eSports

IESF ANNOUNCES SPEAKERS FOR DAY 2 OF WORLD ESPORTS SUMMIT

Published

4 years ago

September 21, 2022

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The International Esports Federation (IESF) announced the remaining speakers for the World Esports Summit, scheduled to take place from September 29 to October 2 at the Busan Esports Arena.

Day two of the WE Summit will open with the second edition of the World Esports Academia Seminar and Competition, which aims to promote academic research for the World Esports Family and contribute to the overall growth and development of the industry. This year’s research subject is “Health Wellness and Well-being in Esports,” and the winning paper will be presented at the seminar and receive a grand prize of 4,000,000 KRW as well as an honorary certificate from IESF President Vlad Marinescu.

Session 5: Building Foundations for Esports Legislation
Fernvaille and Negentra Operations Manager Saygin Kolasinli will moderate the first panel of day two, discussing athletes’ rights, intellectual property issues, and other aspects of the developing world of Esports legislation.
Panel Discussion:
Jason Chung – Director, Esports & Gaming Initiative/Clinical Assistant Professor, NYU Tisch Institute for Global Sport
Brian Tae–Hyun Chung – Attorney, Kim & Chang
Lukasz Klimczyk – Partner, KKiW Law Office
Oh Pin-Ping – Partner, Bird & Bird ATMD LLP

Session 6: Developing Guidelines for Esports Conduct
North America Scholastic Esports Federation Executive Director Gerald Solomon will moderate the panel discussing the advancement of Esports as a traditional sport and the importance of fundamental education among athletes, teams, and content producers.
Panel Discussion:
Dr. Joey Gawrysiak – Director and Professor of Esports, Shenandoah University
Angelica Ortiz de Gortari – Lead Researcher, University of Bergen, SLATE
Ian Smith – Commissioner, Esports Integrity Commission
Guan Wang – President, Gen.G Global Academy

Session 7: The Benefits of Esports Infrastructure on Tourism
The Benefits of Esports Infrastructure on Tourism panel led by Head & Chairperson of the IESF Business Development & Partnership Commission Nalain Naidoo will evaluate the socio-economic benefits of government investment in Esports infrastructure, including the impact on tourism and other measures of success.
Panel Discussion:
Neil Johnson – VP & Managing Director, Gaming and Esports, Hospitality Performance Network Global
Cristian Nistor – World Esports 2023 Manager, City of Iasi, Romania
Yudistira Adipratama, SH., LL.M – Head of Law and Legislation, Pengurus Besar Esports Indonesia (PBESI)
Mariusz Jankowski – Director, Katowice City

Session 8: The Dynamic Roles of Esports Organizations
This panel will dive deep into the roles played by federations, associations, and other governing organizations to more effectively bring the World Esports family closer together. The panel will be moderated by IESF’s Secretary General, Boban Totovski
Panel Discussion:
Daniel Cossi – President, World Esports Consortium (WESCO)
Steve Tae Hyung Kim – Chief Operating Officer, Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF) Vlad Marinescu – President, IESF
Vincent Pereira – Head of Virtual Sport and Gaming, International Olympic Committee (IOC) David Neichel – SVP Public Affairs, ESL FACEIT GROUP

The WE Summit is supported by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Busan Metropolitan City, and Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency. IESF has hosted the event every year since 2016 and is consistently advancing to support its members to the fullest and serve as an exchange platform for key Esports stakeholders worldwide to promote discussion, evolution, and good governance.

8bit Binks

S8UL Esports Triumphs in VCSA 2026 Split 1: A Grand Final Masterclass

Published

2 days ago

April 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

s8ul-esports-triumphs-in-vcsa-2026-split-1:-a-grand-final-masterclass

In a heart-pounding display of tactical precision and mental fortitude, S8UL Esports has been crowned the VALORANT Challengers South Asia (VCSA) 2026 Split 1 Champions. The victory came after an intense five-map Grand Final against Revenant Xspark, where S8UL emerged victorious with a 3-2 scoreline, solidifying their dominance in the regional VCT ecosystem.

With this win, S8UL takes home the lion’s share of the prize pool—INR ₹9,00,000—and sets a high benchmark for the remainder of the 2026 season.

The Road to the Trophy

S8UL’s journey through Split 1 was a testament to their growth following the 2025 season. Their path to the podium included:

League Phase Dominance: Consistent performance against seven of South Asia’s elite teams.
Semifinal Sweep: A commanding 2-0 victory over Asterisk, showcasing a roster peaking at the perfect moment.
The 5-Map Thriller: A back-and-forth Grand Final against Revenant Xspark that tested the limits of both skill and composure.

Strategic Growth and Leadership

The victory highlights the successful vision of Mithul “8bit Binks” Nayak, the driving force behind this revamped roster. Under the leadership of veteran captain Ganesh “SkRossi” Gangadhar, the team displayed evolved coordination and the ability to clutch out decisive rounds under immense pressure.

“Winning Split 1 gives us confidence, but we know the season is long,” said SkRossi. “I’m proud of how the team stayed focused in the crucial moments.”

Impact on the VCT Ecosystem

VCSA Split 1 serves as the critical pathway for South Asian teams to climb into the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT). By securing the first title of the year, S8UL not only establishes themselves as the team to beat but also positions themselves favorably for international qualification opportunities in Split 2 and beyond.

