eSports
What do esports winners spend their money on?
What’s the difference between $100,000 and nothing? For Surrender, it was an extremely clutch Mind Blast, laying in wait second from the bottom of his deck, giving his Highlander Priest just enough reach to finish off the menacing Jade army emerging lockstep from Stancifka’s hand. It couldn’t have come at a more important time. Surrender was low on both excuses and resources, and pelting his opponent’s face with pebble-sized Holy Smites and Lyra cycles was paving a long road to nowhere. Honestly, I forgot he had any gas left. He pressed his heavy eyes into his sleeve as Stan tried, and failed, to put his health-bar out of range. There’s nothing quite like watching 20 turns of almost-losing paying off with the biggest victory of a young man’s career.
Stan is still getting paid. He will walk away with the diminished fringes of the Hearthstone World Championship prize-pool. A fifth-place loss is worth $50,000, which is nothing to sneeze at, unless you’re going to spend the rest of your year scrutinizing a few tricky decisions down the stretch. Surrender, on the other hand, is now guaranteed a six-figure payout, and is two victories away from the quarter-of-a-million first prize. We exchange a trembling handshake, as his bantamweight frame sinks into one of the black plush armchairs backstage. Through a translator, he tells me his mother tunes into every one of his matches on the family tablet, even if they’re airing at two in the morning. “This is personal, but my family has never been very wealthy. We moved around a lot. I feel like that with the prize money I get… I want to see what I can do,” he says.
Jason Zhou hopes to visit the metropolis of Hangzhou in his home country.
Perhaps it’s overbearing to say $250,000 is life-changing money, but it’s certainlylife-altering money. Hearthstone pros, unlike the composite teenaged talent in other esports, tend to be more diverse in their backgrounds and priorities, and that makes each of their financial boons uniquely personal. DocPwn is a tall, bearded French-Canadian who is never seen in public without his turquoise Montreal Impact ballcap. He’s also in his mid-30s, gainfully employed, and somehow managed to upset the reigning world champion Pavel back at the Winter qualifiers.
Muzzy is a cherished American player who’s been slamming his head at the top-end of competition for years, Kolento is a steely-eyed Ukrainian who’s established himself as a scene hero through pure sickness alone, and Ant is an uber-positive Fresno native who managed to stay prenaturally merry despite getting annihilated in both of his matches, ending his tournament run far too early. I hated to see them lose; not out of any wagers, or killed stories, or fanatical loyalty to their teams or countries of origin. No, Hearthstone is just a brutal game. The weary, thin-lipped concession as a world-title dream flatlines is one of the most harrowing things to watch in esports. You feel it in your spine.
Tom60299 already has plans for his money.
At the very least, we have a fascinating top four. The bespectacled Taiwanese kid Tom60299 is probably the most brash when I ask him what his money plans are in the player’s lounge. The first thing he’s doing when the plane touches down in Taipei is buying his practice partners the most luxurious meal in the city. “Something expensive, like lobster,” he laughs. (He also plans on getting a car, though he hasn’t decided which yet.)
The mainland’s Jason Zhou (who is making his second appearance in a Hearthstone World Championship top four), intends to take a vacation to the Chinese metropolis of Hangzhou, before consolidating the rest of the money into his savings account to purchase a house. (While it won’t get him all the way there, Zhou says every little bit counts). Fr0zen, the last North American standing, feels the same way. He wants to buy a house in Los Angeles to be closer to esports events, but not before extending his vacation in Amsterdam.
Imagine if Tom and Surrender meet in the finals, and that $250,000 is either poured into a Ferrari or the livelihoods of a couple proud parents halfway around the world. Hearthstone’s professional format makes sure that we empathize with every bad beat, and here, at the end, the stakes are so high it’s almost hard to look. There are no more re-buys, no more qualifiers, and probably no more million dollar prize-pools until at least 2019. Tomorrow, Hearthstone will swallow three of them whole. It’s a horrifying thought, but as a selfish spectator, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Source: pcgamer.com
eSports
WEC24: PUBG MOBILE Tournament Concludes with Outstanding Success
The PUBG MOBILE tournament at WEC24 has officially wrapped up, delivering three days of competition that exceeded all expectations. With 10 out of 16 teams securing Chicken Dinners throughout the tournament, every map brought its own excitement, with the final rounds determining the champions and medal placements. We saw impressive viewership numbers with 776,454 unique viewers achieving 89,675 hours watched throughout the three days of competition.
On the competitive front, the Indonesian team set a WEC24 record by securing a Chicken Dinner with an astonishing 18 eliminations, packing a remarkable 28-point round.
Turkey stepped up to claim the title of WEC24 PUBG MOBILE Champions, delivering a fierce, precise performance and seizing the trophy in the final maps, a true champions’ style victory.
Congratulations are also due to Ukraine, who came very close to securing the gold. Consistent and determined to win, they kept fans and their nation on edge until the final rounds, ultimately securing the silver medal. Brazil took home the bronze, showcasing exceptional talent and positioning themselves as strong contenders for future titles.
