Before the Chinese New Year on February 10th, teams will play 4 or 5 matches based on their schedules. Most teams have already completed their first two matches, with only OMG (Oh My God) playing against their opponents on Summoner’s Rift three times and JDG (JD Gaming) facing off once. Apart from these exceptions, some teams will engage in 5 matches before the Chinese New Year, while others will share the Rift in 4 encounters. Here’s a breakdown of the results and performances of LPL teams up to this point:

0 – 2

Rare Atom, didn’t have the desired start to the season. Despite making three changes to their roster after a 4 – 12 performance last season, they struggled especially with their new mid laner VicLa. With four maps played so far, Rare Atom failed to secure a victory in any of them. They seem to be unable to utilize the tools at their disposal. Rare Atom has four matches left before the Chinese New Year, and leveraging these opportunities may require significant changes to their team dynamics.

Going through a renewal process, Ultra Prime introduced four new players to their lineup, keeping only their AD Carry, Doggo, unchanged. Unlike Rare Atom, Ultra Prime didn’t present a disconnected performance. Displaying typical issues of a newly formed team, such as organizational and coordination shortcomings, Ultra Prime showcased potential. While progressing in playoffs might seem challenging, their improvement during the adaptation phase could significantly influence their future. Ultra Prime has five matches before the break, and these fixtures will undoubtedly put them to the test.

EDward Gaming (EDG), started the season with two new additions to their bottom lane. However, these changes didn’t seem to bring about significant improvements. The matches revealed struggles in maintaining their game discipline and sticking to their game plan, especially during the games where the gap between Fisher and JieJie widened. Despite entering playoffs with below-average game plans last season, EDG might face challenges in the battle for a playoff spot if they can’t address these issues. EDG is one of the teams playing five matches before the Chinese New Year.

1 – 2

Among the teams that completely revamped their roster, Oh My God (OMG) retained only their Support player, ppgod, and used Able, their AD Carry, sparingly. However, unlike other teams, OMG lost their top trio due to other teams acquiring those players. OMG, who finished last season impressively in the 5th position, couldn’t retain the trio responsible for that success. The newcomers, Cube, xiaofang, and Angel, haven’t lived up to expectations yet. While they dominated against Team WE in their first match, they struggled to execute their game plan in the following two matches. OMG has only two matches left before the Chinese New Year.

1 – 1

Being the first team in the 1 – 1 tier among the 9-team cluster, ThunderTalk Gaming made only one change in the support position compared to the previous season. They played like a mid-tier LPL team, showing competitiveness and discipline in their won match. However, they appeared helpless against Weibo Gaming, a team expected to be at a higher level. Despite being considered a strong candidate for the playoff race, ThunderTalk Gaming faces uncertainty regarding their deep playoff run. They will enter the Chinese New Year having played four matches.

Although Royal Never Give Up (RNG) started the season with a victory, they faced a complete breakdown against BLG. RNG is known for frequently encountering such issues before the Chinese New Year. The team struggled to synergize with their new bottom lane duo, Lwx and Ming. However, they signaled a potential resurgence after the break, hinting at a stronger presence in the upper echelons of LPL. RNG faces three crucial matches, defining their path in the playoffs.

Among the teams with a slow start, LGD Gaming strengthened their roster with a new top laner and two new AD Carries. Despite not finding what they are looking for in the bottom lane, Burdol’s transfer has been beneficial for LGD. Even in the lost matches, Burdol contributed significantly, challenging the opponent’s gameplay. LGD, with three more matches before the Chinese New Year, will determine how they utilize Burdol’s top lane performance.

Notable among the teams to watch, Team WE made three new transfers, keeping only their Jungler and Support from the previous season. Experiencing coordination issues typical of a new team in their first match, Team WE achieved valuable victories in the next two matches. Team WE has the potential to be a top-tier team during the season, causing problems for upper-tier opponents. Facing three expected top teams (FPX, NIP, LGD) before the break, Team WE can make the LPL Winter Season more intriguing with the victories they secure.

Unlike many teams, Invictus Gaming (iG) retained their roster from the previous season. However, they continue to exhibit the same flaws as the last season. While easily securing victories against lower-ranked teams, they struggle against higher-ranked opponents. iG remains a team that will be used as a reference to measure whether a team can enter the playoffs. iG will play three LPL matches before the Chinese New Year.

FunPlus Phoenix (FPX), started the season with two new Junglers and a new Support. Despite starting with Moyan in the jungle for the Anyone’s Legend match, they quickly transitioned to their other new transfer, milkyway, after Moyan’s underwhelming performance. FPX lost that map but looked much more organized with milkyway. New transfer Deokdam is filling the void left by Lwx since 2017. FPX is one of the teams with three matches left before the break.

