eSports
2020/21 ePremier League season resumes with Club Playoffs
- ePremier League Playoffs kick off today with Chelsea, Manchester City and Newcastle United, and run until Wednesday 3 March
- Some of the world’s best FIFA pros will go up against amateur gamers to see who reaches the ePL Finals, with two Leeds United first-team players also taking part
- The ePL Finals will take place from 23-26 March, with players competing for the honour of ePL Champion, a prize pool of £40,000 and all-important seats in the EA SPORTS FIFA 21 Global Series European Playoffs
- Playoff results will be available on e.premierleague.com
The ePremier League 2020/21 Club Playoffs begin today, as EA SPORTS
Thousands of competitors took part in this season’s online qualification on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The winners from that stage will now represent their teams in the Club Playoffs to see if they have what it takes to reach the Finals and ultimately be crowned ePL champion 2020/21.
All 20 Premier League clubs will be hosting a Playoff between today and Wednesday 3 March, with a selection of the world’s best players going up against some relatively unknown contenders.
Last year’s winner Thomas ‘Hashtag Tom’ Leese will be defending his crown as he represents Tottenham Hotspur, while the inaugural champion Donovan ‘Fnatic Tekkz’ Hunt player is once again competing for Liverpool.
There will also be two Premier League stars taking part, as Patrick Bamford and Gjanni Alioski will be competing in the Leeds United Playoff on Tuesday 2 March.
Last season’s ePL runner-up Marc Marley turns out for Brighton & Hove Albion, with other recognisable names from the FIFA world going for glory including Jamie ‘Jamboo’ Rigden (Fulham), Spencer ‘Gorilla’ Ealing (Sheffield United), Diogo Mendes (Chelsea), Sean ‘Dragon’ Allen (Manchester United), Reece Rusher (Southampton), Kylem ‘FUTWIZ Lyricz’ Edwards (Crystal Palace) and Manchester City duo Ryan Pessoa and Shaun ‘Shellz’ Springette.
Following the conclusion of the Playoffs, the best players from all 20 clubs on both Xbox One and PS4 will take their place in the ePL Finals from 23-26 March. The Finals will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, BT Sport, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport online. They will also be shown on Premier League channels and http://twitch.tv/EASPORTSFIFA, as well as being made available to viewers around the world by international licensees. Over the last two seasons, the ePL Finals reached more than 22 million fans.
The group stages and quarter-finals on each console will take place on 23 and 24 March. The tournament reaches a climax on Friday 26 March, when the remaining players will take part in the console semi-finals, before the console finals and cross-console final. As well as being crowned 2020/21 ePremier League champion, the winner will take home £20,000.
The 2020/21 instalment of ePL was won by Watford’s Thomas ‘Hashtag Tom’ Leese after the inaugural ePL tournament was won by World No1 Xbox One player Donovan ‘Tekkz’ Hunt on behalf of Liverpool. You can see videos from the first two ePL seasons here.
During this season’s online qualifiers, all players were required to play in 90-rated Online Friendlies mode as their chosen Premier League club. Participants in the Club Playoffs and beyond will play on FIFA Ultimate Team
ePremier League evolved during the 2019/20 season, with the introduction of the ePL Invitational tournament while football was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. This saw first-team players and other famous faces compete on behalf of all 20 Premier League clubs in an online EA SPORTS FIFA 20 tournament. Two instalments of the competition were broadcast across five continents as then-Wolverhampton Wanderers player Diogo Jota and Leicester City’s James Maddison were crowned champions.
ePremier League is operated by esports tournament organisers Gfinity. For more information visit e.premierleague.com.
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Agganis Arena
RLCS Boston Major Becomes Most Watched Event in Rocket League History
The Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) Boston Major 2026 has officially become the most-watched event in Rocket League esports history, setting a new benchmark for global engagement and competitive excellence.
Held at Agganis Arena in Boston, the Major concluded with a thrilling all-French Grand Final, where Gentlemates defeated tournament favourites Team Vitality 4:2 to claim the first Major title of the 2026 season.
Record-Breaking Viewership Milestone
The RLCS Boston Major 2026 delivered unprecedented audience numbers:
- Peak Viewers: 624,316 concurrent viewers
- Average Viewership: Over 270,000 viewers
- First RLCS event ever to surpass 600,000 concurrent viewers
This milestone represents a 33.3% increase over the previous all-time peak recorded at the 2022–23 RLCS World Championship, highlighting sustained year-over-year growth and expanding global interest in Rocket League esports.
The event’s performance reinforces RLCS as one of the fastest-growing competitive circuits in modern esports.
A Grand Final Worthy of the Record
The Boston Major culminated in a high-stakes French showdown between Gentlemates and Team Vitality. The 4:2 victory secured Gentlemates’ first Major trophy of the season and signaled a shift in competitive power dynamics heading deeper into 2026.
