eSports
Jarno Opmeer and Red Bull crowned world champions of F1 Esports Series presented by Aramco
Alfa Romeo’s Jarno Opmeer and Red Bull were crowned world champions in the Grand Final of the 2020 F1 Esports Series presented by Aramco after a nail-biting finale this week, which saw some of the most intense battles of the season, as the championships went down to the wire. Jarno Opmeer got his hands on his first ever F1 Esports Series title, whilst Red Bull took home their second successive team’s championship to secure the lion’s share of the series’ $750,000 prize pot.
The driver’s championship standings were incredibly tight going in to the Grand Final, with Alfa Romeo’s Jarno Opmeer, Red Bull’s pairing of Marcel Kiefer and Frede Rasmussen, and Nicolas Longuet of Renault, all in with a shot of winning the main prize. Whilst the teams’ championship was on the line for Red Bull and Alfa Romeo.
Wednesday’s action started with a trip to Suzuka, as drivers battled it out on the high-speed track, negiotiating the iconic ‘S’ curves, where Frede Rasmussen secured a huge win in the race for the title. Nicolas Longuet took crucial points in P2, whilst Racing Point’s Daniele Haddad scored a surprise first podium of the season.
Jarno Opmeer rounded off Wednesday with a well-fought, much-needed win at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City, ahead of two-time Esports champion Brendon Leigh and title rival Frede Rasmussen, who finished second and third respectively.
The season culminated where many famous F1 campaigns have ended, in Interlagos, as Nicolas Longuet finished the year with a brilliant drive to take victory in a breathtaking race. Marcel Kiefer’s P2 finish secured the teams’ championship and Brendon Leigh finished on the podium to round off the series and end his season on a high. Jarno Opmeer settled for P7, but it was enough to secure the title, after a time penalty put Frede Rasmussen down in P11, as he won his first drivers’ championship by 22 points.
The Pro Series Grand Final closed a thrilling season of action and excitement, which has been historic in its own right as driver’s raced remotely for the first time, from their homes or team factories, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The two trophies, alongside the DHL Fastest Lap Award to AlphaTauri’s Joni Törmälä, were awarded virtually from the Gfinity Esports Arena in London, where this season’s live shows have been broadcast from, as fans around the world were treated to more content than ever before. Throughout the season, live shows have been streamed online via F1’s official channels on Facebook, YouTube, Twitch and Huya, as well as broadcast by international television partners such as ESPN (US), Sky (UK) and Ziggo (Netherlands).
F1 Esport’s ventures have flourished in the face of adversity in 2020, with over 30 million viewers tuning in for the Virtual Grand Prix series earlier this year, and the most popular Pro Series yet. The huge popularity of F1’s Esports output is mirrored by sales of Codemasters’ official F1 2020 video game, and record numbers of participants attempting to qualify for next year’s series.
The support of the series’ partners, Aramco, DHL and Fanatec is paramount to the F1 Esports Series’ ongoing success. For more information visit www.f1esports.com.
Chase Carey, CEO at Formula 1 said:
“A massive thanks and congratulations to all the teams and people that made this Esports season possible. I know it’s not been easy and the virus has created challenges for all of us but they’ve not only taken on those challenges but achieved success beyond our wildest expectations. It’s been an incredible year from end to end, with participation up over 100%. There’s been great energy in the Esports competition, and we look forward to an even more exciting year next year and continued growth!”
Christian Horner, Team Principal at Red Bull Racing Team said:
“Congratulations to the Red Bull Racing Esports team on successfully defending the constructors title, a fantastic job by all three of you [the drivers], so enjoy it! It is a great result and something for us to live up to next year on the main circuit.”
Frank Sagnier, CEO at Codemasters said:
“On behalf of the F1 2020 team, I’d like to congratulate Jarno Opmeer on his maiden championship. Despite the remote participation due to COVID-19, we have witnessed some incredible racing moments, and thanks go to the drivers and teams for their commitment during a very challenging season. It’s been a fantastic year for F1® 2020 and the F1 Esports Series, which has seen record participation and viewership numbers. We look forward to even bigger and better things in 2021, starting with the F1 Esports Series Challengers.”
John Clarke, CEO at Gfinity said:
“F1 Esports Series has once again demonstrated the power and excitement of virtual racing at the highest level. The drivers and teams keep raising the bar with their performances. Record numbers of fans now have an even deeper appreciation of the skill levels required to compete and win. Congratulations to everyone involved in another outstanding season. And bring on 2021!”.
