eSports
ESPORTS AWARDS RETURNS TO LAS VEGAS FOR 2023 CEREMONY

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- The Esports Awards returns to Las Vegas to celebrate its ninth year, with the main ceremony taking place at the Best of Las Vegas 2022: Best Nightclub awardee, Zouk
- 5GRV, the award-winning reality show, has partnered with the Esports Awards to celebrate diversity in the gaming industry and beyond
- Last year’s Esports Awards campaign saw 17M total viewership and over 10M votes counted
- This year, nominees are nominated by industry professionals–learn more about the nomination process at https://bit.ly/3MusrDt
The Esports Awards, the most prestigious night in the esports calendar, is excited to kick off its 2023 campaign by announcing its return to Las Vegas. Alongside the iconic ceremony, the Esports Awards will feature networking opportunities and the return of the popular Lifetime Achievement Mixer providing brands, organisations and industry thought-leaders the opportunity to debate and network.
After an incredible turnout in 2022, which featured outstanding talent such as legendary hosts Eefje ‘Sjokz” Depoortere and Alex “Goldenboy” Mendez, the Esports Awards returns to Las Vegas for its 2023 ceremony. Set to take place on the 29th and 30th of November, the Esports Awards will be broadcast live across all major and linear platforms from Zouk, one of the most technologically advanced venues in the world.
The Esports Awards are also glad to welcome 5GRV: Gamers on the Road in a partnership that will see them present the Esports Host of the Year Award as they embark on season two of their award-winning reality show. Season two will follow fierce, Black Female Streamers BarefootTasha, DefinedbyKy, LeeshCapeesh, and comedian GloZell as they journey to the 2023 Esports Awards to celebrate diversity within gaming and beyond.
This year, the Esports Awards will provide equal chances to organisations, brands, and individuals, irrespective of the size of their communities, to put their hat in the ring for an Esports Award. The 2023 Esports Awards will feature a self-nomination format, open to B2B professionals alongside select media outlets in the esports industry. The new format will allow nominees to provide support information for their nomination, and directly involve media outlets whose knowledge of the esports scene, products, games, and individuals who make it, is highly valued and respected.
Nominations must be completed by an official representative of the company, product or talent, and must be completed before July 7th. Learn more about the nomination process at: https://bit.ly/3MusrDt.
In addition to the Esports Awards ceremony, Las Vegas will see the inaugural Scholars on the 28th of November. The Scholars are the collegiate gaming awards ceremony ran by the organisers of the Esports Awards. Stay tuned for more details around the Scholars.
The categories for this year’s Esports Awards have been announced as follows:
- Esports Cosplay of the Year
- Esports Creative of the Year
- Esports Creative Team of the Year
- Esports Content of the Year
- Esports Content Creator of the Year
- Esports Personality of the Year
- Streamer of the Year
- Esports Broadcast/Production Team of the Year
- Esports Commercial Partner of the Year
- Esports Coverage Platform of the Year
- Esports Hardware Piece of the Year
- Esports Journalist of the Year
- Esports Publisher of the Year
- Esports Supporting Service of the Year
- Esports Game of the Year
- Esports Mobile Game of the Year
- Esports Colour Caster of the Year
- Esports Desk Analyst of the Year
- Collegiate Program of the Year
- Esports Host of the Year presented by 5GRV
- Esports Play By Play Caster of the Year
- Esports Coach of the Year
- Esports Controller Player of the Year
- Esports Mobile Player of the Year
- Esports Organisation of the Year
- Esports PC Player of the Year
- Esports Team of the Year
- Breakthrough Player of the Year
- Esports Play of the Year
- Lifetime Achievement in Esports
- Panel’s Choice Award
Mike Ashford, CEO of the Esports Awards, commented “We could not be more excited to continue our legacy of recognising and rewarding excellence in the industry, and honouring the industry that has made many a dream come true, including ours. Having recognised the potential of the collegiate scene, we’ve introduced the Scholars as a way to provide players, individuals, and organisations in the collegiate their own platform. We look forward to seeing talented individuals from across the world join us for some well deserved celebrations in November.”
Last year’s Esports Awards saw a spectacular ceremony at Resorts World Las Vegas. A milestone and star-studded event, the awards hosted some of the biggest faces from esports and beyond with the likes of PUBG MOBILE, LOUD and Matthew ‘Nadeshot’ Haag all picking up awards. The 2022 Esports Awards campaign also saw over 17 million total viewership, 115M impressions and 10M votes cast.
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.
BASILISK
Fighting Game GOAT Justin Wong Joins BASILISK, Science’s Esports Team

