eSports
Le Mans Virtual Series, 500 Miles of Sebring– Post Race Report
- The 500 Miles of Sebring, the fourth of five rounds of the Le Mans Virtual Series, kicked off Saturday 18th December with 114 drivers across the LMP2 and GTE classes taking to the start line. Star drivers including the likes of ex-F1 and IndyCar star Felix Rosenqvist who battled against the bumps of the infamously challenging circuit as the last opportunity to display their skill, experience and knowledge ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual final in January.
- Conditions were clear in Florida, and all eyes on team strategy with the race being run to 500 miles instead of a set time on the Sebring International Raceway, with some cars including #966 Team Fordzilla pitting early after firing up the grid in the opening laps. James Baldwin in the #49 YAS Heat also pitted early to fit new soft compound tyres that largely paid off as the car continued to set purple sectors throughout and eventually recorded the race’s fastest lap time with Isaac Gillissen at the helm.
- In the LMP Classification, the race began with Erhan Jajovski in the #8 R8G Esports leading the grid in pole position, and initial skirmishes saw the pack leaders still largely intact, with the #22 GPX Rebellion Williams driven by Marcell Csincsik on the hunt in second. Drama occurred on lap 38, after the then-championship-leading #123 Team Redline received a drive-through penalty for causing a collision with the #888 TESLA R8G Esports GTE amid packed traffic, dropping the car down the rankings and away from the podium. With the Le Mans Virtual Series championship at stake, the team produced an impressive comeback performance to finish in sixth place and only drop to second in the championship rankings.
- The top three entered a tense battle going into the final third of the race, with tremendous driving from third-place Nikodem Wisniewski in the #1 Rebellion GPX Esports, who produced a quick double-overtake to assume the lead for the first time. Having dropped down to third, catastrophe struck #22 GPX Rebellion Williams driver David Pittard when he hit the barriers on lap 106 and lost the car’s rear wing to force an unexpected visit to the pits and plummet down the rankings. The #1 Rebellion GPX Esports car continued to extend its lead at the front of the pack, eventually taking its first win of the championship. The #8 R8G Esports crossed the line in second, with the #70 Realteam Hydrogen Redline rounding out the podium in third. The #10 MAHLE RACING TEAM quietly had a blistering race and soared up the rankings, securing fifth behind #4 Floyd ByKolles-Burst.
- Over in the LMGTE Classification, the #71 BMW Team Redline and driver Kevin Siggy took pole position on the grid, but was quickly overtaken by Joshua Rogers in the #92 Porsche Esports Team, with the other #91 Porsche Esports Team close behind as the three battled for first for most of the race. After the halfway mark on lap 83 the #51 FDA Esports Team’s Ferrari – which was surging up the standings – was at the centre of drama. Struck by #55 BMW Team GB, the Ferrari then spun out and made contact with the #65 Panis Racing LMP, triggering drive through penalties for both GTEs.
- In the end, the #71 BMW Team Redline’s unique fuel saving strategy worked to dramatic effect as the BMW M8 eventually secured a dominant win over its Porsche rivals, who were forced to refuel more. The #91 Porsche Esports Team finished some way off in second, while the #88 Proton Competition secured the final podium place place after a time penalty for Nestor Garcia – who had stayed in the car for too long – meant the #111 Red Bull Racing Esports car dropped from third to seventh.
- Isaac Gillissen for #49 YAS Heat recorded the fastest lap time in the LMP2 Classification, with a blistering 1:45.341 on the 132nd lap during a tense battle against Bono Huis in the #123 Team Redline. In the LMGTE Classification, Dayne Warren for Proton Competition secured the fastest lap, recording an impressive 1:57.835 in the 30th lap.
- Augustin Canapino from GPX Rebellion Williams said: “It was a great job from everyone on the team and I enjoyed every lap of the race. It was a great drive from Niko [Wisniewski] to finish so strongly and now the car is in a really good position to fight for the championship in the final round.