Introducing an entirely new roster in the new LPL season, Anyone’s Legend managed to secure a victory against FPX in their initial matches. While they successfully clinched a win against FPX, they struggled to establish a game plan against Team WE, a team with a more cohesive strategy. It’s normal to witness such challenges from such a newly formed team. Anyone’s Legend, facing an upcoming series against stronger opponents (BLG, LGD, and Ultra Prime) before the break, will present how these encounters shape their season in both positive and negative ways.

Considered one of the ambitious teams in the LPL, Top Esports (TES) set its sights not only on winning the LPL but also on claiming the Worlds Championship. However, one of the major concerns for the team, even on paper, is inconsistency. Therefore, anticipating several surprising defeats during the regular season, TES began their journey with a loss against BLG, one of their active rivals. Yet, they rebounded with a victory against EDG. With two matches remaining against Rare Atom and Weibo Gaming before the break, TES has the opportunity to ease their path towards the championship. Throughout the season, expect to witness both impressive and less favorable performances from this team.

As the final team in the 1 – 1 tier, LNG Esports made a significant change by parting ways with Tarzan, among the world’s renowned junglers, who had not lived up to expectations in the last two seasons. They brought in Weiwei as the replacement. Despite their unexpected loss to TT Gaming, LNG regained their composure with a victory against OMG. However, a challenging fixture awaits them with matches against Weibo Gaming, JDG, and BLG before the break. Their performances in these tough encounters will determine the narrative of their season.

1 – 0

JD Gaming (JDG), kicked off the season with a highly anticipated match against Rare Atom, asserting their dominance and claiming victory. The team now faces a challenging schedule ahead. With two matches remaining before the break, JDG will strive to secure victories against formidable opponents, NIP and LNG. These matchups will be crucial for JDG, especially after their disappointing performance on the Worlds stage last season. The outcomes of these games will provide insights into how well JDG’s recent double-lane transfer adjustments will fare.

2 – 0

Bilibili Gaming (BLG), the first team with a perfect 2 – 0 record, began the new season with the middle lane addition, Knight, and the substitute support, LvMao. Starting with the challenging part of their schedule, BLG has handled it smoothly, meeting expectations. Now, with two seemingly easier matches (Anyone’s Legend and EDG) remaining for the second week, BLG will conclude the third week with an encounter against LNG before entering the Chinese New Year break undefeated.

Making changes to their top duo, Weibo Gaming remains a championship contender this season. Having played only two easier matches so far, Weibo emerged victorious without significant issues. The team is well-prepared for their challenging matchups against LNG, RNG, and TES in the remaining three matches before the break.

Despite being a newly formed squad, Ninjas in Pyjamas (NIP) stands out as a well-established unit working around a cohesive game plan. Facing two mid-tier teams, they secured victories without much difficulty. NIP has two matches left before the break, encountering LNG and OMG. If they come out of these matches unscathed, NIP will take a significant step towards the championship.

The FPX vs. Team WE match, scheduled for January 29th, will be available for viewing on LPL’s official YouTube and Twitch channels in English.

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With Team BDS maintaining their 5 – 1 score in the league, each team has three matches remaining before the winter playoffs. Before the matches scheduled for January 27th, 28th, and 29th in the third week, let’s review the performances displayed by the teams over the past two weeks:

0 – 6

The new entrant, Karmine Corp, seems to be struggling to find their plan in their first season. Despite obtaining what they wanted from the Bottom Lane duo of Upset and Targamas, it only provides them with a resistance force. They fail to convey the impression that they can win matches at any point in their matches or force their opponents to play in their own gameplay. They are clearly unable to secure what they desire from the Top Lane, Mid Lane, and Jungle. Their Mid Laner SAKEN, and Top Laner Cabochard, appeared completely disconnected from their Jungler, Bo. Bo, on the other hand, seems did not much improved since his time in Team Vitality.

1 – 5

Rogue embarked on the season with both a restructuring and changes in the form of Malrang – Markoon and Advienne – Zoelys. The team heavily relies on Malrang‘s decision-making and managerial style. Despite Larssen, known for delivering strong performances in the regular season, falling short of expectations, Rogue currently finds themselves second to last in the standings. While their victory against G2 showcased their potential danger when things go in their favor, it appears challenging for the team to find a consistent working gameplan.

2 – 4

GIANTX, one of the rebranded organizations in the league, stands out as a team with clearer game plans and intentions. Generally favoring a playstyle centered around Patrik, they secured a decisive victory in their initial matches with this strategy. However, in the subsequent four games where they employed the same plan, they failed to achieve victory. Despite easily securing a win in their first match when deviating from this plan, the team’s internal dynamics seem to be not fully established at this point.

