eSports
LEC Renews Partnerships with Secretlab, Red Bull, and Beko for 2021
LEC is proudly welcoming back its cohort of official suppliers as the Spring Season prepares to kick off
LEC has renewed its partnerships with its Official Suppliers for the LEC 2021 season. Our sponsors helped us deliver an amazing season of League of Legends esports last year, and with these brilliant partners back on board for 2021, another great year is on the horizon.
For years, Secretlab has been providing gamers with the comfort and support they need to achieve outstanding results with their high-performance gaming chairs. Secretlab has even specially designed and launched the Secretlab LEC Edition chair, bringing the iconic colours and branding of the LEC into fans’ homes. In 2021, Secretlab will continue to support the LEC as the official Gaming Chairs Partner, supplying gear to the studio and the broadcast team.
Red Bull will also continue to give the LEC wings in 2021 as the official Energy Drink Partner. Red Bull is a household name in both esports and traditional sports, so we’re thrilled to have them back on board for the new season. The Red Bull Baron Power Play will continue to be one of the most exciting moments during every LEC match and various other content drops can be expected throughout the year. The official 1v1 League of Legends Tournament, Red Bull Solo Q, will also return this year, once again giving fans the chance to prove themselves in thrilling 1v1 duels.
Last but certainly not least, Europe’s leading domestic appliance brand, Beko, will return, presenting interviews with some of the LEC’s biggest stars. Like previous seasons, Beko is looking to provide additional content to LEC fans this year while continuing to promote healthy eating habits throughout the community via their entertaining LEC Smoothie Bar.
“It’s incredible for us to be working with some of the best brands in the business once again,” says Alban Dechelotte, Head of Sponsorships & New Business EU Esports at Riot Games.
“We pride ourselves on our ability to collaborate closely with our partners. Working with Secretlab, Red Bull, and Beko over the past few seasons has really allowed us to reap the benefits of having a continued relationship and promoted a deep understanding of each other’s needs. We’re really looking forward to working alongside such a strong selection of brands going into 2021.”
The return of our official suppliers speaks to the strength of the League of Legends esports ecosystem. We believe that esports, and the LEC, in particular, will continue to be a source of entertainment and inspiration for thousands of fans around the world throughout 2021 and beyond. To have the continued support of our partners further proves the quality and sustainability of the LEC, and the bright future that lies ahead.
The LEC returns on Friday 22 January at 17:00 CET on lolesports.com – don’t miss it!
eSports
BETER launches its next-gen content with 10bet
Provider’s premium esports products to engage operator’s players with non-stop fast-betting action across eFootball and eBasketball
BETER, the leading fast-betting content and data provider, has partnered with prominent UK operator 10bet in a deal to supply the latter with its fan-favorite ESportsBattle tournaments.
10bet is an online gambling company with over 20 years of experience in creating top-notch sports and casino betting products, with a significant presence in South Africa, the UK, and other regions.
The agreement has allowed 10bet to add BETER’s proprietary ESportsBattle tournaments to its offering, providing players with access to round-the-clock fast-betting action. Initially, the operator will launch with eFootball and eBasketball, with the option to add eHockey and CS2 at a later date.
The integration was done via Playtech which joined forces with BETER earlier this year to provide its operator partners with access to BETER’s full portfolio of content.
ESportsBattle tournaments set the benchmark for esports betting, offering more than 35,000 events per month with up to 50 markets per event. Live streaming is available 24/7/365 so that bettors can enjoy non-stop action with a 7.5%+ average margin for operators.
Gal Ehrlich, CEO at BETER, said: “10bet is a high calibre operator with strong presence in a range of key markets such as the UK and South Africa. These are highly competitive markets where sportsbooks must offer a top player experience to stand out from their rivals.
“This partnership allows 10bet to do just that by providing its players with access to our 24/7 fast-betting content, which is proven to enhance player engagement to the next level.
“Our esports products offer non-stop betting on popular disciplines such as eFootball and eBasketball, which the operator can now use to strengthen its content offering to players.”
Chuck Robinson, CRO at BETER, added: “BETER is on a roll in terms of signing deals with top-flight operators in core markets worldwide, with 10bet being the latest addition to our roster of partners.