- Rudy van Buren from BMW Team Redline, said: “We felt our strategy was very sensible and thought others would adopt that to make it closer. It was a great race and our preparation paid off…This week we’ll get going at [the Le Mans 24], and set ourselves up to be as good as we can be for it.”
Sebring presented the final challenge to teams and drivers before the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual race, which will be held entirely online on January 15/16, 2022.
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Africa
Female Protea Team for the Counter Strike 2 esports title to do battle against Namibia – AEC25
Mind Sports South Africa’s Protea Female CS2 team, led by captain Jess Greeff and featuring Avonique van Rooyen, dominated IESF’s AEC24, and emerged undefeated, and punched their ticket to the world stage. The female Protea Team for the Counter Strike 2 Esports Title are trailblazers in female esports and are already making their mark internationally.
To qualify for IESF’s World Esports Championships 2025 (WEC25), South Africa’s Female Protea Team for the Counter Strike 2 Esports Title will be taking on Namibia at15H00 on 21 June 2025.
South Africa’s Female Protea Team for the Counter Strike 2 Esports Title has never lost to Namibia, and both MSSA and the team are confident that the result will be the same as all previous encounters.
The team has shown a few changes from 2024. Jessica Greeff remains the captain, and Avonique van Rooyen and Megan van der Westhuizen too stay on the team with their vast international experience. The two new additions are Kiera McCullum and Kalee Ludick who further add to the team.
MSSA is of the belief that the 2025 Female Protea Team for the Counter Strike 2 Esports Title is the strongest female Counter Strike 2 team to ever represent South Africa.
The full team to represent South Africa at15H00 on 21 June 2025 is:
| Name | Club | Nick | Province |
| Jessica Eleez Greeff (Capt.) | ZAG Academy | heartjess | KwaZulu Natal |
| Avonique van Rooyen | ZAG Academy | avo | Gauteng |
| Kiera McCallum | ZAG Academy | queen | KwaZulu Natal |
| Megan van der Westhuizen | ZAG Academy | m3gz | Gauteng |
| Kalee Ludick | ZAG Academy | creative | Gauteng |
The post Female Protea Team for the Counter Strike 2 esports title to do battle against Namibia – AEC25 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Global esports organisation Gen.G Esports (Gen.G) announced the official grand opening of GGX (Gen.G Gaming Xperience), a multi-dimensional cultural gaming space that brings its brand philosophy to life to an offline space in the heart of Seoul. Launching on Saturday, June 21, GGX marks the first-ever flagship venue by an esports brand that redefines the traditional PC café, offering a high-performance gaming zone alongside curated lifestyle experiences across food, merchandise, community and coaching.
Located near DDP, a cultural and artistic landmark in Seoul at Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, GGX spans 1570 square meters and includes 252 premium gaming stations equipped with top-tier specs. Each seat features NVIDIA RTX 5070 GPUs, LG UltraGear monitors, Logitech gaming peripherals, ultra-fast internet and Gen.G x SIDIZ custom-designed gaming chairs, with an estimated hardware value of KRW 4.5 million (USD 3300) per station, delivering a fully immersive play environment.
More than just a gaming space, GGX will act as Gen.G’s flagship space – an open, ever-expanding ecosystem where brands, fans and creators come together to create a unique experience. From concept to execution, GGX was co-developed with industry-leading partners such as Otoki, Monster Energy and SIDIZ, creating a space that blends gaming, content and community in new ways.
Inside GGX, visitors can enjoy a variety of immersive experiences, including:
“OTOKI G.ROUND”, a food & beverage lounge co-developed with Otoki, offering exclusive signature menu items
An iconic photo spot and photo booth featuring GenRang, Gen.G’s official mascot
A merchandise store, showcasing Gen.G uniforms, exclusive partner collaboration items and GGX-limited items
A community lounge with a capacity for over 100 people – designed as a space for fans to connect and share their passion for gaming, and engage in community-driven activities.