3 – 3

Undergoing a complete overhaul in their roster, Team Vitality, has conveyed the impression of grappling with communication and team balance issues. This is expected from a new team and they adapted this real quick. In the first week, they demonstrated a noticeable lack of coordination, despite the absence of significant individual mistakes. However, with the three victories they secured in the second week, they exhibited progress in overcoming this challenge. Signaling that they won’t be an easy match for rival teams for the remainder of the season, Team Vitality appears poised to maintain their form both in the third week and in the winter playoffs.

MAD Lions KOI, reinforced its roster with 4 new players. Yet the team seems to maintain its core dynamics despite these changes. The team heavily relies on the performance of Elyoya, and in matches where they can provide a suitable environment for Elyoya, they secure victories comfortably. However, in adverse situations, they face the risk of defeat quite easily. The newly added players appear to have the potential to be among the best players worldwide if they can effectively execute Elyoya’s gameplay. Nevertheless, if Elyoya’s performance takes an undesirable turn, an impression arises that the team feels like it consists of everyday normal four players.

4 – 2

Signing with the ones that had part ways with from G2 plus Kaiser, Team Heretics boasts players with a high potential when looked at on paper. Although they have showcased this potential so far, it’s crucial not to forget that the team generally competes with squads considered to be beneath them. Facing three teams in the standings alongside them, Team Heretics suffered defeat in two out of these three matches. While they seem to handle teams ranked lower than them without much trouble, the key to success for the season appears to lie in maintaining stability and concentration, especially in matches where the pressure is high.

SK Gaming, strengthening its roster with a new Jungler and Mid Laner, appears as a highly valuable and consistent team. Throughout this process, SK Gaming has achieved incredible efficiency from both of its side lanes. We observed that any deviation in the efficiency from one of these lanes resulted in disruptions in their game plan. Positioned as one of the formidable teams for the playoffs, SK Gaming clearly demonstrated in their lost matches that if they want to claim the championship, the remaining three members of the team need some refinements in their gameplay to reach the level of efficiency maintained by their retained Bot Laner Exakick, and Top Laner Irrelevant, from the previous season.

Maintaining their roster, G2 continues to exhibit their prowess in the league. Adapting seamlessly to the new meta. Even in the matches they lose, G2 consistently receives stable performances from their Bottom Lane, particularly Hans Sama. And they haven’t displayed a visible recurrence of the issues faced in the previous season. G2 encounters considerable challenges in matches when the Top Lane trio struggles. Even though they seem poised for success once again in the LEC, addressing these problems swiftly is imperative for international achievements. Additionally, although Mikyx excels in providing support to Hans Sama in the lane, he continues to face concentration issues when the game expands onto the map.

Bringing in another Korean Support to accompany the Korean Bot Laner Noah in the Bottom Lane, Fnatic stands out as one of the teams that had an excellent start to the season. With Humanoid showcasing incredible performances as usual during the regular season, and the rapid adaptation of Noah and Jun to each other, Fnatic has made a splendid beginning to the season. However, in the two matches they lost, the performance of Oscarinin drew attention. Facing first Irevelant and then Adam, both delivering impressive 5/0/9 KDA games, Oscarinin dealt significant damage to the team. Fnatic needs to find a quick solution to this for the remainder of the season.

5 – 1

Holding the sole leadership and securing a definite spot in the LEC Winter Playoffs, Team BDS has exceeded expectations with an exceptional regular season. It will be exciting to witness the achievements of the roster, displaying a similar synergy to the previous season, in the upcoming playoffs.

On January 27th, LEC enters the final week of the regular season with the Team Vitality – SK Gaming matchup. You can follow the official broadcast in English on the official LEC YouTube and Twitch channels. Additionally, you can choose to follow along with LEC-affiliated co-streamers like Caedrel.

World Esports Championship Games Announced!

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Korea’s esports company Bigpicture Interactive Co. (led by CEO Kwangjun Song) revealed that its global esports brand WCG will start accepting applications for “WCG 2023 Open Qualifier” (hereafter referred to as ‘Open Qualifier’).

The Open Qualifier preliminaries will feature three game titles: ‘Hearthstone’, ‘Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (hereafter ‘MLBB’)’and ‘Clash Royale’. All players worldwide, who are at least 14 years old and able to travel abroad are welcome. Those who did not make the cut in the “WCG 2023 Open” held from January to April are also welcome to participate.

