eSports
IESF ANNOUNCES SPEAKERS FOR DAY 2 OF WORLD ESPORTS SUMMIT

The International Esports Federation (IESF) announced the remaining speakers for the World Esports Summit, scheduled to take place from September 29 to October 2 at the Busan Esports Arena.
Day two of the WE Summit will open with the second edition of the World Esports Academia Seminar and Competition, which aims to promote academic research for the World Esports Family and contribute to the overall growth and development of the industry. This year’s research subject is “Health Wellness and Well-being in Esports,” and the winning paper will be presented at the seminar and receive a grand prize of 4,000,000 KRW as well as an honorary certificate from IESF President Vlad Marinescu.
Session 5: Building Foundations for Esports Legislation
Fernvaille and Negentra Operations Manager Saygin Kolasinli will moderate the first panel of day two, discussing athletes’ rights, intellectual property issues, and other aspects of the developing world of Esports legislation.
Panel Discussion:
Jason Chung – Director, Esports & Gaming Initiative/Clinical Assistant Professor, NYU Tisch Institute for Global Sport
Brian Tae–Hyun Chung – Attorney, Kim & Chang
Lukasz Klimczyk – Partner, KKiW Law Office
Oh Pin-Ping – Partner, Bird & Bird ATMD LLP
Session 6: Developing Guidelines for Esports Conduct
North America Scholastic Esports Federation Executive Director Gerald Solomon will moderate the panel discussing the advancement of Esports as a traditional sport and the importance of fundamental education among athletes, teams, and content producers.
Panel Discussion:
Dr. Joey Gawrysiak – Director and Professor of Esports, Shenandoah University
Angelica Ortiz de Gortari – Lead Researcher, University of Bergen, SLATE
Ian Smith – Commissioner, Esports Integrity Commission
Guan Wang – President, Gen.G Global Academy
Session 7: The Benefits of Esports Infrastructure on Tourism
The Benefits of Esports Infrastructure on Tourism panel led by Head & Chairperson of the IESF Business Development & Partnership Commission Nalain Naidoo will evaluate the socio-economic benefits of government investment in Esports infrastructure, including the impact on tourism and other measures of success.
Panel Discussion:
Neil Johnson – VP & Managing Director, Gaming and Esports, Hospitality Performance Network Global
Cristian Nistor – World Esports 2023 Manager, City of Iasi, Romania
Yudistira Adipratama, SH., LL.M – Head of Law and Legislation, Pengurus Besar Esports Indonesia (PBESI)
Mariusz Jankowski – Director, Katowice City
Session 8: The Dynamic Roles of Esports Organizations
This panel will dive deep into the roles played by federations, associations, and other governing organizations to more effectively bring the World Esports family closer together. The panel will be moderated by IESF’s Secretary General, Boban Totovski
Panel Discussion:
Daniel Cossi – President, World Esports Consortium (WESCO)
Steve Tae Hyung Kim – Chief Operating Officer, Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF) Vlad Marinescu – President, IESF
Vincent Pereira – Head of Virtual Sport and Gaming, International Olympic Committee (IOC) David Neichel – SVP Public Affairs, ESL FACEIT GROUP
The WE Summit is supported by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Busan Metropolitan City, and Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency. IESF has hosted the event every year since 2016 and is consistently advancing to support its members to the fullest and serve as an exchange platform for key Esports stakeholders worldwide to promote discussion, evolution, and good governance.
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.
eSports
PUBG MOBILE Global Championship Grand Finals 2023: When, Where & How to Watch

