eSports
ESPORTS INSIDER ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF ESI DIGITAL SUMMER AND START-UP INVESTMENT COMPETITION, THE CLUTCH
Esports Insider, the leading B2B esports events and media company is excited to reveal the return of ESI Digital Summer on 8-9th September, and The Clutch, a pitch investment competition which provides some of the most promising esports focused startups with a chance to pitch to a panel of investors and judges, and the opportunity to promote themselves. This year’s winner of The Clutch will receive an exclusive place in Level 256’s leading incubator program, worth 5,000 Euros, and includes meetings with notable investors , partners, organisations, institutions and key accounts from around the world.
ESI Digital Summer will bring together industry leaders in esports, sports and global brands to discuss and debate investment, esports ecosystems, education and more, and will feature some of the world’s most innovative brand showcases. With over 60 speakers, 400 attendees and more than 16 hours of live content across two days, ESI Digital Summer is also offering unparalleled networking opportunities for all attendees. Speakers for ESI Digital Summer will include some of the industry’s most prominent thought leaders and brand authorities, and is set to be announced over the coming months.
The Clutch, in partnership with Level 256, an innovation & economic development platform dedicated to esports by Paris&Co launched in 2018 and supported by the City of Paris, has become a standout initiative within the industry. With applications now open, esports focused startups can enter to take part in this prestigious competition taking place on September 9th. Entrants will have just minutes to pitch before an esteemed judging panel starts their questions and investigation. The panel will decide the best company with the winner to be announced during the final moments of ESI Digital Summer.
The winner of The Clutch in 2021 will secure an exclusive place in Level 256’s industry leading incubator program worth 5,000 Euros. The winning company will also be offered both extensive promotion, and access to mentorship and guidance that will help elevate their company to the next level. Level 256 launched in November 2018 by Paris&Co and with the initiative of the City of Paris, has incubated 32 projects dedicated to esports, which created 168 jobs and raised over 20M€. The platform has gathered more than 103 speakers and mentors during their hosted events since its launch.
In its fourth edition, and now an annual ESI event, The Clutch has seen over 50 startups in its first two editions and seen some of the most impressive and industry-changing esports startups showcased. Previous winners have included esports performance company GScience who build performance systems tailored to gamers, and TEAMS.GG, a gaming matchmaking platform allowing players to find like minded people to create ideal teams, and play better together.
“It was extremely important and exciting for us to win The Clutch Digital as it was another proof [statement] that this kind of technology is relevant to the esports space, and that Anzu specifically is relevant in the ad space. It was great to be recognised by leaders in the space.” said Natalia Vasilyeva, VP of Marketing at Anzu.
“We are very thrilled to be a partner in this 4th edition of the ESI and The Clutch. We are looking forward to discovering the amazing entrepreneurs of the British esports world. It is also a great opportunity to support the European esports ecosystem by encouraging cooperation between France and the UK. We are happy to welcome the winner to benefit from our incubation program and we hope that this first step is just the beginning!” said Vincent Vercelli, Head of Incubation for Level 256 (Paris&Co).
“I am really excited ESI Digital Summer will return this September providing world class content and presenting some of the largest global brands, and will also host the fourth edition of The Clutch. This year we are looking forward to showcasing the most ground-breaking startup ideas and first-rate pitches in the industry, and as always, it will be a difficult process to whittle it down to a final four. Since its inception in 2019, we have continued to see more and more esports startups enter the space and here at Esports Insider, we are proud to continue providing a platform for those companies looking to stand out, and unapologetically push boundaries in the esports industry.” said Sam Cooke, Managing Director and Co-founder of ESI.
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Mumbai turned into a gamer’s paradise as Red Bull hosted the first-ever Red Bull AFK Party – a one-of-a-kind celebration that brought together gaming, music, and culture in a way India has never seen before. Described by many as the coolest party for gamers, the night united the country’s top gaming creators, esports stars, and fans for an immersive, high-energy experience done the Red Bull way.
The party welcomed people the Red Bull way, with a real static Formula 1 car right at the entrance. Inside, the venue transformed into a playground for gamers: an adrenaline-pumping RC Racing Track hosted by Ocean Sharma, Red Bull Athlete V3nom’s Reflex Challenge to test reaction speeds, Retro Arcade Section with a life-sized PAC-MAN and Tetris arcade, while the Console Gaming Zone buzzed with intense matches in EA FC 25 and Street Fighter.
As the night wore on, the gaming gave way to a packed dance floor with sets from OG Shez and DJ Kaartl.
V3nom on Red Bull’s Push for Gaming in India
The Red Bull AFK put Red Bull’s gaming athletes at the heart of the experience, showing the brand’s commitment to growing the ecosystem. As V3nom summed it up:
“Red Bull is getting into gaming full-on, hosting a lot of events and bringing together top creators and gaming athletes at gatherings like Red Bull AFK. It’s a huge and positive step for the community. I’m really happy to see it, and I hope events like this continue because we have so much more to do for gaming in India, ensuring future generations can make the most of the opportunities ahead.”
When asked about his favorite part of the party, V3nom added: “I think my V3nom Reaction Challenge, because it combines a bit of fitness with reaction time, and tests your reflexes — which are essential for gaming.”
From Mumbai to Dubai – The Tetris Challenge
One activation that had everyone talking was the Tetris challenge, inspired by Red Bull Tetris. Here, players could stack their way up the leaderboard for a chance to represent India at the Red Bull Tetris World Finals in Dubai later this year — bringing a global competitive pathway right to the AFK floor.