Applications can be made at WCG’s homepage starting on May 1st and ending on May 19th. The top 16 Hearthstone players, the top 8 MLBB teams, and top 8 Clash Royale teams will be selected through matches played on May 20th and May 21st, and will advance to the “WCG 2023 Group Stage”.

Each event will be played as follows: Hearthstone will be in Battlegrounds (Day One: single round, Day Two: three-round free for all), MLBB in Draft Pick (single elimination), Clash Royale in Open Duels (single elimination).

Everyone matching expectations who participate in the Open Qualifier in each event will be entered into a drawing to receive a March of the Lich King Card Blanket for Hearthstone, one of 5 high-grade Skins (random) for MLBB, and the 5^th Anniversary Limited Edition Prince Statue for Clash Royale.

You can find more information about WCG 2023 Open Qualifier from WCG’s official webpage or via their social media channels.

WCG 2023 Contest Structure

WCG Official Channels to Watch:

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@WorldCyberGamesOfficial

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/team/wcg

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wcgofficialchannel

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wcg.official/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gaming/DiscoverWCG

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WCG_2023

Copenhagen Flames Has Filed for Bankruptcy

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The event comes as part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in September 2022 during The Next World Forum and Gamers 8 Festival in Riyadh last year between the two National Esports Federation to foster bilateral relations between the two nations and to explore opportunities for future collaboration and cooperation amongst Saudi Esports Federation and Thailand Esports Federation.

TESF President, Mr. Santi Lothong, said, “We are thrilled to host the first leg of the Esports invitational event with Saudi Arabia. The MOU signed between the two federations is an essential step towards fostering a strong relationship between our countries, and this event marks a significant milestone in the growth of the Esports industry not just only in Thailand but for Saudi Esports Industry as well, if not regionally in Asia but other parts of the world can adopt and replicate what both Saudi and Thai has historically achieved.“

SEF President HRH Prince Faisal Bin Bandar Bin Sultan Al Saud added, “This Invitational match is more than just a friendly competition – it’s an opportunity to shape our skills and exchange cultures. The esports industry is growing rapidly, and this match is a testament to that growth. It’s also a chance to bring together two diverse nations and foster a mutual understanding of each other’s skills, values, and cultures. Esports is an amazing way to bring people together and show how similar our lives are. 

Through this match, players from Saudi Arabia and Thailand can come together and show the world what it means to be a part of a global community.“

The event will take place in Pattaya City, Thailand between the 28th and 30th April 2023, and is an opportunity for Thailand and Pattaya City to develop its tourism industry with great international sporting event and attracts international tourists to the region as a major sporting destination. Pattaya City came in as co-host of this event due to its large and vibrant gaming community with the second largest number of gamers in Thailand, as well as the city’s potential to become a sports hub in the country, Pattaya City is an ideal location for Esports events.

Pattaya City Mayor Mr. Poramet Ngamphichet said “Our city of Pattaya aims to introduce a new sports trend and raise awareness of esports among the people, youth, students, and the community at large. By embracing the use of technology and leveraging its benefits, we hope to stimulate the economy of Pattaya and Chonburi. This event also presents an opportunity to foster stronger relations between Saudi Arabia and Thailand, especially in Pattaya, while showcasing the potential of Pattaya tourism and creating more opportunities for Saudi tourists to visit our city.“

As the host of the first leg of this event, Pattaya City is proud and honored to welcome both National Teams and His Royal Highness Prince Faisal Bin Bandar Bin Sultan Al Saud, of the royal family of Saudi Arabia and President of the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF), leading the Saudi esports athletes to attend this friendly match.

The athletes from both countries will gather in Central Pattaya Mall venue and compete and defend their flag in friendly matches in two popular game titles in the region: DOTA 2 and STREET FIGHTER V. The official friendly matches between Saudi Arabia and Thailand will take place on the 30th April 2023. The format will be a best of 9 matches for STREET FIGHTER V and best of 3 matches for DOTA 2. The athletes will have the opportunity to warm up before the official start of the friendly match. The warmup will take place on the 28th and 29th April with a format of best of 9 matches for STREET FIGHTER 5 and a format of best of 2 matches for DOTA 2.

In addition, a panel will be held at the venue on during the Opening Ceremony on the 28th April 2023, with representatives from both National Esports Federation Ms Rawan Albutairi, Senior Director of International Affairs of Saudi Esports Federation. Mr. Samart Benjamin Assarasakorn, Chief Executive Secretary of Thailand Esports Federation, and Mr. Boban Totovski, General Secretary of the International Esports Federation (IESF) will be our VIP guests panelists.

