eSports
Team Vitality unveils partnership with Garmin
The organisation will utilise its experience competing at the highest level of competition to help the watchmaker take its Instinct® Esports Edition to the next level
Leading global esports organisation Team Vitality is pleased to announce a partnership with the world leader in the connected watch market, Garmin. The partnership will see Garmin supply Team Vitality with its model dedicated to gamers, the Instinct® Esports Edition as the two brands work closely together in R&D to further develop the product.
The Instinct® Esports Edition is based on Garmin’s health and sports technologies, and comprises a specific function dedicated to the analysis of biometric data during the game. The watch analyses and displays, for example, the user’s heart rate and stress level, together with the time and a game timer. Whether it be during the players’ physical preparation or during their games, the watch is fully in line with the team’s new ambitions.
Garmin sat down with Nicolas Maurer, CEO of Team Vitality to discuss the collaboration and the organisation’s approach to the partnership.
“The idea of creating a watch dedicated to gamers is really ingenious,” comments Nicolas Maurer, CEO of Team Vitality. “First, because it did not exist in the esports microcosm, unlike many other sports that have had their own connected watch for a long time. Then, because it will be exciting to follow the evolution and progress of this innovative product. There is so much to create around this watch…” A product stamped ‘Team Vitality’ for example? “Yes, why not! We already have some experience with branded products. It went very well with adidas. It is following the course of our history…”
Team Vitality did not hesitate to join forces with the American equipment manufacturer. First, due to its legitimacy and investment in the gaming industry as a technology expert. Then, because Garmin has “a cautious and considerate approach”. “Everyone has their own speciality. Garmin is a technological brand with talented R&D teams. For our part, our knowledge stems from practice and we have very experienced professional players, who have very specific and different expectations depending on the games. Esports is protean, let us not forget about that!”
For the time being, the Garmin and Team Vitality teams have already started brainstorming. The equipment manufacturer is reflecting on how best to work with Team Vitality and what future improvements can be made to the watch to help professional players perform even better. Team Vitality sees this as an opportunity to be challenged. “We are ultra-stimulated,” explains Nicolas Maurer. “We have to take a different look at the discipline. Innovation has always been part of our DNA. But this time we feel even more involved, boosted by this partnership, which aims to develop the best possible product and meet the expectations of all audiences, both professionals and amateurs.”
“Garmin’s approach is very sound,” says the CEO. “The equipment manufacturer is entering the esports market with caution and humility. Garmin is presenting a first product, which will likely need to be improved. It is then up to us to share our expertise with them. The partnership was, in fact, concluded with that in mind: in a logic of R&D, expertise and exchange.”
At the present time, it is difficult to know which of the functions included in the connected watch will appeal most to Team Vitality’s professional players. “We can imagine that in games like Counter-Strike or League of Legends, the watch can be used in the key moments of the game and provide additional information or DATA, allowing players to make the right decisions at the right time. It is important to remember that esports is based on two essential principles: decision-making and mechanical execution. These choices are made in record time, when every second counts. This is where the watch will have a role to play.”
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AMD Ryzen and Radeon hardware will be used across S8UL’s esports, streaming and creator workflows as the Indian org ramps up its EWC push.
S8UL has signed a strategic partnership with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) ahead of its Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 campaign, as the Indian esports and gaming content organization targets further international expansion.
Under the agreement, AMD will equip S8UL’s players and creators with AMD Ryzen
AI 400 Series processor-based PCs, AMD Ryzen 9000 Series processors, and AMD Radeon RX 9000 Series graphics cards for gaming, streaming, content creation and general productivity.
The deal lands as S8UL prepares for EWC 2026 after being selected for the Esports World Cup Foundation’s Club Partner Program for a second consecutive year. The organization said it has already secured qualification spots in Apex Legends, Chess, Fortnite, Honor of Kings, and Trackmania, while continuing to pursue additional slots in other titles. The partnership also follows S8UL onboarding Campa Energy as the Title Sponsor for its EWC 2026 campaign.