Jonathan’s Championship Moment
Another highlight was the Street Fighter x BC One Dance-Off, a crossover where gaming skill met dancing. Four creators — Jonathan, Ocean, Sharkshe, and V3nom — each teamed up with a professional dancer for a two-part battle.
After Sharkshe edged past Ocean and Jonathan toppled V3nom in the semis, the grand finale saw Jonathan dominate in Street Fighter before his dance partner delivered a flawless routine to seal the win.
The post From Street Fighter Glory to a Global Tetris Path: Inside the First-Ever Red Bull AFK Party appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
BASILISK, the global esports organization built to champion science, announced the signing of legendary fighting game competitor Justin ‘Jwong’ Wong as captain of its newly formed Fighting Game Community (FGC) Division. Wong will lead BASILISK’s entry into the FGC by recruiting players, developing community events, and creating FGC – science crossover content.
“Justin isn’t just a competitive genius – he is a cultural icon and humble leader within the FGC. We are incredibly proud to have him leading our FGC division and support the amazing work he already does for the community,” said BASILISK co-founder Christopher Bothur.
A nine-time Evolution Championship Series (Evo) Champion and Guinness World Record holder, Wong brings unparalleled FGC credibility and expertise to BASILISK. His reach extends across the entire FGC fandom of millions, and he was immortalized in Evo Moment #37 which has over 100 million views.
As Captain of BASILISK FGC, Wong will leverage BASILISK’s data analytics to scout and train the next generation of FGC pros.
“Math is super important to fighting games. I’m excited to join science’s esports team. I’m passionate about finding promising players with a positive mentality and shaping them into the next big thing. I want to see somebody else in the spotlight after me and help them reach their potential. If we can discover the next world champion, that would be fantastic,” said Wong upon joining BASILISK.
The signing comes on the heels of BASILISK’s new partnerships with The Planetary Society and Caltech’s Institute for Quantum Information and Matter (IQIM), announced in July. These collaborations create a powerful bridge between renowned scientific institutions and gamers, which Wong will amplify to his millions of followers and fans.
“Justin is a dream addition to our organization. He exemplifies the dedication and analytical capacity required to be an esports champion or great scientist,” added BASILISK co-founder Hans Kassier.
Wong becomes the second “GOAT” (Greatest of All Time) to join BASILISK, alongside Finnish StarCraft 2 legend Joona “Serral” Sotala, who just captured the SC2 Esports World Cup Championship in July 2025. The signing also creates opportunities for cross-over content with BASILISK’s diverse roster, including chess Grandmaster Vincent Keymer and award-winning science communicator Kyle Hill, who brings over 2.5 million followers and a vast network of science enthusiasts to the organization.
The post Fighting Game GOAT Justin Wong Joins BASILISK, Science’s Esports Team appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Riot Games, in association with Aftermath Ventures, has officially concluded the inaugural Legends Ascend South Asia, with S8UL Esports emerging victorious after four months of intense competition. The win secures them the coveted spot at the League of Legends Championship Pacific (LCP) Wild Card Playoffs, set to take place between August 28 to August 31, where they will face top teams from across the region for a chance at LCP 2026 promotion.
Legends Ascend South Asia, announced in April 2025, set out to provide a structured, competitive platform for the region’s League of Legends talent. With a total prize pool of INR 10,00,000, the tournament brought together 95 teams from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan, competing across three open qualifiers, a round robin league stage, and double-elimination playoffs.
The tournament kicked off with three open-registration qualifiers held from April to May, producing nine standout teams: S8UL Esports, Kakao Gaming, PnX ASCENSION, Revenants, SUVO HATERS, Jetfire’s Dojo, Syndicate, Poro Patrol, and Report Precog Gaming. These teams advanced to the Round Robin Stage in June and July, where S8UL Esports, Kakao Gaming, Revenants, and Syndicate emerged as the top four to enter the playoffs.
The Double Elimination Playoffs in July and August delivered high-stakes best-of-three and best-of-five clashes, with S8UL Esports displaying consistency, adaptability, and fearless drafting en route to the championship title. The final standings were:
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S8UL Esports – Champions (Advance to LCP Wild Card Playoffs)
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Kakao Gaming
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Revenants
Spanning over 29 broadcast days, Legends Ascend South Asia generated more than 1.3 lakh YouTube views and attained a reach of over 7 lakh through the Aftermath Ventures’ FragNation channel. The event also saw 12 community watch parties across the region, amassing an additional 1.25 lakh views from grassroots fan hubs.
Speaking on the conclusion of the tournament, Arun Rajappa, Country Manager, India & South Asia, Riot Games, said: “Legends Ascend was about discovery, growth, and empowering the South Asian League esports landscape by providing them with a structured pathway to compete alongside global talents. Seeing S8UL lift the trophy after such a grueling journey is a testament to the depth of talent here, and we couldn’t be more excited for them as they head to the LCP Wild Card Playoffs.”
Mansoor ‘Nabu’ Ahmed, Founder & CEO, Aftermath Ventures, added: “From the first qualifier to the final game, Legends Ascend showcased what South Asia’s League of Legends community is capable of. The passion from players, fans, and watch-party hosts has been incredible. Congratulations to S8UL Esports for not just winning, but setting an example for the next generation of players in the region.”
As S8UL Esports prepares to represent South Asia at the LCP Wild Card Playoffs, the success of Legends Ascend South Asia underscores Riot Games’ long-term vision of building sustainable competitive pathways for amateur players in the region.
Fans can relive all the action from Legends Ascend South Asia on the FragNation YouTube channel, and follow Riot Games India & South Asia for updates on the region’s next big competitive milestones.
The post S8UL Esports crowned champions of Legends Ascend South Asia 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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