The second leg of the Saudi Thai Esports Invitational Friendly Match will follow and be held in Saudi Arabia. The event is an excellent opportunity for both countries to showcase their Esports talents and to establish themselves as key players in the global Esports industry. Both national Esports Governing Bodies are committed to promoting Esports as a professional competitive activity as well as to strengthen the ties between Saudi Arabia and Thailand. Both federations believe that this event will contribute significantly to the growth of the Esports industry, and they look forward to future collaborations and cooperation, starting from the second leg of the Esports Invitational Friendly Match to be held in Saudi Arabia later this year.

Chief Executive Secretary of Thailand Esports Federation Mr. Samart Benjamin Assarasakorn concluded: “The Saudi Thai Esports Invitational Friendly Match marks a significant milestone for growth of the Esports industry in Asia, and is the first step towards fostering a strong collaboration between SEF and TESF as part of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two National Esports Federations signed during The Next World Forum and Gamers 8 Festival in Riyadh at the end of 2022, which will not only span tournaments such as this one, but also education, exchange of knowledge, technology and other fields pertaining to Esports. I am very much looking forward to seeing the display of skills and sportsmanship from both Saudi and Thai athletes in the upcoming friendly match, as well as to seeing the cultural exchange and friendships that will arise from this event.“

About Thailand Esports Federation (TESF):

The Thailand Esports Federation (TESF) is the official governing body for Esports in Thailand and is dedicated to promoting and developing Esports in the country. It was established at Thailand Esports Association in 2010 and official recognize by the Ministry of Tourism and Sport and recognized by the Sports Authority of Thailand in 2017 to become Thailand Esports Federation. TESF is committed to regulating and cultivating a healthy, positive, and sustainable Esports ecosystem that benefits players, fans, and the community in the Kingdom of Thailand and to share and foster multilateral relations in the region, continent and internationally.

About the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF):

The Saudi Esports Federation is the regulating body in charge of nurturing elite gaming athletes and developing the gaming community and industry in Saudi Arabia.

The federation’s activities are categorized into two complementary streams. The first stream works to develop all levels of competitive gamers, starting with the grassroots community level and moving up to professional esports athletes that can achieve global excellence. The second stream works to develop the entire gaming/esports value chain by catalyzing the industry and enabling talent.

Since its establishment in late 2017, the federation has organized multiple world-class national and international tournaments and events, attracted investment from local private sector actors and worked with international developers on opportunities in the Saudi market.

IESF Expands Female’s CS:GO Tournament!

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The 2022 WE Championships was a historic moment for female gamers, as the introduction of the women’s CS:GO tournament drew large crowds and was a massive stride towards greater inclusion in esports. International Esports Federation aims to uplift and empower female gamers in all competitions, and the women’s CS:GO tournament allows for more of the world’s best all-female teams to compete at the highest level. 

International Esports Federation President Vlad Marinescu said: “We are thrilled to announce the expansion of the women’s CS:GO tournament at this year’s World Esports Championships. This reflects the progress we have made in making esports more inclusive for all. We can’t wait to see what these incredible teams will bring to this year’s competition. International Esports Federation strongly believes in removing barriers to access for female gamers, and providing them with more opportunities to shine on the world’s biggest stage.” 

International Esports Federation Chief Marketing Officer Ana Karakolevska said: “I am proud of IESF for leading the charge in making esports more inclusive for all. We have made rapid progress in just a few years and IESF hopes to continue providing opportunities to promote gender equality in the World Esports Family and beyond. We can’t wait to watch 10 of the world’s best teams battle it out in fast-paced CS:GO action in Iași!”

IESF’s regional qualifiers for the WE Championships will get underway in May and June, and the top ten female CS:GO teams will secure their spots in the Finals, which will begin in August. IESF also works with several organizations, including Women in Games and Girl Gamer Esports Festival, to help foster and promote a safe and equitable environment for women in the esports industry. 

About the International Esports Federation (IESF)

IESF is the uniting body for World Esports. Founded in 2008 by nine-member nations, IESF is currently composed of 130 Member Federations across six continents. IESF brings together all esports stakeholders to achieve a united ecosystem for the development of sustainable and responsible gaming worldwide. The IESF WE Championships is the biggest multi-sport spectacle of esports in the world. IESF also organizes the annual World Esports Summit in order to support the highest standard of esports governance worldwide. You can reach their Twitter, Website, Instagram and Facebook from following links.

Challengermode Partners IESF WECQ!

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Starting from May 1st, national teams from across the world will be able to qualify for the main event through regional qualifiers hosted for Europe, Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania. Competitions will be held across multiple esports titles, including CS:GO, Dota 2, PUBG Mobile, and Mobile Legends:Bang Bang.

