eSports
Despite The World Against Him, Ivan Yeo Managed To Find Purpose With New Direction In Life
After building an empire with Number 1 Esports Team in Southeast Asia, EVOS Esports, Ivan was forced to restructure his life due to his growing health concerns. After restructuring his life, he managed to continue his passion of helping people achieve their dreams through web3, thus leading him to create his latest project, Avium.
Singapore, 17th May 2022 – It was five years ago when the ex-CEO of EVOS Esports, Ivan Yeo, was given the news of his Kennedy Disease, a rare disease which would cause him lose his ability to properly walk and speak. While to many, it would be a deterrent, to Ivan, it was a form of motivation.
“It took awhile for me to grasp with the news, it was life changing.”
On a ticking time clock, Ivan was determined to make EVOS Esports into a colossus in the esports industry. In half a decade, EVOS Esports expanded into 5 different countries, picking up 3 World Championship titles in the process, building up one of the influential brands in the gaming sector with influencers around the region representing the brand.
While his mind was not discouraged, his body would not ignore.
As the days went by, every small action was getting a little harder. The mindless tasks weren’t mindless anymore, the simple movements weren’t that simple anymore; that’s when he realized that he had to prepare his succession plan and groom the next generation to take over.
“While I started to feel my body, I knew I couldn’t escape the reality anymore, I had to prepare for the next steps, not only for me but for EVOS Esports as well.”
Throughout 2021, EVOS Esports had a restructure, with Ivan closely with the new management team to pass the baton down, to ensure the organization had a plan after his inevitable succession. By January 2022, Ivan was no longer in charge of the day-to-day operations of the organization.
After stepping down, Ivan decided to use his newfound freedom to focus on his physical & mental health, choosing to follow a strict diet and exercise routine. The down time helped him refocus his life, allowing him to rediscover what was truly important to him.
“For the first time in my life, I could just focus on myself, I had nothing else on my mind except to just get healthier”
Inspiring the next generation & turning dreams into the reality. A phrase that stuck through his mind throughout his life. Ivan wanted to build a platform where he could lay a foundation for people to chase their dreams, he knew going back to EVOS wasn’t an option anymore, he had to find a new outlet.
The Second Wind
It was during late 2021 that Ivan started to pick up Web3 & realized the potential of the space. The industry allowed people to chase their passion in its purest form, with the possibility of enabling millions of people to build their dreams.
“As I thought deeper into the Web3 space, I realized my time at EVOS Esports prepared me perfectly for this, it was basically creating what I envisioned, in a new ecosystem.”
Now, Ivan is fully focused on his new project, Avium, a brand built on the blocks of Web3. It wasn’t just a new platform for Ivan to inspire people and bring people together, it was also a new inspiration for Ivan himself, the potential to change millions of lives through Avium was the spark he needed for his second wind.
While the brand he is carrying has changed, his vision has not, and the his core mission remains on course; to enable passion & build dreams. Ivan truly believes that creating an open metaverse ecosystem will empower millions new opportunities to create that they truly love.
“Everyone has their own belief in what the metaverse is. For me, it’s simple. The metaverse is supposed to allow accessibility to the masses, to connect people with one another, to allow them to enable their dreams. The metaverse isn’t just about the blockchain, it’s about the community. There shouldn’t be limits in life, if you believe, you should be able to make it happen. That is what I’m trying to build and what I have confidence in.”
The past half decade has been one steep challenge for him, through the blood sweat and tears, he is still here following his own passion, to inspire millions. Avium has created a short animation video, drawing inspiration from Ivan’s life story, to outline the struggles of his life and the vision he is aiming to create, as he mentions, there shouldn’t be any limits in life.
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The Indian esports landscape is transitioning from a period of rapid “spectacle” growth to a phase defined by lasting institutional structure. Following the implementation of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), 2026 is set to be the year where regulatory clarity, international competition, and domestic grassroots development converge.
The Impact of PROGA: Policy into Practice
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), signed into law in August 2025, has officially moved from policy to practice. Its primary contribution to 2026 is the explicit separation of esports from money-based gaming.
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Legitimacy: By categorizing esports as a legitimate competitive pursuit, PROGA has unlocked state-level adoption and cleared the way for schools and colleges to integrate gaming into their sports frameworks.
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Commercial Confidence: With a clear regulatory environment, brands in sectors like FMCG, automotive, and BFSI are now viewing esports as a stable, long-term youth engagement platform rather than a risky experiment.
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Athlete Pathways: PROGA facilitates the creation of standardized national registries for athletes, ensuring that competitive integrity is maintained across grassroots and professional tiers.
The Asian Games 2026: A Global Stage
The Asian Games 2026 in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, serves as the most critical milestone for the ecosystem this year.
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Medal Status: Esports will feature as a full medal event with 11 confirmed titles, including League of Legends, PUBG Mobile (Asian Games Version), and Pokémon UNITE.
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Indian Prospects: India’s best historical result (quarter-finals in League of Legends at Hangzhou) has set a high bar. For 2026, the focus has shifted toward high-performance training camps and long-term athlete mentorship to secure a podium finish.
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Multi-Sport Integration: Participation alongside traditional athletes reinforces the narrative that esports is a viable professional career, further encouraging government investment through schemes like Khelo India.
