Today, GIANTX is excited to announce an update to its LEC competitive roster. Antonio”Th3Antonio” Espinosa Bejarano is recognised as one of the most successful LVP Superliga players in the history of GIANTX, and he has now reached a pivotal moment in his career to compete in the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC).

The LEC is the most important League of Legends competition in Europe and one of the most relevant in the international esports scene. The Barcelona-born ‘toplaner’ will be part of the lineup kicking off the LEC Summer split season in Berlin, which starts in June. As the community quotes; ‘Th3LEC’ is finally a reality.

Commenting on his new role, Th3Antonio said:

“This is the dream I’ve been working towards since I entered esports. I always wanted to compete at the highest level to face the best, and finally, I have this opportunity. I never stopped striving, and thanks to that and the work we’ve done together with all my teammates, we’ve achieved great things in Spain, but the LEC has always been my ultimate goal. Going to the LEC with my lifelong club, GIANTX, is a double dream. Everyone knows what GIANTX means to me”.

Sports Director at GIANTX, David Alonso, added:

“Th3Antonio deserves this opportunity, both in recognition of the level he’s at and all the work he has put in over the past few years. We are convinced of this decision and that he will give everything to succeed in the LEC. He has always been characterised by sacrificing himself for others, and lately, he has taken a step forward by leading in crucial moments, a clear sign of his maturity as a player”.

Having joined at a young age in 2017, Antonio ‘Th3Antonio’ Espinosa has become one of the most decorated players of the LVP Superliga and of GIANTX history. During his time with the team, he has won four Superliga titles, two Iberian Cups, one Copa, and has reached an EMEA Masters final, as well as other national competitions.

The decision to promote Th3Antonio reflects GIANTX’s need to implement changes following the results of the LEC Winter and Spring split seasons. In both splits, the team fell short in the first round of playoffs. The Summer split season is the main shot at Worlds for all teams, and the aim of the club was to make the necessary changes to achieve this goal. After a period of reflection and numerous trials, Th3Antonio has been chosen for the toplaner position.

Ukrainian esports team L&G won the Dragon EC Cup tournament, held on the 20th of April by Dragon Esports Club. Four teams competed in the tournament’s final: Lazer Cats, L&G, which received a direct invitation to the final stage, EsportsBattle, and ThunderFlash, which had open qualifiers. During the Grand Final, the L&G team competed with Lazer Cats on Mirage, Anubis, and Vertigo maps.

“This victory is a testament to the exceptional talent and commitment of our players, as well as the collective effort of our coaching staff and support personnel,” said Alona Shevtsova, founder of L&G Esports. “We are immensely proud of their accomplishments and grateful for the unwavering support of our fans.”

L&G is among the top 5 Ukrainian teams in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. It was founded in 2021. The previous name was Leogaming, and it was created on the initiative of the famous Alona Shevtsova from the fintech sector.

The team began competing in top tournaments and almost immediately made it to the Advanced division of the ESEA League Europe competition. The team also participated in and took prizes in European tournaments such as the SCL League, WhiteBit Crypto Open, Phoenix League, and local competitions. The team players are marat2k, r0ublE, kr1vda, kL1o, OneUn1que, rji (coach).

The winners received a 50,000 UAH prize. Dragon Esports Club also prepared a 15-skin giveaway for the broadcast’s viewers.

It is worth mentioning that the L&G team created its merch items, which are available for order worldwide. To get more information about the team, visit the L&G Instagram page, Twitch, or Telegram Channel.

Building on the exceptional viewership of the PGL Major Copenhagen, which ascended to the third-most watched event in Counter-Strike history, PGL and Oddin.gg have agreed their strategic alliance through a substantive multi-year agreement.

This extension reinforces Oddin.gg’s position as the exclusive provider of Data & Integrity services for PGL’s premium Dota 2 and Counter-Strike 2 events, underscoring Oddin.gg’s ascendancy as a pivotal force in the esports official data sphere.

The scale and caliber of esports content under this partnership have catapulted Oddin.gg to the forefront as a major data authority. The success of this collaboration is a testament to the synergy between Oddin.gg and one of the most impactful tournament organizers in the competitive gaming arena.

The extended multi-year pact encompasses a minimum of eight Dota 2 headline events along with a minimum of eleven Tier 1 Counter-Strike 2 tournaments. These competitions will feature the elite of global teams, competing for prize pools of at least USD 1 million each, promising to further elevate the profile of this flourishing partnership.

Marek Suchar, Co-founder & Managing Director of Partnerships at Oddin.gg, enthusiastically speaks on the extended partnership: “Our commitment is to affiliate with the premier entities in esports, and PGL stands out as a peak of excellence within the tournament circuit.

Their team has masterfully orchestrated the top three most-watched Counter-Strike and the two most-watched Dota 2 tournaments in history. With the dynamic evolution expected in 2025, we are both excited and privileged to align with PGL’s visionary path for the esports community to support, protect and entertain esports fans. This partnership is a strategic step towards enhancing the global esports experience, and we eagerly anticipate the groundbreaking advancements PGL will introduce for Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2 in the years ahead.”

Silviu Stroie, CEO of PGL, shares his perspective on the alliance’s growth: “At PGL, our core mission is to craft the ultimate esports experience on a global scale. Independence, innovation, and integrity are the pillars we stand on, promoting fairness and sustainability within the esports world. In Oddin.gg, we’ve found an ally that resonates with our ethos, making them the ideal partner as we forge ahead. Our ongoing partnership solidified through a multi-year contract, echoes our mutual commitment to the community of esports. With Oddin.gg’s unmatched data and integrity expertise, we’re elevating our tournaments beyond mere excitement to meet the highest benchmarks of fairness. United, we are on a quest to curate unrivaled esports events, propelling this dynamic industry toward a vibrant and thrilling future.”

The renewed alliance with Oddin.gg arrives at a transformative juncture for PGL, marking a significant expansion in their annual event roster. This strategic development is timed with the enactment of new regulations starting January 1st, 2025, which mandate the separation of tournament organizers from teams. These guidelines are set to foster a more competitive and varied landscape for Counter-Strike 2 tournaments, ensuring a level playing field and circumventing any potential conflicts of interest.

This partnership renewal covering 2024 to 2026 underscores the commitment to these principles, promising an array of thrilling competitive spectacles in the years to come. It signals a fresh epoch for PGL events, championed by the upcoming Wallachia tournament in May 2024, which will serve as the inaugural event under this new agreement. The Wallachia event is just the beginning, heralding a series of tournaments designed to captivate the global audience with unparalleled competitive narratives and a showcase of elite talent, reinforcing PGL’s status as a trailblazer in the esports domain.