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.”
eSports
Akhil Sarin CMO at Easygo named as key note at ICE Esports Conference
Clarion Gaming has confirmed that Akhil Sarin CMO at Easygo, the technology powerhouse behind the success of global brands Stake and Kick will headline the Esports & Games Conference (EGC) taking place on 21 January as part of the ICE Barcelona experience. As a key member of the executive team, Akhil Sarin has been instrumental in securing the high-profile partnerships that have accelerated Stake’s growth, including the Stake F1 team, UFC, Drake, and Premier League Everton FC.
Through these strategic alliances he has amplified Stake’s brand presence at the same time as creating unique, immersive player experiences, in the process setting new industry benchmarks.
Announcing the high profile speaker Will Harding, Head of Esports at Clarion Gaming said: “Securing Akhil Sarin as EGC key note at ICE Barcelona represents a remarkable opportunity for our attendees to gain invaluable insight into cutting-edge strategies in digital and influencer marketing .
“Akhil’s expertise with Stake and Kick.com embodies the forward-thinking, innovative approach that defines the digital marketing landscapes. His participation underscores the calibre of knowledge-sharing that we are committed to delivering at ICE and he is sure to both inspire our attendees and elevate their strategic perspective.”
Looking ahead to ICE Barcelona, Akhil Sarin stated: “Collaborating with Clarion Gaming at ICE Barcelona is an exciting opportunity to showcase Stake’s journey and continued focus on bold partnerships and creative marketing strategies that resonate with audiences.”
He added “The EGC is a vital platform for exchanging transformative ideas and shaping the future of gaming and entertainment. I look forward to discussing Stake’s vision and collaborating with industry leaders to inspire growth and innovation across the sector.”
eSports
WEC24 Complete: Indonesia Crowned Overall Champion!
WEC24 Complete: Indonesia Crowned Overall Champion! Busan, South Korea (November 20, 2024) – After nine days of exciting competition, the 16th World Esports Championship (WEC24) has come to a conclusion.
From epic plays to unforgettable moments, the championship closed out with the Dota 2 and MLBB Women’s finals. The ultimate victory and the biggest moment of the night belonged to Indonesia, as they won their second title as the WEC24 Overall Champions.
This prestigious trophy is awarded to the nation that excels across all of the game titles. Turkey secured one gold and one bronze medal also, however, Indonesia’s consistency and performance across the other game titles gave them the edge to secure their victory. Congratulations to Indonesia for this remarkable achievement!
WEC24 started on November 11 at the spectacular SEF Arena in Riyadh, bringing together athletes from around the world to compete across six tournaments: PUBG MOBILE, CS2 (Women’s and Open), Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (Open and Women’s), and Dota 2. Each competition delivered its special charm, giving us new champions and a WEC to remember.
Medalists:
PUBG MOBILE:
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- Brazil
CS2 Women’s:
- Poland
- France
- Portugal
CS2 Open:
- Romania
- Portugal
- Serbia
MLBB Open:
- Malaysia
- Philippines
- Indonesia
MLBB Women’s:
- Indonesia
- Cambodia
- Egypt
Dota 2:
- Greece
- Sweden
- Turkey
This year’s WEC broke records and set new milestones: the largest CS2 Women’s tournament with a $160,000 prize pool, the debut of the MLBB Women’s category, and a marathon Dota 2 bronze match that won’t be forgotten. Over 480 athletes gave it their all, leaving behind moments that will define the Esports scene for years.
As WEC24 comes to an end, we are thankful to every athlete, national federation, fan, and Esports enthusiast who traveled with us on the Road to Riyadh.
GG once again to Indonesia, our WEC24 Overall Champion! Thank you, Riyadh, for hosting an unforgettable championship. Until next time, see you on the next World Esports Championship journey!
Asia
Savvy Games Delegation Joins More Than 30,000 Fans for Tencent and Hero Esports’ Honor of Kings Grand Finals in Beijing
The inaugural King Pro League Grand Finals 2024, the biggest esports event in China, drew more than 30,000 fans to a sold-out Beijing Workers’ Stadium on Nov 16. A delegation from Savvy Games and the Esports World Cup Foundation also joined the iconic event hosted by Chinese tech giant Tencent and the largest esports company in Asia, Hero Esports (formerly known as VSPO).
HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, Vice Chairman of Savvy Games Group (Savvy); Brian Ward, CEO of Savvy; and Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, attended the tournament where two top Chinese esports teams competed for the inaugural Holy Dragon Cup and a record prize pool.
A total of 70 million rmb ($9.8 million) was awarded to the top 12 teams who advanced through the rounds of the six-week-long tournament. The final showdown was between Chengdu All Gamers and Chongqing Wolves, where Chengdu All Gamers emerged victorious in a best-of-seven series and took home 22 million rmb ($3.1 million) in prize money.
King Pro League, the premier esports league for Tencent’s hit game Honor of Kings, is the biggest esports league in Asia. Honor of Kings is the world’s most popular mobile game with more than 100 million daily players. Hero Esports has been the organizer of KPL tournaments since the league was first launched in 2016.
This year marks the inaugural KPL Grand Finals, which replaces the Honor of Kings International Championship for Chinese Honor of Kings competitors and features the top teams from across China, one of the biggest esports markets in the world with the most players. Events were held at arenas in Chengdu, Hangzhou and Changsha, with the Grand Finals event being held in Beijing.
The popularity of esports is growing rapidly around the world, encouraged by government support in a number of countries and new products and technology. According to a Frost & Sullivan Report, the market size of the esports gaming industry has experienced a significant increase at a CAGR of 15.2% from US$29.8 billion in 2017 to US$52.6 billion in 2021, and is expected to increase further at a CAGR of 12.1% from US$57.9 billion in 2022 to US$102.4 billion in 2027.
The report also shows that the number of gamers globally has experienced a significant increase at a CAGR of 7.1% from 2.3 billion in 2017 to 3.1 billion in 2021, and is expected to further increase at a CAGR of 5.5% from 3.3 billion in 2022 to 4.3 billion in 2027.
Danny Tang, CEO and Co-Founder of Hero Esports, commented: “Hero Esports is proud to have been a part of the first King Pro League Grand Finals, which is an example of the high calibre esports tournaments that fans and players everywhere deserve. The strong enthusiasm we’ve seen for this event in its first year is a testament to the significant growth of interest in this sport and the support of our high-profile sponsors. The atmosphere in the arena was electric and we congratulate the Chengdu All Gamers in winning the inaugural Holy Dragon Cup.”
Hero Esports, formerly known as VSPO, is a leading player in the global esports industry, collaborating with major game developers and global brands and organizing tournaments for players and fans across the world. It is the biggest esports tournament operator in Asia, having hosted 86 tournaments in the region in 2023, of which 62 were in China, compared with a total of 77 tournaments in 2020, of which three were overseas. The company recently announced the Esports Asian Champions League (ACL), Asia’s new premier international esports tournament featuring multiple titles.
Sponsors of the King Pro League Grand Finals 2024 include Meituan, Snapdragon and SAIC Volkswagen and iQOO.
-
Latest News22 hours ago
Make every pixel personal: Opera GX facelift lets you match your browser to your setup down to the smallest detail
-
Balkans6 days ago
EGT Digital’s iGaming platform X-Nave and successful titles to deliver high-quality experience to BetHub’s customers
-
Latest News22 hours ago
Casino Management System Market to Reach USD 29.09 Billion by 2032 | Enhanced Security and Operational Efficiency Drive Growth | Research by S&S Insider
-
Asia6 days ago
Mascots Xiyangyang and Lerongrong ready for China’s 15th National Games
-
Australia6 days ago
ACMA: Tabcorp Pays $262,000 Penalty for Illegal In-Play Bets
-
Latest News6 days ago
AGREEMENT BETWEEN ZITRO AND GRUPO OSGA TO PROMOTE THE LABOT INTEGRATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
-
Latest News6 days ago
Week 46/2024 slot games releases
-
Latest News22 hours ago
Fast Track Celebrates Third Year as a Great Place to Work Certified™ Tech Company