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Team Vitality crowned Champions of Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025, securing the ESL Grand Slam

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Team Vitality is the undisputed best Counter-Strike 2 team in the world, and their latest victory at Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Melbourne only reinforces that status. This marks their 21st straight win of the year, adding to a dominant run that includes victory titles at IEM Katowice, ESL Pro League Season 21, and BLAST Open Spring 2025.

By winning their fourth ESL tournament in less than a year, the club has gained legendary status, becoming the fifth team in the game to win the ESL Grand Slam (after FaZe, NAVI, Team Liquid, and Astralis). To celebrate this historic moment for the club, Team Vitality is partnering with the iconic brand DearBBall to launch a capsule collection of exclusive products, paying tribute to a team with an undeniable track record of excellence.

THE HIVE MAKES HISTORY: TEAM VITALITY REIGNS SUPREME

Entering the tournament as the top-ranked CS2 team in the world, Team Vitality once again proved its exceptional talent. The elite roster, including captain Dan “apEX” Madesclaire, Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, Shahar “flameZ” Shushan, William “mezii” Merriman, and Robin “ropz” Kool, demonstrated flawless synergy and world-class skills throughout the tournament, concluding in a decisive victory in the Grand Finals against Team Falcons. The team not only secured the IEM Melbourne title but also won the prestigious ESL Grand Slam, a monumental achievement for the organisation.

In the Semi-Finals, Team Vitality delivered a masterful performance against Team MongolZ, setting the tone for an electric Grand Final performance against Team Falcons.

After an incredible 3-2 win in the Grand Final, which included a triple-overtime decider on the final map, Nuke, Mathieu ‘ZywOo’ Herbaut was named tournament MVP thanks to a series of impressive performances and a decisive presence throughout the tournament.

In addition to capturing the IEM Melbourne title, the team won the prestigious ESL Grand Slam, a monumental achievement for both the organization and the history of Counter-Strike. With this victory, Team Vitality added one of the most coveted trophies to its collection, along with a $1 million cash prize.

TEAM VITALITY AT THE TOP OF ITS GAME ON COUNTER–STRIKE 2

By securing a fourth major international trophy this year, Team Vitality and its players have firmly cemented their place among the legends of the game. The club’s dominance in CS2, highlighted by an ESL Grand Slam victory and an extraordinary 21-game winning streak, confirms its status as a global powerhouse and marks a historic milestone, fueled by the unwavering support of its passionate community.

This triumph also represents a career-defining moment for several players, starting with captain Dan “apEX” Madesclaire, who captures the final major title missing from his storied record (adding the Grand Slam to his two Majors, Katowice, and Cologne victories). Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut continues his remarkable ascent, solidifying his position as the most decorated player in CS history with a 24th MVP title earned during this tournament. Together, apEX and ZywOo become the first two French players ever to win an ESL Grand Slam, a historic achievement for these two icons of the Parisian club.

Driven by a clear ambition to become the world’s leading esports organization, Team Vitality places performance at the core of its new strategic era. In Counter-Strike, the mission is bold: to inspire, to dominate, and to leave a lasting legacy on the global stage. This vision reflects the club’s commitment to establishing itself as a benchmark in international competition and making an enduring impact on fans around the world.

Fabien “Neo” Devide, President and co-founder of Team Vitality, said: “This is a historic moment for Team Vitality as we become the 5th club in history to win the ESL Grand Slam. We are now part of a legendary club that has left its mark on the history of the game. After more than six hours of play, I’m proud of the mentality and the incredible display from this team. To see them achieve such greatness makes me feel so proud.”

CELEBRATING IN STYLE: A CAPSULE COLLECTION WITH DEARBBALL TO CELEBRATE THE EVENT

To celebrate their Grand Slam victory, Team Vitality and basketball brand DearBBall are launching an exclusive capsule collection. This limited-edition drop pays tribute to the five players on the roster, highlighting their unique personalities, strengths, and lifestyles.

For each player, the collection features a dedicated hoodie, sweatshirt, and t-shirt, available in black or white, each piece accompanied by a personalized description. A historic collaboration and a must-have for fans – available in limited quantities!

The post Team Vitality crowned Champions of Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025, securing the ESL Grand Slam appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Slotland Celebrates 27 Years of iGaming Innovation with New Games and Birthday Promotions

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Slotland, a pioneer in the online casino industry, is marking its incredible 27th anniversary this October by giving back to its players. The milestone celebration includes the launch of three exciting new games and the introduction of free spins bonuses, and generous promotions for both new and loyal VIP players.

Since 1998, Slotland has been at the forefront of online gaming, and this birthday celebration is a testament to its enduring commitment to player satisfaction and innovation. The centerpiece of the anniversary is the launch of three high-quality slot games: Arcane Treasure, Safari Sunsets, and Spartan Conquest. Each game offers unique themes, engaging bonus features, and the classic gameplay Slotland players love.

