Team Vitality, one of the most influential names in modern esports, has officially announced its entry into the Age of Empires II competitive scene. This marks a major milestone: the merging of a contemporary esports powerhouse with one of the most iconic real-time strategy franchises in history.

Aiming for the Throne: Star-Studded Roster

Team Vitality isn’t just entering for exposure — they are targeting dominance. The team has assembled a roster featuring three of the most decorated players in Age of Empires II history:

• Hamzah “Hera” El-Baher – The Golden Boy
  Known for his unmatched consistency and strategic mastery, Hera defines the modern AoE era. In 2023, he achieved a historic 14-tournament winning streak in S-Tier events. Fresh off his Red Bull Wololo: El Reinado 2024 victory, the current Player of the Year is set to continue his reign under the Vitality banner.
• Kai “Liereyy” Kallinger – The Archer God
  Renowned for exceptional micro-management and aggressive play, Liereyy brings mechanical perfection and explosive strategies to the squad. A multi-time Red Bull Wololo Champion (II & IV), the Austrian star is widely regarded as one of the most spectacular talents in the game’s history.
• Hernán “Hearttt” Pizarro – The Veteran Strategist
  With a professional career dating back to 2012 and 80+ tournament appearances, Hearttt is the rock of the team. Named Comeback Player of the Year 2023, the Peruvian strategist provides depth, resilience, and unparalleled tactical insight.

First Major Appearance: Red Bull Wololo 2026

Team Vitality’s AoE II roster will make its competitive debut at Red Bull Wololo 2026: Londinium, one of the most prestigious events on the global RTS calendar. Fans can expect high-level strategic gameplay and the start of Vitality’s quest for world championship titles in the genre.

“At Team Vitality, our expansion is always driven by a certain ambition: to compete for and win World Championships in the world’s most iconic games. Age of Empires and our new superstar lineup align perfectly with that vision… We are honored to be part of this history and can’t wait to welcome AoE fans into the Vitality Hive.” — Danny Engels, Corporate Director, Global Operations, Team Vitality

Why This Matters

Team Vitality’s entry into Age of Empires II is a significant moment for the RTS esports ecosystem:

• It bridges legacy RTS titles and modern esports organizations.
• Brings global visibility to Age of Empires II tournaments.
• Sets the stage for strategic showdowns at major international events.

With Hera, Liereyy, and Hearttt, Team Vitality is positioned to challenge for the top spots in competitive AoE II and potentially reshape the RTS landscape for years to come.

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GG.BET has announced the launch of a dedicated €20,000 betting tournament to coincide with Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Krakow 2026, one of the most anticipated Counter-Strike 2 events of the year. Running from January 22 to February 9, the promotion rewards GG.BET customers for placing winning bets on CS2 matches, with the top 100 participants sharing the total prize pool.

Betting meets competition during IEM Krakow

IEM Krakow 2026 will take place from January 28 to February 8, marking a historic moment for the Intel Extreme Masters series. For the first time, the iconic IEM playoffs will move away from Katowice and be hosted in Krakow, adding an extra layer of excitement to an already legendary esports tournament.

As the world’s best CS2 teams battle on the main stage, GG.BET is offering fans an opportunity to compete off the server through its Legendary Krakow Tournament, designed to reward consistency and smart betting throughout the event.

How the GG.BET tournament works

Participation in the tournament is simple and open to eligible customers:

1. Log in or register at GG.BET (21+ only).
2. Navigate to the Competition section, select “Legendary Krakow Tournament”, and click Join.

All winning bets placed on IEM Krakow 2026 and other CS2 tournaments at odds of 1.50 or higher count toward the leaderboard. Each successful bet earns points equal to the stake amount — for example, a €100 winning bet earns 100 points.

€20,000 prize pool and leaderboard rewards

The tournament features a €20,000 total prize pool, distributed among the top 100 players on the leaderboard. The highest-ranked participants can earn cash prizes of up to €2,000, making every winning wager an opportunity to climb the standings.

The more points accumulated during the tournament period, the greater the chance of securing a top-100 finish and a share of the prize money.

Multiple betting options, including Bet Builder

GG.BET customers can earn points using a wide range of betting formats, including:

• Single bets
• Accumulators
• System bets

Players can also take advantage of Bet Builder, which allows the creation of custom bets by combining multiple markets from a single CS2 match. Available options include map winner, individual player kills, total rounds played, and other popular CS2 markets, often with boosted combined odds.

A timely promotion for CS2 esports fans

With IEM Krakow 2026 set to redefine the Intel Extreme Masters legacy and showcase elite Counter-Strike 2 competition, GG.BET’s €20,000 tournament offers fans an additional way to engage with the action. By combining esports knowledge with strategic betting, participants can turn every winning pick into leaderboard points and real cash rewards.

Further details about the tournament and participation rules are available directly on the GG.BET platform.

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Following the launch of its inaugural women-focused VALORANT tournament La Imperia, the Insurgence Gaming Company has announced its second competitive initiative, MOBA Legends 5v5 Discord Play-Ins, a series of open community tournaments created to make organised competition more accessible to emerging players.

While La Imperia introduced a visibility-led invitational format, the MOBA Legends 5v5 Discord Play-Ins take a different approach. The series is built around open participation and will be hosted entirely online, with all tournament operations managed through Discord. This allows teams from across India to compete in a structured setting without the restrictions often associated with invite-only events.

The Play-Ins are designed as a starting point for players and teams who want to experience organised competition. Matches will be played in a 5v5 MOBA Draft Pick format, with scheduling, match reporting, and communication handled through dedicated Discord channels.

The announcement continues Insurgence Gaming Company’s early focus on grassroots esports. The company was created to address gaps in India’s competitive ecosystem, particularly at the amateur and semi-professional level where consistent tournament opportunities are still limited.

Speaking on the launch, Jasper Shabin, Founder of the Insurgence Gaming Company, said: “With La Imperia, we focused on visibility. With the Discord Play-Ins, the focus shifts to access. Competitive players need regular places to play, improve, and test themselves, not just one-off tournaments. MOBA Legends 5v5 is one of the most accessible competitive titles on mobile, which makes it a strong fit for an open, community-driven format.”

Beyond competition, the Discord Play-Ins are also intended to build a sense of continuity. Players will have access to channels dedicated to match coordination, tournament updates, and post-game discussion, helping teams stay connected beyond a single tournament run.

With the MOBA Legends 5v5 Discord Play-Ins, the Insurgence Gaming Company continues to shape its identity around community-first formats, pairing visibility-led initiatives like La Imperia with open competitive pathways that support long-term grassroots growth in Indian esports.

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