In collaboration with Gen.G Global Academy (GGA), GGX also offers coaching programmes and skill-up classes for gamers of all levels. Led by former pro players, these sessions include in-depth strategic game analysis, aim training and team-based gameplay. The venue will also host regular fan meetups, watch parties and branded community events, creating a dynamic environment for fans to connect and grow together.
Steve Lee, Head of Partnerships at Gen.G, said: “GGX goes beyond just gaming – it’s a cultural hub where fans, players, and brands come together to create meaningful experiences. Through spaces like this and continued innovation, Gen.G aims to lead the sustainable growth of the esports industry.”
GGX is operated by Superplay, a leading IP management company in the gaming and esports space, with proven experience designing fan-centric spaces such as T1 Basecamp Hongdae, KT Rolster R Café and Genshin PC Lounge. Superplay and Gen.G co-developed GGX over several months, from spatial design to branded content and programming.
Junghyun Kim, CEO of Superplay, said: “After months of development with the Gen.G team, we’re proud to finally unveil GGX. We hope it becomes a must-visit destination for gaming and esports fans from Korea and around the world.”
The post Gen.G Opens “GGX”, the Next-Gen Cultural Gaming Space appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
EWC to open with a celebration of gaming culture on July 10, 2025, connecting global fans through the power of music on the world’s biggest esports stage.
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced that global music icon Post Malone will headline the Opening Ceremony of the Esports World Cup 2025, taking place on July 10, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Post Malone’s performance will kick-off a seven-week event that brings together gaming, music, and culture, reflecting the EWC’s role advancing gaming as mainstream entertainment for a digital generation.
A 9x diamond-certified global artist and lifelong gamer, Post Malone has deep roots in the esports and gaming community – streaming Call of Duty: Warzone, PUBG, and Hunt: Showdown on Twitch, and collaborating with developers on in-game events, including a recent crossover with Apex Legends. His exclusive live performance will open EWC 2025, blending chart-topping sound with a celebration of gaming culture on the world’s premier competitive stage.
“Esports is becoming a global cultural force – where music, storytelling, and competition converge to create moments that are not just seen, but felt,” said Mike McCabe, Chief Operating Officer, of the Esports World Cup Foundation. “With Post Malone, a global artist and true gamer, opening the tournament, we continue to celebrate the power of music – a universal language that brings fans together and defines the cultural future of esports.”
“This year’s Opening Ceremony will deliver a fresh take on the classic story of ambition, resilience and progress, told through the lens of EWC. ” added Ariel Horn, Executive Producer of the Esports World Cup Foundation. “It’s exciting and new. So many game genres converging on one global stage, the music fuels the competitive fire at the heart of this event and this industry, and Post Malone is the perfect voice to carry that passion and celebrate the beginning of an historic event.”
This announcement follows the launch of EWC Music, a long-term initiative to create an original music identity for the Esports World Cup and establish music as a core pillar of the fan cultural experience. The programme began on April 27 with the recording of a four-track music suite at the legendary Abbey Road Studios, featuring original compositions by acclaimed music collectives 2WEI and Hollywood Scoring. Through original scores, global artist collaborations, and fan-focused soundtracks, EWC Music is designed to connect global audiences through a shared emotional language that elevates every moment of the competition – from broadcast to live stages. Additional artists, performances, and music-driven collaborations will be revealed in the coming weeks as part of the wider EWC Music program.
The 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 across a mix of platforms and genres, bringing together esports’ best teams, players and games under one banner in the largest-ever celebration of esports.
The EWC 2025 will feature 2,000 elite players and 200 Clubs from more than 100 countries, competing in 25 tournaments across 24 games for a record-breaking $70+ million prize pool.
The post Post Malone to Headline Esports World Cup 2025 Opening Ceremony in Riyadh appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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