As the official platform partner, Challengermode will leverage its high-quality tournament operations toolkit and automation to provide a seamless and efficient qualifying process at a truly global scale. The official IESF Space on Challengermode will also create a one-stop shop for teams, coaches, and administrators involved in the World Championship’s Qualifications stage – creating a truly seamless experience for everyone.

Philip Hubner, CBDO at Challengermode, said: “We are thrilled to partner with the International Esports Federation for the World Esports Championship Qualifiers. We believe that our platform’s capabilities and expertise in managing large-scale esports tournaments make us the perfect partner for activation of this size. We couldn’t be more excited to be trusted by IESF to play such a pivotal part in making the World Esports Championship happen. We’re eager to take the opportunity to showcase our technology and provide a world-class experience to all participants.”

Igor Nedeski, Competitions Manager at IESF, said: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Challengermode for the final phase of the World Esports Championship 2023. Hosting multi-continental online competitions is a major challenge and with Challengermode’s expertise and experience, we are confident in our ability to deliver an exceptional gaming experience that will excite fans and players worldwide. Challengermode’s support will be invaluable in ensuring the success of the Regional Qualifiers, and we are grateful for their assistance. Together, we aim to deliver a thrilling and unforgettable tournament that showcases the very best of esports on a global scale.”

To learn more about the road to Iasi, Romania, and how you can support your nation’s team in the World Esports Championship, head over to the official website for the regional qualifiers.

About Challengermode:

Challengermode is a Swedish technology company founded in 2014, with the mission to make competitive gaming and esports truly accessible. Through its platform, Challengermode provides the tools for game developers & publishers to deliver fully automated tournaments, ladders, or leaderboards to their community. Today, Challengermode’s best-in-class tech is used by all esports stakeholders – including communities, content creators, brands, and professional tournament organizers – to host tens of millions of competitions every year for gamers at all skill levels, on any device or platform. 

About the International Esports Federation:

IESF is the uniting body for World Esports. Founded in 2008 by nine-member nations, IESF is currently composed of 130 Member Federations across six continents. IESF brings together all esports stakeholders to achieve a united ecosystem for the development of sustainable and responsible gaming worldwide. The IESF WE Championships is the biggest multi-sport spectacle of esports in the world. IESF also organizes the annual World Esports Summit in order to support the highest standard of esports governance worldwide.

Game Development World Championship Winners Announced!

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Game developers from around the world participated in GDWC 2022, showcasing their talent, creativity, and innovation. The competition was fierce and the judges faced the difficult task of selecting winners, but the most outstanding games were awarded. Here are the GDWC 2022 Winners.

Jury Choice Winners:
Indie Category: Space Wreck by Pahris Entertainment

Studio Category: Shatterline by Frag Lab

Hobby Category: Seeking Light by ESAT – Lucky Dodo Games

Mobile Category: Roto Force by Accidently Awesome

Game Jam Category: The Curse of Tencond by Harry Alisavakis

Student Game Award: Sir Long Legs by Sir Long Legs

Xsolla Game of the Year: Lost In Play by Happy Juice

Houdini Award: Outshine by Fishing Cactus

Brainwave Award: Road Redemption Mobile by Pixel Dash Studios

Best Estonian Game: Haiku, the Robot by Mister Morris Games

Fan Choice Winners:

Indie Category: Lifespace Traveler by Dino Trnka

Studio Category: Two Falls (Nishu Takuatshina) by Unreliable Narrators

Hobby Category: Aces in the Dust by ESAT – DUV Studios

Mobile Category: Light On Light Off by DT Corp

Game Jam Category: Morse Mania by Thom Craver Games

“GDWC 2022 was easily our biggest year yet an unprecedented number of participants and categories available to join. Alongside the prizes, substantial enhancements were made to help promote and showcase standout games within our community, enabling developers to reach out to enthusiastic gamers in search of their next hidden gem.” – David Branco – Community Manager.

The GDWC, along with its sponsors and partners, is proud to provide valuable rewards across multiple categories for GDWC 2022. This year’s prize pool exceeds $120,000 and includes an array of rewards such as cash prizes, software licenses, and top prizes of flights to GDWC’s home country of Finland.

Participants from all over the world have submitted their games to GDWC 2022 making it one of the most diverse and competitive events in the gaming industry welcoming game developers of all backgrounds. The finalists and nominees have been carefully selected, and the rewards specifically designed to recognize and encourage exceptional talent.

The comprehensive list of all finalists, nominees, and rewards can be found at www.thegdwc.com. 

About GDWC
GDWC stands for the Game Development World Championship, which is an annual global online competition for game developers of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds. You’re welcome to submit your game whether you’re a professional developer, a hobbyist, a student, or just interested in game development in general. 

