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Team Vitality crowned Champions of Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025, securing the ESL Grand Slam
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 âapEXâ Madesclaire, Mathieu âZywOoâ Herbaut, Shahar âflameZâ Shushan, William âmeziiâ Merriman, and Robin âropzâ 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 âZywOoâ 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 COUNTERâSTRIKE 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 clubâs 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 âapEXâ 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 âZywOoâ 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 worldâs 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 clubâs commitment to establishing itself as a benchmark in international competition and making an enduring impact on fans around the world.
Fabien âNeoâ Devide, President and co-founder of Team Vitality, said:Â âThis 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, Iâm proud of the mentality and the incredible display from this team. To see them achieve such greatness makes me feel so proud.â
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 â 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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Following the 2026 Call of Duty League (CDL) Season Announcement from Blizzard, we wanted to share details of the upcoming CDL Major II set for DreamHack Birmingham, taking place March 27-29, 2026.
- The Call of Duty League is heading back to DreamHack after an incredible turnout at the last festival â but this time, things are getting even bigger. The DreamHack Birmingham CDL Major II will feature a brand-new 10-team format, intensifying competition and ensuring only the very best squads make it to the main stage.
- The CDL Major II at DreamHack Birmingham will kick off with online qualifiers from February 13 to March 22, before culminating in a LAN Major tournament at DreamHack Birmingham from March 27â29, 2026. Fans can expect three days of non-stop action, high-stakes matchups, and an electric live atmosphere as the worldâs top Call of Duty teams go head-to-head.
- DreamHack has a long-standing history of bringing the worldâs biggest gaming communities together under one roof, and this next stop in the CDL calendar continues that legacy, uniting fans, creators, and players in one of esportsâ most passionate arenas.
Tickets for DreamHack Birmingham, including access to CDL Major II, are available now.
The post CDL Major II Announced at DreamHack Birmingham 2026 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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The Unit, a leader in product design and development for sports betting and iGaming, has announced plans to open a new office in Gibraltar, further expanding its international footprint.
The new location, which will open in Q1 2026, will complement existing offices in Ireland, Moldova, and the U.S., reflecting The Unitâs continuing growth and commitment to supporting its clients across multiple regions.
The Gibraltar office will serve as a regional base for product strategy, management, and design, as well as a hub for commercial engagement with both new and existing partners.
Gibraltar is one of the worldâs most established gaming jurisdictions and home to a significant number of global sportsbook and casino operators. Strategically, the move coalesces many convenient synergies and economies of scale for The Unit, since it already serves multiple clients in Gibraltar, while the wider local talent pool will provide an ideal base from which to generate further growth. The Unitâs presence in the Territory will organically strengthen its partnerships and enable greater collaboration with clients across Europe.
Paddy Casey, Co-Founder of The Unit, said: âWeâve experienced exceptional growth over the past two years, and our expansion into Gibraltar is a natural next step. Establishing a dedicated office here allows us to be closer to many of our key partners, build deeper relationships within the local ecosystem, and attract some of the best talent in the business.
âItâs a location that has long been a hub for gaming innovation and expertise, and having a local presence will help us continue to deliver the class-leading service and product quality for which The Unit is known.â
The Unit delivers custom-built digital products for the sports betting and gaming industries, partnering with operators and suppliers to accelerate product roadmaps and bring ideas to market with speed and precision.
The post THE UNIT EXPANDS GLOBAL FOOTPRINT WITH NEW OFFICE IN GIBRALTAR appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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NEOWIZ and Kangwon Land Sign New Slot Software Agreement, Joined by Massive Gamingâs Expertise
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NEOWIZ and Kangwon Land, Inc. signed a new Slot Software Development Agreement, with NEOWIZâs subsidiary Massive Gaming(MVG) supporting co-development under the partnership.
The agreement marks the next stage in the long-standing partnership between NEOWIZ and Kangwon Land, which began in August 2021.
The initial collaboration mainly focused on resource supply and functional division, but the new agreement expands NEOWIZâs and MVGâs roles to jointly lead software development using Kangwon Landâs platform and infrastructure. The partners aim to accelerate innovation and strengthen their global competitiveness in the slot gaming market.
Having been formally signed by NEOWIZ and Kangwon Land, the new agreement establishes a development framework in which NEOWIZ and MVG jointly lead the software development process, while Kangwon Land focuses on hardware manufacturing and casino deployment.
This structure enables the three companies to build a tightly connected and efficient co-development ecosystem.
According to the agreement, Kangwon Land will own the offline slot machine software, while NEOWIZ and MVG will hold the intellectual property (IP) rights for the online slot game version.
âWe are delighted to take our partnership with Kangwon Land to the next level, built on the deep trust we have established since 2021,â said George Cho, CEO & Director of MVG. âThrough our integrated development partnership, we aim to introduce innovative slot content that will be recognised in the global market.â
Since their first collaboration agreement in 2021, NEOWIZ, MVG, and Kangwon Land have continuously expanded their partnership.
In 2022, NEOWIZ and MVG provided graphic and sound resources from their online slot title Shen Shou Wan Fu to Kangwon Land, which officially launched the game as a physical slot machine at its casino in 2024.
The post NEOWIZ and Kangwon Land Sign New Slot Software Agreement, Joined by Massive Gamingâs Expertise appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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