Animesh ‘Thug’ Agarwal, Co-Founder and CEO of S8UL, noted: “The team showed incredible composure in a high-pressure final. This result is a testament to the work they’ve been putting in behind the scenes. We’ve always believed in this roster.”

The post S8UL Esports Triumphs in VCSA 2026 Split 1: A Grand Final Masterclass appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

eSports

Esports Awards 2026 Returns for Global Honors

Published

5 days ago

April 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

esports-awards-2026-returns-for-global-honors

The Esports Awards is set to return in 2026, bringing together the global esports community for its annual celebration of excellence.

Scheduled to take place in North America later this year, the awards will honor the top players, teams, creators, and innovators who defined the past year in competitive gaming. Exact dates and venues will be revealed in the coming months.

Last year marked a major milestone for the Esports Awards, celebrating 10 years of esports achievements at the HyperX Arena in Las Vegas. The ceremony recognized industry icons such as Mathieu “Zywoo” Herbaut, iShowSpeed, and Animesh “Thug” Agarwal, while inducting six new members into the Lifetime Achievement in Esports: Class of 2025. Earlier in 2025, the Esports Awards hosted the one-off Decade Awards, which drew a global audience of 36.25 million live viewers.

For the 2026 edition, fan-favorite categories such as Esports Game of the Year, Esports Personality of the Year, Streamer of the Year, and Esports Team of the Year will return, giving fans a direct voice in recognizing the standout moments and figures in esports over the past year. Winners will be determined through a combination of community voting and input from the Esports Awards Panel, which includes seasoned industry veterans, broadcasters, creators, and professional players, ensuring both credibility and integrity.

In addition to the main ceremony, the Esports Awards Golf Invitational will make a comeback, offering a day of networking and friendly competition for industry leaders, creators, and esports competitors ahead of the awards.

Michael Ashford, CEO of the Esports Awards, said: “The Esports Awards continues to shine a spotlight on the very best in esports and gaming, and we’re pleased to return for 2026. Following the success of the Decade Awards and our 10th anniversary celebrations, we look forward to recognizing the individuals, teams, and moments that defined the past year in esports.”

Fans are encouraged to follow the Esports Awards’ official X account for updates on venues, dates, nominees, and voting.

The post Esports Awards 2026 Returns for Global Honors appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

eSports

THE ESPORTS AWARDS RETURNS IN 2026 FOR A CELEBRATION OF ESPORTS EXCELLENCE

Published

5 days ago

April 7, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

the-esports-awards-returns-in-2026-for-a-celebration-of-esports-excellence

The Esports Awards will return later this year for its 2026 edition, taking place in North America and honouring the outstanding players, teams, creators and innovators of the past year in esports
Last year marked a major milestone for the Esports Awards, celebrating 10 years of excellence at the HyperX Arena, alongside the one-off Decade Awards, which reached 36.25M live views globally
The Esports Awards Golf Invitational will also return, bringing together industry leaders, creators and competitors for a day of networking and competition ahead of the main ceremony
Full details on the venue, date, nominees and voting will be revealed in the coming months

The Esports Awards has announced the return of its annual ceremony for 2026. Bringing together the global esports community under one roof, the Esports Awards will once again recognise the players, teams, creators and innovators who have defined the past year. The ceremony will take place in North America later this year, with exact dates and venue to be revealed in the coming months.

Last year’s edition of the Esports Awards marked a significant milestone, celebrating 10 years of esports excellence at the HyperX Arena in Las Vegas. The ceremony honoured some of the industry’s most recognised figures, including Mathieu “Zywoo” Herbaut, iShowSpeed and Animesh “Thug” Agarwal, while welcoming six new inductees into the Lifetime Achievement in Esports: Class of 2025 award. Earlier in the year, the Esports Awards also hosted the one-off Decade Awards in August, presented by Trevor “Quickshot” Henry, Jessica “JessGOAT” Bolden and Barney Banks, reaching 36.25M live views globally.

For the 2026 edition, fan-favourite categories including Esports Game of the Year, Esports Personality of the Year, Streamer of the Year and Esports Team of the Year will return, giving the community a voice in recognising the moments and individuals that shaped the past year in esports.

Winners will be determined through a combination of community voting and input from the Esports Awards Panel, a group of industry veterans, broadcasters, creators and players, ensuring the integrity and credibility of the awards.

In addition to the main ceremony, the Esports Awards Golf Invitational will return, bringing together industry leaders, creators and competitors for a day of networking and competition ahead of the awards.

“The Esports Awards continues to shine a spotlight on the very best in esports and gaming, and we’re pleased to return for 2026” said Michael Ashford, CEO of the Esports Awards. “Following the success of the Decade Awards and our 10th anniversary celebrations, we look forward to recognising the individuals, teams and moments that defined the past year in esports.”

Further updates regarding the venue, date, nominees and voting will be announced in the coming months. Fans are encouraged to follow the Esports Awards’ X account for the latest updates.

The post THE ESPORTS AWARDS RETURNS IN 2026 FOR A CELEBRATION OF ESPORTS EXCELLENCE appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.