“S8UL has always focused on both competitive success and content creation. As we prepare for the Esports World Cup, AMD’s technology will support our players and creators across competition, streaming and content production. We’re excited to work together as we continue to grow our presence globally,” said Animesh ‘Thug’ Agarwal, Co-Founder and CEO, S8UL.
“India’s gaming ecosystem is expanding beyond competition, with creators playing an increasingly important role in how communities connect and grow,” said Vinay Sinha, Managing Director, Sales, AMD India. “Organizations like S8UL are helping shape that evolution, and we’re excited to support their players and creators with AMD technology as they continue to engage gaming and creators’ communities in India and around the world.”
EWC 2026 is scheduled for July 6 to August 23, with the Esports World Cup organisers stating it will feature more than 2,000 players and 200 clubs from over 100 countries competing for a $75 million prize pool.
The post S8UL partners with AMD ahead of Esports World Cup 2026 campaign appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
The Esports Awards and the Esports Foundation (EF) on June 18, 2026, announced a three-year extension of their partnership through 2028 and introduced a new player-voted honor, the EWC Players’ Choice Award. The announcement was made in London, with voting tied to Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 in Paris.
The EWC Players’ Choice Award will be decided exclusively by professional esports players. According to the announcement, competitors attending EWC 2026 will vote in person, while a secure digital voting platform hosted by the Esports Awards will allow participation from additional eligible players and clubs.
Eligibility requires players to have competed in at least one qualifying S, A or B-Tier tournament during the official competitive season. Players will not be able to vote for themselves or teammates, with the Esports Awards overseeing the process.
“The talent and innovation of our sector should be getting the exposure it deserves.,” said Michael Ashford, CEO of the Esports Awards. “The Esports Foundation has done an incredible job in generating mainstream attention, and industry exposure outside of the standard circuit. Our partnership has enabled us to expand our operations and footprint and it’s through our continued collaboration that I hope we can bring the Esports Awards to the global community, and provide the industry with better visibility all year round.”
The Esports Awards also confirmed its 2026 ceremony will take place in the United States, starting what it described as a rotating host city model featuring “previously unvisited destinations.” The event previously staged its 2024 awards ceremony and the 2025 Decade Awards in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as part of the Esports World Cup program.
EWC 2026 is scheduled for Paris from July 06 through August 23, 2026, with more than 2,000 players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries set to compete in 25 tournaments across 24 games. Voting for the EWC Players’ Choice Award will run from July 1 through August 18, 2026, with the winner to be revealed during the Esports Awards ceremony later this year. The Esports Awards said additional details about its 2026 event will be announced in the coming weeks.
The post Esports Awards adds player-voted EWC Players’ Choice Award, extends Esports Foundation deal appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
The Esports Foundation (EF) has completed the online regional qualifiers for the Chess tournament at the Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC), scheduled to debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2-29, 2026.
EF said the 128-player chess field is now largely set. 64 players from 64 countries and territories received direct invitations via official Champions Chess Tour (CCT) rankings at the end of May, while 61 players qualified through online regional events operated by Chess.com across North America, South America, Africa, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East/India/Central Asia, and East Asia/Southeast Asia/Oceania.
A further slot was awarded to Amani Alazmi (Kuwait) via the Host Region Wildcard as the next highest-placing competitor from the host region. Two Wildcard Solidarity slots for underrepresented regions remain and will be announced at the end of August after all ENC qualifiers are completed. With qualifiers concluded, EF said at least 82 countries and territories will be represented in chess at ENC 2026.
EF highlighted that Jamaica, Paraguay, Singapore, South Africa, Tajikistan, Tunisia, and Turkmenistan each secured two qualifying slots despite not receiving a direct invitation. Honduras, Mexico, El Salvador, Venezuela, Morocco, Nigeria, Algeria, Jordan, Australia, and New Zealand secured one slot each.
The chess competition runs November 2-8. EF said the event will open with a round-robin group stage featuring 16 groups of eight players, before moving to a 64-player single-elimination playoff bracket. The full list of qualified players and nations is available on the ENC website’s chess page.
The post ENC 2026 chess qualifiers wrap as 82 nations and territories make the field appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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