Asia
TEAM VITALITY ANNOUNCES CALL OF DUTY MOBILE ROSTER
Leading global esports organisation, Team Vitality, is pleased to announce its first ever CALL OF DUTY MOBILE (CoDM) roster as a part of its commitment to esports in India. The new team, led by Arav “MonK” Narang, includes an all-Indian roster of Armaan “Moonscope” Dharni, Priyank “DEATH” Birajdar, Akshan “Argon” Madhani, Samartha Ganesh “JOKOs” Ghadge, and Samruddha “SAMS” Ghadge. The team will be coached by veteran CoD player Harnoor “Toxy” Mutneja. They will also be managed by content creator Melson “mello” Miranda.
Team Vitality’s CALL OF DUTY MOBILE (CoDM) roster comprises a balanced mix of well-established esports players, as well as rising talent. Team captain and in-game-lead, MonK, is considered to be one of the best fraggers in India. Moonscope has been voted as the second-best sniper in the world and referred to as ‘the sniping king of India’. JOKOs and SAMs are the ‘infamous CoDM twins’ who achieved a ton of success over the last 4 months. JOKOs was the highest fragger in the LOCO India Cup with over 155 kills. Argon and Death have also both been dominating the Indian esports scene during the last few months.
CEO of Team Vitality, Nicolas Maurer, speaking on the occasion said, “Our aim in India was to start an esports team that would have its own unique identity while imbibing core Team Vitality values. We are very happy with the roster as they have the right skills, as well as potential to be no. 1 team, and eagerly look forward to making our mark in a brand-new category. While we will fully support them during every step of their progress, we’re sure tons of additional support for the team will come via our fans – from India and the world over. The CALL OF DUTY MOBILE team is the first step towards the expansion of our presence beyond Europe, and in line with our vision of conquering the esports world. It’s also a very nice way to resonate with the Vitality history which started with the Call of Duty franchise back in 2013.”
Also staying true to their mission of finding talent at a grassroots level, Team Vitality in parallel is planning a PAN-India Talent Hunt to find and train new talent across multiple rosters that the organisation intends to form in the country.
Amit Jain, Principal of the Rewired.gg, venture fund that has invested €34 million into Team Vitality, commented, “I’m delighted with our progress of having a team consisting of esports talent from diverse parts of the country. That said, there’s still a huge untapped base of talent who we feel deserve the chance to showcase their skills and represent Team Vitality. So while I’m personally extremely excited for the team who I’m confident will take on the world and make India proud, we will continue to explore opportunities to find aspirational talent to help create life-changing opportunities for them.”
Randall Fernandez, General Manager, Team Vitality India, added, “While there’s a lot of excitement about Team Vitality’s first all-Indian esports roster, performance wise this also translates to an incredible amount of pressure on us to be “en par” with our other teams in Europe. We in India and Paris will not compromise on any aspect in the players’ overall training, physical and mental fitness, comfort and nutrition, be their extended family and support them in every way possible. I’m confident our team will very soon become the best in India.”
Team Vitality will now officially field ten esports teams across ten titles as it fosters a culture of competitive excellence. In 2020, the organisation celebrated nine titles won and a total of 8 MVP awards across its competing games.
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Asia
Insurgence Gaming Company Introduces La Imperia, a Community-First All-Female VALORANT Tournament
La Imperia, a new all-female esports IP by The Insurgence Gaming Company, will make its competitive debut this month with an online VALORANT invitational tournament running from December 19 to 21, 2025. Designed as a visibility-first platform for women competitors, the event brings together four invited Indian teams for a three-day broadcast competition.
La Imperia marks the inaugural tournament by the Insurgence Gaming Company, a newly founded esports company led by Jasper Shabin, who previously served as a poject manager at Skyesports. Positioning itself as a community-first tournament operator, the Insurgence Gaming Company aims to refocus attention on grassroots competition and long-term ecosystem building at a time when entry-level and women-led esports pathways remain limited.
The tournament will be played in VALORANT and feature a round-robin group stage followed by single-elimination playoffs, culminating in a BO5 Grand Final. All matches across the three days will be broadcast live on YouTube, along with additional watch-parties.
The four invited teams competing at La Imperia include Huntrix, Sin Sisters, Plushie Gang and MyKil. All teams feature all-female rosters, aligning with La Imperia’s positioning as a dedicated women’s esports IP.
Broadcast production for the event will be handled by Momentum Gaming, serving as the official Broadcast Partner. The on-air talent lineup includes Star Tania, Nekroz, Odawg, and Hikari Jane, who will guide viewers through the tournament across all three days.
Beyond competition, La Imperia is also placing emphasis on player well-being. Sattva by Pallavi joins the tournament as the Mental Health Partner, integrating conversations around mental health and holistic wellness into the event’s broadcast and content output. The partnership reflects a growing recognition of sustainability and mental resilience within competitive gaming environments.
