eSports

EXCEL ESPORTS COMPLETES €20M INVESTMENT ROUND

Published

4 years ago

July 6, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

British competitive gaming culture brand EXCEL ESPORTS has announced that it has secured €20M (£17M) in new equity capital. This financing round was led by investment firm JRJ Group, which first acquired a majority shareholding in 2018 alongside TOMS Capital LLC, the family office of Noam Gottesman. Amongst the new investors joining them are IPGL Ltd, the family office of Michael Spencer; the family office of Alan Howard; and the international private equity firm TNF Investments.

This investment builds on EXCEL’s recent success which has seen revenues more than triple in 2020 following their first year in the League of Legends European Championship. With the capital raised EXCEL will continue to grow its talent lineup as well as expand into more esports titles. EXCEL currently has competitive rosters in three major game titles. In League of Legends, the team was one of ten founding partners of the LEC, and their academy team BTXL was the first British team to make it to the European Masters Final. Earlier in the year EXCEL also announced its expansion into VALORANT and the team will soon reveal new Fortnite talent. Attracting and developing the best talent that the industry has to offer is central to EXCEL’s competitive ambitions.

EXCEL will further bolster its infrastructure, launching its operations into new territories and developing their digital platform XL.gg to become an innovative destination for the community. In the UK, EXCEL will open its new headquarters in Shoreditch, London this Summer which will become a central hub to its business operations and will be used for talent streams, content production and community, partner and media events. It will also be home to its growing workforce, with key hires across its commercial, creative, content, marketing and operations departments. The HQ serves as an exciting addition to EXCEL’s London (Twickenham Stadium) and Berlin-based player training facilities.

As a continuation of its Power of Better vision, which was launched during its brand update in November 2020, EXCEL will launch a selection of impactful brand campaigns and activities. EXCEL will also develop bold commercial propositions for their partners in UK and international markets. In the last six months alone EXCEL has attracted partners such as Chupa Chups, Sony Mobile and AndaSeat.

Wouter Sleijffers, CEO of EXCEL, comments: “Together with our investors, I’m truly excited to be entering the next chapter, building on EXCEL’s legacy and realising our shared vision for the future of esports and gaming. In a very short space of time, EXCEL has cemented itself at the top of British esports attracting significant support from investors, partners, our ambassador Dele Alli, and all on and off-stage talent.

“We now have all the elements in place to aim for more, to go from a household name in UK esports to an internationally recognised, diverse British gaming brand with the ability to derive maximum value from ongoing sector expansion and the growing digitisation of consumer behaviour.”

eSports

Vlad Marinescu Re-Elected as 10th IESF President

Published

3 days ago

December 10, 2025

George Miller

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The International Esports Federation (IESF) concluded its 17th Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, alongside the 17th World Esports Championship Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Finals. Member federations from around the world gathered to review the federation’s annual progress, adopt key motions, and participate in the 10th IESF Elections, marking a milestone moment in the federation’s governance history.

During the election session, Vlad Marinescu was re-elected as the 10th President of the IESF, securing his second term. His re-election reflects the continued confidence of the membership in his leadership and vision for the future of the World of Esports.

“I am truly grateful for the trust placed in me to continue leading the International Esports Federation,” Marinescu said. “As we mark our 10th election cycle, we remain steadfast in our commitment to unity, transparency, and the sustained growth of the World of Esports.”

Delegates reviewed strategic priorities for the year ahead, including enhanced governance standards, expanded athlete development initiatives, and strengthened international cooperation. Voting on member-submitted motions underscored the federation’s collective commitment to advancing integrity, professionalism, and institutional maturity across the esports ecosystem.

The assembly also elected the IESF Board for 2026, comprising:

Board Members:

HRH Prince Omar Bin Faisal – Jordan
Afiq Fadhli Bin Narawi – Malaysia
Elin Yoojung Moen – Norway
Clint Kennedy – United States
Flip De Bruyn – Namibia

The OGM concluded as the 17th World Esports Championship MLBB Finals continued, highlighting IESF’s ongoing mission to unite nations through Esports and support athletes, federations, and fans worldwide.

The post Vlad Marinescu Re-Elected as 10th IESF President appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Bet builder

GG.BET launches Bet Builder for a new way to bet

Published

1 week ago

December 3, 2025

George Miller

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Reading Time: < 1 minute

Customers can now use Bet Builder, a format that lets them build their own set of markets on one match into a single bet with higher odds. Bet Builder is available for both esports and sports events. You can try out the new feature with a deposit bonus of up to 150% and a free bet worth up to $50.

Customers can now place a combined bet on a single match by picking various options for how events in the match will play out. For example, in CS2, customers can choose which team will win on a specific map, how many kills a specific player will rack up, how many rounds will be played on a single map, and so on.

To place a Bet Builder bet, pick an event that hasn’t started yet, press the ‘Bet Builder’ button, put together your selection of markets from those available, get higher combo odds, and finish placing the bet in one click. At this initial stage, GG.BET is offering Bet Builder on football, basketball, hockey, CS2, Dota 2, LoL, and VALORANT, with more sports and disciplines to be added down the line.

“GG.BET has always been known for embracing unconventional markets and elaborate betting options. Bet Builder is there to meet customer demand for more interesting formats in a single match. The ability to make predictions right down to a specific round and any other tiny detail of a match is what gives users variety and improves their skills,” the GG.BET press office explained.

GG.BET is offering customers the opportunity to test out the Bet Builder format with a deposit bonus of up to 150% and a free bet of up to $50.

The post GG.BET launches Bet Builder for a new way to bet appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Asia

IESF Officially Opens the World Esports Championship 2025 in Kuala Lumpur

Published

1 week ago

December 3, 2025

George Miller

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Reading Time: < 1 minute

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.