eSports
Mercedes’ Jarno Opmeer in pole position to retain World Championship crown in three-way title race for 2021 F1 Esports Series Pro Championship

Reigning champion Jarno Opmeer will go into going the Grand Final of the 2021 F1 Esports Series Pro Championship presented by Aramco leading the Drivers’ Championship, ahead of Lucas Blakeley and Frede Rasmussen, after this week’s thrilling Event 3. Just as the real-life Constructors’ Championship is finely poised, Mercedes and Red Bull are neck and neck in the Teams’ title fight, after the latest trio of races.
Event 3 began with drivers taking to Portimao, for the first time in Pro Championships history, to battle the ‘rollercoaster’ circuit, with its huge undulations and fast straights. Blakeley had a front row seat from off, starting P1 on the grid and dominating the field throughout, racing clear of the chasing pack and only relinquishing the lead when he came into pit, as he continued to show his championship credentials. Rasmussen showed why he is also a strong contender for the crown, with an impressive performance on the alternative strategy, as he made his way through the field on the soft tyres towards the end to pick up an important second place finish for both his own title ambitions, and Red Bull’s. Fabrizio Donoso turned a great qualifying session, starting P4, into a second podium finish of the year for Alpine, rounding off the top three.
Mercedes were able to hit back as attentions turned to Zandvoort, as Dani Moreno took his maiden victory in the F1 Esports Series Pro Championship, ahead of Rasmussen, who scored his second P2 finish in a row. The pair had tussled for the lead throughout, as Rasmussen took the lead on Lap 1, but it was Moreno who prevailed late on taking P1 in the latter stages of the race, and withstanding the pressure from the following group. Blakeley secured another podium finish, his fifth of the year, with third place and Bari Boroumand continued his fine form in his debut season with McLaren, having secured pole in Zandvoort, and finishing just outside the podium places in P4.
Opmeer, who finished P7 and P6 in the previous races respectively, fought back with a huge victory at the Circuit of the Americas to reclaim top spot in the Drivers’ Championship, and make it back-to-back wins for Mercedes. Rasmussen made it a hat-trick of personal podiums in Event 3, with a P2 finish, putting him only eight points back from Opmeer in the standings. Nicolas Longuet secured his first podium since Round 1, whilst title contender Blakeley managed P6, adding crucial points to his tally and just five points off Opmeer.
It is still all to play for as we look towards this year’s Grand Final, which will take place on 15-16 December, and will feature races at Imola and Mexico, before the final race in Brazil, which has played host to many title deciders during the illustrious history of F1.
Drivers are continuing to race remotely from their homes or team facilities, as they did in the 2020 season, but the hugely popular competition continues to broadcast from the Gfinity Esports Arena in London. Following the same Event format as recent campaigns, teams battle it out on the official F1 2021 video game, developed by Codemasters, with the live shows are streamed online via official channels of Formula 1 on Facebook, YouTube, Twitch and Huya, as well as broadcast on television via select international broadcast partners.
F1 Esports events have achieved over 40 million views across TV and digital, in the last 18 months, and this popularity led to a record number of people attempting to be a part of this year’s Pro Exhibition, with almost half a million taking part in qualification. Qualification for next year’s competition is now open through a challenge in the official F1 2021 video game, with the second event live until 30th November.
Powered by WPeMatico
eSports
2025 PUBG MOBILE Global Championship Details, Format, and Map Changes Revealed at Esports World Cup

James Yang, Senior Director of Global Esports at Level Infinite, has shared a number of exciting reveals for the future of PUBG MOBILE Esports. Among this news is the official plan for the second half of the 2025 competitive season, including further information on the format and changes coming to the prestigious PUBG MOBILE Global Championship (PMGC) at the end of the year. These changes are set to amplify the excitement at the final major competition in this year’s circuit, allowing more opportunities for teams to make it to number one.
As the final tournament of the annual PUBG MOBILE Esports circuit, the 2025 PMGC is the most anticipated event of the year, with professional teams vying for their chance to etch their name in esports history as the ultimate Champions of the PUBG MOBILE year. For this reason, the best teams across the world are invited to take their shot at victory. This year sees the introduction of the Gauntlet Stage to the tournament — an initial stage where the 16 best teams from each region are selected for an initial chance to go straight to the Grand Finals, with six slots up for grabs.
