eSports

EXCEL ESPORTS partners with fitness equipment manufacturer Eleiko to enhance LEC performance

Published

5 years ago

January 28, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The partnership will see Eleiko supply EXCEL ESPORTS’ League of Legends’ team with world leading fitness equipment, helping to better EXCEL’s performance strategy

British competitive gaming culture brand EXCEL ESPORTS has today announced a supplier partnership with the world leader in weightlifting equipment, Eleiko. As the Official Fitness Equipment Supplier, Eleiko will supply EXCEL’s League of Legends Championship (LEC) team with a selection of equipment at the player facilities in Berlin that will assist with performance and fitness training.

The announcement follows EXCEL’s brand update that saw it begin forging its own unique path in esports through its new belief in the Power of Better, which sees the team driven by performance and incorporates purpose in order to be better and create positive change in esports and gaming.

EXCEL ESPORTS’ League of Legends players are provided with a holistic, professional performance programme that incorporates both physical and psychological training and support and is spearheaded by the team’s Head of Performance Fabian Broich and Performance Manager Simon Bayer. The partnership with Eleiko will see the team utilise Eleiko’s equipment to support the players individual and team physical training regimes to prepare them throughout the 2021 Spring Split.

EXCEL’s LEC team officially kicked off its 2021 LEC campaign this past weekend with the team bidding to follow up on a successful 2020 Summer Split after narrowly missing out on playoffs. Each year EXCEL’s LEC team has improved significantly, surpassing the performance of the previous year with 2020 marking its best result to date. With a roster of long-standing EXCEL players and promising new talent, EXCEL is looking to continue to improve its results in the LEC in 2021.

The LEC is Europe’s leading League of Legends esports league and represents the highest level of esports competition in the region. Watched by millions of esports fans every week, the league is home to the best 10 teams in Europe who each year represent their region at the League of Legends World Championship.

“At EXCEL improvement never stops and we are always striving to be better. We have big ambitions for 2021 and it’s great to work with a partner like Eleiko who really understands the fitness environment and can provide us with the tools to reach our goals. Performance is a real focal point at EXCEL and it’s great we are able to provide our players with world-class equipment where they can train in a safe environment, ” said Robin McCammon, Chief Commercial Officer, EXCEL.

“EXCEL recently released a whitepaper called “Gaming for Better” which details how regular exercise has a positive impact on a professional gamers lifestyle and wellbeing and how physical health is vital to performance in gaming. The partnership with Eleiko allows us to improve our training regime even more and comes at the perfect time for the LEC Spring Split and while gyms are closed due to COVID. Partnering with Eleiko has given us an opportunity to create our own gym to adapt to the circumstances and find solutions to stabilize our players’ health and performance,” said Fabian Broich, Head of Performance at EXCEL.

”At Eleiko, we understand the difference a sharp mind and body makes. Strength training provides esports athletes with a competitive edge: enhanced memory, endurance and cognitive functions, faster reaction time and greater grip strength. We are proud to support EXCEL’s LEC team in their high-performance training as well as in their esports success,” says Erik Blomberg, CEO at Eleiko.

8bit Binks

S8UL Esports Triumphs in VCSA 2026 Split 1: A Grand Final Masterclass

Published

3 days ago

April 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

s8ul-esports-triumphs-in-vcsa-2026-split-1:-a-grand-final-masterclass

In a heart-pounding display of tactical precision and mental fortitude, S8UL Esports has been crowned the VALORANT Challengers South Asia (VCSA) 2026 Split 1 Champions. The victory came after an intense five-map Grand Final against Revenant Xspark, where S8UL emerged victorious with a 3-2 scoreline, solidifying their dominance in the regional VCT ecosystem.

With this win, S8UL takes home the lion’s share of the prize pool—INR ₹9,00,000—and sets a high benchmark for the remainder of the 2026 season.

The Road to the Trophy

S8UL’s journey through Split 1 was a testament to their growth following the 2025 season. Their path to the podium included:

League Phase Dominance: Consistent performance against seven of South Asia’s elite teams.
Semifinal Sweep: A commanding 2-0 victory over Asterisk, showcasing a roster peaking at the perfect moment.
The 5-Map Thriller: A back-and-forth Grand Final against Revenant Xspark that tested the limits of both skill and composure.

Strategic Growth and Leadership

The victory highlights the successful vision of Mithul “8bit Binks” Nayak, the driving force behind this revamped roster. Under the leadership of veteran captain Ganesh “SkRossi” Gangadhar, the team displayed evolved coordination and the ability to clutch out decisive rounds under immense pressure.

“Winning Split 1 gives us confidence, but we know the season is long,” said SkRossi. “I’m proud of how the team stayed focused in the crucial moments.”

Impact on the VCT Ecosystem

VCSA Split 1 serves as the critical pathway for South Asian teams to climb into the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT). By securing the first title of the year, S8UL not only establishes themselves as the team to beat but also positions themselves favorably for international qualification opportunities in Split 2 and beyond.

