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
Esports Foundation sets Esports World Cup 2026 venue at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles
Tickets go on sale May 29 for the seven-week Paris event running July 6 to August 23, with a $75 million prize pool across 25 competitions.
The Esports Foundation (EF) has confirmed Paris Expo Porte de Versailles as the venue for the Esports World Cup 2026, scheduled for July 06 through August 23 in Paris, France.
Ticket sales open Friday, May 29, 2026 via esportsworldcup.com/tickets. EF said the event will run for seven weeks and span 25 competitions, with more than 2,000 players from over 200 Clubs and more than 100 countries competing for a $75 million prize pool.
EF said Paris Expo Porte de Versailles will host competition arenas, broadcast operations, fan activations, and festival experiences. The organiser also pointed to the venue’s track record as the home of Paris Games Week since 2010 and as a site used during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Ticketing includes Regular Tournament Passes and Premium Tournament Passes, alongside Daily Regular Tournament Passes. For select championship matches across VALORANT, League of Legends, Rocket League, and Counter-Strike 2, EF said “Final Day Seating Zones” will be split into Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers.
The published schedule lists Week 1 events including VALORANT (July 9–12), ALGS Year 6 Split 1 Playoffs for Apex Legends (July 7–11), Dota 2 (July 7–12), and FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves (July 8–11), concluding in Week 7 with Counter-Strike 2 (August 19–23), Fortnite Reload Elite Series Championship (August 19–22), Trackmania (August 19–22), and CROSSFIRE (August 18–22).
The post Esports Foundation sets Esports World Cup 2026 venue at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Asia
S8UL streamer Payal Dhare and OWND! launch gamer-curated fashion capsule
S8UL gaming creator and streamer Payal Dhare has partnered with OWND!, the Gen Z-focused fashion brand from Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited, to launch a gaming-inspired fashion capsule called ‘Gamer Drop’. The companies describe it as India’s first female gamer-curated capsule. The collection will be available on OWND!’s website and in the brand’s stores across India.
According to the press release, ‘Gamer Drop’ includes menswear and womenswear pieces built around gaming culture and streetwear, positioned as a creator-led collection rather than conventional creator merchandise. The campaign leans on the growing overlap between gaming culture, creator communities, and youth fashion.
Marco Agnolin, Chief Executive Officer, OWND!. said, “We see gaming today as a powerful cultural force that is shaping how young consumers express themselves, communicate, and engage with fashion. As one of India’s biggest gamers, Payal Dhare represents this new generation perfectly through her authenticity, confidence, and deep connection with the gaming community. Her influence extends far beyond gaming content, making her an ideal face for our gaming collection. Through this collaboration, we aim to celebrate individuality and connect with India’s digitally native youth in a way that feels relevant, inclusive, and culture-driven.”
Payal Dhare aka Payal Gaming said, “Gaming today has become a culture and a form of self-expression for millions of young people across the country. That’s what makes this collaboration with OWND! so exciting for me. With this curation, I wanted to create something that genuinely reflects my vibe and the energy of my community. It’s stylish, comfortable, expressive – and made for people who want to own who they are.”
The release also points to India’s expanding creator economy. Citing a Boston Consulting Group report, it says India has nearly 2 to 2.5 million creators, with more than 60% of consumers exposed to creator-led content and over 30% of shoppers influenced by creators in purchase decisions.
The post S8UL streamer Payal Dhare and OWND! launch gamer-curated fashion capsule appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Asia
S8UL Announces Campa Energy as Title Sponsor for its Esports World Cup 2026 Campaign
S8UL, a global name in esports and gaming content, has announced Campa Energy, the flagship energy drink brand of Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL), as the Title Sponsor for its Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 campaign. The move marks a major milestone for Indian esports, bringing together the country’s leading esports organisation and a rapidly growing youth-focused consumer brand ahead of the world’s biggest esports tournament.
Having been selected for the Esports Foundation’s Club Partner Programme for the second consecutive year, S8UL launched its most ambitious Esports World Cup campaign yet across 13 titles, already securing qualification spots in Fortnite, Honor of Kings & Chess while remaining in contention across multiple other titles. The organisation has also placed a strong emphasis on showcasing Indian talent internationally, with homegrown players competing across several esports titles alongside proven international talent. The onboarding of Campa Energy further strengthens this India-first vision, bringing together two homegrown brands to back Indian esports on the world stage.
As Title Sponsor, Campa Energy will be integrated across S8UL’s official team jerseys, digital content, fan engagement initiatives, city events and on-ground activations throughout the EWC 2026 campaign. The association reflects a shared vision to champion Indian gaming talent on the global stage while deepening engagement with the country’s rapidly growing esports community.
Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO, S8UL Esports, said: “The conversation around Indian esports has changed significantly over the last few years. Today, it is no longer just about potential, it is about building globally competitive teams, creating sustainable fan ecosystems, and earning the confidence of major brands. Our partnership with Campa Energy represents that larger shift. As S8UL prepares for the Esports World Cup 2026 across multiple titles, having a homegrown brand support this journey reinforces the growing cultural relevance of esports in India. We see this as a shared effort to push Indian talent and Indian esports further onto the global stage.”
Campa Energy has been crafted for a generation that constantly challenges boundaries and aspires to achieve more with every step. Campa Energy will power S8UL’s athletes across multiple titles as they prepare to represent India on the global stage. The brand also has a growing presence within the esports ecosystem, having previously associated with JioBLAST All Stars vs India, a creator-led competitive entertainment format centered around Battlegrounds Mobile India, which featured popular S8UL creators including Payal Dhare, Raj Varma and Parv Singh.
As per the recent FICCI-EY Media and Entertainment Report 2026, the number of brands investing in Indian esports is expected to grow to 80 in 2026, with this association further highlighting the rising mainstream interest in the country’s rapidly evolving gaming and esports ecosystem.
The EWC 2026, set to take place in Paris, France from July 6 to August 23, 2026, will bring together over 2000 players from 200 clubs across more than 100 countries competing for a record-breaking prize pool of $75 million (~INR 720 crore). Backed by Campa Energy, S8UL will aim to make its mark while showcasing Indian esports talent at the highest level of international competition.
The post S8UL Announces Campa Energy as Title Sponsor for its Esports World Cup 2026 Campaign appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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