eSports
BLAST Premier and Bondly Team Up to Launch NFTs Featuring Chickens Synonymous with Counter-Strike
Partnership delivers gamified, collectable, affordable and carbon-positive NFTs to esports community
Esports tournament organiser BLAST Premier and Bondly, the premiere NFT solutions provider, have teamed up to launch a fun, affordable and gamified collection of NFTs featuring original artwork of chickens synonymous with Counter-Strike.
BLAST’s first NFT chicken-themed collection goes on sale on Tuesday, June 15. Powered by the Bondly platform, BLAST NFTs start at $18 USD. Through June 14, esports fans can sign up at (www.blastchickencoop.digital) to receive an exclusive BLAST founder’s edition NFT in a digital wallet.
Chickens are a popular and jovial reference point for Counter-Strike – becoming the unofficial animal and adopted pet of the game. BLAST and Bondly have taken this iconic and prevalent part of the Counter-Strike universe and created a digitalised offering that resonates with the esports and NFT community.
BLAST has created two teams (Team Red and Team Blue) of three chicken characters each with their own distinct personality. Through Bondly’s gamification process, the chicken NFT owner has the ability to upgrade it by blending multiple NFTs using BondSwap. In addition, users can choose their favourite character, collect an entire team or hold onto their best and rarest chicken NFTs through gamification.
Bondly utilises Polygon (MATIC) Proof-of-Stake (PoS) mechanism that allows for the safe, accessible and environmentally friendly creation, integration and purchase of NFTs – making for digital artwork collectibles that are available to everyone. Every chicken NFT created through this process will be carbon positive.
Faye Marlborough, Head of Merchandise for BLAST, said: “When we approached the idea of making available a range of collectable NFTs, we wanted to ensure we were creating something that was fun, accessible and affordable – while ensuring these collectables are more than just a product but an experience. We’re excited to work with Bondly to help navigate us through our first venture into NFTs, their technology and expertise will ensure a simple, environmentally aware and enjoyable introduction into the world of NFTs for our community.”
Jack Flaherty, CEO of Sports at Bondly, said: “BLAST’s chicken-themed NFTs developed by Bondly, extends the fan’s feeling of competition beyond the tournament through buying, collecting, and trading of our gamified NFTs. Combining our design studio and proprietary technologies, we have created the first ever NFT swap-based gamification experience for esports fans.”
Bondly was the first to go to market with unique products in partnership with influencers and musicians and collaborations with gaming/collectibles creators. Bondly created and distributed YouTuber/ Influencer Logan Paul’s first-ever limited-edition series of NFT collectibles for fans, selling out in only 30-minutes. Lewis Capaldi, two-time BRIT Award Winner with 15 Billion streams and chart topping hits worldwide, partnered with Bondly and quickly sold out his Big Fat Sexy Card Collection (NFT), with the vast majority purchased by a non-crypto audience. Singer/songwriter PelleK quickly sold out the first-ever NFT music album using Bondly’s core product, BONDSwap.
BLAST Premier is a global Counter-Strike tournament series that unites all major CS:GO events, offers opportunities to all regions across the globe and crowns the world champions of CS:GO. Up to 32 teams will take part in the seven BLAST Premier events this year with a combined prize pool of $2,475,000 on the line, where the best teams and players will compete.
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Hero Esports, an industry leader and the largest esports company in Asia, has announced its championship venues for the Asian Champions League (ACL) Grand Finals 2025 taking place May 16-18 in Shanghai. The landmark event will transform three of the city’s most iconic venues into battlegrounds for nine premier esports titles, cementing Shanghai’s status as the global esports capital.
The tournament is expected to attract 80,000+ live attendees across three venues, with global broadcasts reaching millions via Twitch, YouTube and TikTok. Participating teams will be competing for a total prize pool of $2 million. Selected ACL winners will earn direct entry to the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—the largest esports event in history due to take place from July to August.
“Shanghai’s selection as our host city reflects its unmatched esports infrastructure and passionate community. By combining elite competition with DreamHack’s festival energy, we’re creating a new blueprint for global esports events,” said Jonny Wang, CEO of ACL.
“This is Hero Esports’ most ambitious project to date. The ACL bridges Asian talents with the world stage while delivering unforgettable fan experiences through cutting-edge production,” said Danny Tang, Co-Founder & CEO of Hero Esports.
