eSports
CHAMPIONS TO BE CROWNED IN F1 ESPORTS PRO SERIES GRAND FINAL LIVE THIS WEEK
TIMING DETAILS, WHERE TO WATCH INFO, AND DRIVER QUOTES FOR F1 ESPORTS PRO SERIES PRESENTED BY ARAMCO
The F1 season may have ended on Sunday, but we have even more racing action for you as F1 Esports Pro Series presented by Aramco culminates with this week’s Grand Final! We will see a new champion crowned as four drivers are in contention of winning a first title, whilst Red Bull and Alfa Romeo will fight it out for the teams’ championship. To get you up to speed with the action, you can view the ‘Top 5 moments’ from a thrilling Event 3 on YouTube here and are free to embed this in editorial if you wish.
Alfa Romeo’s Jarno Opmeer, and Red Bull’s pairing of Frede Rasmussen and Marcel Kiefer, are the main contenders vying to get their hands on the trophy, but Renault’s Nicolas Longuet is still in the hunt and has the ability to cause an upset. The Grand Final will see drivers race at Suzuka, Mexico City before the season ends at Interlagos, as so many famous F1 campaigns have in the past.
The winners of the drivers’ championship and teams’ championship will be presented virtually with their awards after the final race on Thursday, as well as the winner of this year’s DHL Fastest Lap Award.
The live shows will be streamed online via F1’s official channels on Facebook, YouTube, Twitch and Huya, as well as broadcast on television by international partners such as ESPN (US), Sky (UK) and Ziggo (Netherlands), whilst Qualifying show content will be streamed exclusively on Twitch, YouTube and Huya (China). For full information about the Pro Series visit: https://www.f1esports.com/
Please see the table below for the full breakdown of the platform splits so you don’t miss a moment of the action this week:
| Day | Session | Time (GMT) | Coverage |
| Wednesday 16 December | Qualifying Show 1 (featuring Quali. 1 highlights and Quali. 2 live) |
15:30 – 16:45 | Twitch / YouTube / Huya (China) |
| Evening Show 1 (featuring Quali. 1 and Quali. 2 highlights, Race 1 re-run and Race 2 live) |
19:30 – 21:00 | TV & Online | |
| Thursday 17 December | Qualifying Show 2 (featuring Qualifying 3 live) |
15:30 – 16:45 | Twitch / YouTube / Huya (China) |
| Evening Show 2 (Featuring Race 3 live and season highlights) |
19:30 – 21:00 | TV & Online |
Ahead of this year’s Grand Final, we caught up with F1 Esports pundit Nic Hamilton, and three of the title contenders, to get their thoughts on the season so far and the final round of races. Please feel free to use these comments in editorial around the build-up to the Grand Final.
Nic Hamilton
It’s going to be a really interesting last event. Jarno Opmeer is showing how strong he is, especially his one lap pace and taking the championship by storm initially. As a team Alfa Romeo seemed really strong, a couple of bad rounds from Dani Bereznay has put a halt to the number of points they have been able to collate. Red Bull have been working together all the way through the season and they don’t seem to make many mistakes. They’re very close on pace and they protect each other which I’ve been very impressed with.
For me I think Jarno Opmeer will win the Drivers’ Championship and Red Bull will take the Constructors’ Championship.
Jarno Opmeer
I’ve been leading since the first race so it would be very disappointing to let it slip now. I know that Frede [Rasmussen] and Marcel [Kiefer] are both having an insane season so they have been pushing me very hard. I’m very confident because we have been making good progress every race but I’m just focussing on what I can do to get the maximum out of this last event.
Marcel Kiefer
[On the Constructors’ Championship] We shouldn’t underestimate Alfa, they have showed that they are excellent especially in Event 1 where they were ahead. We’re a bit more confident going into the Grand Final as we have a bit of a gap but it can still turn around quickly if things don’t go to plan. We can’t rest we just need to keep our heads cool and bring home the points.
Nicolas Longuet
I’ve been happy with my performance this year as it’s essentially my rookie year. There has been so much work that has gone behind this season so I don’t think fourth in the Drivers’ Championship is too bad. Hopefully I can break into the top three in the final event.
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Agganis Arena
RLCS Boston Major Becomes Most Watched Event in Rocket League History
The Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) Boston Major 2026 has officially become the most-watched event in Rocket League esports history, setting a new benchmark for global engagement and competitive excellence.
Held at Agganis Arena in Boston, the Major concluded with a thrilling all-French Grand Final, where Gentlemates defeated tournament favourites Team Vitality 4:2 to claim the first Major title of the 2026 season.
Record-Breaking Viewership Milestone
The RLCS Boston Major 2026 delivered unprecedented audience numbers:
- Peak Viewers: 624,316 concurrent viewers
- Average Viewership: Over 270,000 viewers
- First RLCS event ever to surpass 600,000 concurrent viewers
This milestone represents a 33.3% increase over the previous all-time peak recorded at the 2022–23 RLCS World Championship, highlighting sustained year-over-year growth and expanding global interest in Rocket League esports.
The event’s performance reinforces RLCS as one of the fastest-growing competitive circuits in modern esports.
