eSports

Esports Technologies Appoints iGaming Industry Veteran Mark Thorne as Chief Marketing Officer

Published

4 years ago

June 2, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

New CMO Brings Decades of Valuable Commercial and Marketing Leadership Experience, Completes Executive Team Spearheading Planned European Market Entry

Esports Technologies, Inc., a leading global provider of advanced esports wagering products and technology, today announced the appointment of accomplished gaming industry veteran Mark Thorne as its new Chief Marketing Officer. Thorne brings nearly 20 years of industry experience to the executive team, having served in leadership roles with Betfair (LON: FLTR), GVC (LON: ENT), Betfirst, Bonnier Gaming, and Twin.com.

In this newly created role, Thorne adds to the existing heavyweight executive team driving Esports Technologies’ new market entries. He will aim to leverage his commercial and marketing expertise to further build the company’s brand, reputation, audience and revenue as well as expanding licensing while ensuring regulatory compliance. He will report directly to Aaron Speach, Esports Technologies CEO.

Speach said, “As we continue to expand globally, Mark’s detailed understanding of the markets we currently operate in, along with those in which we plan to operate, makes him a natural fit for us. His experience in the industry brings an important dimension to our leadership team as we drive Esports Technologies to its full potential. He has already proven to be an important advisor and an excellent lead for our growing marketing team.”

Thorne said, “Esports Technologies is one of the most exciting and promising players in the esports wagering space with ambitious plans, a clear roadmap and the ability to be agile and deliver rapidly. The momentum and potential for growth is both undeniable and astounding as is the caliber of the team. Post-IPO, the company has already launched the free-to-play app ESG (Esports Games), entered into impressive strategic partnerships, and expanded the Gogawi territory significantly. I look forward to joining the team and adding value to an already well-oiled machine.”

Thorne’s arrival heralds the opening of Esports Technologies’ Malta office, from which he intends to build a team to assist with European market entries, working closely with the Esports Technologies operations office in Dublin. He speaks four languages and holds degrees in computer science engineering and biochemistry.

eSports

FURIA Pulls Off the Reverse Sweep to Win Thunderpick World Championship 2025

Published

5 days ago

October 28, 2025

Niji Narayan

furia-pulls-off-the-reverse-sweep-to-win-thunderpick-world-championship-2025

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Thunderpick, the leading esports betting platform delivering fans cutting-edge tools and experiences, announced that FURIA has emerged victorious at the Thunderpick World Championship 2025 — one of the tournament’s most competitive editions yet, featuring four of the world’s top 10 ranked teams. FURIA takes home the $500,000 first-place prize, with KSCERATO earning his first Grand Final MVP.

FURIA’s steady performance and relentless focus were on full display throughout the tournament, culminating in a Finals victory over Natus Vincere. After NAVI went up two maps to zero, FURIA did what many thought was impossible and completed a dominant reverse sweep with a 13:1 on the decisive map.

Natus Vincere finished second place, earning $150,000. The MongolZ, who won the Thunderpick World Championship last year, finished third after defeating Aurora earlier in the day, receiving $70,000 and $50,000, respectively. Venom, 9z, Imperial and OG all placed fifth through eighth, taking home $20,000 each.

“It is a privilege to congratulate FURIA as the Thunderpick World Champions! This tournament was thrilling, featuring exceptional gameplay. The success of our World Championship is thanks to the incredible teams, streamers, partners, staff, and everyone behind the scenes who made it possible, as well as the passionate fans who make this event so special,” said Kelly Sanders, Head of Strategy at Thunderpick.

This year marks the third consecutive Thunderpick World Championship. Last year, The MongolZ stunned HEROIC to claim their third international title of the season, cementing their status on the global CS2 stage. In 2023, FaZe Clan took the crown after defeating Virtus.pro, with Robin “ropz” Kool earning the MVP title. The TWC 2025 Finals are presented in collaboration with Hotspawn, a leading hub for esports news and analysis.

The post FURIA Pulls Off the Reverse Sweep to Win Thunderpick World Championship 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Betting

LEON Esports announces partnership with GamerLegion’s CS2 team

Published

1 week ago

October 23, 2025

Zoltan Tundik

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Reading Time: < 1 minute

LEON Esports is excited to announce a new partnership with GamerLegion’s Counter-Strike 2 team — a leading German esports organization ranked among the top 15 teams in the world, renowned for its consistent top-tier performances.

This collaboration marks a new chapter for LEON Esports, as the brand continues to expand its presence in competitive gaming. Over the years, LEON has become an active force in esports — supporting professional teams and hosting its own tournaments across titles like CS2, Dota, Free Fire and Deadlock.

Together with GamerLegion, LEON Esports aims to bring even more action and engagement to fans — with exclusive offers, special markets, social media giveaways, and more challenges made for true esports and betting enthusiasts.

This partnership follows LEON’s successful collaborations with other major esports organizations such as SAW (Portugal), FlyQuest (Australia), and NFA (Brazil) — strengthening its position as one of the key players in the global esports scene.

Get ready for the next level — follow the action on our channels:

LEON Esports Linktree

The post LEON Esports announces partnership with GamerLegion’s CS2 team appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

eSports

HAVIT Partners with Legendary Galatasaray Esports

Published

1 week ago

October 23, 2025

Niji Narayan

havit-partners-with-legendary-galatasaray-esports

Reading Time: < 1 minute

HAVIT, a leading global consumer tech brand, announced a strategic partnership with Galatasaray Esports, one of Turkey’s most iconic and influential esports teams. This collaboration aims to energise the rapidly growing Turkish gaming ecosystem with cutting-edge gear.

Galatasaray, a symbol of pride, passion and excellence with over a century of sporting heritage, has extended its winning spirit into the digital arena through Galatasaray Esports, now a powerhouse in competitive gaming. By partnering with Galatasaray Esports, HAVIT is not only equipping the team with cutting-edge gaming gear to enhance professional performance but also bringing more high-performance gaming gear to redefine the esports experience in Turkey.

With this partnership, HAVIT and Galatasaray Esports will work together to open a new chapter for Turkish esports. In upcoming competitions, Galatasaray Esports will continue to showcase its strength and team spirit, representing Turkey with pride on the international stage. Meanwhile, HAVIT will provide full support with its outstanding gaming gear, empowering the team to reach new heights.

The post HAVIT Partners with Legendary Galatasaray Esports appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.