1,500
13th – $1 000
14th – $1 000
15th – $500
16th – $500

Americas Divine Division:

1st – $12,000
2nd – $6,500
3rd – $4,500
4th – $3,500
5th – $2,500
6th – $2,500

Americas Ancient Division:

1st – $2,200
2nd – $1,600
3rd – $1,200
4th – $1,000
5th – $750
6th – $750
7th – $500
8th – $500

An additional $10,000 will be allocated in the form of gaming gear to Open Qualifier participants.

Asia

8Bit Creatives partners with NODWIN Gaming as the exclusive talent partner for DreamHack India

Published

1 week ago

November 7, 2024

George Miller

8bit-creatives-partners-with-nodwin-gaming-as-the-exclusive-talent-partner-for-dreamhack-india

Reading Time: 2 minutes

8Bit Creatives, India’s leading esports consulting and talent management agency, has announced its partnership with NODWIN Gaming, a leader in new-age youth entertainment, gaming, and esports, as the exclusive Talent Partner for DreamHack India 2024.

With this partnership, 8Bit Creatives will leverage its significant reach in the Indian gaming, esports and youth communities through its prominent and talented roster of creators. These creators will create content leading up to the festival and also host meet-and-greet sessions.

India’s biggest gaming festival, DreamHack India, is set to take place from 15th to 17th November at the Hitex Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad, marking its fifth edition. For half a decade, the India edition of the global festival has become one of the most anticipated events of the Indian gaming ecosystem. Bringing together a plethora of events, including esports tournaments, BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) events, cosplay competitions, music concerts, and stand-up comedy, DreamHack India is the celebration of gaming, esports, pop-culture, and entertainment.

8Bit Creatives, CEO and founder Animesh Agarwal said “DreamHack India is one of the most prominent events in the Indian gaming and esports calendar and we’re proud to be the exclusive talent partners for it. This is further recognition of 8Bit Creatives’ ability to meaningfully engage the gaming and youth audiences across the country. Our belief in working with the right creators who create experiences that resonate with the youth audiences distinguishes our offerings and we can’t wait to share what we have in store for DreamHack India 2024 with our audiences!”

This is not the first time that 8Bit Creatives will partner with DreamHack India. The organisation was also the talent partner for the event in 2022.

Commenting on the partnership, NODWIN Gaming, Co-founder and MD Akshat Rathee said “Our vision at NODWIN Gaming is to create unforgettable experiences for the youth, and DreamHack has proven to be the ultimate platform to realise that vision, bringing together gaming, entertainment, and community in an immersive celebration. We’re thrilled to have 8Bit Creatives as our exclusive Talent Partner for DreamHack India 2024. It’s especially exciting to welcome iconic creators like Mortal, who joined us in our very first edition, back for this landmark fifth year, alongside fan favourites like Snax, Kaashvi, Thug, and Payal. These creators bring a unique energy that connects deeply with our fans and elevates every moment. Their presence underscores our commitment to crafting electrifying experiences year after year, building on the momentum of events like BGMS and past DreamHack editions. Together with 8Bit and this powerhouse lineup, we’re setting the stage for an unforgettable event that will bring fans and creators closer than ever before!”

8Bit Creatives’s content and esports division S8UL became the only organisation in the year to win ‘Content Group of the Year’ award for the third consecutive year at the Esports Awards 2024. Additionally, they are the only organisation from India to ever win an Esports Award in any category. Earlier this year, gaming content creators from 8Bit Creatives including Naman Mathur, Payal Dhare and Animesh “Thug” Agarwal were invited for a meet and greet session with the honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

The organisation has been at the forefront of India’s gaming and content ecosystem with its extensive range of services, including talent management, campaign curation and execution, brand activations and more.

The post 8Bit Creatives partners with NODWIN Gaming as the exclusive talent partner for DreamHack India appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

eSports

SOFTSWISS Sportsbook Doubles Esports Turnover in Q3 2024

Published

2 weeks ago

November 4, 2024

Wladimir P.

softswiss-sportsbook-doubles-esports-turnover-in-q3-2024

Reading Time: 2 minutes

1 November 2024 – Esports has experienced explosive growth in Q3 2024, doubling turnover compared to the previous quarter. The average bet on cybersports increased by 17.6% quarter-on-quarter. SOFTSWISS, a global tech expert with over 15 years of experience providing innovative iGaming solutions, shares the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook Q3 2024 report.

The top five sports by Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) remain consistent: Football, Tennis, Basketball, Table Tennis, and eFootball. For the second consecutive quarter, eFootball has outperformed Counter-Strike 2, indicating a shifting interest within the esports sector. Nevertheless, football continues to dominate, contributing nearly half of the total GGR.

