Latest News

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.

eSports

Esports Foundation names Faker Game Ambassador for EWC and ENC through 2028

Published

3 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

esports-foundation-names-faker-game-ambassador-for-ewc-and-enc-through-2028

Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok joins Cristiano Ronaldo and Magnus Carlsen in the Esports Foundation’s Ambassador Program.

The Esports Foundation (EF) has appointed Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok as a Game Ambassador for the Esports World Cup (EWC) and Esports Nations Cup (ENC) through 2028, the organization said on July 15, 2026 in a statement issued from Riyadh and Paris.

EF said Faker joins Cristiano Ronaldo, listed as the Foundation’s Global Ambassador, and Magnus Carlsen as part of the Esports Foundation Ambassador Program. The Foundation said Faker will represent “the perspective of esports players” across its international events, athlete initiatives, media engagements and leadership forums.

“You can’t talk about esports without mentioning Faker. He is the defining athlete of competitive gaming: a champion whose excellence, discipline and longevity have inspired an entire generation,” said Ralf Reichert, Chief Executive Officer of the Esports Foundation. “As our Game Ambassador, Faker represents something fundamental to the Ambassador Program: esports creates its own global sporting icons. Across EWC, ENC and NGSC, he will help ensure that the players who built this sport have a voice in shaping where it goes next.”

Faker said: “Competition has shaped my life, and I am proud to join the Esports Foundation as Game Ambassador. I want to continue competing for the biggest titles with T1 while representing the players and fans who have helped esports grow worldwide. Through the Esports World Cup, Esports Nations Cup and the Foundation’s wider platforms, I hope to inspire the next generation to pursue excellence, remain resilient and believe in how far competitive gaming can take them. There is still much more to achieve.”

EF highlighted Faker’s competitive record, describing him as a six-time League of Legends World Champion, EWC 2024 winner, two-time MSI champion and ten-time domestic champion with T1. The Foundation also said Faker became the first esports athlete to receive the Blue Dragon Medal in 2026, describing it as the Republic of Korea’s highest sporting honor awarded by President Lee Jae-myung.

The post Esports Foundation names Faker Game Ambassador for EWC and ENC through 2028 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Brand Partnerships

Midnite signs as Middlesbrough FC principal partner for 2026/27 season

Published

10 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

midnite-signs-as-middlesbrough-fc-principal-partner-for-2026/27-season

Midnite has agreed a partnership with Middlesbrough FC that will see the UK bookmaker become the club’s principal partner and front-of-shirt sponsor for the 2026/27 campaign, which Middlesbrough describes as its landmark 150th season.

The companies announced the deal alongside a fan activation at Riverside Stadium on Thursday, July 9, branded “This Season’s On Us”. The initiative offered supporters prizes including 2026/27 season tickets, 2026/27 shirts, match tickets, or a £25 club shop voucher, with fans required to answer Middlesbrough trivia and complete a football challenge.

Middlesbrough former players Craig Hignett and David Wheater attended the event, and, according to the company, took bonus attempts on behalf of participants who missed out.

Andrew Mook, Midnite’s Head of Brand Marketing, said:

“Middlesbrough have a storied history and we’re delighted to announce this partnership during such a monumental year with the club celebrating their 150th anniversary.

“It was great to see so many Middlesbrough fans at the “This Season’s On Us” activation, we hope they enjoyed taking part and meeting club legends, with David Wheater hitting top bins on several occasions and allowing fans to win big with season tickets.

“We can’t wait to get to Riverside Stadium in August to kick-off a new season and we’re excited to say that we have plenty of new and captivating campaigns planned.”

Lee Fryett, Middlesbrough FC Chief Commercial Officer, added:

“We’re delighted to welcome Midnite as our new Principal Partner.

“We’re looking forward to working closely with Midnite to develop engaging campaigns, content and unique experiences that bring our fans even closer to the club.

“We’re confident this partnership will provide real value for our supporters while supporting our ambitions both on and off the pitch.”

The post Midnite signs as Middlesbrough FC principal partner for 2026/27 season appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AGCO

ThrillTech secures AGCO supplier licence for Ontario launch

Published

10 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

thrilltech-secures-agco-supplier-licence-for-ontario-launch

ThrillTech has been awarded a Gaming-Related Supplier licence by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), clearing the company to launch in Ontario’s regulated market.

The licence allows ThrillTech to deploy its opt-in side bet jackpots technology with regulated online casino, sports betting and lottery operators across the province.

Benjamin Bradtke, Co-Founder of ThrillTech, said: “Securing our AGCO licence is a major step in our mission to transform how jackpots are delivered at scale across regulated markets. This latest certification is testament to our robust technology and trusted compliance frameworks, allowing us to continue our global growth trajectory. We are thrilled to bring our proven, compliant jackpot technology to Ontario, empowering locally licensed operators to uplift revenue without cannibalising existing spend.”

The company said its “ThrillPots” mechanics sit as an independent, player-funded side bet and do not alter the underlying game’s return-to-player mathematics.

ThrillTech said the Ontario approval enables its existing multinational partners that also operate in the province to launch its side bet jackpots locally, while it also holds talks with potential new operator partners. The company lists its regulated footprint as including the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Romania, Malta, Gibraltar, Brazil and Peru.

The post ThrillTech secures AGCO supplier licence for Ontario launch appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.