eSports

Parimatch appoints first esports brand ambassador Daniil “Zeus” Teslenko

Published

5 years ago

July 24, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Parimatch, the international betting and technology company announces Counter-Strike legend Daniil “Zeus” Teslenko as its first esports brand ambassador.

Daniil Teslenko is one of the most famous esports team captains in the world, having been crowned world champion in two different versions of Counter-Strike: 1.6 and Global Offensive.

As part of the partnership agreement, Daniil will be involved in social media activations, various tournaments, and will be part of an exciting new initiative from Parimatch where he will help train the esports superstars of the future.

Daniil Teslenko said: “I am very pleased to be an ambassador for Parimatch, joining sports legends Mike Tyson and Conor McGregor. I like the company’s attitude, it matches mine – daring, stylish and unpredictable. Betting brands like Parimatch have been important to esports for a long time – providing sponsorship, creating tournaments and contributing to prize funds which have helped the sport go mainstream. Parimatch and I have lots of cool things planned together, including joint merchandise, and partnering in the development of amateur esports.”

Stepan Shulga, Head of esports at Parimatch said: “In Daniil, we are partnering with a player whose name is known throughout the esports world. He is the only Russian-speaking player to have won the World Championship in two different versions of Counter–Strike, 1.6, and Global Offensive. Daniil is a legend, a famous sportsman, and his winning spirit matches ours. There are a lot of exciting things ahead, welcome to the Parimatch family!”

Parimatch has long been at the forefront of the burgeoning esports industry, recognising its growth potential early on, paying it the same amount of attention as traditional sports. A significant proportion of R&D at Parimatch is focused on developing esports features to dramatically enhance user experience, which is why the brand is considered to be on of the top esports bookmakers.

Parimatch is the title sponsor of the Virtus.pro esports team, and in 2019 was the official partner to Ukraine’s biggest Counter-Strike competition Logitech G National Cybersports League (NCL) and the EPICENTER Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) tournament. Parimatch recently established its own major Dota2 competition “Parimatch League”, the first time that a betting company has organized their own tournament. Following this success, Parimatch launched Parimatch League CS:GO, an online league for Counter -Strike: Global Offensive teams.

ALGS 2026 Championship

S8UL Esports secures historic top five finish at ALGS 2026 Championship; bags INR 1 crore in prize money

Published

21 hours ago

January 19, 2026

Wladimir P.

s8ul-esports-secures-historic-top-five-finish-at-algs-2026-championship;-bags-inr-1-crore-in-prize-money

S8UL Esports, a global powerhouse in esports and gaming content, delivered a landmark performance by finishing among the top five teams globally at the Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) 2026 Championship, held in Sapporo, Japan from January 15 to 18. This result represents the best ever finish by an Indian organization on the Apex Legends global stage, setting a new benchmark for Indian esports at the highest level of international competition.

The ALGS 2026 Championship, the crowning event of the Apex Legends competitive calendar, brought together 40 of the world’s most consistent and high-performing teams from the year-long global circuit. S8UL’s all-Australian roster featuring Rick Wirth (Sharky), Benjamin Spaseski (Jesko), and Tom Canty (Legacy), led by head coach Harrison Rogers (Rogers), delivered a standout campaign and emerged as the only South Asian team to secure a Top 5 finish at the premier international Apex Legends event. The team earned USD 120,000 (approximately INR 1 crore) from the tournament’s USD 2,000,000 (approximately INR 18.14 crore) total prize pool.

Commenting on the achievement, Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO, S8UL, said, “Over the years, we have built one of India’s strongest gaming creator ecosystems and a solid foundation in content. In the last 18 months, we have deliberately expanded our focus to global esports investments across multiple titles, and performances like this validate that vision. Our ambition is to compete and win at the highest level worldwide. We are investing deeply, assembling world-class international rosters, and representing S8UL on the global stage from India. A top five finish at ALGS is a major milestone, and it marks only the beginning of what we believe will be a very strong future for S8UL in esports.”

S8UL began their campaign in Group B, navigating a demanding round-robin stage where all 40 teams were divided into four groups of 10. The team’s consistent performances saw them finish among the top 20 teams, earning a spot in the Winners Bracket and keeping them firmly in title contention.

From there, S8UL qualified for the Grand Finals, where the remaining 20 teams competed under the high-pressure Match Point Format. Under this system, a team must reach 50 points and then secure a match win to claim the championship, with the remaining teams ranked by total points. Across nine final matches, S8UL accumulated 64 points to finish fifth overall, just one point behind fourth-placed GROW Gaming, underlining how closely contested the championship was.

“The margins at this level are extremely fine, and the team showed tremendous composure throughout the tournament. From the group stage through to the finals, the players displayed adaptability, trust, and resilience. Finishing in the top five globally is a major milestone, and it reinforces our confidence in this roster’s ability to contend for championships in the future,” commented Harrison Rogers, coach of S8UL’s Apex Legends team.

S8UL’s performance at the ALGS 2026 Championship builds on the organisation’s growing presence in international Apex Legends competition. In 2025, S8UL competed at the ALGS Midseason Playoffs as part of the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, where the organisation also became the first Indian team to be selected as a Club Partner for the tournament. With consecutive appearances at Apex Legends’ premier global events, S8UL continues to establish itself as a consistent contender on the world stage and a flagbearer for Indian esports internationally.