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Call of Duty Warzone esports
Team Vitality Expands FPS Dominance Ahead of Esports World Cup 2026 With PUBG, Warzone and CrossFire Entry
Team Vitality Accelerates FPS Expansion Ahead of Esports World Cup 2026
Team Vitality has officially announced a major competitive expansion ahead of the 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC), confirming its entry into three additional shooter titles: PUBG (PC), Call of Duty: Warzone, and CrossFire. The move strengthens the organisation’s growing dominance across FPS and tactical shooter esports, following championship success in Counter-Strike and VALORANT during the 2025 season.
The expansion signals a decisive strategic push as Team Vitality looks to build on its Top 3 overall club finish at the 2025 Esports World Cup, positioning itself as one of the most versatile and ambitious multi-title organisations in global esports.
Call of Duty: Warzone – Vitality Returns With Proven EWC Pedigree
Team Vitality is officially re-entering the competitive Call of Duty: Warzone ecosystem for the 2026 season, assembling a veteran-heavy roster built for immediate impact. The lineup includes Angel “Sage” Quinones, who secured a third-place finish at last year’s Esports World Cup, alongside experienced EWC finalists.
The new Warzone squad begins its EWC qualification journey through the Warzone Resurgence Series, with two pivotal LAN finals scheduled at DreamHack Birmingham and DreamHack Atlanta. Strong performances at these events will be crucial in securing Team Vitality valuable points and a place at the 2026 Esports World Cup.
Call of Duty: Warzone Roster
- Rasim “Blazt” Ogresevic (USA)
- Logan “Skullface” Greifelt (USA)
- Angel “Sage” Quinones (Mexico / Guatemala)
- Ethan “Ebatez” Bates (USA) – Coach
PUBG (PC) – A Strategic Return to a Global Esports Pillar
Team Vitality is making its long-awaited return to PUBG (PC) competition, marking its first appearance in the title since 2019. The roster is anchored by players recently competing under the Nemiga banner, who finished sixth at the PUBG Global Championship, reinforcing Vitality’s intent to compete at the highest international level.
This return also unlocks strategic synergies with Bigetron by Vitality, the organisation’s established PUBG Mobile powerhouse in Southeast Asia. As PUBG’s global ecosystem increasingly bridges PC and Mobile competition, Team Vitality aims to unite its worldwide fanbase and elevate brand visibility across both platforms.
PUBG (PC) Roster
- Aliaksandr “Gedrox” Puchko (Belarus)
- Vladislav “Lev4nte” Tasenko (Russia)
- Andrey “Qw1zzy” Pobedinskiy (Russia)
- Artem “hallomybad” Baskakov (Russia)
- Ramazan “H1RUZEN” Valiullin (Russia) – Coach
- Sergei “MrTok” Britok (Russia) – Manager
CrossFire – Entering a New Region With Championship Ambitions
Expanding into CrossFire for the first time, Team Vitality has acquired ROC Esports’ former lineup, establishing its operations in Egypt with a dedicated gaming house. The squad will compete in the CrossFire West League (EMEA), with two critical competitive splits scheduled for March–April and June–July.
Success in the regional league is expected to be the gateway to qualification for the Esports World Cup, while long-term ambitions stretch further toward the CrossFire Stars World Championship in China. Team Vitality enters the ecosystem as a dangerous challenger, targeting dominance beyond regional competition.
CrossFire Roster
- Youssef “tottziN” Nasser (Egypt)
- Ahmed “SNARE” Salah (Egypt)
- Mohamed “Snake” Ahmed (Egypt)
- Mohamed “Horus” Mahrous (Egypt)
- Abdelrahman “slayer” Fawzy (Egypt)
- Andrei “strey” Solovev (Russia) – Coach
- Kislay “Drolo” Satyaj (India) – General Manager
- Ammar “Apps” Ahmed (Egypt) – Substitute
- Abdelrhman “Bone” Mahmoud (Egypt) – Substitute
Building Toward a New FPS Dynasty
With momentum from a Top 3 finish at the 2025 Esports World Cup, Team Vitality is targeting even greater success in 2026, driven by the belief that every win counts.
Fabien “Neo” Devide, President and Co-founder of Team Vitality, commented that the expansion reflects the organisation’s commitment to elite competition and long-term growth across shooter esports. Corporate Director of Global Operations Danny Engels added that the move strengthens Vitality’s position to build a true multi-title FPS dynasty on the world’s biggest competitive stage.