A Grand Final Worthy of the Record
The Boston Major culminated in a high-stakes French showdown between Gentlemates and Team Vitality. The 4:2 victory secured Gentlemates’ first Major trophy of the season and signaled a shift in competitive power dynamics heading deeper into 2026.
The all-French final further amplified international audience engagement, particularly across European broadcast markets, contributing significantly to the event’s record-breaking concurrent viewership.
Global Broadcast Reach and Multi-Language Coverage
Beyond peak numbers, the Boston Major showcased:
- Multi-language broadcast streams
- Cross-platform digital distribution
- Strong in-arena attendance
- Expanded regional fan engagement
Hosted in front of thousands of live fans at Agganis Arena, the event combined traditional arena esports spectacle with robust online streaming performance — a formula that continues to fuel RLCS’s accelerating global momentum.
What This Means for Rocket League Esports
The 2026 Boston Major marks a defining moment for the RLCS ecosystem:
- Sustained Global Growth – The consistent upward trend in viewership confirms Rocket League’s staying power within the esports landscape.
- Mainstream Momentum – Breaking the 600K peak threshold positions RLCS among elite-tier esports events globally.
- Competitive Depth – The diversity and intensity of international competition continue to elevate the broadcast product.
- Commercial Validation – Record audience metrics strengthen sponsorship, media rights, and long-term circuit investment potential.
As the 2026 season progresses, the Boston Major sets a new performance benchmark that future Majors and the World Championship will aim to surpass.
The post RLCS Boston Major Becomes Most Watched Event in Rocket League History appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Brazilian Carnival
Esportes da Sorte transforms Carnival 2026 into a nationwide immersive experience
Leading Brazilian iGaming company Esportes da Sorte has transformed Carnival 2026 into a nationwide immersive experience, activating urban art installations, hydration stations and large‑scale attractions across nine cities in Brazil. As part of its expanded cultural engagement strategy, the brand is serving as an official sponsor in key Carnival locations and delivering experiential initiatives designed for revelers in the streets and major public spaces.
Esportes da Sorte’s nationwide platform builds on its history of investing in popular culture and public events, moving beyond traditional branding to create meaningful on‑site activations that enhance the urban environment and respond to the unique character of each city’s Carnival celebrations.
In Rio de Janeiro, the company’s efforts focus on the street Carnival experience with hydration points, cool zones and shaded areas in high‑traffic celebration routes. São Paulo’s megabloc circuits feature water trucks, hydration stations and on‑site urban support.
In Recife Antigo, one of Carnival’s cultural centers, Esportes da Sorte installed a standout Ferris wheel at Marco Zero, offering panoramic views of the festivities and historic landscape. Urban transformations like video mapping on iconic buildings and aerial installations along Rua Marquês de Olinda further blend public space with the Carnival experience.
Other cities such as Olinda and Salvador also feature tailored activations, including sensory design, refreshment tunnels and themed artistic displays that align with local traditions and festival dynamics.
In addition to physical structures, the initiative includes a robust communications strategy, sensory activations, public well‑being supports and content campaigns that amplify the carnival‑street experience across digital and traditional media.
According to Germana Casal, Production Coordinator at the Esportes Gaming Brasil Group, the goal is to “be present in a meaningful way at the country’s biggest popular celebration,” respecting each city’s identity and delivering initiatives that improve the Carnival experience for participants.
Esportes da Sorte’s Carnival 2026 project builds on the brand’s presence at more than 100 Carnival parties and street blocos in 2025, reinforcing its leadership role in Brazil’s largest cultural event and deepening its connection with urban celebration culture nationwide.
The post Esportes da Sorte transforms Carnival 2026 into a nationwide immersive experience appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
chess esports
Team Vitality announces E.Leclerc as new Main Partner
Team Vitality, one of France’s leading esports organizations, has announced a strategic new partnership with French retail giant E.Leclerc, naming the supermarket chain as the club’s Main Partner for 2026.
Under the agreement, E.Leclerc’s logo will feature prominently on Team Vitality’s international team jerseys, including rosters for League of Legends (LEC and LFL), Valorant (VCT EMEA), Rocket League, Rising Bees and Chess.
Shared Values and Fan Initiatives
The partnership aims to promote accessibility, wellness, and nutrition within the esports community, while bringing gaming culture into E.Leclerc retail spaces through immersive experiences, tournaments and activations designed to engage fans across France.
Team Vitality’s holistic wellbeing program, KARE, which supports performance, nutrition and mental health, aligns closely with E.Leclerc’s focus on responsible lifestyle initiatives. Together, they plan to champion inclusivity, provide unique gaming opportunities, and celebrate esports culture in both digital and physical environments.
With a global audience exceeding 10 million followers, Team Vitality’s influence in competitive gaming makes this partnership a landmark moment for both brands. E.Leclerc’s commitment to youth engagement and cultural connection positions the retailer as a significant non‑endemic supporter of the growing esports ecosystem.
Nicolas Maurer, CEO and Co‑Founder of Team Vitality, described the alliance as a historic milestone that will broaden esports’ reach across everyday life in France and reinforce its cultural legitimacy.
The post Team Vitality announces E.Leclerc as new Main Partner appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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