eSports
GRID and WePlay Esports announce the extension of their exclusive data partnership

GRID, the official esports and gaming data platform, and WePlay Esports, the flagship company of WePlay Holding, have extended their exclusive esports data partnership for a third year.
The deal will focus on data assets management, distribution, and monetization for all WePlay Esports broadcasts. Additionally, GRID will provide advanced integrity and data security services.
Charlie Hanley-Nickolls, chief procurement officer of GRID Esports comments, “At GRID we are dedicated to building long-lasting relationships with our partners. Working with WePlay Esports exemplifies what it means to have a mutually rewarding partnership. For the past two years, WePlay Esports has elevated its broadcast and improved the interactive experience of esports content. We are thrilled to continue leveraging WePlay Esports data and providing them with the assets they need to continue to be a leader in broadcast innovation. Their approach to fan engagement is a benchmark for how official esports data can be used as fuel to grow the industry as a whole.”
In 2021 GRID supported WePlay Esports in some of the most viewed esports tournaments of all time. The partnership included all the company’s CS:GO and Dota 2 tournaments and the most notable Russian-speaking broadcasts. The record-breaking PGL Major Stockholm 2021 broadcast by WePlay Esports peaked at over 865,000 concurrent viewers during the final match between NAVI and G2 Esports. WePlay AniMajor, the anime-themed Dota 2 competition, set an additional record with over 37 Million hours watched.
Valentyn Shevchenko, head of business development at WePlay Esports, says
“In 2022, our goal is to continue expanding our portfolio to include more genres and focus on organizing themed events. Across all our initiatives, we aim to continue our innovation and enhancement of WePlay Esports data. Our partnership with GRID allows for the maximum leverage of our data assets, and elevates the WePlay Esports signature broadcast experience”.
The WePlay Esports deal renewal follows the recent GRID announcement regarding GRID’s extension of their BLAST Premier partnership. In 2021 GRID secured over 70 official data partnerships in esports making them the leading platform offering official server data access.
GRID Esports is the leading esports and gaming data platform, headquartered in Berlin, Germany.
GRID partners with the rights holders in esports & gaming to leverage the potential of their data IP. This enables sustainable growth of the entire competitive gaming ecosystem and empowers the esports community. The central technology piece of the company – The GRID Data Platform – unlocks additional revenue streams for its partners and capitalizes on the potential of data in digital sports for the purposes of storytelling, fan engagement, and integrity.
In 2021 GRID Esports closed a successful Series A, raising $10m in growth capital backed by Alinea Capital and Dreamcraft Ventures. GRID’s official data partnerships cover over 70 tournament organizers and game publishers including BLAST Premier, PGL, WePlay Esports and Epic Esports Events.
WePlay Holding is an esports corporate group with headquarters in Los Angeles, U.S., and Kyiv, Ukraine, which has offices around the world together with its affiliates. The multi-brand holding company is bridging the gaps between entertainment, esports, and technology through its innovation strategy.
The organization accelerates industry development with interdependent creative solutions in broadcasting, augmented reality, interactive experiences, data mining, and other tools. WePlay Holding empowers businesses with personalized products and services created through merging concepts. This produces quick-impact outcomes required in the competitive world of entertainment.
Since 2006, the WePlay brand is well-known for the high-quality organization and broadcasting of esports tournaments. It grew into WePlay Esports, a world-class tournament organizer and production company with studios, talent crews, and arenas operating across multiple continents.
WePlay Holding puts together its technology ecosystem to create unique results. It aims to bring together brands, investors, nonprofit organizations, industry experts, and other stakeholders into a playful prosumer environment.
eSports
UNITED KINGDOM TO HOST 2024 PUBG MOBILE GLOBAL CHAMPIONSHIP

