eSports
IESF World Esports Championships Regional Qualifiers Underway in Baku
Regional Qualifiers kick off with European Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan
Europe’s greatest players compete in Tekken 7 to secure place in IESF’s flagship event
The European Esports Federation (EEF) with the support from the International Esports Federation (IESF) are organizing the European Championship in Tekken 7 and officially kicked off the World Esports Championships regional qualifiers in Baku, Azerbaijan. Players from 18 countries will compete in Tekken 7 for a prize of $5,000 and a coveted spot in the WE Championships Finals.
The European Championships began today, 26th May, with the Opening Ceremony taking place at Crystal Hall Arena in the Azerbaijan capital. This is the first time Azerbaijan has hosted the regional qualifiers. The Ceremony featured representatives from the 18 nations participating as well as the President of the Azerbaijan Esports Federation, President of the European Esports Federation and Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan Republic.
President of the Azerbaijan Esports Federation Ramil Aliyev: “I would like to express my deep gratitude to the European Esports Federation for the great confidence put in us to organize such a competition here in Baku. I believe that promoting and sharing common values will let us build a strong community in Europe as a whole. I hope that all participants will leave our country with great impressions and priceless memories. In the end, I want to declare the European Esports Championship Baku 2022 officially open! Wish you good Luck & Have Fun!”
IESF President Vlad Marinescu spoke at the Opening Ceremony and said: “I first want to thank the city of Baku and the local government and organizers for welcoming the World Esports Family for the first round of our regional qualifiers. The Azerbaijan Esports Federation has done an amazing job at growing and promoting esports in their nation. We are looking forward to continuing IESF’s rich and consistent history of hosting the best esports events and proving athletes with the ultimate environment to perform at their full potential with the 14th World Esports Championships. Players, Let the games begin!”
European Esports President Ido Brosh said: “ The European Esports Championships feature some of the best Esports athletes in Europe, competing for a cash prize and a chance to qualify to the IESF World Esports Championships later this year in Bali. Only together we can lead by example, as the sport of the next generation. Congratulations to Baku and the Azerbaijan Esports Federation for hosting this event – it is our pleasure to visit your country. And to the players competing this week I say good luck, have fun, have perseverance, and bring home the glory!”
Eighteen players from Azerbaijan, France, Georgia, Israel, Italy, Hungary, Macedonia, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and Wales will compete in Tekken 7 with all matches available to stream on the IESF Twitch channel.
The European Championships will continue throughout the summer with upcoming competitions in CS:GO, eFootball, Dota 2, PUBG and Mobile Legend: Bang Bang in Oradea, Romania, Podgorica, Montenegro, and Tirana, Albania, respectfully. The Championships feature a total prize pool of $80,000.
The WE Championships regional qualifiers will continue in the fall with the Panam, Asian and African Championships. The world’s greatest esports players will then go head-to-head at the 2022 edition of the WE Championships Finals in Bali, Indonesia, taking place from December 1 to 12, 2022.
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Mirage Digital, the next-generation content studio shaping the future of digital entertainment, announced a groundbreaking partnership with global eSports organization Team Liquid. With over 35 million social media followers across platforms, 100+ championship titles with its over 120+ players and content creators worldwide, Team Liquid is the highest earning eSports team in the world to launch a 24/7 live-streaming programming experience surrounding the fan-favorite World of Warcraft: Race to World First event.
Mirage has created a new content monetization model for creators and enterprising entities, unlocking previously untapped non-traditional revenue streams. The company helps its clients with repurposing, redistributing, licensing, and selling content across numerous platforms and territories. Resulting in over a million dollars for its eclectic roster of over 300 creators, the company leverages its extensive creator network and expertise in original content development, to redefine digital content syndication. Mirage Digital is bridging the gap between creators and enterprise opportunities by sourcing high-quality content from creators and repurposing it for expanded deal flow and pipeline of distribution across OTT and FAST platforms.
Team Liquid, coming off a championship win in March, is set to make history with its most ambitious Race to World First campaign yet, with live coverage kicking off in July. For the first time, the tournament and its surrounding content will be broadcast beyond Twitch to OTT and FAST audiences, expanding access for new and longtime fans alike.
“This launch marks a huge moment not just for Team Liquid, but for the future of all eSports and creator content. We’re unlocking a format that merges always-on content with world-class competitive play, giving fans a reason to tune in every hour of every day. This is a monumental moment for both television networks and eSports to recognize the boundaries they are breaking in both parallels,” said Griffin Haddrill, Founder of Mirage Digital.
The multi-day broadcast includes full tournament coverage alongside exclusive behind-the-scenes content, player profiles, real-time strategy breakdowns, and each day’s highlights – providing an unprecedented level of access to Team Liquid’s journey and personalities within the event.
Team Liquid will bring its world-renowned Race to World First event to new audiences with a livestream on The Roku Channel in late August. Widely regarded as one of the most thrilling competitions in MMORPG gaming, Race to World First draws millions of global viewers eager to watch elite teams battle for supremacy in World of Warcraft. Known for pushing the boundaries of eSports entertainment, Team Liquid is once again innovating – this marks the first time the iconic event will be available via a dedicated OTT streaming platform, giving fans an even more immersive viewing experience.