In order to qualify for the Gauntlet Stage, teams must be placed within the top two or three spots in the regional 2025 PUBG MOBILE Super League (PMSL) Fall Rankings, but this is not the only opportunity to enter the tournament. The bottom 10 ranked teams from the Gauntlet will enter the Group Stage, alongside 22 teams from across the globe. These 22 teams are made up of the top-scoring teams from every region, with the combined 32 teams facing off in two groups for a further four qualifying slots per group.
The final two slots are made up of the overall winner of the host-region invite slot and the winner of the Last Chance stage, where the teams ranked 5th-12th from the Group Stage will get one more shot at qualifying for the Grand Finals.
Many other changes were announced as PUBG MOBILE Esports seeks to close the gap between professional play and the wider player experience. Kicking this off, Rondo is replacing Sanhok in the official map rotation from the 2025 PMSL Fall Season, and with it comes a myriad of impactful changes. To begin, the Recall System makes a return to the competitive formula, allowing eliminated players to rejoin the battle should their teammates safely secure their tag. Sentry Guards and drops will also be introduced in keeping with the original Rondo experience and the Blue Zone speed will remain the same. However, the iconic map stores will not be available, meaning players will have to scavenge for gear just as they do in other maps.
With the action-heavy updates revealed, PUBG MOBILE Esports has also highlighted some of the best moments across the various tournaments to date. This involves a look at the skill of standout performances, key historical moments, and also recognising amazing examples of how gaming can connect people across the globe.
Beginning with the former, following two years of persistence, Indonesia’s GluSquad Esports made their mark on the game, qualifying for the PMSL SEA for the first time, earning widespread support for their fresh energy in the summer season. Waves were also made in Africa, as Memoitho made history becoming the first woman in PUBG MOBILE Esports to reach the Top 3 in the 2025 PUBG MOBILE Africa Cup (PMAC) Kenya Solo Competition. Then to Nepal, where Horaa Esports celebrated their qualification in the 2025 PMWC, marking their debut entry into a major global tournament.
Alongside these great stories are many heartwarming highlights from over the years, such as Team Nile’s own 11011Enemy, who defied the odds while managing mobility issues from sickle cell disease, securing MVP in a crucial match, and going on to represent Nigeria in Saudi Arabia. In a similar vein, a community of gamers with disabilities from Turkey were brought together by PUBG MOBILE, growing into a 50 person group of supportive players across the country. PUBG MOBILE is also celebrating the love and support shown by pro players’ families. Earlier this year, the father of Regnum Carya Esports’ Sylas celebrated his son’s success at the 2025 PUBG MOBILE Global Open (PMGO). Then at the 2025 PMWC, the father of POWR Esports’ Alhaje cheered on his son from the crowd as the weekend unfolded. With this, both of these proud fathers proved their place as their sons’ number one fans. Last but not least, fans will remember how football star Richarlison met his partner through their mutual love for PUBG MOBILE Esports.
With a plethora of significant updates to the tournament formula, the reintroduction of impactful features, and many more stories to be made, PUBG MOBILE Esports fans have plenty to look forward to for the rest of the year and beyond.
The post 2025 PUBG MOBILE Global Championship Details, Format, and Map Changes Revealed at Esports World Cup appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
Magnus Carlsen Claims Inaugural Chess at 2025 Esports World Cup Title as Two Grand Masters Clashed on the World Stage

Magnus Carlsen has claimed the inaugural Chess at 2025 Esports World Cup title, beating out Alireza Firouzja in a thrilling final series.
Representing Team Liquid, Magnus Carlsen was able to secure a straight 2-0 series victory against Team Falcons’ French star Alireza Firouzja. The Norwegian grandmaster entered Chess at EWC 25 as the favourite, and it was clear to see why. As for his Team Falcons opponent, Firouzja, while he had moments of brilliance, the gulf in class between the two in this series showed.
The world number-one swept the Team Falcons representative in sensational style with a straight sets victory that reaffirmed his status as one of the all-time greats. Carlsen took the first set 3-1, before dominating the second set 3-1 once again to secure a 2-0 series victory.
Magnus Carlsen’s win sees Team Liquid claim their first victory at the 2025 Esports World Cup. The victory continues a great year thus far for Magnus Carlsen, who won Chess.com’s 2025 Champions Chess Tour to qualify for the EWC, as well as his seventh Norway Chess title and the 2025 Grenke Chess Freestyle Open with a perfect 9/9 score.
