COUNTER-STRIKE LEGEND HEATON JOINS CLASSYBEEF AS BRAND AMBASSADOR

Malta-based iGaming marketing company ClassyBeef has recruited former Counter-Strike player and manager Emil ‘HeatoN’ Christensen as a brand ambassador. 

Described by ClassyBeef as the world’s “first true esports superstar,” HeatoN was with Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP) when it won the CPL World Championship way back in 2001, and won the Counter-Strike gold medal for Sweden at the 2003 World Cyber Games.

He went on to develop his pro esports career with SK Sweden, before he and the rest of SK Sweden cut ties with SK Gaming and re-formed NiP (Ninjas in Pyjamas). Though he quit playing Counter-Strike for NiP in September 2007, to join Championship Gaming Series (CGS) as general manager, Christensen returned to Ninjas in Pyjamas and managed the organisation from 2012 until October 2018.

Despite his undeniable Counter-Strike skills, Christensen is no stranger to controversy. In September 2015 he, along with two other former NiP owners, were charged with misleading an auditor about NiP’s finances during its sale to Digilife. He was found guilty of fraud – though the judgement specified it was due to careless accounting rather than any intentional plan to deceive – and has since faced further allegations of financial misconduct from former NiP players. 

With more than 130,000 followers on Twitch, ClassyBeef is best known for streaming casino and slots games, and has announced an upcoming event featuring HeatoN, called the HeatoN Wars – Gambling Tournament.

Commenting on the news Co-Founder of ClassyBeef, Joel Petri, said:

“We are super thrilled to be presenting one of the biggest names in the esports industry. HeatoN has a fascinating background and we are more than happy to have him signed as a brand ambassador.”

While Emil ‘HeatoN’ Christensen himself added:

“I am happy to be joining a company that works hard to educate viewers on responsible gambling, while making gambling fun and accessible for the community. It’s exciting to see what the future holds.”

You can catch the livestream at ClassyBeef’s Twitch channel on 9 January at 19:00 CEST. 

AYO.NEWS says:

Although esports and gambling have a strong relationship thanks to legitimate esports betting operators, the world of slot streamers still generates a lot of controversy. But, considering HeatoN’s past, we doubt a few more raised eyebrows will bother him, and it will be interesting to see where this goes. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

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