Speaking on the launch, Jasper Shabin, Founder of The Insurgence Gaming Company, said: “La Imperia is built to be a visibility platform first. There is no shortage of talent in the women’s VALORANT scene, but there are very few consistent stages where that talent can be seen, supported, and taken seriously. With the Insurgence Gaming Company, we want to return focus to grassroots competition and create formats that players can grow with, not just compete in once.”
The tournament carries an INR 15,000 prize pool, with the primary focus placed on competitive exposure, broadcast quality, and long-term ecosystem value rather than one-off incentives.
With its inaugural edition, La Imperia sets the foundation for a new women-led esports property in India—one that combines structured competition, professional broadcast standards, and a community-first philosophy.
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The World Esports Championship 2025 (WEC25) is officially open in Kuala Lumpur, welcoming athletes, fans, and delegations from around the globe. With 19 nations taking part in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), this year’s event stands as the most internationally diverse MLBB competition in IESF history.
After a year filled with national and regional qualifiers and preparations from teams around the world, the world’s top esports athletes have arrived in Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur. The opening ceremony set the tone for the days ahead, offering fans a first glimpse of the excitement and atmosphere surrounding this year’s championship.
“WEC25 reflects the continued growth of esports as a space for connection, competition, and shared passion,” said IESF General Secretary Boban Totovski. “Bringing together 19 nations for MLBB is a milestone not just for the title, but for the entire esports ecosystem. We are proud to bring this edition of the championship to Kuala Lumpur.”
As the competition officially kicks off, the schedule is fully packed with exciting match-ups among Nations, competing for their flag and country. The best from all over the world will have the unique opportunity to become the MLBB World Champion.
IESF extends its gratitude to the Malaysian government and the Ministry for Youth and Sports, partners, athletes, and global supporters who continue to elevate the championship’s reach and impact.
The post IESF Officially Opens the World Esports Championship 2025 in Kuala Lumpur appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
Pacific Online-backed Buenas PH Inks Partnership with YGS Live’s Battle of the Streamers to Support Ethical iGaming
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Buenas PH, the licensed e-casino operator under HHR Philippines Inc (HHRPI), has been named the presenting partner of YGS Live’s Battle of the Streamers. The partnership builds on the strong momentum created during the recent launch of YGS Live, a next-generation iGaming broadcast platform founded by esports pioneer Julius “Banoobs” Mariano.
Buenas PH is backed by strong corporate leadership that firmly establishes its position in the iGaming and entertainment industry. HHR Philippines is venture-backed by publicly listed Pacific Online Systems Corporation (POSC), led by Willy N. Ocier, who serves as Chairman of Belle Corporation. Belle Corporation is SM Investment’s major developer of leisure and tourism destinations built to support the growth of PAGCOR’s Entertainment City. This corporate foundation strengthens Buenas PH’s credibility and long-term direction as it grows in the regulated iGaming sector.
The Battle of the Streamers is the flagship program of YGS Live. Powered by Pragmatic Play and streamed through the soon-to-be-launched Loco Live platform, the event brings together the country’s top iGaming creators in a weekly competition featuring an eleven-million-peso prize pool. As one of the first major events to debut on Loco Live, the program showcases the platform’s commitment to high-quality, responsible, and community-driven iGaming content. It also reinforces YGS Live’s advocacy for responsible iGaming by discouraging creators from promoting unlicensed or scam platforms.
“Through this partnership, Buenas PH supports a mission that elevates Philippine iGaming to a safer and more responsible environment,” said Julius “Banoobs” Mariano, Founder of YGS Live. “Our creators have influence. We want that influence to help shape a healthier culture for fans and players.”
Industry reports have highlighted Pacific Online’s active participation in the growth of regulated online gaming in the Philippines, including its involvement in HHR Philippines and the Buenas operator. These developments strengthen confidence in the company’s long-term direction as a regulated and ethical player in the e-casino sector.
As the presenting partner, Buenas PH takes a central role throughout the Battle of the Streamers program, which runs every Saturday and culminates in a grand finals event on January 18, 2026, at City of Dreams Manila. The event combines high-stakes matches with interactive community segments, along with three million pesos in community giveaways for fans and viewers.
YGS Live continues to position itself as a broadcast network dedicated to responsible, community-driven iGaming content. With Buenas PH as a lead partner, the platform aims to set a new benchmark for safe, creator-focused, and credible iGaming entertainment in the Philippines.
For updates, visit the official YGS Live Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/YGSLive.
The post Pacific Online-backed Buenas PH Inks Partnership with YGS Live’s Battle of the Streamers to Support Ethical iGaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