The average live bet grew by 10% quarter-on-quarter, a positive development for operators as live bets hold 78.6% of turnover. The SOFTSWISS Sportsbook team is actively enhancing the live betting experience, aiming to capitalise on this trend and provide operators with even greater revenue opportunities.

The average bet grew by 9.7% quarter-on-quarter in Q3 2024, and the number of bets increased by 18.7%. GGR saw a modest growth of 1.5% quarter-on-quarter.

Despite the large number of projects launched for the UEFA Euro 2024, month-on-month statistics show that with the right promotional strategies, projects continue to operate successfully even after such massive events.

Alexander Kamenetskyi, Head of SOFTSWISS Sportsbook, adds: “Aligning a launch with a major sporting event can be a successful strategy, but football is not the only sport that can be leveraged in this way. The growth of cybersports presents new opportunities; for specialised projects targeting specific audiences, esports events can also serve as an effective starting point.

We continuously focus on product growth and development, enhancing features and user experience to drive further engagement and profitability for our partners.”

The SOFTSWISS Sportsbook is expanding its global presence. The product team is on track to secure certification in Brazil, conducted by an authorised testing laboratory. Furthermore, for the South African market, the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook has recently integrated a Horse Racing Module. This addition offers operators new business opportunities by covering over 2,400 international and local races monthly. The solution engages players with race cards, silks, and multiple bet types while providing operators unique skins and configurations to align with various brand identities.

The SOFTSWISS team is working on The iGaming Trends Report 2025, which offers a deep dive into key industry developments based on over 50,000 media headlines and insights from industry experts. Covering areas like regulation, marketing, technology, and business growth, this report provides a data-driven perspective on the trends shaping the upcoming year. The SOFTSWISS team shares the possibility of joining the waiting list.

All SOFTSWISS products will be showcased at the final major industry event, SiGMA Europe, at stand 2145.

The post SOFTSWISS Sportsbook Doubles Esports Turnover in Q3 2024 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

eSports

BLAST Announces Landmark Expanded Partnership as Blacklyte Becomes Global Chair & Desk Partner Across Five Esports Titles in 2025

Published

3 weeks ago

October 30, 2024

George Miller

blast-announces-landmark-expanded-partnership-as-blacklyte-becomes-global-chair-&-desk-partner-across-five-esports-titles-in-2025

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Esport entertainment company BLAST has announced an expanded Global Partnership with Blacklyte for 2025. The landmark partnership marks a significant milestone in esports history, being the first of its kind to encompass five leading esports titles.

As a Global Chair & Desk Partner, Blacklyte will play a pivotal role in supporting the world’s best esports players by providing custom-made esports desks and chairs for the competitive landscape across these five popular esports titles: Rainbow Six Esports (Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege), BLAST Premier (Counter-Strike), BLAST Slam (Dota), RLCS (Rocket League Championship Series), and FNCS (Fortnite Championship Series).

This partnership not only showcases Blacklyte’s commitment to the esports community but also emphasises its dedication to elevating the industry by providing players with the best equipment possible to compete at the elite level.

Last month, BLAST announced Blacklyte as the first commercial partner for Fortnite Competitive for the FNCS Global Championship 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas, United States.

The expansion of the partnership means Blacklyte will cover all esports titles BLAST operates in 2025. The partnership will focus on delivering unique and immersive experiences for fans and players alike. Alongside Blacklyte’s products being used by streamers and players across more than ten arena events and many more studio events in 2025. Blacklyte will also be integrated physically into these events and within broadcasts.

Blacklyte produces desks that set a new standard for quality and durability. These state-of-the-art desks are designed to withstand everything. They will be showcased at the BLAST Premier World Final in Singapore for the first time.

Alexander Lewin, SVP of Commercial Revenue for BLAST, said: “We are proud to expand our partnership with Blacklyte to encompass all five of our esports titles heading into 2025. This marks a landmark moment for BLAST. We work across a number of leading esports ecosystems, which gives us the ability to leverage these different communities and tournaments. This partnership is testament to harnessing that network to create best-in-class partnerships.”

Alexander Liu, CEO at Blacklyte, said: “We are excited to enter into this unprecedented partnership with BLAST, which will enable us to reach a broader audience and create a lasting impact across multiple titles. This collaboration signifies a new era for esports, where we can unify diverse gaming communities under one strategic initiative, providing equipment to help esports players compete at the top level.”

The post BLAST Announces Landmark Expanded Partnership as Blacklyte Becomes Global Chair & Desk Partner Across Five Esports Titles in 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.