eSports
RIOT GAMES, FREAKS 4U GAMING and SPORTFIVE partner up to produce and commercialize the 2021 VALORANT CHAMPIONS TOUR

Riot Games and Freaks 4U Gaming have agreed to a partnership for the tournament organization and broadcasting of the 2021 VALORANT Champions Tour. SPORTFIVE complements the partnership as a comprehensive marketing partner for the Challengers, Challenger Finals and Last Chance Qualifiers in Europe, CIS countries and Turkey.
Esports publisher Riot Games, Freaks 4U Gaming, one of the leading esports content creators worldwide, and global sports business agency SPORTFIVE have joined forces to establish and commercialize the first edition of the VALORANT Champions Tour in Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and Turkey.
Last November, Riot Games announced the 2021 VALORANT Champions Tour as a global competitive gaming ecosystem with the goal of making VALORANT the next big cross-generational esports title.
For broadcasting and tournament organization in Europe, CIS countries, and Turkey, Riot Games has secured the full expertise of Freaks 4U Gaming, building upon their existing League of Legends collaboration in the German speaking markets. As well as producing the main broadcasts in each territory, Freaks 4U Gaming will also localize the broadcasts in German (via Agent’s Range) and French (via 1PV).
To ensure the best possible coverage on the marketing side, SPORTFIVE complements the strategic collaboration to acquire potent partners for the 2021 VALORANT Challengers, Challenger Finals and Last Chance Qualifiers in Europe, CIS countries and Turkey together with Freaks 4U Gaming as a co-commercialization partner.
Daniel Ringland, Head of VALORANT Esports for Europe and MENA at Riot Games, said:
“We couldn’t be more excited to launch our partnership with Freaks 4U Gaming and SPORTFIVE to bring the future of VALORANT esports to Europe, Turkey, and the CIS. Both companies bring a wealth of experience, expertise, and enthusiasm to the table and I’m confident that together we will build something fans love.”
Michael Haenisch, CEO at Freaks 4U Gaming, said:
”We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Riot Games and to closely collaborate on the creation of the VALORANT esports eco-system by producing and broadcasting the 2021 VALORANT Champions Tour in Europe, CIS and Turkey. Together with Riot Games and SPORTFIVE, we aim to build a sustainable foundation for VALORANT esports by establishing meaningful brand partnerships leading to a great player and viewer experience.”
Thomas Ottl, Executive Director Global Esports at SPORTFIVE, added:
“Being responsible for the marketing mandate for one of the hottest esports titles of the upcoming years is a tremendous pleasure for us. With our expertise and our global sales force, we’re excited to open up a unique opportunity for brands to become a top-tier partner. Furthermore, to enlarge our portfolio within our partnership with Freaks 4U Gaming and Riot Games makes us excited and is a great next step in our relationship.”
Earlier this month the VALORANT Champions Tour kicked off in Europe with the first of three Challenger tournaments in Stage 01, followed by the first of three Challenger tournaments in the CIS and Turkey last weekend. During the Challengers, participating teams play for a total prize pool of EUR 177,500 and the qualification for the first 2021 VALORANT Masters event in March, where additional USD 300,000 prize money will be at stake.
The three Regional Challengers and the Masters will be played entirely online with top matches streamed on the respective Twitch and YouTube streams.
Powered by WPeMatico
Beşiktaş Esports
HAVIT Partners with Three Top International Esports Teams to Expand Global Presence

Reading Time: < 1 minute
HAVIT, a leading global consumer tech brand, officially announced strategic partnerships with three internationally renowned esports teams: Brazil’s Vivo Keyd Stars, Turkiye’s Galatasaray Esports and Beşiktaş Esports. This marks a new stage in HAVIT’s global esports expansion, further strengthening its influence in the global esports ecosystem.
HAVIT has achieved remarkable results in the esports sector across both the Turkish and Latin American markets.
In Turkiye, HAVIT’s gaming headsets consistently rank No.1 on the leading platform Trendyol. To further integrate into the local esports ecosystem, HAVIT partners with Galatasaray Esports and Beşiktaş Esports, celebrated for their prestigious legacy and youthful energy, each with a massive fan base. This collaboration not only reinforces HAVIT’s market leadership but also deepens its connection with the local esports community.
Moreover, HAVIT enters the second year of its partnership with Vivo Keyd Stars, Brazil’s leading esports team, providing high-performance gaming gear to support the team’s play. With HAVIT’s gear and their own relentless drive, VKS won the championship in LTA South 2025 Split 3 and will represent Brazil at the 2025 League of Legends World Championship. This partnership underscores both the team’s strength and HAVIT’s commitment to empowering Brazil’s esports development.
Brand Vision: Build a Global Esports Network
This strategic partnership across Brazil and Turkiye is a key step in HAVIT’s regional market expansion and lays a solid foundation for HAVIT’s future presence in wider esports ecosystems of Europe, the Americas and beyond.
“Partnering with these teams is a crucial implementation of HAVIT’s ‘For Fun. For Games. For Champions’ vision. By merging technology with esports, we aim to inspire gamers worldwide to break boundaries and shape the future of gaming,” Doug Pollard said.
The post HAVIT Partners with Three Top International Esports Teams to Expand Global Presence appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
2XKO
DATA.BET the First to Launch 2XKO Offering

