eSports
Everything you need to know ahead of ESL One Berlin powered by Intel®
ESL’s Dota tournaments will soon return to Germany with the ESL One Berlin Dota 2 Major powered by Intel®. 18 of the top Dota 2 teams from around the world compete for a prize pool of $500,000 and aim to secure prized Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) points for The International 12 qualification. Fans will witness intense competition with the final matches to be held at the iconic Velodrom in the German capital.
Here is all you need to know about the ESL One Berlin Dota 2 Major:
Following an incredibly successful Major in Stockholm, Sweden, last year, ESL One is returning to the 2023 DPC calendar with the top 18 organisations worldwide competing for a $500,000 prize pool as well as valuable DPC points in the German capital this May. The 18 teams will be whittled down to eight for the live finals weekend of May 5 – 7. Because the ESL One Berlin Major is sold out, around 15,000 fans are expected to come over the weekend, with around 5,000 fans per day, to watch the top teams battle it out for the top spot at the Velodrom in Berlin.
Dota 2 teams from Eastern Europe, Western Europe, North America, South America, Southeast Asia, and China can look forward to a spectacular conclusion of the DPC Spring Tour 2022-2023.
Schedule and Format
Group Stage: April 26 – 30
- Two groups of nine teams will see six teams qualify from each group. The games will be played in a single round-robin format and all matches in this stage will be best-of-two.
Playoffs: May 2 – 7
- The top 12 teams from the Group Stage will face off in a double-elimination bracket, with all matches being played in a best-of-three format. Eight teams will progress to the finals at the Velodrom.
Finals: May 5 – 7
- The Finals, in front of a live crowd at the sold-out Velodrom, will see the remaining eight teams battle in a best-of-three format to find the top two teams for the Grand Final, which will be played in a best-of-five format.
Teams involved:
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Commentators and Analysts
- Hosts:
- Neal “Tsunami” Khandheria
- Jorien “Sheever” van der Heijden
- Ted “PyrionFlax” Forsyth
- Sideline Reporter
- Jake “SirActionSlacks” Kanner
- Commentators / Analysts
- Mira “Ephey” Riad
- Alexandra “Sheepsticked” Roberts
- Andrew “Jenkins” Jenkins
- Owen “ODPixel” Davies
- Ioannis “Fogged” Loucas
- Austin “Cap” Walsh
- Avery “SVG” Silverman
- Peter “ppd” Dager
- Brian “BSJ” Canavan
- Troels Lyngholt “syndereN” Nielsen
- Shannon “SUNSfan” Scotten
- Remote commentators / Analysts
- Gareth “Gareth” Bateson
- Dominik “Lacoste” Stipić
- Lachlan “Ares” Williams
- David “GoDz” Parker
- Ricky “rkryptic” Peterson
- John “johnxfire” Nathan Fernandez
- Gabriel “Lyrical” Cruz
- Clinton “Fear” Loomis
- Trent “Trent” MacKenzie
- Kevin “Purge” Godec
- Tim “Dktruman” de Lange
- Filipe “Astini” Astini
Prize Money:
TOTAL | $500,000 |
1st | $200,000 |
2nd | $100,000 |
3rd | $75,000 |
4th | $50,000 |
5th – 6th | $25,000 |
7th – 8th | $12,500 |
In-Arena experience
ESL One Berlin will host numerous other on-site activities. There will be signing sessions for fans to get players’ autographs, a balloon artist to sculpt your Dota heroes and an airbrush tattooist, so you can show your colors and support your team! Fans also have the opportunity to visit partner booths inside the arena – including DHL, Intel and Monster Energy – participate in several exciting activations and win amazing prizes.
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eSports
Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon Fights off the Competition to Reign as TEKKEN 8 at 2025 Esports World Cup Champion, Securing Back-to-Back EWC Titles

Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon has claimed the TEKKEN 8 at EWC 25 crown having beaten Yoon “LowHigh” Sun-woong in a 5-2 grand final finish. His victory secures DN Freecs their first win at EWC 25 as he takes home $250,000 of the $1,000,000 prize pool.
Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon had a strong run at EWC 25, losing just one series against Kim “Kkokkoma” Mu-jong in the first match of the second phase. From that point on, however, he went unbeaten on his way to the grand final, even taking down Kim “Kkokkoma” Mu-jong for revenge on his way back from the lower bracket.
In the semifinals, Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon booked his place in the grand final with a 5-3 finish over Kim “CherryBerryMango” Jae-hyun, securing his second EWC TEKKEN 8 grand final in a row. Ulsan showcased his mastery of Dragunov throughout the grand final, setting the scene with a decisive victory in the first set, before taking the title in the seventh set with a 5-2 win.
His grand final opponent, Yoon “LowHigh” Sun-woong, took down Team Vitality’s Jeon “JeonDDing” Sang-hyun in a 5-2 finish to lock his place in the grand final. The former EVO champion displayed his Bryan skills throughout the final against Ulsan, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the overall winner.
“I never expected this. I cannot imagine I would win again. I mean, this year I had a rough start; there was a nerf to Dragunov, I had a lot of difficulties – I wanted to prove myself on this stage, and I have done it,” said Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon. “It’s been like a dream to be here. Thank you to those who support me from everywhere, my team, my friends, all my partners, and especially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for making this the biggest tournament in the world.”
“I’m still hungry. I just want to make myself a legend,” said Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon.
Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon secured 1000 Club Championship points for DN Freecs, who, as a result, jumped up to joint-eleventh place in the Club Championship standings, with 1200 points. Despite having three players in the top eight, DN Freecs will only receive one lot of points.
It was a disappointing showing from Team Falcons in TEKKEN 8, as all three representatives were eliminated before earning any points. With only a few games left to earn points, Team Falcons had high hopes for TEKKEN 8. Elsewhere, Twisted Minds, who secured victory earlier in the day in PUBG, failed to make it two for two on Saturday, also failing to score points in TEKKEN 8 as Arslan “Arslan Ash” Siddique was eliminated by overall winner, Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon.
The post Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon Fights off the Competition to Reign as TEKKEN 8 at 2025 Esports World Cup Champion, Securing Back-to-Back EWC Titles appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
Twisted Minds Clinch the PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS at 2025 Esports World Cup Grand Prize, in the Closest PUBG Final in Years Twisted Minds avenge their 2024 EWC disappointment with a nail-biting win in the PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS competition at the Esports World Cup 2025.

Twisted Minds have secured the PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS at 2025 Esports World Cup title after coming out victorious in one of the closest PUBG finals ever.
Twisted Minds claimed the title after a ridiculously close final, making up for their failed run at Esports World Cup 2024. The side came into that event as the favourites, having won PUBG Global Series 4 just weeks before heading to Riyadh, but failed to bring it home on the big stage. They would go on to have a very successful end to 2024, but the loss on the EWC stage was a major blip on their impressive year.
Now, at EWC 2025, they have done it, by claiming the championship they craved – and they did so in style in one of the toughest and hardest-fought PUBG grand finals ever. With 12 teams in contention for the overall win by the final game, they held on out with plenty of tenacity and solid plays throughout each game to scoop a high amount of placement points.
This year’s finals will go down in PUBG history as one of the closest ever, as heading into the final two matches, anyone inside the top 12 could have theoretically won the entire event. The intense action of match 11 saw our first breakaway side as Twisted Minds started to pull away, giving themselves a significant lead for the final drop. Twisted Minds would struggle early in the final match, with just two players having to survive to the final stages alone. Eventually, it was just Dmytrii “Perfect1ks” Dubenyuk alive, but it was enough for Twisted Minds to secure an incredible overall victory.
“I’m feeling great, I feel like I’m just thankful for my team, thankful to my family, thankful to my girlfriend, and to the whole Twisted Minds family. To the fans that are here, it was the most amazing tournament, because this crowd was cheering us on the whole event. And now we are finally World Champions,” said Aleksandr “BatulinS” Batulin.