As the PUBG MOBILE Global Championship (PMGC) heads towards the final stages of the tournament, the final top sixteen teams are gearing up to compete in the showdown of the year! Set to take place this weekend in Istanbul, Türkiye, only one team can rise to the top to be crowned PUBG MOBILE World Champion and take home the biggest share of the $3 million prize pool.
From Friday 8th to Sunday 10th December starting at 10:45 (UTC+0) on the PUBG MOBILE Esports Youtube (https://www.youtube .com/PUBGMOBILEEsports), Facebook (https://www.facebook .com/PUBGMESPORTSOFFICIAL/), Tiktok (https://www.tiktok .com/@pubgmobileesports), and Twitch (https://www.twitch .tv/PUBGMOBILEESPORTS) channels, fans can tune in to witness the culmination of this year’s PUBG MOBILE Esports cycle. Sixteen teams will play six matches each day, meaning they have a total of eighteen matches to prove themselves worthy of the ultimate trophy.
The 2023 PMGC Grand Finals will feature the best teams from across the globe having battled their way through multiple rounds of tough competition to reach the PMGC Grand Finals.
The teams that will compete to become PUBG MOBILE World Champion are:
4Merical Vibes
Alpha7 Esports
D’Xavier
FaZe Clan
IHC Esports
Loops
Major Pride
Morph GPX
Nongshim RedForce
Persija Evos
S2G Esports
Six Two Eight
Stalwart Esports
Team Weibo
Titan Esports
Yoodo Alliance
Fans wanting to get in the spirit of the Grand Finals can listen to the official theme song of the 2023 PMGC, ‘Hunt Is On’. The music video is available to watch on YouTube (https://www.youtube .com/watch?v=K4NIf-lwsuM&list=RDCMUCmeeY9kzNswUpbYyJntb3Aw&start_radio=1).
of the finals, catch the action in person can watch the PMGC Grand Finals event live at the Ülker Sports and Event Hall in Istanbul, with tickets available via Biletino (https://biletino .com/tr/e-qqb/pubg-mobile-dunya-sampiyonasi-pmgc-2023/?s=true) or Biletix (https://www.biletix .com/etkinlik-grup/394683752/TURKIYE/tr).
The PMGC Grand Finals will also be available online via livestreams across PUBG MOBILE Esports channels on Youtube, Facebook, Tiktok, and Twitch.
eSports
Ownership Group Behind Version1 Enters Strategic Partnership With G2 Esports

Esports organization Version1 has entered into a strategic partnership with G2 Esports in which Version1’s ownership will become G2 shareholders and G2 will receive operating rights to the Minnesota Røkkr Call of Duty League team. Version1 has fielded championship teams across the Call of Duty League, Rocket League and VALORANT, and is backed by WISE Ventures, the investment arm of the Wilf family, owners of the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings and MLS and NWSL teams Orlando City SC and Pride, among other holdings, and entrepreneur and investor Gary Vaynerchuk.
The partnership marks a huge milestone for G2 Esports as the organization continues to expand its footprint in North America, one of the largest esports markets. Recently, G2 Esports announced its entry into VALORANT through the VCT Americas league with the acquisition of players from The Guard, and this new partnership enables G2 Esports to enter into the Call of Duty League™, with the Minnesota Røkkr team.
With the entry into Call of Duty League™,, G2 Esports continues to redefine its position as a truly global esports and entertainment organization – one of very few organizations to have as many properties, and is continually thriving at a sustainable pace. The company will now field rosters in 8 major esports titles including League of Legends, VALORANT, Counter Strike, Rainbow Six, Rocket League, Wild Rift, Sim Racing and Call of Duty, with 5 out 12 teams outside of Europe.
“Today marks yet another huge and impactful milestone for G2 Esports as we continue to expand and push the boundaries of what we want to achieve as an organization,” said Alban Dechelotte, CEO of G2 Esports. “We’re thrilled to welcome the Wilf Family and Gary Vaynerchuk to the G2 family. This strategic partnership brings us a step closer to our goal of expanding into the truly global esports organization. We’ve established ourselves as a powerhouse in Europe and it’s no secret that North America, alongside expansion into Asia, is a big priority for us. We can’t wait to bring the G2 way to yet another esports league with Minnesota Røkkr in the Call of Duty League™; it’s one of the most exciting leagues in North America with highly engaged and passionate fans. We’re excited to show them how G2 does things, and look forward to winning more trophies for our North American fans.”
With this move, the Version1 brand will be put on hold with no plans to field competitive teams. Founded in 2019, Version1 teams won a major title in the Call of Duty League™, an international Rocket League event, multiple regional championships in Rocket League and VALORANT Game Changers, and qualified for six international majors across Rocket League and VALORANT. The organization established a strong regional and national fan base while raising the bar for live event experiences, community engagement and content. The ownership group continues to see the value and potential of the esports industry, which is why they are excited to remain in esports through this partnership, and trust that G2 will continue to build toward their shared vision as G2 expands its global footprint.
Jonathan Wilf, President & Ownership Partner of Version1, commented, “I am excited about the next chapter for the Version1 story. We continue to believe in the future of esports and know partnering with a top tier organization such as G2 will best position our group for future success.”
Konrad von Moltke, Principal of WISE Ventures, added, “We have been impressed with what G2 has built: a competitive powerhouse, a strong and growing commercial engine, and a passionate and loyal fan base. In what has been a challenging esports market environment, G2’s focus on sustainable growth has been remarkable.”
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