eSports
Three-way title fight in this week’s F1 Esports Series Pro Championship presented by Aramco Grand Final

While the real-world F1 season may have ended on Sunday, we have plenty more racing action for you this week as we head into the Grand Final of the F1 Esports Series Pro Championship presented by Aramco, with just eight points separating the top three drivers. Reigning champion Jarno Opmeer leads the way on 140, with Lucas Blakeley and Frede Rasmussen within touching distance of the Dutchman on 135 and 132 points respectively. It is still all to play for in the Teams’ Championship too with Mercedes on 222 points and Red Bull not far behind on 199, as they fight to get their hands on a share of the $750,000 prize pot.
Drivers will take on the iconic Imola circuit for the first time in an F1 Esports Series event, after it was introduced to the F1 2021 video game this year, before Wednesday’s action finishes up at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The final Round of the season will take place at Interlagos, where many famous championship battles have been decided in the real world.
The live shows will be streamed online via official Formula 1 channels on Facebook, YouTube, Twitch and Huya, as well as broadcast on television by select international partners including the likes of Sky, ESPN and Fox Sports, whilst Qualifying show content will be streamed exclusively on Twitch, YouTube and Huya.
Please see the table below for the full breakdown of the platform splits so you don’t miss a moment of the action this week:
Day |
Session |
Time (GMT) |
Coverage |
Wednesday 15 December |
Qualifying Show 1 |
15:30 – 16:45 |
Twitch, YouTube & Huya |
Evening Show 1 |
19:30 – 21:00 |
TV & Online |
|
Thursday 16 December |
Qualifying Show 2 |
15:30 – 16:45 |
Twitch, YouTube & Huya |
Evening Show 2 |
19:30 – 21:00 |
TV & Online |
Ahead of this week’s Grand Final, we spoke with Jarno Opmeer, Lucas Blakeley and Marcel Kiefer, all looking to get their hands on some silverware this week, with all quotes below available for use in editorial:
Jarno Opmeer – Mercedes
“There’s a lot of pressure on the top three going into the final. It’s going to be a battle between me, Frede and Lucas which makes it very exciting, especially with how qualifying works. It can switch around really fast so anything could happen!”
Lucas Blakeley – Aston Martin
“I’ve not been in this position fighting for a championship before so it’s a privilege to even be in this position so I’m grateful I’m able to be doing this in the first place. I’ve been working on the details and making sure I’m prepared to the best level I can be to perform at the final event at the same standard that I have been driving all season. I’m more excited about the final than nervous for it.”
Marcel Kiefer – Red Bull
“Lucas has had a great season and Aston Martin have made a great comeback so we have to give them credit for that. Jarno is probably the smartest guy on the grid when it comes to strategy so he’s always tricky to race against. Frede is the most talented driver and probably sim-racer overall, especially over one lap. His raw pace is incredible. I’m backing our boy Frede for the title and hoping he can secure P1.”
Powered by WPeMatico
eSports
Four Countries Shortlisted to Host GOTF 2027

Phygital International (PI), the exclusive rights holders and custodians of The Games of the Future (GOTF), announced that Brazil, Serbia, South Africa, and Uzbekistan are the shortlisted applicants to host GOTF 2027. The Games of the Future is the world’s leading phygital sports tournament, bringing together sports and esports athletes from around the world.
With the UAE set to host GOTF 2025 and Kazakhstan in 2026, the competition for the 2027 edition has drawn significant interest from nations eager to position themselves as leaders in the world of phygital sports.
Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International, said: “We received bids from right around the world which highlights the growing awareness and passion for phygital sports globally. We would like to thank all the nations who bid to host The Games of the Future 2027 and are pleased to announce that Brazil, Serbia, South Africa, and Uzbekistan have been selected as the nations shortlisted as potential hosts.”
Following further evaluations and detailed assessments of each finalist’s proposal, the final decision on the host country for GOTF 2027 will be announced in the summer of 2025.
The post Four Countries Shortlisted to Host GOTF 2027 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
Valorant Added to Hero Esports Asian Champions League