The post Hero Esports Announces Venues for ACL Grand Finals 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
Esports World Cup Foundation Confirms Full Game Lineup, Schedule, and Club Championship Rules for EWC 2025
200 Clubs, 2,000 players, 25 tournaments across 24 games, and a $70M+ prize pool set the stage for the largest celebration of competitive excellence and esports fandom
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has finalized the full lineup of games, tournament schedule and Club Championship rules for the Esports World Cup 2025 (EWC), the world’s largest esports event, set to return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 through August 24. This summer, over 2,000 elite players and 200 top Clubs from more than 100 countries will battle across 25 tournaments in 24 games, for a record-breaking $70+ million life-changing prize pool, the largest in esports history.
The Esports World Cup 2025 will once again unite gaming and esports communities for a global competition that will crown the next Esports World Cup Club Champion, while elevating esports as a global sport and driving long-term growth for the entire ecosystem.
The confirmed EWC 2025 game lineup will include iconic esports titles spanning fan-favorite shooters, battle royales, MOBAs, fighting games, and chess. New additions — CROSSFIRE, FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, chess and VALORANT — join the prestigious lineup of returning titles, making this the most diverse and competitive EWC yet.
With the schedule locked, the stage is set for seven weeks of world-class competition. The initial wave of tickets are now on sale, and the countdown is on for the biggest celebration of esports, kicking off with the EWC Festival on July 7. Below is the schedule for each EWC tournament.
Week 1 (July 8–13):
VALORANT featured at 2025 Esports World Cup (July 8-13), Apex Legends at 2025 Esports World Cup 10–13), FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves at 2025 Esports World Cup (July 10–12), Rennsport at 2025 Esports World Cup (July 8–11), Dota 2 at 2025 Esports World Cup – Week 1 (July 8-13)
Week 2 (July 15–20):
League of Legends featured at 2025 Esports World Cup (July 16–20), Free Fire at 2025 Esports World Cup (July 16–20), Dota 2 at 2025 Esports World Cup – Week 2 (July 17–19), Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women’s Invitational at 2025 Esports World Cup (July 15–19), Honor of Kings World Cup at 2025 Esports World Cup – Week 1 (July 15–20)
Week 3 (July 22–27):
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 at 2025 Esports World Cup (July 24–27), PUBG MOBILE World Cup at 2025 Esports World Cup – Week 1 (July 25-27), Honor of Kings World Cup at 2025 Esports World Cup – Week 2 (July 23-26), StarCraft II at 2025 Esports World Cup (July 22–25), Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup at 2025 Esports World Cup – Week 1 (July 23–27)
Week 4 (July 29–August 3):
Overwatch Champions Series: MidSeason Championship at 2025 Esports World Cup (July 31–August 3), PUBG MOBILE World Cup at 2025 Esports World Cup – Week 2 (July 29-30 / August 1–3), Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup at 2025 Esports World Cup – Week 2 (July 30–August 2), Chess at EWC 25 (July 29–August 1)
Week 5 (August 7–10):
EA SPORTS FC 25 at 2025 Esports World Cup (August 7–10), Call of Duty: Warzone at 2025 Esports World Cup (August 6–9), TOM CLANCY’S RAINBOW SIX SIEGE X at 2025 Esports World Cup (August 7–9)
Week 6 (August 11–17):
Rocket League featured at 2025 Esports World Cup (August 14–17), PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS at 2025 Esports World Cup (August 12–16), TEKKEN 8 at 2025 Esports World Cup (August 13–16), Teamfight Tactics featured at 2025 Esports World Cup (August 14–15)
Week 7 (August 19–24):
Counter-Strike 2 at 2025 Esports World Cup (August 21–24), Street Fighter 6 at 2025 Esports World Cup (August 20–23), CROSSFIRE at 2025 Esports World Cup (August 19–23)
EWC 2025 will unfold across four dedicated arenas, each spotlighting one game at a time to deliver the best fan experience. Select titles will host Last Chance Qualifiers in the Festival zone — giving players one final shot at advancing to the main stage.
