eSports
FIFA legend Spencer ‘Gorilla’ Ealing returns home and hungry to compete for EXCEL ESPORTS
Gorilla will join the newly launched EXCEL ESPORTS FIFA roster with teammate Tom ‘Tom’ Leese and coach, Nathan “Zelonius” Horton
Today, British competitive gaming organisation EXCEL ESPORTS is excited to announce the signing of FIFA professional, Spencer ‘Gorilla’ Ealing. The signing makes Gorilla the second FIFA professional to join the esports organisation’s newly launched FIFA roster and joins FIFA professional Tom ‘Tom’ Leese and team coach Nathan “Zelonius” Horton on the squad.
Playing FIFA since 2003, Gorilla started playing competitively when he signed up to an online Gfinity tournament in 2014 and within a year qualified for his first-ever LAN tournament and won. Gorilla went on to complete a short stint with EXCEL in 2015 before going on to compete for several other teams including FaZe Clan and STARK Esports and now making his move back home to EXCEL. Now at 24 years old, and with the FIFA 17 World Championship already under his belt, Gorilla is hungrier than ever for success and joins the team hoping to make EXCEL his long term home.
Boasting an already impressive competitive esports roster, the move into FIFA was a natural progression for EXCEL, especially with its ambassador, professional footballer Dele Alli. Looking ahead, Tom and Gorilla under the guidance of coach Zelonuis will be working towards competing and dominating the FIFA 22 Global Series which starts this November.
Spencer ‘Gorilla’ Ealing comments: “I am thrilled to be joining the EXCEL team again! I am hoping to make EXCEL my new long term home and believe the endless support I receive from the team will help me to reach my goal – which is to win.”
“It’s great that EXCEL believes in me and I’m really looking forward to building something special with the team. A lot of players would dream to play for EXCEL and I feel very lucky and excited to be here!”
Professional footballer and EXCEL ESPORTS ambassador Dele Alli comments: “It’s great to see EXCEL moving into the competitive FIFA scene! I have been playing FIFA in my spare time for a while now and love the game, so I’m excited to see where this new chapter will take them.”
“EXCEL made history by completing the first-ever FIFA transfer fee with Tom ‘Tom’ Leese and now signing Gorilla, I am looking forward to watching them dominate the FIFA scene.”
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data providers
DATA.BET reports 168% turnover growth from virtual content in Q1 2025–Q1 2026
DATA.BET says turnover from its virtual content grew 168% between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026, with the supplier reporting the product accounted for 39% of total virtual sports turnover and 45% of profits over the period.
The company said the content is developed fully in-house and delivered through automated bot-vs-bot matches that run 24/7 without dependence on real-world fixture schedules. DATA.BET positioned the format as a way to provide continuous events and reduce operational overhead for operators.
Across the same period, DATA.BET reported +299% active users, +129% across clients GGR, +246% events per quarter, and +218% bets placed.
DATA.BET also said the audience profile overlaps with live football bettors, which it believes supports retention during seasonal breaks. The supplier added that the algorithm-driven format “carries no fraud exposure,” supports In-Stream Betting overlays, and provides near-zero latency between broadcast and market updates.
“Over the past year, our bot-vs-bot virtual content has delivered consistent, measurable results across every operator deployment. Building e-Football in-house gives us the flexibility to configure it to what each operator actually needs — whether that is a specific league structure, a particular mix of bot and player content, or a branded competition format,” mentioned Rostyslav Likhtin, Head of Product at DATA.BET.
The post DATA.BET reports 168% turnover growth from virtual content in Q1 2025–Q1 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
energy drinks
Team Vitality names FYZIO official sports nutrition and energy drinks supplier
Multi-year deal adds Laboratoires Gilbert’s new brand to jerseys across CS2, VALORANT, Rocket League and LoL teams ahead of a September 2026 launch.
Team Vitality has signed a multi-year partnership with FYZIO, naming the brand its new official sports nutrition and energy drinks supplier. FYZIO is a sports nutrition and hydration brand developed by Laboratoires Gilbert, a French healthcare company established in 1904.
The partnership will put FYZIO branding on the left sleeve of Team Vitality’s official jerseys for several flagship rosters, including CS2, VALORANT (VCT), Rocket League, and League of Legends teams across the LEC, LFL, and Rising Bees. FYZIO will also support Team Vitality teams competing in Teamfight Tactics, Tekken, and Trackmania.
FYZIO is scheduled to launch in September 2026. Team Vitality said the brand will supply products intended to support areas including hydration, fatigue and stress reduction, concentration and memory, and sleep quality.
“We are delighted to announce this partnership with FYZIO and proud to support the launch of this ambitious new brand from the French group, Laboratoires Gilbert. By integrating its specialised nutrition products into our teams’ routines, we are further strengthening our commitment to high-performance excellence,” comments Vas Roberts, Co-CEO of Team Vitality.
“For more than 120 years, Laboratoires Gilbert has been developing solutions dedicated to health and well-being. With FYZIO, we are bringing this expertise to a new ambition: helping everyone achieve their goals, whatever they may be, through a modern, accessible, and responsible approach to sports nutrition. Our partnership with Team Vitality reflects this shared vision of progress, high standards, and sustainable performance. Your performance, our nature“, explains Cédric Batteur, Chairman & CEO, Laboratoires Gilbert.
The post Team Vitality names FYZIO official sports nutrition and energy drinks supplier appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
eSports
McDonald’s Germany signs on as presenting partner for G2 NORD and G2 Hel
McDonald’s Germany has partnered with G2 as presenting partner of G2 NORD, the organisation’s League of Legends academy team competing in Germany’s Prime League. The deal also includes support for the return of G2 Hel, G2’s women’s League of Legends team.
Under the agreement, McDonald’s Germany branding, including the “ich liebe es” (I’m lovin’ it) tagline, will appear on G2 NORD and G2 Hel jerseys. The partners also plan a year-long content programme focused on player storytelling and behind-the-scenes access, including a series featuring team president Niklot “Tolkin” Stüber.
G2 positioned the partnership around its regional development pathway. G2 NORD was formed earlier this year through a collaboration between G2 and NORD Esports, and the organisation said the roster has already won the Prime League Winter Snowdown and reached the playoffs in its first EMEA Masters run.
The company said McDonald’s Germany’s backing enables G2 Hel’s return, with the team set to compete in the upcoming Game Changers circuit. “This partnership goes beyond traditional sponsorship, it’s a shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of talent development and creating meaningful opportunities within the space,” said Alban Dechelotte, CEO of G2. Stijn Mentrop-Huliselan, CMO of McDonald’s Germany, added: “We’re proud to support G2 Nord and to celebrate the return of G2 Hel – a strong signal for equity, visibility and inclusion in esports.”
To launch the collaboration, McDonald’s and G2 released an announcement video featuring Jankos, Sola, Tolkin, Team Nord and Caltys, produced in-house by G2. McDonald’s Germany said its lead agency Scholz & Friends supported the development and execution of the partnership.
The post McDonald’s Germany signs on as presenting partner for G2 NORD and G2 Hel appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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