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
TEAM VITALITY RETURNS TO FORTNITE WITH WORLD CHAMPION PLAYERS
Team Vitality has officially returned to competitive Fortnite after a three-season absence, unveiling a high-profile roster built around world championship pedigree and international ambitions.
The organisation’s comeback is anchored by two champions from the Fortnite Championship Series, alongside an experienced figure from the French competitive scene who will guide the team’s performance and community engagement.
Championship pedigree joins the roster
Egor “SwizzY” Luciko, a 2025 FNCS World Champion, joins as one of the scene’s most promising young competitors, recognised for his fast-paced mechanical play and strong performances on major stages. He is joined by fellow 2025 FNCS World Champion Aleksa “Queasy” Cvetkovic, widely regarded for his consistency and strategic approach at the highest level of competition.
Former French professional player Clément “Skite” Danglot completes the lineup as Team Manager and Coach. In addition to overseeing competitive operations, Skite will co-stream official matches, offering fans expert analysis throughout the season.
Team Vitality President Fabien “Neo” Devide described the return as a performance-driven project aligned with the organisation’s long-term vision of excellence, combining elite talent with experienced leadership to compete at the highest level.
Strategic focus on global competition
The organisation’s return is closely tied to its ambitions on the international stage, particularly qualification for the Esports World Cup in Riyadh and continued success across FNCS competitions. The announcement follows the introduction of Fortnite Reload mode at the Esports World Cup, which has further strengthened the club’s commitment to the title.
Beyond competition, Team Vitality aims to position its Fortnite revival as a community-focused initiative. Skite’s live broadcasts and analysis are intended to provide fans with deeper insight into the team’s progress from qualification stages through major international events.
Global Operations Director Danny Engels emphasized that the organisation’s return signals broader strategic growth across multiple esports titles, with a clear objective of securing international trophies and reinforcing Team Vitality’s presence at the top tier of global competition.
With a championship-calibre roster and renewed competitive focus, Team Vitality enters a new phase in Fortnite with ambitions to re-establish itself among the world’s elite teams.
The post TEAM VITALITY RETURNS TO FORTNITE WITH WORLD CHAMPION PLAYERS appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
eSports
Reckoning Esports and GodLike Esports to Represent India at the Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League 2026 in Japan
Indian Pokémon UNITE esports is set for a return to international competition as Reckoning Esports and GodLike Esports secure qualification for the Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League 2026 in Japan.
Both teams advanced through India’s official Pokémon UNITE competitive circuit, organised by Skyesports in partnership with The Pokémon Company.
Reckoning Esports claimed India’s primary slot by winning the Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League 2026 – India League, a $20,000 multi-stage online competition featuring ten of the country’s leading esports organisations. The tournament adopted a circuit-based group stage across five matchdays before concluding with King of the Hill Playoffs.
In a tightly contested grand final, Reckoning Esports defeated GodLike Esports 3–2 to secure the championship and confirm their place at the PUACL Finals.
Reckoning Esports player Jeet “Swifty” Kundra said the victory reflected the team’s resilience throughout the season, adding that representing India on the international stage is both an honour and a significant challenge.
GodLike Esports secured India’s second qualification slot through the Pokémon UNITE Winter Tournament 2026 – India, an additional pathway featuring open qualifiers that welcomed both established organisations and emerging teams.
After their narrow India League defeat, GodLike Esports delivered a dominant performance in the single-elimination bracket, drawing on experience to capture the title. Their run included a decisive 3–0 victory over underdog finalist Orange Flag, one of the tournament’s breakout performers.
GodLike Esports player Om “Scepter” Gore said the team used its earlier loss as motivation, emphasizing confidence and consistency as key factors behind their qualification. Founder and CEO Chetan “Kronten” Chandgude described the achievement as a milestone for both the organisation and the wider Indian esports community.
The Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League 2026 Finals will take place on March 28–29 at Yokohama BUNTAI. Reckoning Esports and GodLike Esports will join 16 teams competing for the championship title and a share of the $200,000 prize pool.
The post Reckoning Esports and GodLike Esports to Represent India at the Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League 2026 in Japan appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Call of Duty Warzone esports
Team Vitality Expands FPS Dominance Ahead of Esports World Cup 2026 With PUBG, Warzone and CrossFire Entry
Team Vitality Accelerates FPS Expansion Ahead of Esports World Cup 2026
Team Vitality has officially announced a major competitive expansion ahead of the 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC), confirming its entry into three additional shooter titles: PUBG (PC), Call of Duty: Warzone, and CrossFire. The move strengthens the organisation’s growing dominance across FPS and tactical shooter esports, following championship success in Counter-Strike and VALORANT during the 2025 season.
