eSports

Team Vitality unveils partnership with Garmin

Published

5 years ago

January 22, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

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.”

chess

Team Vitality re-signs Javokhir Sindarov for 2026–2027 chess roster

Published

16 hours ago

April 23, 2026

Wladimir P.

team-vitality-re-signs-javokhir-sindarov-for-2026–2027-chess-roster

Team Vitality has re-signed chess player Javokhir Sindarov to its Chess roster for 2026 and 2027, bringing the 2025 FIDE World Cup winner back to the organisation.

The club said Sindarov is coming off a win at the 2026 Candidates Tournament, positioning him for a potential world title match against reigning champion Gukesh Dommaraju.

“We are incredibly proud to welcome Javokhir back to Team Vitality. He represents the new generation of chess: bold, ambitious, and unafraid to make big moves. His trajectory speaks for itself, and we know he has everything it takes to become the next World Champion,” said Danny Engels, Chief International Officer at Team Vitality. “This signing is a natural step in our ambition to be at the forefront of chess and esports, and to bring the game to new audiences around the world.”

Team Vitality also pointed to Sindarov’s interest in gaming—specifically Counter-Strike—as a fit with the organisation’s esports positioning. His next scheduled appearance under Team Vitality is the Chess.com Open, running April 23–26.

The post Team Vitality re-signs Javokhir Sindarov for 2026–2027 chess roster appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

creator-economy

Red Bull runs one-day Balatro speedrun event, Boss Rush, on April 17

Published

6 days ago

April 17, 2026

Wladimir P.

red-bull-runs-one-day-balatro-speedrun-event,-boss-rush,-on-april-17

Eight creators compete across five timed stages with eliminations, broadcast on Red Bull’s Twitch and YouTube channels.

Red Bull will stage a one-day Balatro speedrun competition, Red Bull Boss Rush, on April 17, 2026. The event brings together eight creators for timed runs in the roguelike deckbuilder, with viewers able to follow via individual creator POV streams and a central hub broadcast.

The competitor lineup includes Red Bull Player Ludwig, plus The Spiffing Brit, FrostPrime, Feinberg, Adef, Yahiamice, mbtyugioh and dreads. Red Bull said live commentary will be provided by esports host Yinsu ‘Yinsu’ Collins, card-game specialist Blake ‘Rarran’ Eram, and DrSpectered.

Boss Rush is structured as five 30-minute stages, with players ranked by completion time. Red Bull said the opening three stages use a shared random seed with unlimited resets, and points are awarded by placement each stage; the bottom four are eliminated after stage 3. Stage 4 determines the finalists, followed by a final winner-takes-all matchup.

The event also includes a downloadable Red Bull Boss Rush mod featuring a custom-branded deck and new Red Bull-themed Jokers, Bosses and Skip Tags. Red Bull highlighted additions including ‘Witch’, ‘Princess and Frog’, ‘Zebra’, Old Dog, ‘Pirate’, ‘Genie’, ‘Prince Charming’, and ‘Jester’, each designed to alter scoring or run economics.

Red Bull Boss Rush will stream on twitch.tv/redbull and Red Bull’s YouTube Gaming channel. Scan is supplying gaming PCs for the competition, according to the company.

Relevant data as follows:

Red Bull Gaming on Twitch; https://www.twitch.tv/redbull Primary broadcast destination for the event.
Red Bull Gaming on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/redbullgaming Secondary broadcast destination cited in the release.
Red Bull Gaming: https://www.redbull.com/ Official Red Bull site for event context and confirmation.
Balatro on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2379780/Balatro/ Authoritative reference for the game featured in the competition.
Scan Computers: https://www.scan.co.uk/ PC supplier mentioned as providing systems for the event.

The post Red Bull runs one-day Balatro speedrun event, Boss Rush, on April 17 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Asia

S8UL signs Team Question Mark roster for PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS ahead of EWC 2026

Published

1 week ago

April 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

s8ul-signs-team-question-mark-roster-for-pubg:-battlegrounds-ahead-of-ewc-2026

The CIS-based EMEA lineup brings past EWC experience and titles including PUBG Global Series 8 as S8UL targets Riyadh qualification.

S8UL has signed the Team Question Mark (QM) roster to represent the organisation in PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS on PC ahead of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026. The deal was announced April 16 from Mumbai as S8UL prepares for the tournament in Riyadh, scheduled for July 21 to 26.

The CIS-based EMEA lineup includes:

captain Roman Zinovev (ADOUZ1E),
Andrey Ionov (Bestoloch),
Mansur Tsimpaev (f1lfirst),
Nikita Odobesku (Molodoct),
and coach Yermek Torebekov (Ermaak).

S8UL said the roster will compete through the qualification pathway for a place in the 24-team event, which has a $2 million prize pool.

S8UL is adding a roster with a proven record in top-tier PUBG competition, including wins at PUBG Continental Series 7 Europe 2022 and PUBG Global Series 8 in 2025. The team has also posted a Top 3 finish at PUBG Global Series 2 in 2023 and a Top 7 finish at PUBG Global Championship 2022. The organisation said the roster has competed at both previous editions of the EWC in 2024 and 2025 and has amassed approximately $713,000 in total prize winnings.

Commenting on the move, Naman Mathur, Co-founder, S8UL said, “Signing the QM roster is a significant step for us as we continue to strengthen our presence in global esports. PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS is one of the most competitive titles in the world, and this team has consistently proven itself against the very best. At a broader level, this move reflects the direction S8UL is heading in. Over the past year, we have focused on building depth across our rosters and competing consistently at the highest level. As we prepare for the Esports World Cup 2026, we are committed to providing the team with the right support and resources as they aim to make a strong impact in the qualifiers as well as on the global stage.”

Roman Zinovev aka ADOUZ1E added, “Becoming part of S8UL is a big opportunity for us as a team. As a team, we’ve always believed in our ability to compete with the best in the world, and having the backing of a global organisation allows us to push even further. With the Esports World Cup coming up, we’re focused on working through the qualifiers and making sure we deliver performances that match our potential.,”

S8UL said the announcement follows its selection as a Club Partner by the Esports Foundation (EF), placing it among 40 global organisations. The organisation has also listed 13 titles it plans to enter for EWC 2026, including PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, Apex Legends, Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), Call of Duty: Warzone, Chess, EA Sports FC, FATAL Fury, Fortnite, Honor of Kings, MOBA Legends 5V5, Street Fighter 6, TEKKEN 8, and Trackmania.

Relevant data as follows:

S8UL Esports: https://s8ul.gg/ Official organisation site for roster and announcement verification.
PUBG Esports (PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS competitive updates): https://pubgesports.com/ Authoritative source for PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS esports circuits, event results, and qualifiers.
Esports World Cup (official site): https://esportsworldcup.com/ Event organiser site for EWC 2026 schedule, formats, and prize pool confirmation.

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