It means that Kinguin is now the lead sponsor of two top-tier esports teams from Poland – the other being League of Legends‘ devils.one.

As part of the partnership, Kinguin will provide Anonymo with access to the Kinguin Esports Performance Center (EPC). The EPC is the most professional and advanced esports training facility in Europe, with Anonymo receiving its own dedicated, branded top-class training room. The facility, which is based in Warsaw, is the first professional training facility for esports organisations in Europe and provides teams with access to training and analyst rooms, psychologists and physiotherapists, professional chefs and gym facilities. 

From the beginning of last year EPC has been used by world-leading esports organizations, including OG, FaZe Clan, Team Vitality, MiBR, Evil Geniuses, 100 Thieves, Furia and many others.

Kinguin branding will feature on Anonymo jerseys, and both parties will also be collaborating for a Polish CS:GO tournament and various community projects.

Anonymo CEO, Mateusz Kowalczyk said: “We’re really excited to name Kinguin as our lead sponsor and look forward to collaborating with the organisation on numerous projects in the future. Our ambition, as an organization is to become a mainstream esports organisation that competes on the international stage and the sponsorship with Kinguin will be paramount to helping us achieve that. Having access to the world class training facilities at Kinguin’s Esports Performance Center in Warsaw is also going to help with our progression, at what is currently a pivotal stage of development for the team.”

Kinguin has a long history of sponsoring esports organisations and events and was one of the first digital marketplaces to launch a dedicated website where customers could purchase CS:GO skins. 

Team Kinguin, the organisation’s own esports team launched in 2015, and was regarded as one of the best CS:GO teams in history owing to their international roster of talent.  The team later rebranded as devils.one in 2019 and over the years, both teams have helped numerous professional gamers forge their careers in CS:GO, DOTA 2 and League of Legends esports. 

Kinguin has also previously sponsored numerous International CS:GO tournaments, such as the Dreamhack Masters Malmö, IEM Katowice and ESL CS:GO Pro League, as well as numerous esports organisations such as Fnatic, G2 Esports and the Copenhagen Wolves. 

Meanwhile, newly formed esports organisation Anonymo launched at the start of 2021. It recently unveiled its competitive CS:GO lineup, which consists of legendary Polish CS:GO veteran Janusz “⁠Snax⁠” Pogorzelski, in-game leader Wiktor “⁠mynio⁠” Kruk, as well as Kamil “⁠KEi⁠” Pietkun and Kacper “⁠Kylar⁠” Walukiewicz and Paweł “innocent” Mocek. 

The team has previously competed in local Polish and European tournaments, including the ESL Polish Championships and the Dreamhack Open January 2021: Europe. The team is now set to compete on the international CS:GO stage later in 2021. 

Kinguin CEO and Founder, Viktor Romaniuk Wanli, said: “We’re really happy to unveil our sponsorship of Anonymo, a leading, professional Polish esports organisation. Kinguin has a rich history of sponsoring various esports teams and events – particularly in the CS:GO scene – and we’re delighted to re-enter the CS:GO space and start a completely new chapter through this partnership. It means Kinguin now sponsors two of the biggest esports teams in Poland that compete in two of the biggest esports in the world – CS:GO and League of Legends.”

Staying with Kinguin, in February this year, the company announced its marketplace had registered 10 million customers globally – representing an increase of 20% since the beginning of 2020.

DR’s deal with the league’s operator, Dust2.dk, includes all three finals of the league, which will be shown on the broadcaster’s streaming platform DR TV. Although agreement will also see the league’s play-off matches leave Twitch for DR TV, the corporation has said they will remain free to watch. 

Notably, the contract represents Elgiganten Ligaen’s first-ever television rights deal. 

Similar to other European public broadcasters, most famously the UK’s BBC, DR is primarily funded from a license fee, amounting to around $400 USD per year per household. 

AYO.NEWS says:

This is great news for Elgiganten Ligaen, and the fact that a major public broadcaster is willing to cough up for exclusive rights shows just how popular esports now are in Europe.

The action will take place in March and April, and feature a number of top-tier Counter-Strike: Global Offensive teams, including GODSENT, Nemiga, Winstrike, and HAVU. Out of the $100K prize pool, the winning team will get $80K, and second place will take home $20K. 

In terms of format, The Pinnacle Cup will feature three stages; a group stage, swiss stage, and playoffs. The group stage will see 16 teams do battle, and the top four go through to take on 12 invited organisations in the swiss stage. Four more invited teams, including Fun Plus Phoenix, will then battle it out in an 8-team play-off stage to determine the first ever Pinnacle Cup Champions.

Relog Media is a production partner for the tournament, while Trustly will be working with Pinnacle on content, including interviews with players and talent. The Pinnacle Cup will be broadcast by The Esports Bible (Relog Media’s production service and broadcast company) at its TEBTV Twitch channel. Meanwhile GRID will be serving as exclusive data partner for the competition.