The all-French final further amplified international audience engagement, particularly across European broadcast markets, contributing significantly to the event’s record-breaking concurrent viewership.
Global Broadcast Reach and Multi-Language Coverage
Beyond peak numbers, the Boston Major showcased:
- Multi-language broadcast streams
- Cross-platform digital distribution
- Strong in-arena attendance
- Expanded regional fan engagement
Hosted in front of thousands of live fans at Agganis Arena, the event combined traditional arena esports spectacle with robust online streaming performance — a formula that continues to fuel RLCS’s accelerating global momentum.
What This Means for Rocket League Esports
The 2026 Boston Major marks a defining moment for the RLCS ecosystem:
- Sustained Global Growth – The consistent upward trend in viewership confirms Rocket League’s staying power within the esports landscape.
- Mainstream Momentum – Breaking the 600K peak threshold positions RLCS among elite-tier esports events globally.
- Competitive Depth – The diversity and intensity of international competition continue to elevate the broadcast product.
- Commercial Validation – Record audience metrics strengthen sponsorship, media rights, and long-term circuit investment potential.
As the 2026 season progresses, the Boston Major sets a new performance benchmark that future Majors and the World Championship will aim to surpass.
The post RLCS Boston Major Becomes Most Watched Event in Rocket League History appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Brazilian Carnival
Esportes da Sorte transforms Carnival 2026 into a nationwide immersive experience
Leading Brazilian iGaming company Esportes da Sorte has transformed Carnival 2026 into a nationwide immersive experience, activating urban art installations, hydration stations and large‑scale attractions across nine cities in Brazil. As part of its expanded cultural engagement strategy, the brand is serving as an official sponsor in key Carnival locations and delivering experiential initiatives designed for revelers in the streets and major public spaces.
Esportes da Sorte’s nationwide platform builds on its history of investing in popular culture and public events, moving beyond traditional branding to create meaningful on‑site activations that enhance the urban environment and respond to the unique character of each city’s Carnival celebrations.
In Rio de Janeiro, the company’s efforts focus on the street Carnival experience with hydration points, cool zones and shaded areas in high‑traffic celebration routes. São Paulo’s megabloc circuits feature water trucks, hydration stations and on‑site urban support.
In Recife Antigo, one of Carnival’s cultural centers, Esportes da Sorte installed a standout Ferris wheel at Marco Zero, offering panoramic views of the festivities and historic landscape. Urban transformations like video mapping on iconic buildings and aerial installations along Rua Marquês de Olinda further blend public space with the Carnival experience.
Other cities such as Olinda and Salvador also feature tailored activations, including sensory design, refreshment tunnels and themed artistic displays that align with local traditions and festival dynamics.
In addition to physical structures, the initiative includes a robust communications strategy, sensory activations, public well‑being supports and content campaigns that amplify the carnival‑street experience across digital and traditional media.
According to Germana Casal, Production Coordinator at the Esportes Gaming Brasil Group, the goal is to “be present in a meaningful way at the country’s biggest popular celebration,” respecting each city’s identity and delivering initiatives that improve the Carnival experience for participants.
Esportes da Sorte’s Carnival 2026 project builds on the brand’s presence at more than 100 Carnival parties and street blocos in 2025, reinforcing its leadership role in Brazil’s largest cultural event and deepening its connection with urban celebration culture nationwide.
The post Esportes da Sorte transforms Carnival 2026 into a nationwide immersive experience appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
chess esports
Team Vitality announces E.Leclerc as new Main Partner
Team Vitality, one of France’s leading esports organizations, has announced a strategic new partnership with French retail giant E.Leclerc, naming the supermarket chain as the club’s Main Partner for 2026.
Under the agreement, E.Leclerc’s logo will feature prominently on Team Vitality’s international team jerseys, including rosters for League of Legends (LEC and LFL), Valorant (VCT EMEA), Rocket League, Rising Bees and Chess.
Shared Values and Fan Initiatives
The partnership aims to promote accessibility, wellness, and nutrition within the esports community, while bringing gaming culture into E.Leclerc retail spaces through immersive experiences, tournaments and activations designed to engage fans across France.
Team Vitality’s holistic wellbeing program, KARE, which supports performance, nutrition and mental health, aligns closely with E.Leclerc’s focus on responsible lifestyle initiatives. Together, they plan to champion inclusivity, provide unique gaming opportunities, and celebrate esports culture in both digital and physical environments.
With a global audience exceeding 10 million followers, Team Vitality’s influence in competitive gaming makes this partnership a landmark moment for both brands. E.Leclerc’s commitment to youth engagement and cultural connection positions the retailer as a significant non‑endemic supporter of the growing esports ecosystem.
Nicolas Maurer, CEO and Co‑Founder of Team Vitality, described the alliance as a historic milestone that will broaden esports’ reach across everyday life in France and reinforce its cultural legitimacy.
The post Team Vitality announces E.Leclerc as new Main Partner appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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