“We have pioneered the fast-betting format, and our premium esports content provides the round-the-clock action the next generation of players seeks while ensuring a stable, industry-leading margin for our operator partners.
“We are thrilled to see our content live with 10bet and look forward to a fruitful cooperation.”
Yuval Klein, Spokesperson at 10bet, said: “We go to great lengths to offer our bettors the best online betting experience in the market, and the addition of BETER’s ESportsBattle tournaments is a testament to this. Bettors now demand fast-betting action, and BETER’s content successfully delivers this.”
eSports
We ran CS2 Intel Extreme Masters Rio 2024 through a SuperComputer to predict the final stages — with Neymar’s FURIA team set to cause more massive shocks on home soil
- Natus Vincere and Team Vitality are heavy favourites with a 29.7% and 23.5% chance of winning in Rio, respectively
- However, FURIA — the hometown team backed by Brazil star Neymar — have been the tournament’s biggest overachievers in the group stage and are on set to cause an upset
- G2 on the other hand are the biggest underachievers, crashing out in the group stage to hurt their chances of going into the Major season as top seeds
- FURIA were given just an 20.9% chance of making the playoffs on home soil while G2 had been ranked as third favourites to win in Rio before the tournament with a 19.3% chance of glory
Natus Vincere (NaVi) remain the overall favourites to come on top at Intel Extreme Masters Rio 2024 according to the CSDB.gg CS2 Tournament SuperComputer but FURIA, the Brazilian team co-owned by Neymar, are on course to threaten a serious upset on their home turf.
They have already stunned the competition by beating NaVi in a group to secure passage directly through to the semi-finals, with G2 Esports the biggest underachievers in the opening rounds.
G2 had been a team rated as the third favourites to seize glory in Rio before the tournament only to fail to even make the playoffs. Team Vitality are still second only to NaVi according to the SuperComputer’s rating of who can win but FURIA are backed to knock them out in the semifinals to go to the decider for a dramatic rematch with NaVi to decide who will end the tournament as champions.
A total of $250,000 in prize money and a spot at IEM Katowice 2025 are at stake for the winning side, and after NaVi’s loss to G2 Esports in the Blast Fall Final they will be gunning for a chance to bounce back in style. Vitality on the other hand will be chasing their first title since IEM Cologne.
FURIA, the hometown heroes, are in the mix to potentially upset the odds and after entering the tournament with only a 20.9% chance of even making the playoffs now find themselves third favourites to win the whole thing after their heroics in the group stage.
Intel Extreme Masters Rio 2024 predicted by the CSDB.gg CS2 Tournament SuperComputer
- Final: Natus Vincere (29.7%) to beat FURIA (17.6%)
- Semifinal 1: FURIA (41.0%) to beat Team Vitality (40.7%)
- Semifinal 2: Natus Vincere (48.1%) to beat HEROIC (33.0%)
- Quarterfinal 1: Team Vitality (63.8%) to beat MOUZ (36.2%)
- Quarterfinal 2: Natus Vincere (67.0%) to beat Virtus.pro (33.0%)
Playoffs
- Natus Vincere – 29.7% to become champion; 48.1% to make final; 67.0% to make semi-final
- Team Vitality – 23.5% to become champion; 40.7% to make final; 63.8% to make semi-final
- FURIA – 17.6% to become champion; 41.0% to make final
- HEROIC – 11.3% to become champion; 33.0% to make final
- Virtus Pro – 9.7% to become champion; 18.9% to make final; 33.0% to make semi-final
- MOUZ – 8.2% to become champion; 18.3% to make final; 36.2% to make semi-final
It had been quite the run for NaVi prior to Rio despite their loss to G2 at the Blast Fall Final, with back to back grand finals in recent weeks.
Their momentum was immediately slowed by FURIA who got the home turf buff to shock them with a 2-0 in the Upper-Final to skip straight into the semis.
FURIA’s last appearance in a semi-final in front of a Brazilian crowd came at IEM Rio in 2022 where they lost 2-1 to Cadians Heroic after beating Navi in the quarters. They also lost to Heroic in the quarters of the same tournament in 2023 and will be hoping to get all the way to the final this year.