Discussing the event Pinnacle’s CMO, Ben Cove, said:

“This is something the team have worked incredibly hard on for a while now, and it’s fantastic to be able to announce that The Pinnacle Cup has come to fruition. We hope it can be the start of something special. 

“At Pinnacle we truly have esports in our DNA, so while we’re intent on making this a commercial success for the organisation, we are also proud to continue blazing the trail for esports betting.

“We know Pinnacle delivers the best esports odds, now we want to show that we can contribute to exceptional events that create mass appeal – resonating with a wide global audience, from those who are new to the scene, through to the hard-core esports community.”

AYO.NEWS says:

Pinnacle has long been one of the few mainstream traditional online bookmakers to take esports seriously, so it’s no surprise to see something of this magnitude launched, and we’re sure it will result in plenty of entertaining action for CS:GO fans.

‘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. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2019-2021.

The gaming hardware company says its new ROG Academy has been designed specifically for the next generation of Indian gamers, and will initially be focused on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) – though it is expected programs for additional titles will be added later.

Indian gamers, aged 16 or over can register, after which they will undergo a selection process consisting of tests, interviews, and tournaments to find the six “most suitable candidates.” 

The lucky candidates that make it through will be kitted out with ASUS ROG equipment and gain access to professional support from coaches and gaming experts, including Agneya “Marzil” Koushik and Prashant “Aequitas” Prabhakar.

Discussing the new academy Business Head of ASUS ROG, Arnold Su, said:

“With immense pleasure, we introduce everyone to ROG Academy, an industry-first initiative aimed to empower gamers to conquer at competitions and elevate the esports industry.

“We are looking forward to encouraging budding gamers, mentoring them through their esports journey, and familiarise them with future opportunities in this landscape. 

WThis initiative will provide a huge boost in establishing a pool of credible esports players in India and pave the way for next-generation gamers with access to resources, mentorship and training.”

Koushik, who is currently Captain of Bl4ze Esports, will be the head coach of the new ROG Academy, while Prabhakar, a former pro player and current CEO of CS:GO-focused platform SoStronk, has designed the curriculum and will be working closely on the project. 

AYO.NEWS says:

The potential of the Indian gaming and esports industry is huge, given the country’s massive population and rising wealth. However, so far the country’s esports scene has been more associated with mobile titles, so it’s interesting to see an academy program focused on a PC title – and probably attests to the rapidly developing esports ecosystem in the region.

We reckon it’s going to be a tough call whittling the applicants down to just six though!

Staying with ASUS ROG, last month the company announced a partnership with Florida-based Misfits Gaming Group. 

‘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. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2019-2021.

Most Popular Titles

The operator says that Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) was the most popular title to bet in in 2020, with the biggest win being €6,540, and the luckiest bettors coming from Ukraine, Sweden, and Hungary. 

Illustrating the popularity of CS:GO at LOOT.BET, over 53% of all money wagered on esports was on the title, with Dota 2 taking second place with a 35% share, and League of Legends ranking a distant third with 7%. 

Notably, FIFA, previously one of the most unpopular games to bet on, ranked 4th after enjoying a surge in popularity during the COVID-19 lockdowns, which saw the cancellation of the majority of real world sport. Newcomer VALORANT also did well, ranking seventh, ahead of more established titles like Overwatch and Rocket League. 

Bet Sizes

Despite League of Legends ranking third in terms of overall money wagered with LOOT.BET, it took top spot when it came to average bet size, at €32.34, followed by King of Glory at €30.65, and Call of Duty at €27.20. Meanwhile, despite making up the bulk of total bets, the average sizes of individual bets for CS:GO and Dota 2 were just €21.41 and €20.64, respectively. 

In terms of the most popular esports events to bet on, LOOT.BET users wagered most money on ESL One Road to Rio (CS:GO), Epic League (Dota 2), and Legends Pro League Summer (LoL). 

Favourite Teams

The most popular teams among LOOT.BET customers were Na’Vi (CS:GO), Team Nigma (Dota 2), and T1 (LoL). In terms of the teams attracting the biggest average bets, Team Liquid took top spot for CS:GO, Just Error for Dota 2, and Victory Five for League of Legends. However, the highest individual bets in each title were claimed by Heroic (CS:GO), Team Aster (Dota 2) and DAMWON Gaming (LoL). 

In terms of money won, Sprout led for CS:GO, VP.Prodigy for Dota 2, and FlyQuest for League of Legends. Meanwhile, those that disappointed bettors the most were Fnatic for CS:GO, Team Nigma for Dota 2, and FunPlus Phoenix for League of Legends. 

When it came to gain by profit for each EUR bet, the leaders were Gambit for CS:GO, 496 Gaming for Dota 2, and LDLC OL for League of Legends. While Team Singularity (CS:GO), B8 (Dota 2), and Team Vitality (LoL) gave the most disappointing returns. 

Most Active Esports Bettors

Interestingly, according to LOOT.BET, the luckiest bettors during 2020 were from Ukraine, Sweden, and Hungary, while those from Spain, Canada, and South Korea were unluckiest. 