Animesh ‘Thug’ Agarwal, Co-Founder and CEO of S8UL, noted: “The team showed incredible composure in a high-pressure final. This result is a testament to the work they’ve been putting in behind the scenes. We’ve always believed in this roster.”

The post S8UL Esports Triumphs in VCSA 2026 Split 1: A Grand Final Masterclass appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

eSports

Esports Awards 2026 Returns for Global Honors

Published

6 days ago

April 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

esports-awards-2026-returns-for-global-honors

The Esports Awards is set to return in 2026, bringing together the global esports community for its annual celebration of excellence.

Scheduled to take place in North America later this year, the awards will honor the top players, teams, creators, and innovators who defined the past year in competitive gaming. Exact dates and venues will be revealed in the coming months.

Last year marked a major milestone for the Esports Awards, celebrating 10 years of esports achievements at the HyperX Arena in Las Vegas. The ceremony recognized industry icons such as Mathieu “Zywoo” Herbaut, iShowSpeed, and Animesh “Thug” Agarwal, while inducting six new members into the Lifetime Achievement in Esports: Class of 2025. Earlier in 2025, the Esports Awards hosted the one-off Decade Awards, which drew a global audience of 36.25 million live viewers.

For the 2026 edition, fan-favorite categories such as Esports Game of the Year, Esports Personality of the Year, Streamer of the Year, and Esports Team of the Year will return, giving fans a direct voice in recognizing the standout moments and figures in esports over the past year. Winners will be determined through a combination of community voting and input from the Esports Awards Panel, which includes seasoned industry veterans, broadcasters, creators, and professional players, ensuring both credibility and integrity.

In addition to the main ceremony, the Esports Awards Golf Invitational will make a comeback, offering a day of networking and friendly competition for industry leaders, creators, and esports competitors ahead of the awards.

Michael Ashford, CEO of the Esports Awards, said: “The Esports Awards continues to shine a spotlight on the very best in esports and gaming, and we’re pleased to return for 2026. Following the success of the Decade Awards and our 10th anniversary celebrations, we look forward to recognizing the individuals, teams, and moments that defined the past year in esports.”

Fans are encouraged to follow the Esports Awards’ official X account for updates on venues, dates, nominees, and voting.

The post Esports Awards 2026 Returns for Global Honors appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

eSports

THE ESPORTS AWARDS RETURNS IN 2026 FOR A CELEBRATION OF ESPORTS EXCELLENCE

Published

6 days ago

April 7, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

the-esports-awards-returns-in-2026-for-a-celebration-of-esports-excellence

The Esports Awards will return later this year for its 2026 edition, taking place in North America and honouring the outstanding players, teams, creators and innovators of the past year in esports
Last year marked a major milestone for the Esports Awards, celebrating 10 years of excellence at the HyperX Arena, alongside the one-off Decade Awards, which reached 36.25M live views globally
The Esports Awards Golf Invitational will also return, bringing together industry leaders, creators and competitors for a day of networking and competition ahead of the main ceremony
Full details on the venue, date, nominees and voting will be revealed in the coming months

The Esports Awards has announced the return of its annual ceremony for 2026. Bringing together the global esports community under one roof, the Esports Awards will once again recognise the players, teams, creators and innovators who have defined the past year. The ceremony will take place in North America later this year, with exact dates and venue to be revealed in the coming months.

Last year’s edition of the Esports Awards marked a significant milestone, celebrating 10 years of esports excellence at the HyperX Arena in Las Vegas. The ceremony honoured some of the industry’s most recognised figures, including Mathieu “Zywoo” Herbaut, iShowSpeed and Animesh “Thug” Agarwal, while welcoming six new inductees into the Lifetime Achievement in Esports: Class of 2025 award. Earlier in the year, the Esports Awards also hosted the one-off Decade Awards in August, presented by Trevor “Quickshot” Henry, Jessica “JessGOAT” Bolden and Barney Banks, reaching 36.25M live views globally.

For the 2026 edition, fan-favourite categories including Esports Game of the Year, Esports Personality of the Year, Streamer of the Year and Esports Team of the Year will return, giving the community a voice in recognising the moments and individuals that shaped the past year in esports.

Winners will be determined through a combination of community voting and input from the Esports Awards Panel, a group of industry veterans, broadcasters, creators and players, ensuring the integrity and credibility of the awards.

In addition to the main ceremony, the Esports Awards Golf Invitational will return, bringing together industry leaders, creators and competitors for a day of networking and competition ahead of the awards.

“The Esports Awards continues to shine a spotlight on the very best in esports and gaming, and we’re pleased to return for 2026” said Michael Ashford, CEO of the Esports Awards. “Following the success of the Decade Awards and our 10th anniversary celebrations, we look forward to recognising the individuals, teams and moments that defined the past year in esports.”

Further updates regarding the venue, date, nominees and voting will be announced in the coming months. Fans are encouraged to follow the Esports Awards’ X account for the latest updates.

The post THE ESPORTS AWARDS RETURNS IN 2026 FOR A CELEBRATION OF ESPORTS EXCELLENCE appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.