Champions Queue Returns for MSI 2023!

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MSI 2023 is fast approaching, and we’re excited to announce that we’re
opening League of Legends Champions Queue (CQ) on April 30! As we
welcome players from all over the globe to London, we’ll be launching
our MSI CQ environment, which will be tailored to ensure that they are
able to practice in a competitive environment with and against their
fellow competitors.

What is Champions Queue?

Champions Queue is an invite-only, adaptive League of Legends system
that allows professional and developmental players to practice in an
organized environment. All eligible players will be given access to a
server that will schedule, track, and organize games between players.

How Does It Work?

MSI CQ will be organized much like Worlds CQ before it. Admins will be
on-hand and act as the main point of contact for players if they
encounter any issues, and make sure their experience is seamless. To
give players a low latency environment ahead of the MSI procession,
the tournament server will move to the server closest to the MSI, in
Frankfurt, and will support zero-delay streaming by any player or
spectator with CQ access.

MSI CQ will follow the same patch cycle as MSI 2023. Champions
disabled in MSI 2023 will also be disabled in MSI CQ. Players are able
to pause for technical issues and emergencies, however to ensure a
seamless experience, after 10 minutes, they must resume play if one
team wants to unpause.

Given the high skill level of all players and the small queue
population, matchmaking prioritizes time in queue when generating
matches. Once a match is formed, teams are balanced against MMR.

Who is Invited to Participate?

One of the following criteria must be met for a player to be eligible
to use MSI 2023 CQ:

• MSI 2023 players (including substitutes)
• LEC starting lineup players
• ERL players and LEC substitutes who are currently Challenger rank in
• 2023 on live servers (this does not include their peak, it must be
  their current rank)
• Players from MSI-qualifying leagues who are bootcamping in EMEA
• ERL and Ex-Pro players who are vetted and approved by the EMEA CQ
• Player Council (Ex-Pro players are those who have played in at least
  two Splits in a LoL MSI-Qualifying region)

Who Can Stream CQ?

Players are highly encouraged to stream MSI CQ matches, but they may
not stream during the MSI broadcast. Stream delay is not required, and
there is a limit of 15 in-game spectators per game.

The spectator/co-stream pool of MSI CQ will also be expanding,
offering streaming access to select content creators globally.

When Will CQ Be Active?

MSI CQ will open on April 30 and will remain active until May 21
(subject to early closure if less teams are available). It will be
available for approved players every day, opening at 19:00 BST / 20:00
CEST, and remaining online until 01:00 BST / 02:00 CEST – with the
off-roll queue opening at 00:00 BST / 01:00 CEST.

Champion’s Queue has given players across the competitive scene access
to the highest quality practice experience, and we’re excited to
welcome all international visitors to the server as they prepare for
MSI in London.

IESF and Gamers8 Partnered for Asian Esports!

The post Champions Queue Returns for MSI 2023! appeared first on Esportimes.

The offline round of the Gamers8 IESF Asian Championship will be part of Gamers8, the world’s largest esports and gaming festival and the ultimate place for elite esports competition and together with IESF will embark on the mission to unite esports stakeholders from all over the world. 

The online Asia & Oceania qualifiers are the first for this year’s WE Championships and will kick off an exciting several months of thrilling international esports competition. Qualifiers for the Americas, Europe, and Africa will follow. Each region will compete across six games: PUBG Mobile, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, CS:GO, Dota 2, Tekken 7, and eFootball. 

IESF Secretary General Boban Totovski said: “Thank you to the city of Riyadh for welcoming us and hosting the Gamers8 IESF Asian Championship. We are confident that the World Esports Family will have an unforgettable experience in one of the world’s top esports destinations. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Gamers8 and the Saudi Esports Federation and are looking forward to seeing the region’s best gamers go head-to-head in Riyadh.”

Saudi Esports Federation Deputy CEO Ahmed Albishri said: “The first Gamers8 IESF Asian Championship is a great reward for all Asian players. We are excited to host this tournament for the first time during the summer of 2023 at Gamers8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to show off the best skills and provide an unforgettable esports experience.“

IESF is committed to continuing its goal of promoting inclusion and diversity in the World Esports Family, with a record of 120 countries expected to participate this year and an expanded Women’s CS:GO Tournament. The WE Championships Finals will begin on August 24 and conclude on September 4, where the World Esports Champion will be crowned. 

