eSports
ESL Impact Season 5 invited teams revealed
Another exciting year for the all-women Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) teams and fans from around the world is about to begin. Announced at the end of last year, the ESL Impact 2024 Program, will feature two online league seasons, live Global Finals, and monthly Cash Cups on FACEIT. With the ESL Impact Season 5 ahead, we are thrilled to unveil more details of the upcoming tournament and elevate the competition to the highest.
ESL Impact was launched at the beginning of 2022 as one of the initiatives of ESL FACEIT Group’s (EFG) #GGFORALL. The program combines new and existing initiatives to tackle discrimination, promote mental well-being, and progress environmental sustainability in esports.
Commencing on March 6, 28 top all-women CS2 teams from EU, NA, and SA will battle it out to secure one of eight spots at this season’s Global Finals, a chance to win the lion’s share of the $150,000 prize pool and the coveted title. The ESL Impact Season 5 Global Finals will take place in front of a live audience at DreamHack Dallas on May 31 – June 2, 2024.
The following teams qualified for ESL Impact Season 5 based on their performance in previous tournaments:
Europe:
- 1WIN Gang
- ex 9Pandas Fearless9
- BIG EQUIPA
- GamerLegion Prism
- NAVI Javelins
- Nigma Galaxy
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
North America:
- FlyQuest Red
- Shimmer
- Team Karma
- Tsunami Sirens
South America
- Divina
- Fluxo Demons
- FURIA
- Atrix Esports
With 13 spots still up for grabs, teams from several regions can participate in the Open Qualifiers:
- Open Qualifier #1: February 12-14
- Open Qualifier #2: February 16-18
- Wildcard Qualifier: March 9th – 11th
For more information about ESL Impact Season 5, requalification, and Open Qualifiers, please visit the official website.
You can download imagery here.
Please let me know if you would like any more information.
All the best,
Tom
eSports
NODWIN Gaming partners Runestone on integrity and real-time data for esports events
Deal launches with NODWIN Clutch Series as the companies target better oversight and more interactive broadcasts across Tier 2 CS2 and beyond.
NODWIN Gaming has signed a strategic partnership with Prague-based esports technology company Runestone to add integrity monitoring and real-time data tools across NODWIN’s global tournament portfolio. The companies said the collaboration has launched with the NODWIN Clutch Series.
NODWIN and Runestone positioned the deal around tournament oversight and broadcast engagement, as organizers increasingly use data-driven tooling to support fair competition and build more interactive viewing experiences.
The partnership begins on a Tier 2 Counter-Strike 2 property. The latest edition ended with BIG winning NODWIN Clutch Series 5, beating ECSTATIC 2–1 in the grand final of the $50,000 online tournament.
Speaking on the partnership Teemu Koski, Chief Business Officer at NODWIN Gaming MENA and Global Head of Data Monetization, said, “We’re excited to partner with Runestone as we continue expanding our competitive gaming portfolio across high-growth regions and titles. Integrity and transparency are fundamental to sustainable esports ecosystems, especially in Tier 2 competition where the next generation of talent emerges. Runestone’s expertise in real-time data and integrity infrastructure complements our experience in building scalable esports IPs and competitive ecosystems. Together, we’re able to strengthen tournament operations while unlocking richer engagement experiences for fans. Starting with the NODWIN Clutch Series for CS2, we see strong potential to expand this collaboration across new IPs, new regions, and new competitive formats.”
Michael Schwartz, Head of Partnerships at Runestone, added, “NODWIN Gaming has built one of the most dynamic esports ecosystems across emerging markets, and we’re thrilled to collaborate with a partner that shares our focus on building sustainable competitive ecosystems. By combining NODWIN’s experience in operating global esports IPs with Runestone’s integrity and engagement infrastructure, we can support tournaments with greater transparency, deeper fan interaction, and scalable operational tools. Supporting the NODWIN Clutch Series is an exciting starting point, and we’re looking forward to expanding into new titles, formats, and regions together.”
The post NODWIN Gaming partners Runestone on integrity and real-time data for esports events appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
brand-partnership
G2 names Skin.Club official skin partner for its CS2 team
Skin.Club branding will appear on G2 jerseys, social channels and content series, with in-person activations planned.
G2 has partnered with Skin.Club as the official skin partner for its Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) team, with the deal spanning team jerseys, content and live experiences.
Under the agreement, Skin.Club will feature on G2’s CS2 team jersey as an official partner. The partnership also includes logo placement across G2’s social channels and integration within content series throughout the year, plus a “series of in-person activations,” according to the companies.
“Partnering with Skin.Club marks an exciting step forward for our G2 CS team,” said Alban Dechelotte, CEO of G2. “We’re always looking to work with brands that genuinely understand the Counter-Strike community, and Skin.Club brings both passion and innovation to the space. Together, we aim to create engaging experiences for fans while continuing to push the competitive ambitions of our roster.”
“At Skin.Club, we’re focused on creating experiences that bring the Counter-Strike community closer together,” said Dan Tar, CMO of Skin.Club. “Collaborating with G2 allows us to work alongside one of the most iconic teams in esports and deliver new ways for fans to engage. Drive, Love, Counter-Strike!”
Financial terms and the partnership duration were not disclosed.
The post G2 names Skin.Club official skin partner for its CS2 team appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Counter-Strike 2
Stake and Team Vitality launch Counter-Strike fan giveaway
Five custom gaming PC rigs, each set up by a Vitality Counter-Strike player, are available via the Stake Community Forum.
Stake has partnered with esports organisation Team Vitality on an exclusive fan giveaway tied to the Counter-Strike 2 ecosystem, offering five bespoke gaming PC rigs customised by players from Vitality’s Counter-Strike roster.
According to the companies, each setup is built to competitive standards and reflects a player’s individual preferences and playstyle. The rigs include an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor, an ASUS RTX 5070 Ti graphics card, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and ASUS B850M motherboards with integrated Wi‑Fi, alongside a 750W 80+ Gold power supply.
Team Vitality is Stake’s official esports partner, and the giveaway is positioned as part of a broader campaign around the Stake Ranked series, described by Stake as the latest instalment in its calendar of Counter-Strike 2 LAN events.
Fans can enter by creating a Stake Community Forum account and replying to the official competition post with their Stake username.
Mezii, Team Vitality said: “I’m really excited to see this PC. It’s a super clean custom build, with great attention to detail and a strong overall aesthetic. Huge thanks to Stake for delivering something that looks sharp and really captures the vibe we’re bringing to the server.”
The post Stake and Team Vitality launch Counter-Strike fan giveaway appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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