BASILISK, the global esports organization built to champion science, announced the signing of legendary fighting game competitor Justin ‘Jwong’ Wong as captain of its newly formed Fighting Game Community (FGC) Division. Wong will lead BASILISK’s entry into the FGC by recruiting players, developing community events, and creating FGC – science crossover content.
“Justin isn’t just a competitive genius – he is a cultural icon and humble leader within the FGC. We are incredibly proud to have him leading our FGC division and support the amazing work he already does for the community,” said BASILISK co-founder Christopher Bothur.
A nine-time Evolution Championship Series (Evo) Champion and Guinness World Record holder, Wong brings unparalleled FGC credibility and expertise to BASILISK. His reach extends across the entire FGC fandom of millions, and he was immortalized in Evo Moment #37 which has over 100 million views.
As Captain of BASILISK FGC, Wong will leverage BASILISK’s data analytics to scout and train the next generation of FGC pros.
“Math is super important to fighting games. I’m excited to join science’s esports team. I’m passionate about finding promising players with a positive mentality and shaping them into the next big thing. I want to see somebody else in the spotlight after me and help them reach their potential. If we can discover the next world champion, that would be fantastic,” said Wong upon joining BASILISK.
The signing comes on the heels of BASILISK’s new partnerships with The Planetary Society and Caltech’s Institute for Quantum Information and Matter (IQIM), announced in July. These collaborations create a powerful bridge between renowned scientific institutions and gamers, which Wong will amplify to his millions of followers and fans.
“Justin is a dream addition to our organization. He exemplifies the dedication and analytical capacity required to be an esports champion or great scientist,” added BASILISK co-founder Hans Kassier.
Wong becomes the second “GOAT” (Greatest of All Time) to join BASILISK, alongside Finnish StarCraft 2 legend Joona “Serral” Sotala, who just captured the SC2 Esports World Cup Championship in July 2025. The signing also creates opportunities for cross-over content with BASILISK’s diverse roster, including chess Grandmaster Vincent Keymer and award-winning science communicator Kyle Hill, who brings over 2.5 million followers and a vast network of science enthusiasts to the organization.
The post Fighting Game GOAT Justin Wong Joins BASILISK, Science’s Esports Team appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
eSports
S8UL Esports crowned champions of Legends Ascend South Asia 2025

Riot Games, in association with Aftermath Ventures, has officially concluded the inaugural Legends Ascend South Asia, with S8UL Esports emerging victorious after four months of intense competition. The win secures them the coveted spot at the League of Legends Championship Pacific (LCP) Wild Card Playoffs, set to take place between August 28 to August 31, where they will face top teams from across the region for a chance at LCP 2026 promotion.
Legends Ascend South Asia, announced in April 2025, set out to provide a structured, competitive platform for the region’s League of Legends talent. With a total prize pool of INR 10,00,000, the tournament brought together 95 teams from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan, competing across three open qualifiers, a round robin league stage, and double-elimination playoffs.
The tournament kicked off with three open-registration qualifiers held from April to May, producing nine standout teams: S8UL Esports, Kakao Gaming, PnX ASCENSION, Revenants, SUVO HATERS, Jetfire’s Dojo, Syndicate, Poro Patrol, and Report Precog Gaming. These teams advanced to the Round Robin Stage in June and July, where S8UL Esports, Kakao Gaming, Revenants, and Syndicate emerged as the top four to enter the playoffs.
The Double Elimination Playoffs in July and August delivered high-stakes best-of-three and best-of-five clashes, with S8UL Esports displaying consistency, adaptability, and fearless drafting en route to the championship title. The final standings were:
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S8UL Esports – Champions (Advance to LCP Wild Card Playoffs)
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Kakao Gaming
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Revenants
Spanning over 29 broadcast days, Legends Ascend South Asia generated more than 1.3 lakh YouTube views and attained a reach of over 7 lakh through the Aftermath Ventures’ FragNation channel. The event also saw 12 community watch parties across the region, amassing an additional 1.25 lakh views from grassroots fan hubs.
Speaking on the conclusion of the tournament, Arun Rajappa, Country Manager, India & South Asia, Riot Games, said: “Legends Ascend was about discovery, growth, and empowering the South Asian League esports landscape by providing them with a structured pathway to compete alongside global talents. Seeing S8UL lift the trophy after such a grueling journey is a testament to the depth of talent here, and we couldn’t be more excited for them as they head to the LCP Wild Card Playoffs.”
Mansoor ‘Nabu’ Ahmed, Founder & CEO, Aftermath Ventures, added: “From the first qualifier to the final game, Legends Ascend showcased what South Asia’s League of Legends community is capable of. The passion from players, fans, and watch-party hosts has been incredible. Congratulations to S8UL Esports for not just winning, but setting an example for the next generation of players in the region.”
As S8UL Esports prepares to represent South Asia at the LCP Wild Card Playoffs, the success of Legends Ascend South Asia underscores Riot Games’ long-term vision of building sustainable competitive pathways for amateur players in the region.
Fans can relive all the action from Legends Ascend South Asia on the FragNation YouTube channel, and follow Riot Games India & South Asia for updates on the region’s next big competitive milestones.
The post S8UL Esports crowned champions of Legends Ascend South Asia 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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