Reflecting on this significant milestone, Slotland Manager Michael Hilary shared: “Reaching our 27th birthday is a monumental achievement, and it’s been a long journey. From the early days of pixel reels on bulky CRT monitors and feature phones to once popular flash-based games, we’ve evolved through every era of digital gaming. Today, we’re proud to deliver sleek, mobile-friendly games that our players can enjoy anywhere, anytime. This anniversary is a celebration of our entire community who has been with us along the way.”

A New Era of Bonuses: Introducing Free Spins

In a major update, Slotland is excited to introduce Free Spins as a new bonus type for players. The first-ever free spins promotion kicks off mid-October, giving the community a new way to win.

OCTOBER BIRTHDAY PROMOTIONS:

  • Birthday Free Chip: 
    • Valid: to all players until October 13, 2025
    • $45 VIP Free Chip / $23 for all players
    • Wager: 29x | Redeem: 1x | Max Cashout: 5x
    • Valid on: Arcane Treasure, Safari Sunsets, Spartan Conquest
    • Redeem Code: BDAYCHIP
  • 125% MATCH:
    • Valid: to all players until October 13, 2025
    • On deposits $25 – $600
    • Wager: 28x | Redeem: 3x per day
    • Valid on: All games released since 26th birthday, including three new slots
    • Redeem CodeNEWSLOTS
  • Birthday FREE SPINS: Celebrate 27 years with 27 free spins!
    • Valid: October 15-26, 2025
    • 27 Free Spins
    • Wager: 27x | Redeem: 1x | Max Cashout: $100
    • Valid on: High Life
    • Redeem Code: BDAYSPINS

Exclusive VIP October Weekend Bonuses

Loyal VIP members are treated to special bonuses every Saturday and Sunday throughout October:

  • Up to $151 FREE CHIP for Gold VIPs / $101 for Silver / $51 for Bronze
  • Up to 225% MATCH BONUS for Gold VIPs / 185% for Silver / 125% for Bronze
    • Valid on deposits from $5 – $500*
    • All bonus codes and full promotion details are available on the Slotland promotions page

A Spooky Tease for Halloween

The birthday festivities are just the beginning. Slotland is gearing up for Halloween with a new, spine-tingling horror-themed slot game, set to be released in late October. Players should prepare for a chillingly good time.

The post Slotland Celebrates 27 Years of iGaming Innovation with New Games and Birthday Promotions appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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23red and GamCare unveil New Campaign which Brings the Hidden Feelings of Gambling Harm to Life

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Purpose-led creative agency 23red, part of CapGemini and UK charity GamCare have launched a new year-round digital campaign designed to help people recognise the often-invisible feelings associated with gambling harms and encourage people to seek support sooner, as needed.

Running across multiple digital platforms, the adverts target men aged 18–44 and people affected by the gambling of their loved ones, who are often women, and who often play a central role in family wellbeing, to take that first step to seeking support.

The campaign includes 30-, 15- and 6-second creatives in standard formats, with a major burst planned for the New Year, one of the busiest times of year in terms of people contacting the Helpline.

At its heart is a striking new 30-second film that uses metaphorical visual storytelling to bring to life the intense emotions people can experience when gambling takes control—feelings of being stuck, feeling trapped and a sense of being tied in knots by gambling.

Tristan Cavanagh, Creative Director at 23red comments: “Unhealthy gambling habits are often hidden in plain sight. We set out to create something people who are experiencing gambling harms instantly recognise and feel rather than just watch, with visuals that mirror the quiet chaos inside someone’s head. Our aim was to cut through the usual tropes and deliver a piece that resonates emotionally, prompting conversations before harm escalates”.

Victoria Corbishley, Chief Executive Officer at GamCare comments: “Our new creative visualises the inner turmoil that people experiencing gambling harms can feel. It’s a fresh approach that we hope helps people in need, whether they gamble themselves or care about someone who does. We hope they will see those signs and reach out sooner for support.”

The new GamCare campaign underscores that gambling harm doesn’t always look how you expect. It can affect colleagues, partners, friends, or family members who seem “on top of it,” and it can escalate quietly until it touches every part of life.

GamCare’s services are free and confidential, non-judgemental help is available 24/7, 365 days a year from trained advisers.

The post 23red and GamCare unveil New Campaign which Brings the Hidden Feelings of Gambling Harm to Life appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Boomerang Partners merges creativity and marketing at SBC Summit Lisbon: Nick Chichagov on the vision behind the performance

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The September SBC Summit in Lisbon was one of the most notable events for Boomerang Partners. The affiliate gambling & betting marketing agency presented its client portfolio and won two prestigious SBC Awards: ‘Social Media Campaign of the Year’ and ‘Rising Star in Sports Betting’ (Operator).