“This collaboration is the result of our mission to re-imagine where and how gaming and creator content lives. All parties saw an opportunity to take one of the most anticipated eSports events of the year and expand its reach to new audiences through OTT and FAST distribution. This is about creating long-term value for teams, fans, and platforms alike—and Race to World First is just the beginning,” said Robin Bigge, Co-CEO of Mirage Digital.
“This is a historic evolution in how we bring eSports to the world. We’ve built a legacy on competitive excellence, and this partnership lets us showcase the heart, hustle, and humanity of our players in a way we’ve never done before—24/7, across every screen,” said Claire Hungate, President & COO of Team Liquid.
This moment also marks the first time Team Liquid has programmed content specifically for a FAST Channel, a move that speaks to the maturation and crossover appeal of eSports for general audiences.
The post Mirage Digital Announces Partnership with Team Liquid appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
The collaboration will introduce a range of immersive on-ground activations, Priceless Experiences and seamless payment solutions to enhance the fan journey
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced the return of Mastercard as an official event supplier for the 2025 Esports World Cup, the world’s largest esports event, set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 to August 24. The renewed partnership underscores Mastercard’s continued commitment to elevating digital experiences, championing youth engagement, and supporting the Kingdom’s rapidly growing gaming ecosystem.
Through the collaboration with the Esports World Cup, Mastercard will introduce a range of immersive on-ground activations and seamless payment solutions designed to enhance the overall fan journey. This will include creating a bespoke version of the Mastercard Gamer Academy, where Mastercard, in collaboration with G2 Esports and Esports World Cup, designed a one-of-a-kind experience that will provide 10 successful applicants with the opportunity to be mentored by professionals on how they could pursue a career in esports. Further, fans can collect Priceless Points by interacting with the games and activities available at the Mastercard booth for the chance to win ultimate gaming gear that will be rewarded to the top scoring players. Further, there will be live appearances by G2 Esports players to be hosted as fireside chats to talk about areas like pro esports. The brand’s presence will emphasize the intersection of technology, gaming, and culture, anchored by initiatives that highlight and support local Saudi talent.
“Mastercard’s return as a partner reflects the Esports World Cup’s evolution from a tournament into a global cultural platform,” said Mohammed Al Nimer, Chief Commercial Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation. “Together, we’re creating impactful experiences that go beyond gameplay, uniting youth empowerment, digital inclusion, and immersive fan engagement. Mastercard’s focus on Priceless experiences and innovation makes them an ideal partner to help us inspire the next generation of gamers and connect with fans in meaningful and memorable ways.”
Saud Swar, Country Manager, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan and other Levant, Mastercard added, “We are proud to deepen our partnership with the Esports World Cup Foundation as we continue to unlock the potential of gaming in the Kingdom. In line with Saudi Vision 2030, Mastercard is committed to connecting people to their passions, driving innovation, and inspiring the next generation. Our priceless experiences help empower youth, promote digital inclusion, and celebrate Saudi Arabia’s vibrant esports culture.”
This partnership builds on Mastercard’s long-standing global support for the gaming and esports industry, including its strategic sponsorship of Riot Games’ League of Legends and VALORANT. It reinforces Mastercard’s leadership in digital payments and its role in shaping future-facing experiences through youth engagement and innovation.
The 2025 Esports World Cup will host 25 tournaments across 24 game titles, bringing together over 2,000 elite players and 200 Clubs from more than 100 countries. With a record-breaking prize pool of over $70 million, the event will offer fans a comprehensive entertainment experience, from high-stakes competition and live music to anime cafés, retro arcades, cosplay showcases, and more, cementing Riyadh’s position as a global esports and entertainment hub.
The post Mastercard Extends Partnership with Esports World Cup 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
MSI Joins Forces with Red Bull Expanding the Scale of MSI MGA, Empowering a New Era for Premier Esports Tournaments
MSI (Micro-Star International), a world-leading brand in AI, high-performance computing, and gaming, announced a strategic partnership between its renowned MGA (MSI Gaming Arena) platform and Red Bull.
This collaboration is poised to not only solidify MSI’s leadership position within the esports sector but also to significantly broaden the MGA’s reach to a wider gaming community. Furthermore, the partnership will enhance MGA’s global visibility and introduce the experience of MSI’s cutting-edge esports hardware to more diverse and dynamic event settings.
This collaboration will encompass three of Red Bull’s flagship annual esports tournaments: Red Bull Home Ground with its European events, Red Bull Team5 and another event that will be announced soon. As part of this partnership, MSI will equip these events with its top-tier gaming laptops and desktops, comprehensively upgrading the competition hardware and enhancing the on-site experience to deliver more thrilling and technologically advanced esports spectacles for global audiences.
MSI’s participation extends beyond mere hardware provision; it signifies an amplified investment in its MGA initiative. Now celebrating its 15th year, MGA has been steadfast in its mission to cultivate esports culture and offer a global platform for players to demonstrate their prowess. Through this alliance, MSI will infuse the MGA spirit into these larger-scale Red Bull tournaments, collaborating with Red Bull to champion the worldwide advancement of esports.
Sam Chern, Vice President of Marketing at MSI, said: “By sponsoring Red Bull’s premier esports tournaments, we are honored to further champion the spirit that MGA represents—leveraging world-class performance and innovative technology to unleash player potential, ignite competitive passion, and forge countless unforgettable highlight moments.”
The post MSI Joins Forces with Red Bull Expanding the Scale of MSI MGA, Empowering a New Era for Premier Esports Tournaments appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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