The post S8UL Esports secures historic top five finish at ALGS 2026 Championship; bags INR 1 crore in prize money appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

1000 Dreams Fund

Riot Games and 1000 Dreams Fund Expand Talent Pipeline in Esports Broadcasting, Accepting Two New Cadets to their Specialized 2026 Program

Published

4 days ago

January 16, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

riot-games-and-1000-dreams-fund-expand-talent-pipeline-in-esports-broadcasting,-accepting-two-new-cadets-to-their-specialized-2026-program

1000 Dreams Fund (1DF), a nonprofit that empowers talented women and students in need with scholarships, mentorship and other critical resources to help them reach their dream careers, has announced that two new cadets have been selected to its 2026 Riot Games Esports Broadcasting Cadetship at Riot Games’ Remote Broadcast Center (RBC) powered by AWS in Seattle.

The cadets selected for the three-month, paid cadetship position are:

• Marissa M. – Indiana University Bloomington

• Kevin D. – University of North Florida

The cadetship program runs in partnership with Riot Games—a leading video game developer, publisher and esports tournament organizer—and their global partner, AWS. Together with 1DF, the partners are committed to expanding access and creating pathways for individuals aspiring toward a career in esports broadcasting and production.

“We’re excited to host the Esports Broadcasting Cadetship in our Seattle Remote Broadcast Center for the first time. This facility has revolutionized how we produce esports at scale, and the Esports Broadcasting Cadetship brings that innovation to life by connecting emerging talent directly to the future of the industry. Through our partnership with 1000 Dreams Fund, we’re not only investing in today’s talent but also building a pipeline of leaders equipped to shape what comes next in global esports production,” said Allyson Gormley, Global Operations Director, Esports Broadcast & Production for Riot Games.

As Gen Z and early-career professionals increasingly rethink traditional career tracks, demand continues to grow for hands-on, skills-driven roles that offer clear pathways into competitive industries. In response, innovative workforce programs are materializing to bridge the gap between aspiration and opportunity, prioritizing real-world experience over linear career models.

The Riot Games Esports Broadcasting Cadetship exemplifies this new model of workforce development in emerging fields. Launched in 2023 as part of 1000 Dreams Fund’s broader commitment to workforce access and equity, the program was built to meet this moment — long before non-traditional career pathways became a mainstream conversation. By placing early-career students inside a global esports operation, the Cadetship provides a proven pathway, offering the training, mentorship and live production experience needed to launch careers in esports broadcasting.

“This year marks 10 years of 1000 Dreams Fund building programs that create real access to opportunity for students and early-career talent. The Riot Games Esports Broadcasting Cadetship reflects the kind of long-term, impact-driven work we’ve been committed to since day one, and in a time of deep transition in the workforce, these programs are more important than ever. We’re proud to continue expanding pathways, especially within emerging industries, that help students turn ambition into lasting careers,” said Christie Garton, founder and CEO of 1000 Dreams Fund.

For the selected cadets, this investment creates immediate momentum and removes common barriers to entry while positioning participants for long-term growth in a highly competitive field.

The post Riot Games and 1000 Dreams Fund Expand Talent Pipeline in Esports Broadcasting, Accepting Two New Cadets to their Specialized 2026 Program appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Berlin Gaming Industry

Tom Achsel Joins FACTORY-C to Spearhead “Home of Indies” Communications

Published

2 weeks ago

January 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

tom-achsel-joins-factory-c-to-spearhead-“home-of-indies”-communications

FACTORY-C, the Berlin-based communications powerhouse specializing in gaming and esports, has announced the appointment of Tom Achsel as Event Communications Manager. Achsel will join the “Home of Indies” team alongside project initiator Christiane Gehrke, focusing on the platform’s global expansion and upcoming presence at Gamescom 2026.

With over a decade of experience in the tech and gaming sectors, Achsel brings a massive professional network and deep operational expertise to the agency.

A Veteran of the Berlin Gaming Scene

Tom Achsel is a well-known figure in the German development community. His career highlights include:

Games Academy: Served as Head of Marketing & Events at one of Europe’s oldest game development institutions.
Games Ground Berlin: Co-founded and led communications for the Berlin Gaming Festival, curating impactful B2B programs and speaker lineups.
IGDA Berlin: Serves as Vice-Chairman, strengthening ties between local developers and the global gaming ecosystem.

Christiane Gehrke, Senior Event Communication & Sales Manager at Factory-C

“Tom knows the indie scene from multiple perspectives and has a sharp understanding of the needs of indie developers,” said Christiane Gehrke, Senior Event Communication & Sales Manager at FACTORY-C. “He brings everything needed to support the continued development of Home of Indies.”

Scaling the “Home of Indies” Platform

Since its debut in 2022, Home of Indies has grown into a central pillar of the Gamescom Indie Area. The platform provides a shared booth for independent developers, lowering the barrier to entry for international studios.

2025 Growth: The booth expanded to 440 square meters, featuring over 50 games from a dozen countries.
New Features: The project recently added a dedicated Spotlight Stage, streaming booths, and professional networking areas via MeetToMatch.

As Event Communications Manager, Achsel will lead the outreach strategy for Gamescom 2026, ensuring that the creative diversity of the global indie scene receives maximum visibility among press, influencers, and players.

The post Tom Achsel Joins FACTORY-C to Spearhead “Home of Indies” Communications appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.