They are now third favourites to take the event with NaVi and Team Vitality still first and second favourites coming into the playoffs, even after slipping up against FURIA and Heroic, respectively.
Vitality have experience at recovering in this competition. They won IEM Rio 2023 from the quarters and will be looking to go back to back in Rio in 2024.
The MVP race is on too with Vitality’s ‘Zywoo’ currently on a 1.54 rating after five maps. He will be looking to take his career total to 21 tying the all-time record currently held by s1mple.
Another MVP would also be a massive step towards taking a record-breaking fourth HLTV number one award for the best player of the year for 2024.
FURIA could cause an upset here too though with home boy KSCERATO on a 1.56 rating after six maps.
The MVP award will almost always goes to the winning team’s best player and he could pick up his first career MVP on home soil should FURIA continue to confound expectations. Neymar would be proud!
How was the CSDB.gg CS2 Tournament SuperComputer created?
The CSDB.gg CS2 Tournament SuperComputer is a predictive model created using world ranking points, team quality ratings and performance trends. An element of randomness is also included in the model to avoid the best teams and players always winning, to reflect the fact that upsets can happen.
Every tournament is simulated 1,000 times with the results aggregated into a percentage rating of the chances teams or players have to achieve the predicted result.
CSDB.gg CS2 Tournament SuperComputer playoffs forecast in full
Elimination stage:
Asia
Top Gaming Creators join hands with Regional Influencers to Drive Record Engagement into College Rivals Season 2
A diverse array of city-based influencers from across the country, in conjunction with an established roster of creators, has been driving exceptional engagement and transforming the grassroots esports and gaming scene at the College Rivals Season 2.
The Ampverse DMI owned, largest collegiate gaming talent hunt, College Rivals Season 2 has covered 5417 kilometres with its one of a kind cool gaming truck, visiting more than 11 cities. It has surpassed a record-breaking 100,000 plus registrations, engaging with students in both online and offline format, exceeding the total engagement numbers compared to the first edition in just over three months of the tournament.
Ashwin Haryani, Country Head of Ampverse DMI, India, highlighted the broader vision behind this collaboration: “Our partnership is built on the belief that nurturing esports and gaming talent requires more than just competition—it demands inclusivity, mentorship, and localized engagement. By bringing together creators across different tiers and regions, we’re not just amplifying visibility for emerging talent; we’re creating a sustainable pathway for them to transition from amateur to pro. College Rivals is evolving into a platform where every creator, regardless of their background or following, can find opportunities to grow, learn, interact and thrive in the esports and gaming ecosystem.”
Season 2 features prominent and popular creators like Payal Gaming and Ankkita C, two of India’s top female gamers; Snax, known for his informative gaming content with over a million YouTube subscribers; and popular names like Joker ki Haveli and Regaltos. Also, joining the lineup are Antaryami Gaming, AlphaClasher, Brightfox, Willy Gaming, SardarjiYT, Vadhiyaar, and Mazy, making it an exciting season for gaming enthusiasts.
“By collaborating with local influencers and deep diving into diverse audiences to create a more relatable gaming experience. This strategy not only enhances community interaction but also brings unique regional flavours to the game, making it more appealing to players from different backgrounds. It’s a smart move to leverage local voices and personalities, driving excitement and participation in the competition, said India’s top women gamer, Payal Gaming.
As per industry reports, nearly 55 million urban Indians actively engage with nano-influencers. This dynamic blend is revolutionizing the way to connect and energize the gaming community.
The College Rival Season 2 is being staged across 22 Indian cities, including Jaipur, Lucknow, Patna, Assam, Vizag, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Mangalore, Kochi, Goa, and Mumbai being part of it.
Adding to the excitement, the winners from the first two rounds of qualifiers for all three games, Valorant, BGMI and EA FC 24 have also been revealed. They will move on to the next stage, aiming for a spot in the Grand Finale scheduled for February 2025, wherein the winners will win a prize pool of up to INR 50 lakh and the chance to join a top gaming organization to compete professionally.
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