“I am very happy, a little bit relieved as well. There was a point in the second set where I felt I let him back in the match for no reason. Overall, I’m happy with the way I played and the way I pressured him on the clock. A couple of times I rushed a little bit, but that comes with everything,” said Carlsen.
“I think it’s been incredible. Not only playing, but watching the others. It’s been an amazing show, unlike anything I’ve seen so far. It’s just been a joy. I hope this is a big part of the future of chess. I’m really thankful to EWC for believing in Chess, for Team Liquid for believing in me as well, and for making Team Falcons have to fight at least a little bit for the Club Championship,” he said.
The post Magnus Carlsen Claims Inaugural Chess at 2025 Esports World Cup Title as Two Grand Masters Clashed on the World Stage appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
2025 PUBG MOBILE WORLD CUP FINALISTS LOCKED IN AS 16 TEAMS MAKE THE CUT

The prestigious 2025 PUBG MOBILE World Cup (PMWC) is shifting into high-gear as the pivotal Survival Stage has concluded after two days of high-stakes plays and fierce competition which saw Horaa Esports take pole position. In total, eight elite teams have emerged victorious, earning a spot to compete in the 2025 PMWC Grand Finals, where they’ll be reunited with the eight teams that came out on top during the Group Stage last weekend. Only one team will take home the lion’s share of the $3 million prize pool, and the crown position as the 2025 PMWC Champion, as part of the Esports World Cup in Riyadh.
Over the course of three action-packed days, the Survival Stage delivered intense battles in 12 adrenaline-fueled matches, as 16 teams fought for the final eight coveted slots in the Grand Finals. Early momentum was set by Fire Flux Esports on day one, consistently securing top finishes, while POWR Esports made a strong impact on day two with aggressive plays and smart rotations. Throughout the stage, teams such as Regnum Carya and eArena demonstrated their resilience and adaptability, skillfully navigating high-pressure situations to place in the Top 3 for four of their matches. The MEA region also proved itself a powerhouse, with both Team Falcons and POWR Esports advancing to the Grand Finals. Surprisingly, last year’s reigning champions, Alpha7 Esports, were eliminated in this Survival Stage, ending their run in the tournament after a series of hard-fought matches, guaranteeing a new team will take the throne.
Showcasing their strategic brilliance, Horaa Esports earned an impressive 108 points, marking them as the top dogs of the Survival Stage. Along with seven other finalists from this stage, they have secured their spot in the Grand Finals.
The 16 top-performing teams to compete in the Grand Finals from tomorrow include:
- Horaa Esports
- Fire Flux Esports
- POWR Esports
- Regnum Carya
- eArena
- NS RedForce
- Team Falcons
- Yangon Galacticos
- Alter Ego Ares
- 4Thrives Esports
- DRX
- Weibo Gaming
- Alpha Gaming
- Team Secret
- TT Global
- IDA Esports
This Grand Finals will also feature a brand new theme song Smash!, a hype beat that will play once the SMASH ruleset is active and a team is just one Winner Winner Chicken Dinner away from overall victory. With the placements confirmed and schedule locked in, the 2025 PMWC Grand Finals weekend is set to be an exceptional display of top PUBG MOBILE Esports talent. As the second edition of the PUBG MOBILE World Cup (PMWC), and part of the Esports World Cup, these dedicated teams will be doubling down on their competitive edge, leaving everything on the battleground as they fight for the crown, and the lion’s share of the $3 million prize pool.
The post 2025 PUBG MOBILE WORLD CUP FINALISTS LOCKED IN AS 16 TEAMS MAKE THE CUT appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
Australia6 days ago
AUSTRAC Launches Civil Penalty Proceedings Against Mounties
-
Dreidel7 days ago
Getting to know Dreidel
-
Joe Solosky6 days ago
NASCAR and nVenue, Bring Groundbreaking Live Probabilities to In-Season Challenge Broadcast for Fans Watching Live Racing
-
Brazil6 days ago
WA. Technology Receives GLI Certification in Brazil for Casino Aggregator Product
-
Esportes da Sorte6 days ago
Esportes da Sorte champions Responsible Gaming with strong internal culture and compliance focus
-
Balkans6 days ago
Over 70 Diamond King 4 Installations in Palms Bet Gaming Halls
-
Baltics6 days ago
SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator Enters the Estonian Market
-
Community Mitigation Fund6 days ago
Massachusetts Gaming Commission Awards $22.8 Million in Grants from Community Mitigation Fund