The company’s booth became a central hub for exhibition attendees, with over 1,500 people visiting it. They were able to learn about the new sports traffic tournament, the Golden Boomerang League and took part in a raffle for sports memorabilia from Rafael Nadal, Cristiano Ronaldo, Tyson Fury, and Fernando Alonso. One of the most impressive activities at the Boomerang Partners booth were unique live artist performances. In doing so, the company effectively married marketing and art for the first time at the iGaming event. These quaint performances have all the potential to become a new trend in the industry.

The creative producer and director of the Boomerang Effect performances at the Boomerang Partners booth was Nick Chichagov. In an interview, he discussed the origin of the project’s idea, the essence of the performances, and where he draws inspiration from.

1 How did the idea for this performance come about? Did something unusual inspire you to create something so out of the box?

When I start working on a performance, I always look for an initial hook. Here, it was the crowd. Inspired by photographers like Alexey Titarenko and his City of Shadows series, I explored the idea of people as ghostlike figures without identity. Later, references to René Magritte’s Son of Man helped sharpen the concept.

Music also guided me — a line from a Tool song, “to bring the pieces back together, rediscover communication,” became a key reference point. Contemporary dance emerged as the ideal form. I wanted to include a simple yet powerful moment where two people just stand and look at each other. Step by step, the puzzle came together.

2 If you had to describe this performance in a few words, what would they be?

For me personally, it is about uniting, immersing into communication, and becoming one – transitioning from disparate parts into a single, cohesive whole. The entire performance is a metaphor for separate atoms, individual people, and distinct fragments ultimately uniting as one under the company’s brand.

3 Tell us about the concept behind the production — what was the main idea or message for you?

The concept of the performance was that six agents of Boomerang Partners  – each with their own character, state of mind, and attitude toward themselves, others, and the audience –  venture out into the crowd. Their mission is to study communication, understand themselves, and bring meaning to people, guiding them to a place they’ve been waiting for under the Boomerang Partners brand, which helps people realize their potential.

During the main performance, the artists showcase the company’s themes – boxing, racing, football – through movement and dance. At the end, their gray masks are removed to reveal vibrant, individual identities, still tied to the brand. The core message: people often feel lost, but Boomerang Partners shows them the right path through its lens.

4 What were the most interesting or challenging moments during the rehearsal process? Can you share any behind-the-scenes stories from the preparation?

The most interesting part was the entire process of working with the team. As a director, I found it interesting to give the performers some creative space. For instance, each performer had their own character, and I provided them with a list of 10 traits to define it. Within that framework, they also invented different emotional states and variations.

The work was challenging, though. The third act was particularly difficult because we built its final choreography piece by piece. All the references we found were entirely off the mark. We didn’t want to just literally depict a sport; we wanted to convey it through imagery.

This is how we built the first act: the artists study themselves and their characters. Then, they interact with each other in the second act. Finally, the third act is where the artists unite into a single whole, representing the company’s diverse directions, and they rip off their masks to reveal the vibrant individuality that blossomed under the brand’s auspices.

5 Were there any funny or unexpected stories while working on the performance?

I wouldn’t say there were any truly unexpected moments in terms of the performance’s preparation. But there were certainly funny ones. For instance, when we were trying to incorporate football, racing, or boxing into the performance, we’d choreograph and plan how to best execute it. Sometimes, when we tried it out, the result was quite humorous because it came off as rather cartoonish. That’s exactly what prompted us to rework some choreography segments, taking certain details we found interesting to work with, instead of relying on overused, standard clichés.

Another amusing element was our permanent audience member. A cat would come to almost every single rehearsal and watch the entire process of us putting the performances together with great attention. I think it only missed one or two rehearsals; it was always there, observing very, very intently what was happening and why.

6 In your opinion, which elements were key to the success of this show?

I believe the show’s success was a result of a complete team effort. We put in an enormous amount of work and conducted countless rehearsals. We had incredibly talented artists, and I feel all the looks we created were a perfect, 100% match for the original references I had in my mind. Ultimately, I believe the performance we delivered was successful, first and foremost, thanks to the entire team.

Watch the full version of the Performance Show on YouTube — Boomerang Partners.

About Boomerang

Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global marketing agency offering a wide range of services. Boomerang Partners is the Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards — a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. Boomerang launched six new products in 2024-2025, contributing to a nearly 1.5-fold increase in product users.

The agency’s  client portfolio contains 13+ brands offering affiliate and entertainment services across 40+ markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide personalized bonuses and 24/7 multilingual support.

About Nick Chichagov

With over five years of experience, Nick Chichagov crafts innovative projects at the intersection of theater, cinema, and immersive art. His portfolio includes collaborations with actors from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, direction of performances featuring international artist ensembles, and work on music videos for prominent acts such as Vlady and AVOKARU.

The post Boomerang Partners merges creativity and marketing at SBC Summit Lisbon: Nick Chichagov on the vision behind the performance appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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