Market Evolution and Key Trends
The Indian gaming market is projected to reach approximately $5.02 billion in 2026, driven by a massive player base exceeding 500 million gamers.
| Trend | Impact in 2026 |
| Mobile Dominance | Over 95% of the market remains mobile-first, fueled by 5G expansion and affordable hardware. |
| Beyond BGMI | 2026 is seeing a push to diversify the market into fighting games, sports simulations, and PC titles to avoid “one-title dependency.” |
| Monetization Shift | Revenue is shifting from pure advertising toward battle passes, subscription models, and in-game progression. |
| Tier II & III Growth | Most new user acquisition is coming from smaller cities, demanding more vernacular and localized content. |
The post Indian Esports 2026: Strategic Growth and the Asian Games Milestone appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Editor’s Take
Why this matters: India has long been a mobile-first gaming market (thanks to PUBG Mobile/BGMI). But 2025 proved that PC esports is not dead; in fact, it’s thriving culturally. Riot’s ability to integrate VALORANT into mainstream Indian youth culture—from “topper” billboards on exam result day to hip-hop festivals—is a masterclass in localized marketing. The success of S8UL Esports in League of Legends also signals that South Asia is finally ready to compete in global Tier 1 events.
The Full Story
Riot Games has released a retrospective on 2025, describing it as the year gaming in South Asia “didn’t feel tucked away anymore,” but rather became an unmistakable part of mainstream culture.
From filled cafés during watch parties to billboards featuring “inside jokes” from voice comms, the publisher’s year was defined by a massive surge in engagement across India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan.
The Competitive Surge: LoL and VALORANT The year began with the launch of Legends Ascend South Asia, a structured pathway for League of Legends talent that the region had been demanding. Ninety-five teams competed, culminating in S8UL Esports lifting the trophy and qualifying for the LCP Wild Card Playoffs—placing South Asian talent directly into the global conversation.
Simultaneously, PC esports found its footing in India through VALORANT Challengers South Asia.
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The Numbers: The circuit recorded over 103 million live and non-live views throughout the season.
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The Finals: The LAN event peaked at 50,000 concurrent viewers, proving that the appetite for PC tactical shooters remains fierce in a mobile-dominated region.
Cultural Crossovers: V5 and Rolling Loud Midway through the year, VALORANT celebrated its fifth anniversary (V5) with a campaign deeply rooted in Indian student culture.
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“VAL Toppers”: On JEE results day (a major academic milestone in India), Riot reimagined the traditional “exam topper” billboards to celebrate Radiant-ranked players, sparking a viral conversation.
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Rolling Loud India: In November, gaming met hip-hop. Riot integrated VALORANT into one of the world’s largest hip-hop festivals, with karaoke pods and gaming zones operating alongside performances by Wiz Khalifa and Central Cee.
Management Commentary Anushka Bhatnagar, Publishing Lead for Riot Games India & South Asia, reflected on the shift:
“2025 felt like a year when India’s gaming and esports landscape stepped into the centre of cultural conversation. VALORANT turning five reminded us how deeply the community here has shaped the game. From grassroots watch parties to moments like Rolling Loud, the ecosystem grew with a confidence that felt distinctly homegrown.”
Grassroots Momentum Beyond the flash of festivals, the year was sustained by community energy. College events introduced first-time players to the ecosystem, while local watch parties turned malls into pop-up arenas, ensuring that the growth of South Asian gaming was built “together” rather than just broadcast from above.
The post From Rolling Loud to Riot Games: How 2025 Became the Year of Indian Gaming appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
Editor’s Take
Why this matters: While many operators treat sports and esports as separate silos, GG.BET spent 2025 actively dismantling that wall. Their strategy isn’t just about slapping logos on jerseys; it’s about content crossovers. Events like the “Match of LeGGends”—where pro footballers played Counter-Strike against NAVI—demonstrate a sophisticated understanding that the modern bettor is often a hybrid fan. This cross-pollination strategy is likely the future of betting marketing.
The Full Story
GG.BET, the international betting brand, has released a comprehensive video recap of its 2025 activity, showcasing a year defined by major traditional sports sponsorships and innovative projects that blurred the lines between the pitch and the server.
The recap, which details the operator’s expansion in both the sports and esports verticals, highlights a strategy built on immersive content rather than passive branding.
Traditional Sports: Boxing and Football In the world of traditional sports, GG.BET secured high-visibility partnerships. The brand served as the official partner for the heavyweight clash between Usyk and Dubois II, executing a global media campaign at Wembley Stadium.
In Ukraine, a key licensed market for the brand, GG.BET solidified its football presence by signing a three-year contract with the legendary FC Dynamo Kyiv, alongside sponsorships of FC Polissya and FC Zorya.
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The “Dynamo 3.0” Campaign: To celebrate Dynamo Kyiv’s 30th championship, GG.BET hosted a “star-studded” press event featuring a short film on the team’s history, custom jerseys, and fan-centric activations, moving beyond standard sponsorship duties.
Esports Innovation: Mapping the Industry GG.BET continued to lead in its native esports territory. A standout project was the launch of the Interactive Esports Map in collaboration with Esports Charts. This tool provides users with retrospective data on global esports trends, including regional top disciplines and prize fund statistics.
The brand also focused on industry education, organizing the “Ukraine in Esports: Myth vs Fact” panel at the SBC Summit Ukraine and curating a unique “Esports Museum” to display legendary trophies and history.
Blurring the Lines: The “Match of LeGGends” Perhaps the most distinct initiative of 2025 was the “Match of LeGGends: Server Derby.” This crossover show match saw the current NAVI Counter-Strike 2 roster face off against footballers from Dynamo Kyiv inside the game server.
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The Format: GG.BET designed unique game modes and special rules for the event, which was streamed with commentary from major figures in sports and entertainment. The project successfully introduced traditional sports fans to esports mechanics and vice versa.
Industry Recognition The efficacy of this hybrid communication strategy was acknowledged by the wider industry, with GG.BET securing the Operator of the Year in CEE title at the EGR Global Europe Awards 2025.
The post GG.RECAP 2025: How GG.BET Bridged the Gap Between Football and CS2 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
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