The HERO ESPORTS Asian Champions League (ACL), Asia’s premier multi-title esports tournament hosted by Hero Esports, has officially announced the addition of VALORANT to its inaugural lineup.
Previously, ACL unveiled six game titles: Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), Honor of Kings, Teamfight Tactics, Delta Force, and Crossfire. With VALORANT joining the roster, the total number of games now stands at seven, with more titles expected to be announced soon.
Through continued collaboration with the Esports World Cup, ACL has revealed that the champions of the ACL CS2 and Honor of Kings Tournaments will secure direct entry to the Esports World Cup. Further collaborations on the remaining titles of the ACL are anticipated.
The ACL VALORANT Tournament will be the only international-level VALORANT tournament held in China during the first half of 2025, attracting top teams from overseas. The Final of the event will take place offline in Shanghai. The event will use world-class production and cutting-edge live broadcasting technology to enhance audience experience.
The ACL is set to take place in the first half of 2025, with the Finals of the ACL CS2 Tournament and Honor of Kings Tournament scheduled for May. The ACL will have a total prize pool of $2 million.
Jonny Wang, CEO of the Asian Champions League, said: “We are excited to announce the addition of VALORANT to the ACL. Our ambition is to make ACL into a truly comprehensive tournament, providing a larger stage for players and teams across various competitions while delivering more exciting content for our audience.”
Danny Tang, Co-Founder and CEO of Hero Esports, said: “We are pleased by the progress of the ACL and its ability to attract top teams and titles to compete across Asia. We look forward to the continued collaboration between Hero Esports, ACL and the Esports World Cup Foundation, which is testament to our shared ambition to shape and empower esports globally.”
The post Valorant Added to Hero Esports Asian Champions League appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
Esports World Cup Foundation Announces Strategic Partnership with Tencent

Partnership to drive EWC’s expansion in China, leveraging Tencent E-sports’ networks and expertise to connect Chinese esports with EWC’s global ecosystem
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced a partnership with Tencent, making Tencent E-sports the EWCF’s strategic partner in China to drive the expansion of the Esports World Cup’s presence in the region. This partnership marks a significant milestone in the EWCF’s purpose to unite global esports fans under one competitive umbrella and underscores its commitment to integrating the world’s most important and rapidly growing esports market into the Esports World Cup platform. The agreement was formalized at the Empower Esports Worldwide Series – The Esports Operation and Technology Session in Shenzhen, China.
The collaboration will establish a dedicated Development Team to enhance EWC’s visibility, engagement, and industry collaboration in China, while leveraging EWC’s and Tencent E-sports’ networks and expertise to connect Chinese esports with EWC’s global ecosystem. Tencent E-sports will provide marketing expertise, strategic consulting, and operational support to deliver diverse content and experiences.
“The Esports World Cup has created a global stage for competitive gaming, demonstrating its influence not only in China but across the world,” said Mars Hou, Vice President of Tencent Games and General Manager of Tencent E-sports. “Through this partnership, we are committed to elevating EWC’s presence in China and integrating our esports industry with the world’s largest competitive gaming event. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with EWCF to push esports forward on a global scale.”
“The Esports World Cup’s purpose is to create a global platform for esports and gaming fans worldwide, and investing in key growth markets for esports is a core pillar of our mission,” said Thamer Al Shuaibi, Chief of Staff at the Esports World Cup Foundation. “China plays a critical role in this vision, and Tencent’s leadership in gaming and esports positions it as an essential partner. By combining our expertise, we will continue to strengthen esports as an industry, providing new opportunities for Chinese players and Clubs, and bringing the best of the Esports World Cup to Chinese fans.”
Esports World Cup 2025 will once again unite gaming and esports communities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for a global competition that will crown the next Esports World Cup Champion. The tournament’s unique cross-game format will reward Clubs and players competing for a life-changing prize pool in a mix of platforms and genres, bringing together esports’ best players, Clubs and games under one banner in the largest-ever celebration of esports.
The post Esports World Cup Foundation Announces Strategic Partnership with Tencent appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
Betty5 days ago
Wyzia Renews Canadian Partnership With Betty
-
BCLC4 days ago
BCLC Reminds Public to be Cautious of Illegal Online Casino Scams
-
Compliance Updates5 days ago
Texas Lottery Moves to Ban Lottery Courier Services
-
BETBY6 days ago
BETBY EXPANDS LATAM PRESENCE WITH APPOINTMENT OF JUAN PABLO BARAHONA AS REGIONAL DIRECTOR
-
Betsson4 days ago
Betsson Obtains Local Gaming Licence in Brazil
-
André Baldavira5 days ago
GingaBet Becomes New Master Sponsor of Ponte Preta
-
Aposta 14 days ago
scoreconnect boosts Brazilian presence with Aposta 1 deal
-
Australia6 days ago
VGCCC Concludes Underage Gambling Investigation