Igor Nedeski, Esports Manager at IESF, praised the athletes, the tournament’s success, and the ongoing collaboration with Tencent: “The PUBG MOBILE tournaments have been one of the highlights of WEC for years now, and our ongoing collaboration and support from Tencent has played a huge role in its success. Congratulations to the medalists and to all athletes participating for their remarkable WEC24 performance.”
Micah Li, Senior Esports Manager at Tencent, “Congratulations to Turkey on becoming the WEC24 PUBG MOBILE Champions. We greatly value our partnership with IESF and the success we have achieved together over the years. We look forward to continuing this collaboration and delivering many more exceptional PUBG MOBILE tournaments in the future.”
With the PUBG MOBILE tournament concluded, IESF looks forward to further PUBG MOBILE competitions, as national teams from around the world improve year by year.
eSports
Mortal cements his name as face of Indian gaming, wins ‘Content Creator of the Year’ at global Esports Awards 2024
Naman Mathur, popularly known as Mortal, has added another feather to his illustrious cap by winning the coveted ‘Content Creator of the Year’ award at the Global Esports Awards 2024 Part 2 in Los Angeles on Friday. The grand ceremony saw Mortal triumph over globally renowned gamers like Tarik Celik, Ibai Llanos Garatea, and Marc ‘Caedrel’ Lamont, solidifying his stature as India’s biggest gamer.
Mortal’s groundbreaking victory marks a significant milestone not only in his personal journey but also for the Indian gaming community at large. The 27-year-old’s illustrious gaming career boasts numerous accolades, including championship titles in BMPS Season 1 (2022) and the PUBG Mobile Club Open (2019) as an esports athlete. He has amassed over 7 million subscribers on YouTube and more than 5.3 million followers on Instagram through his distinctive and impactful content, making him one of India’s most influential gaming personalities.
Speaking on this remarkable achievement, Naman Mathur aka Mortal, Co-founder, S8UL Esports, stated, “Winning this award is an incredible moment of pride, not just for me but for the entire Indian gaming and esports community. My journey began with a simple passion for gaming, and seeing that passion resonate with millions of people is truly humbling. I hope this achievement inspires more young gamers to chase their dreams and believe that they too can earn global recognition through dedication and hard work. I am deeply grateful to S8UL for being the backbone of my journey. This success is not mine alone- it belongs to every fan, every teammate, and every supporter who believed in me and in the potential of Indian esports.”
This was Mortal’s sixth consecutive nomination at the prestigious awards, a feat achieved by no other Indian gamer. Having been nominated for various categories over the years such as ‘Esports Mobile Player of the Year’, ‘Streamer of the Year’ and ‘Esports Personality of the Year’, Mortal’s victory in this edition is a testament to his immense contribution to growing the esports and gaming content ecosystem in India.
“This award holds a deeply personal meaning for me. Watching Mortal achieve this recognition feels like a shared victory- one that takes me back to where it all began. From the late nights to the sacrifices, every moment has led us here. Together, we’re not just creating history; we’re shaping the future of gaming and esports globally. A victory for him, a milestone for Indian esports!” said Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug, Co-founder, S8UL Esports.
The Esports Awards is the most prestigious night in esports, dedicated to showcasing top-tier performance and innovation from players, teams, media, hardware providers, games, events, and personalities within the scene.
“When we first started this journey, we had no idea how far it would take us, but we always knew we were in this together. Mortal has always been like a brother to me, and seeing him win this award feels like a personal achievement. For him to be honoured with this accolade today is a reflection of the countless hours, effort and heart we’ve poured into building who we are and what we stand for,” commented Lokesh ‘Goldy’ Jain, Co-founder, S8UL Esports.
Mortal’s achievement reaffirms India’s rise as a formidable force in the global esports and gaming content landscape.
eSports
The World Esports Summit 2024 Is Here!
The IESF World Esports Summit returns this December to Busan, South Korea. Hosted at the Busan Esports Arena (BRENA) from December 5-6, the Summit will bring together prominent figures from Esports, global brands, government officials, and sports executives for a deep dive into the current Esports trends, its rapid transformations, and future challenges.
This year’s theme, “Building Bridges, Not Barriers, Through the Power of Esports,” will highlight the role of Esports in uniting cultures, ideas, and industries. Under the slogan “We Empower Success,” the
Summit provides a great platform for Esports experts to engage in meaningful discussions and sessions, sharing their insights on trends and presenting forward-looking ideas for our industry.
The event, strategically timed at the close of the competitive season, presents a perfect environment for reflection on the year’s biggest events, industry shifts, and the next steps for Esports. Attendees can follow the expert’s perspectives on topics like:
- (R)Evolution in Esports
- East Meets West
- Esports Integrity: The Role of Referees
- The Rise of International Esports Competitions
- (In Korean) Korea’s Secret Sauce etc.
Also, featured at this year’s event are the IESF World Esports Training Camp and the World Esports Referee Academy.
These are very important IESF programs that are aimed at advancing the skills and professional standards of the next generation of Esports leaders.
Join us in Busan for two days designed to inspire, connect, and empower the international Esports community.
Registration for the World Esports Summit is free and open to all interested attendees.
To register, please complete our online registration form: iesf.formstack.com/forms/wes2024_participation_registration
See you in Busan!
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