ROC Esports’ Gabriel “sxntastico” Silva was named the SONY MVP, after a series of impressive performances during the PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS championship. His 18 kills and 25 knockouts were instrumental in ROC Esports’ surprising performance that saw them top the table at multiple points throughout the event. He will receive an additional $10,000 and the MVP medal to recognise his achievements.
Twisted Minds earn 1000 Club Championship points for their victory; sending them firmly into Championship contention, having moved from 2200 points to 3200 points, just 1200 points behind the leaders. The win is Twisted Minds’ second battle royale victory in the space of two weeks, having won Call of Duty: Warzone in Week 5, keeping their late charge well and truly on.
With a third place finish for Team Falcons, they gain a crucial 500 points in the Club Championship, sending them back into first place with a 200 point lead over Team Liquid. Elsewhere, Virtus.pro, who had the lead entering the final day of PUBG, could only bring home 50 points, enough to keep them joint fourth with newly crowned PUBG champions Twisted Minds.
The post Twisted Minds Clinch the PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS at 2025 Esports World Cup Grand Prize, in the Closest PUBG Final in Years Twisted Minds avenge their 2024 EWC disappointment with a nail-biting win in the PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS competition at the Esports World Cup 2025. appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
From Street Fighter Glory to a Global Tetris Path: Inside the First-Ever Red Bull AFK Party

Mumbai turned into a gamer’s paradise as Red Bull hosted the first-ever Red Bull AFK Party – a one-of-a-kind celebration that brought together gaming, music, and culture in a way India has never seen before. Described by many as the coolest party for gamers, the night united the country’s top gaming creators, esports stars, and fans for an immersive, high-energy experience done the Red Bull way.
The party welcomed people the Red Bull way, with a real static Formula 1 car right at the entrance. Inside, the venue transformed into a playground for gamers: an adrenaline-pumping RC Racing Track hosted by Ocean Sharma, Red Bull Athlete V3nom’s Reflex Challenge to test reaction speeds, Retro Arcade Section with a life-sized PAC-MAN and Tetris arcade, while the Console Gaming Zone buzzed with intense matches in EA FC 25 and Street Fighter.
As the night wore on, the gaming gave way to a packed dance floor with sets from OG Shez and DJ Kaartl.
V3nom on Red Bull’s Push for Gaming in India
The Red Bull AFK put Red Bull’s gaming athletes at the heart of the experience, showing the brand’s commitment to growing the ecosystem. As V3nom summed it up:
“Red Bull is getting into gaming full-on, hosting a lot of events and bringing together top creators and gaming athletes at gatherings like Red Bull AFK. It’s a huge and positive step for the community. I’m really happy to see it, and I hope events like this continue because we have so much more to do for gaming in India, ensuring future generations can make the most of the opportunities ahead.”
When asked about his favorite part of the party, V3nom added: “I think my V3nom Reaction Challenge, because it combines a bit of fitness with reaction time, and tests your reflexes — which are essential for gaming.”
From Mumbai to Dubai – The Tetris Challenge
One activation that had everyone talking was the Tetris challenge, inspired by Red Bull Tetris. Here, players could stack their way up the leaderboard for a chance to represent India at the Red Bull Tetris World Finals in Dubai later this year — bringing a global competitive pathway right to the AFK floor.
Jonathan’s Championship Moment
Another highlight was the Street Fighter x BC One Dance-Off, a crossover where gaming skill met dancing. Four creators — Jonathan, Ocean, Sharkshe, and V3nom — each teamed up with a professional dancer for a two-part battle.
After Sharkshe edged past Ocean and Jonathan toppled V3nom in the semis, the grand finale saw Jonathan dominate in Street Fighter before his dance partner delivered a flawless routine to seal the win.
The post From Street Fighter Glory to a Global Tetris Path: Inside the First-Ever Red Bull AFK Party appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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