As the countdown to the 2026 Esports World Cup begins, Team Vitality’s expanded shooter portfolio signals a clear message to rivals: the organisation is all-in on global FPS supremacy.
The post Team Vitality Expands FPS Dominance Ahead of Esports World Cup 2026 With PUBG, Warzone and CrossFire Entry appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
The International Esports Federation (IESF) has successfully wrapped up the significant 10th edition of the World Esports Summit 2025, reinforcing its position as a key event for the progress of the World of Esports and global collaboration.
Focused on the theme “Shaping the World of Esports,” the 2025 Summit convened federations, publishers, global sports organizations, technology innovators, and integrity agencies to collaborate on the future of esports as a structured, credible, and universally unified field.
This anniversary edition showcased a robust and varied group of speakers, demonstrating IESF’s dedication to collaboration across sectors. Significant input was provided by Gustavo Arellano (FIBA), Eric Stranne (FIA), Ray Ng (Moonton), James Yang (Tencent), Valentin Capelli (WADA), Junghwan Han (KADA), Dipesh Makwana (Alibaba Cloud), Tomica Madjercic (Sportradar), and Ivan Dimitrijevic (EXPO 2027 Belgrade), as well as senior esports officials from across the globe.
Conversations during the Summit focused on essential aspects of IESF’s mission, such as governance and federation development, maintaining competitive integrity and anti-doping measures, technological advancements, and fostering sustainable ecosystem growth. The emphasis on diplomacy and collaboration emphasized esports’ increasing alignment with global sports standards and international organizations.
With the 10th edition of the World Esports Summit, IESF has once more showcased its leadership by uniting the global esports community, connecting regions, aligning stakeholders, and establishing common priorities for the future.
With unprecedented involvement, elevated discussions, and a distinct strategic vision, World Esports Summit 2025 represents a pivotal milestone in IESF’s continuous endeavor to influence the future of esports via unity, trustworthiness, and global cooperation.
The post Decade of Impact — World Esports Summit Marks Its 10th Edition appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Tuesday 10th February 2026: Leading Brazilian iGaming company Esportes da Sorte will deliver one of the most extensive Carnival activations in the industry for Carnival 2026, with an official presence at the country’s most iconic and emblematic celebrations.
The brand will serve as the official sponsor of festivities in seven Brazilian capitals — Recife, Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Natal and Maceió — as well as having a strong presence in Olinda, a city of major cultural significance. The national project will also include special activations in Caicó (RN), a key production hub for the brand’s promotional merchandise.
This initiative reflects Esportes da Sorte’s continued investment in Brazilian popular culture, built over several years across different regions of the country. In 2026, this positioning takes shape through a structured national project that embraces the diversity of Carnival formats — from traditional street blocos to electric trios and major urban stages — with visual identity and activations designed city by city, respecting local symbols, aesthetics and narratives.
“Carnival is part of Brazil’s cultural identity and also part of Esportes da Sorte’s journey. Being present at the country’s main Carnival celebrations is a strategic choice that reinforces our long-term commitment to popular culture, to the cities, and to the people who live this festival in the streets,” said Darwin Filho, CEO of Esportes Gaming Brasil.
“Our Carnival project was designed city by city, respecting the unique characteristics and culture of each sponsored location. The idea is to ensure a real presence and unique experiences for Carnival-goers, integrating the brand organically into the rhythm of each celebration. Whether through blocos, trios or major urban hubs, we want to strengthen ourselves as the brand that elevates the connection between culture and entertainment,” said Marcela Campos, Vice President of Esportes Gaming Brasil.
Beyond its on-the-ground presence, Esportes da Sorte’s Carnival 2026 strategy includes an integrated media and engagement approach, featuring activations across TV, radio, out-of-home media and a national PR operation before, during and after the festivities, focused on high-quality coverage and organic content generation.
The project will also include content and influencer engagement initiatives across multiple locations, expanding organic reach while capturing behind-the-scenes moments and Carnival experiences.
In 2025, the brand was present in more than 100 blocos and street parties across different regions of the country. For 2026, Esportes da Sorte is taking things to the next level, consolidating a nationwide project and reinforcing its leadership role in Brazil’s largest popular event.
The post Esportes da Sorte to be official sponsor of Brazil’s leading Carnival celebrations in 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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