About Gamers8 – The Land of Heroes

Gamers8 is the world’s largest esports and gaming festival and the destination for elite esports champions and gaming universe lovers. It’s the ultimate place to compete for glory and become a hero walking among the worlds of your chosen story. Located in Riyadh at the heart of Saudi Arabia, Gamers8 spans a period of eight weeks from July to September 2023, with new challenges and experiences unlocked every week. You can watch the world’s top esports teams compete for the highest prize pools, attend performances by global music artists, experience your favorite gaming platforms come to life, and learn the mysteries behind the creation of video games. Gamers8 is your world and it’s your adventure to choose.

About the International Esports Federation

IESF is the uniting body for World Esports. Founded in 2008 by nine-member nations, IESF is currently composed of 130 Member Federations across six continents. IESF brings together all esports stakeholders to achieve a united ecosystem for the development of sustainable and responsible gaming worldwide. The IESF WE Championships is the biggest multi-sport spectacle of esports in the world. IESF also organizes the annual World Esports Summit in order to support the highest standard of esports governance worldwide. You can reach their Twitter, Website, Instagram and Facebook from following links.

World Esports Championship Games Announced!

The post IESF and Gamers8 Partnered for Asian Esports! appeared first on Esportimes.

Skybox is a spectating and analysis solution for competitive titles and will provide the real-time data and 3D game recreations to Virtex Stadium that will allow Counter-Strike gameplay to be viewed by spectators from every angle. They have been working alongside Virtex for the past year on the integration of Counter-Strike maps into the stadium and ensuring key modes and tools such as gameplay features and map control function smoothly, enabling a world first immersive 3D viewing experience. 

Currently available on closed beta, via desktop and on compatible VR headsets, fans that enter the Virtex Stadium lobby will be immediately immersed in its 3D viewing experience. In the very near future they will be able to broadcast Counter-Strike matches to the Virtex Stadium and experience every play in all its glory. The power is firmly in each gamer’s hands and they can choose to spectate each round from a seat in the stadium or take full control by diving into the map and getting up close for every opening duel, site retake, and nail-biting clutch. 

This 3D experience of being able to view gameplay from the centre of the stadium is a world first and it forms the foundation of Virtex’s ambition to become home to the most memorable and unique events in gaming. Experiencing those breathtaking moments at the same time unifies the fan collective and this is guaranteed by everyone in the stadium receiving the same synced live stream.

Once ready, fans are free to enter the lobby and move into the lounge bar and main hall, relaxed hangout spaces perfect for meeting with friends and other fans, and together they can discover some of the games and fun interactions hidden here. By removing local limitations, Virtex Stadium allows fans to watch their favourite live events alongside friends and family, wherever they are in the world. 

“We are thrilled to be introducing a massive title like Counter Strike to the Virtex Stadium and giving more fans the opportunity to enjoy top-level gameplay in a way that’s never been done before. As the third most watched esport last year, CS:GO already has an enormous following and we’re excited to be working with Skybox to deliver a 360° spectating experience unique to every fan. As a die-hard esports fan I can’t wait to announce more of the upcoming tournaments we are set to feature in the stadium.” said Virtex co-founder Tim Mcguinness.   

Virtex Stadium was birthed by co-founders Tim Mcguinness and Christoph Ortlepp after meeting at a VR League Finals event in 2019 where they realised they shared a vision for redefining the esports fan experience. Former Team Gravity Echo VR player, Tim Mcguinness was casting at the time and after sharing a very early prototype of Virtex Stadium immediately convinced tech entrepreneur Christoph Ortlepp of its potential. This eventually led to Virtex being founded in 2020. 

“I met the Virtex team in 2021 and from the first discussion it was clear we shared the same passion and drive to enhance the gamer experience through digital innovation. Virtex were firmly focused on recreating the live stadium experience in a virtual reality environment and we believed this to be a great touch point for our real-time technology and game recreations.”

“The Virtex guys have done an outstanding job at building out the Virtex Stadium over the past year. We are proud that via the Skybox & Virtex partnership fans can soon experience live Counter-Strike in a whole new way. It’s an exciting time for our respective companies and we are looking forward to continuing our partnership with additional game titles and new experiences” said Ethan Cooper, CEO of Skybox Technologies.

Counter-Strike becomes the second esports title to feature on the platform, following Echo VR’s integration to the Virtex Stadium last year, and demonstrates Virtex’s intention to bring more high quality entertainment to Virtex Stadium and deliver an experience that will leave fans breathless. This partnership with Skybox is just the beginning and more announcements for additional Counter-Strike tournaments and esports titles joining Virtex Stadium will follow in the coming months.

You can find out more information about Virtex, Virtex Stadium and how to become a beta tester at www.virtexstadium.com and from their Twitter, Instagram and Discord accounts.

World Esports Championship Games Announced!

The post Virtex Stadium Welcomes Counter-Strike! appeared first on Esportimes.