The expansion signals a decisive strategic push as Team Vitality looks to build on its Top 3 overall club finish at the 2025 Esports World Cup, positioning itself as one of the most versatile and ambitious multi-title organisations in global esports.
Call of Duty: Warzone – Vitality Returns With Proven EWC Pedigree
Team Vitality is officially re-entering the competitive Call of Duty: Warzone ecosystem for the 2026 season, assembling a veteran-heavy roster built for immediate impact. The lineup includes Angel “Sage” Quinones, who secured a third-place finish at last year’s Esports World Cup, alongside experienced EWC finalists.
The new Warzone squad begins its EWC qualification journey through the Warzone Resurgence Series, with two pivotal LAN finals scheduled at DreamHack Birmingham and DreamHack Atlanta. Strong performances at these events will be crucial in securing Team Vitality valuable points and a place at the 2026 Esports World Cup.
Call of Duty: Warzone Roster
- Rasim “Blazt” Ogresevic (USA)
- Logan “Skullface” Greifelt (USA)
- Angel “Sage” Quinones (Mexico / Guatemala)
- Ethan “Ebatez” Bates (USA) – Coach
PUBG (PC) – A Strategic Return to a Global Esports Pillar
Team Vitality is making its long-awaited return to PUBG (PC) competition, marking its first appearance in the title since 2019. The roster is anchored by players recently competing under the Nemiga banner, who finished sixth at the PUBG Global Championship, reinforcing Vitality’s intent to compete at the highest international level.
This return also unlocks strategic synergies with Bigetron by Vitality, the organisation’s established PUBG Mobile powerhouse in Southeast Asia. As PUBG’s global ecosystem increasingly bridges PC and Mobile competition, Team Vitality aims to unite its worldwide fanbase and elevate brand visibility across both platforms.
PUBG (PC) Roster
- Aliaksandr “Gedrox” Puchko (Belarus)
- Vladislav “Lev4nte” Tasenko (Russia)
- Andrey “Qw1zzy” Pobedinskiy (Russia)
- Artem “hallomybad” Baskakov (Russia)
- Ramazan “H1RUZEN” Valiullin (Russia) – Coach
- Sergei “MrTok” Britok (Russia) – Manager
CrossFire – Entering a New Region With Championship Ambitions
Expanding into CrossFire for the first time, Team Vitality has acquired ROC Esports’ former lineup, establishing its operations in Egypt with a dedicated gaming house. The squad will compete in the CrossFire West League (EMEA), with two critical competitive splits scheduled for March–April and June–July.
Success in the regional league is expected to be the gateway to qualification for the Esports World Cup, while long-term ambitions stretch further toward the CrossFire Stars World Championship in China. Team Vitality enters the ecosystem as a dangerous challenger, targeting dominance beyond regional competition.
CrossFire Roster
- Youssef “tottziN” Nasser (Egypt)
- Ahmed “SNARE” Salah (Egypt)
- Mohamed “Snake” Ahmed (Egypt)
- Mohamed “Horus” Mahrous (Egypt)
- Abdelrahman “slayer” Fawzy (Egypt)
- Andrei “strey” Solovev (Russia) – Coach
- Kislay “Drolo” Satyaj (India) – General Manager
- Ammar “Apps” Ahmed (Egypt) – Substitute
- Abdelrhman “Bone” Mahmoud (Egypt) – Substitute
Building Toward a New FPS Dynasty
With momentum from a Top 3 finish at the 2025 Esports World Cup, Team Vitality is targeting even greater success in 2026, driven by the belief that every win counts.
Fabien “Neo” Devide, President and Co-founder of Team Vitality, commented that the expansion reflects the organisation’s commitment to elite competition and long-term growth across shooter esports. Corporate Director of Global Operations Danny Engels added that the move strengthens Vitality’s position to build a true multi-title FPS dynasty on the world’s biggest competitive stage.
As the countdown to the 2026 Esports World Cup begins, Team Vitality’s expanded shooter portfolio signals a clear message to rivals: the organisation is all-in on global FPS supremacy.
The post Team Vitality Expands FPS Dominance Ahead of Esports World Cup 2026 With PUBG, Warzone and CrossFire Entry appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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