PUBG MOBILE Esports is thrilled to announce that the 2024 PUBG MOBILE Global Championship (PMGC) will be held in the UK, taking place live next December with a $3 million prize pool. The first time a major PUBG MOBILE event has been hosted in the UK, this tournament will bring local fans a unique opportunity to see the very best skill that the world has to offer. This news comes ahead of this year’s 2023 PUBG MOBILE Grand Finals in Istanbul.
James Yang, Senior Director of PUBG MOBILE Global Esports, announced the news during the opening ceremony of the 2023 PMGC Grand Finals, with the exact UK location to be revealed at a later date. This is the first time a major PUBG MOBILE event has been held in the country and the first in Western Europe since 2018.
The highlight of the PUBG MOBILE Esports calendar, the PMGC brings together dozens of teams from around the world to compete in the ultimate showcase of talent. This year’s Grand Finals are taking place this weekend in Istanbul, Türkiye, where the final sixteen teams remaining in the competition will battle it out to become PUBG MOBILE World Champion.
Joining next year’s PMGC in the top tier of PUBG MOBILE Esports events, as well as next year’s midseason tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is the PUBG MOBILE Global Open (PMGO), which will take place in Brazil throughout March and April 2024 and feature a $500,000 prize pool.
eSports
Global Esports Federation joins UNESCO Chair on Governance & Social Responsibility

The Global Esports Federation is honored by the appointment of Thanos Karagrounas, GEF’s Executive Director, Strategy & Impact, as a member of the Advisory Committee of the UNESCO Chair on Governance and Social Responsibility in Sport.
The UNESCO Chair was established in June 2023 with the long-term aim of fostering an integrated system of research, education, and training to enhance the quality of governance practices within the sport industry and advocate socially responsible program designs that prioritize sport as a core component.
As a global leader in the realm of sustainable development and social impact, Thanos Karagrounas has been appointed to play a pivotal role in the Advisory Committee, co-coordinating one of the six strategic pillars on esports.
“It is a distinct honor to be a member of this esteemed group of internationally renowned experts. The opportunity to combine our diverse experiences and perspectives will contribute to the Chair’s objectives. The inclusion of esports as one of the UNESCO Chair’s six strategic pillars, underscores the important role GEF is playing in the governance and social responsibility realm and our commitment towards making an impact on a global scale.” ~ Thanos Karagrounas, GEF Executive Director, Strategy & Impact
The GEF convenes its #worldconnected esports community, harnessing the energy to drive meaningful progress. As a member of the Advisory Committee, the GEF looks forward to contributing its expertise to accelerate its overall contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
eSports
Stryda VALORANT Nordic Clash partners with talents for the Grand Finals

The upcoming Stryda VALORANT Nordic Clash Grand Finals promise an unforgettable experience thanks to their talented hosts. Nonno “Nymy” Rydgren, a well-know esports player and content creator for Fnatic Network, will team up with Melanie “Yuna” Hecht, the Captain & Flex IGL for Heat Esports, to guide viewers through the thrilling event.
Stryda VALORANT Nordic Clash is part of the VALORANT Championship Tour OFF//SEASON in partnership with Riot Games, and it’s open to all skill levels with a prize pool of $20,000. The Qualifiers are now over, and the Grand Finals are set for December 9th and 10th, with a live stream on Sunday, December 10th.
In an exclusive interview, Nymy and Yuna shared their journeys, memorable moments, team predictions, and advice for aspiring gamers. They also emphasized the importance of women in gaming and the potential for mixed-gender teams in esports.
Nymy encouraged female players: “Keep grinding, keep your mental up, keep pushing, and don’t give up. There are so many talented GC players out there and hopefully, in the future, we get to see mixed teams competing together. The GC scene is so wholesome and supportive which is lovely to see and experience.”
Yuna added, “Riot is doing a great job in supporting the game-changer scene. In the future, I can definitely see mixed teams too on VCT stages. For the lovely ladies, don’t give up, keep improving, go for your goals, get an aim routine, watch VODs and you will be able to play on stages with some practice.”
The Grand Finals promise exciting matches, featuring standout contenders like OnlyFins and Wintermint. Watch the action live on December 10, 2023, on the tournament’s Twitch channel. For highlights, visit their YouTube channel. Stay connected with the hosts here:
Nymy on Twitch and X (Ex Twitter)
Yuna on X (Ex Twitter)
About Stryda VALORANT Nordic Clash:
Esports powerhouse Stryda has again joined forces with RIOT Games to announce the Stryda VALORANT Nordic Clash championship. This much-anticipated tournament calls on gamers of all levels to showcase their skills against one another across the Nordic region.
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