Reading Time: < 1 minute
Introducing Riot Games’ newest title to the esports landscape
DATA.BET, the award-winning sports betting solution supplier, has pioneered the betting market by launching 2XKO, a new dynamic competitive format.
2XKO marks a new addition to the global esports scene. With its fast-paced, double-elimination structure, it brings a distinctive rhythm of short yet high-stakes matches — a setup that potentially opens new avenues for betting engagement and audience retention as the format evolves.
At this stage, DATA.BET’s coverage focuses on key pre-match markets, including Winner and To Reach the Final for overall tournament outcomes, as well as Winner within individual matches. During the final stages of the competition, the company also plans to expand its offering with Map Winner markets for each map.
What makes 2XKO unique is the combination of short-form, high-intensity gameplay. This setup maximizes player engagement, mirroring the popularity of competitive fighting games worldwide while translating seamlessly into a betting environment.
DATA.BET debuted its 2XKO betting coverage at the upcoming 2 NICE KO tournament in Nice, France (Oct 10–12, 2025), featuring nearly 300 players across top fighting titles.
Bogdan Holovnov, Head of Esports at DATA.BET, said: “Esports thrives on creativity and innovation, and 2XKO is the perfect example of how new formats can drive excitement for players and bettors alike. At DATA.BET, we’re proud to be the first to bring this to market — giving our partners exclusive access to content that captures the speed, intensity, and global appeal of fighting games. This launch reinforces our commitment to expanding esports betting with fresh, high-impact experiences.”
The post DATA.BET the First to Launch 2XKO Offering appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Akshat Rathee
PlayStation and NODWIN Gaming Announce the Fourth Edition of the PlayStation India Cup Featuring EA SPORTS FC 26

Reading Time: 2 minutes
NODWIN Gaming, a leader in new-age youth entertainment, gaming and esports, has announced the fourth edition of the PlayStation India Cup, featuring EA SPORTS FC 26, exclusively on PS5 console.
The tournament marks the return of India’s only official console esports tournament, and features daily online qualifiers, followed by an online playoffs. The top 8 players will progress to the grand finale, which will take place during Delhi Comic Con at NSIC Grounds, Okhla, New Delhi, from 5th December to 7th December 2025. Fans will witness the country’s top EA FC 26 players competing for a total prize pool of ₹4,00,000. With the rise of football fandom in India and the ever-growing EA SPORTS FC community, this year’s championship promises bigger competition and unmatched excitement.
The previous edition of the India Cup Finals at Delhi Comic Con 2024 also featured an immersive PlayStation gaming pavilion with hands-on demos and live commentary, which saw strong engagement from Comic Con attendees.
This year, in addition to the sizable prize pool, all finalists will receive official PlayStation merchandise, making the competition even more rewarding for players who make it to the big stage.
How to Register
Registrations for the PlayStation India Cup started on October 08, 2025. Players across India can participate in the daily online qualifiers through the following steps:
Step-by-Step Registration Process
Step 1: Boot up the PlayStation 5 and ensure it is connected to the internet.
Step 2: Navigate to the “Events” or “Tournaments” section on the PS5 dashboard.
Step 3: Look for the “PlayStation India Cup FC 26” (EA SPORTS FC 26) tournament listing.
Step 4: Select the tournament and follow the on-screen prompts to complete registration.
Step 5: Confirm participation and monitor notifications for match schedules or additional requirements.
The Daily Cups conclude on November 10, 2025. Players are encouraged to register early to secure their spot in the daily qualifiers.
Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, said: “The console esports scene in India is a premium niche, and the PlayStation India Cup with EA FC captures that perfectly. Delhi Comic Con, where our journey began over a decade ago, provides the ideal stage, bringing together fans who love both pop culture and competitive gaming. Hosting the tournament in our 40,000 sq. ft. Gaming Arena adds to the festive spirit of Comic Con, where football fans can compete, cheer, and experience EA FC like never before. It’s a true celebration of Delhi’s vibrant fandom and the growing console esports community in India.”
The tournament will be amplified with influencer-led content, live streams and weekly updates, ensuring both players and fans remain engaged throughout the journey.
The post PlayStation and NODWIN Gaming Announce the Fourth Edition of the PlayStation India Cup Featuring EA SPORTS FC 26 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
booth 5028-27 days ago
Redefine the Rules: GR8 Tech’s Heavyweight Rulebook Lands at SiGMA Central Europe 2025
-
Akshat Rathee4 days ago
PlayStation and NODWIN Gaming Announce the Fourth Edition of the PlayStation India Cup Featuring EA SPORTS FC 26
-
Belatra5 days ago
Belatra set to unearth ancient treasures at SiGMA Central Europe
-
Asia6 days ago
Indian Government Releases Draft Rules for Online Gaming Act 2025
-
Asia5 days ago
KONAMI Teams Up with Sunil Chhetri to Celebrate Diwali with Exclusive eFootball™ Content and National Tournament
-
2026 conference chairs6 days ago
Regulating the Game issues call for 2026 conference chairs
-
BetterGambling5 days ago
BetterGambling Exclusive Report: 800+ UK Casino Operators Face Closure as 2026 Regulations Trigger Industry Apocalypse
-
Compliance Updates5 days ago
MGA Introduces Self-Assessment Tool to Help Individuals Assess Gambling Habits