The Esports World Cup has introduced a refined tournament schedule to enhance viewership across its expanded lineup. Finals will now take place on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays – reducing overlap and ensuring dedicated coverage for each title. Tickets for EWC 2025 are now available to purchase at esportsworldcup.com.
The total $70+ million prize pool is allocated across the Club Championship, Game Championships, MVP Awards, and EWC Qualifiers. Out of this, $27 million is dedicated to the EWC Club Championship — an innovative cross-game format that rewards the top 16 Clubs for their performance across multiple titles, with $7 million reserved for the 2025 champion. Game Championships will feature their own prize pools, totaling over $38 million combined, while standout players will compete for a share of the $450,000 MVP Award pool.
Open to all participating organizations, the Club Championship awards points for top-eight finishes across tournaments. To claim the title, Clubs must secure at least two top-eight placements and win at least one tournament. New for 2025, joint ventures — collaborations between two distinct organizations on a specific roster — will be ineligible for points, with Clubs required to compete under one aligned name throughout the EWC to qualify. The Club that shows both consistency and competitive excellence across the entire EWC calendar, will be crowned the Esports World Cup Club Champion at the EWC 2025 closing ceremony on August 24, 2025.
At EWC 2024, Team Falcons dominated with 5,665 points and three tournament wins to claim the $7 million Club Championship. Team Liquid and Team BDS followed in second and third, with 2,545 and 2,000 points respectively. The top 10 also featured some of the biggest names in global esports: Gaimin Gladiators, T1, Virtus.pro, Team Vitality, Twisted Minds, Gen.G, and LOUD — all delivering standout performances across multiple titles, setting the stage for EWC 2025.
The post Esports World Cup Foundation Confirms Full Game Lineup, Schedule, and Club Championship Rules for EWC 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
BETBY LAUNCHES INDUSTRY-FIRST ESPORTS BETTING TIPS, ENHANCING WIDEST SPORTS COVERAGE IN THE MARKET
BETBY, a leading provider of innovative sportsbook solutions, has announced a major update to its Betting Tips feature, introducing insights for esports. This industry-first addition positions BETBY as the supplier with the widest betting tips coverage in the iGaming market, enhancing the player experience by delivering data-driven tips that help bettors make more informed and confident decisions.
Part of BETBY’s award-winning AI Labs suite of tools, Betting Tips will provide insights derived from the latest news, key team and player statistics, and other relevant information for popular titles such as Counter-Strike. Betting Tips will cover all major esports tournaments for supported titles, based on betting volume and regardless of the event tier, ensuring comprehensive industry-wide coverage.
In addition to expanding into esports, Betting Tips now delivers significantly improved tip quality. Around 99% of all tips now include a relevant supporting fact or statistic, resulting in clearer, more actionable insights. These enhancements contribute to a more engaging and valuable experience for both operators and bettors.
The integration of esports into Betting Tips reflects BETBY’s commitment to innovation and adaptability in the rapidly evolving betting landscape. The introduction of esports betting tips is also expected to drive higher conversion rates, providing operators with a valuable tool to engage esports enthusiasts more effectively.
To maximize accessibility, Betting Tips will be available in 25 languages: English, Portuguese (Brazilian and European), Spanish, Turkish, Russian, German, Japanese, French, Italian, Kazakh, Azerbaijani, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Estonian, Finnish, Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Latvian, Polish, Romanian, and Georgian. This multilingual support ensures a seamless experience for operators and bettors worldwide.
“Integrating esports into our Betting Tips marks a significant milestone in our mission to provide comprehensive and innovative solutions to our clients,” said Danil Emelyanov, Head of BETBY’s AI Labs. “As the esports industry continues to grow worldwide, we recognize the importance of offering tailored insights that cater to this dynamic market. This expansion not only reinforces our commitment to innovation but also solidifies our position as a leader in the sports betting sector.
In addition to expanding into esports, Betting Tips continues to offer intelligent insights across a wide range of traditional sports, including Soccer, Ice Hockey, Basketball, Tennis, Cricket, American Football, Handball, Volleyball, Baseball, and Table Tennis. This ensures that operators can engage bettors across all major sports verticals.
The post BETBY LAUNCHES INDUSTRY-FIRST ESPORTS BETTING TIPS, ENHANCING WIDEST SPORTS COVERAGE IN THE MARKET appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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