The most active, by average quantity of bets per person, were from Hungary, Japan, and Switzerland, while the least active hailed from Poland, Russia, and Ukraine. 

The highest media odds were recorded in India, the Philippines, and Poland, while at the other end of the scale were Spain, Indonesia, and South Korea. 

Despite many in-person esports events being cancelled, postponed, or scaled down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, LOOT.BET says that overall it saw a 67% increase in betting volumes, and active users surged by 58%. 

AYO.NEWS says:

Despite the rise in popularity of other titles, it seems CS:GO is going to hold on to the top spot for some time yet, at least among LOOT.BET’s customers – though given its trajectory so far, VALORANT could make significant gains in 2021. Depending on how the COVID crisis plays out, we could also see sim sports like FIFA enjoy another surge in popularity over the coming months. But, regardless of the details, one thing is clear; 2020 was a great year for esports as a whole, and esports betting is continuing to gain momentum. 

‘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. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2019-2021.

In 2021, the competition will be known as the Brazilian Circuit of Counter-Strike (CBCS), and its existing production team of DC Set and Grupo Globo, will be joined by entertainment group Omelette, promotion company Gamers Club, and streamer Alexandre “Gaules” Borba.

The changes mean that from next year, no team will have a guaranteed place in the league, and the league will be opened up to new teams trying to break into the pro circuit. Throughout the year there will be seven different competitions, with the first taking place in March. 

Tournaments will award points to allow for a ranking of teams, with the best participating in finals. The total prize pool is slated at $500K BRL (approx. $98K USD). 

O maior Circuito de CS:GO está chegando… pic.twitter.com/MNAg5tRJNK

— CBCS (@CBCS) December 4, 2020

AYO.NEWS says:

Moving to an open format can only be good for encouraging the growth of the Latin American CS:GO scene, and bringing more partners onboard can only help improve production values and reach more fans – so, all things considered, we’d say this is a very positive move. 

‘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. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020.

The European Development Championship is organised by Eden Esports and Fantasyexpo, while GamingMalta is an independent non-profit organisation established by the Maltese government and Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) to promote the country as a gaming hub. 

Commenting on the collaboration COO of GamingMalta, Ivan Filletti, said:

“[the foundation is] delighted to see the local ecosystem grow in stature and adapting to new realities. This tournament is another example of a local based successful esports organisation forging a way forward.”

While CEO of Eden Esports, Sergey Bidzan, added:

“We are pleased to extend our partnership with GamingMalta, whose support within the last three years has played a key role in Eden Esports’ growth from a tiny local gaming centre to an international tournament operator.

“The way GamingMalta supports the esports scene is just incredible and their initiatives are an example to be followed by other governments. We are excited to move side by side towards our common goal – to make Malta one of the world’s esports hubs.”

GamingMalta has previously partnered with tournaments including Malta Vibes, and SuperNova Malta, while next year it will host ESL Pro League Events. 

AYO.NEWS says:

Being a Malta-based company, we’re probably more than a little biased, but it’s great to see Malta emerging as a serious location for esports events. Obviously, the COVID-19 crisis is having a major impact on efforts to promote the island, with air access to the island still very limited, but hopefully, once the crisis clears, the island will emerge as Europe’s premier esports and video gaming destination. 

‘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. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020.

One of the most decorated all-women’s esports team in history, with a collective 70 tournament wins, the Originem line-up consists of Zainab “zAAz” Turkie, Michaela “mimi” Lintrup, Petra “Petra” Stoker, Julia “juliano” Kiran, and Anastasia “kr4sy” Khlobystina.

Commenting on joining XSET team captain, Julia “juliano” Kiran, said:

“We are super excited to join XSET because of the people behind it and of what they stand for in terms of diversity and the quality. This is an amazing opportunity for us as a competitive team to grow with the brand and bring trophies to the organization.” 

While co-founder and COO of XSET, Marco Mereu, added:

“We want the world to see that this team is not a badass ‘all-female’ team, they are a badass team that crushes the competition. This team has what it takes to play — and win — on the world stage, and we are thrilled to have them join the XSET esports roster.”

XSET’s new CS:GO team will be competing in tournaments round the world, usually against male-dominated teams, with their next competition set to be in December at the Dreamhack Open.

AYO.NEWS says:

We knew XSET had a big announcement coming after Simona’s recent chat with co-owner Clinton Sparks, and this is pretty big. With this team’s track record, we think it’s safe to assume XSET is going to become a powerful force in CS:GO. 

‘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. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020.

The three-year deal makes Betsafe the exclusive betting partner of GODSENT, and the Headline Sponsor for its Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) division. 

In addition to brand exposure and financial support, the partnership will focus on close collaboration and social media activation. 

Commenting on the news Head of Marketing Sweden at Betsson Group, Kim Ekelund, said:

“Esports has been gaining a lot of momentum in the past couple of years and the global pandemic has further cemented its place. With all major sporting competitions being postponed during spring, more attention was directed towards esports, adding to its mainstream appeal.

“For this sponsorship we chose Betsafe, one of our most adventurous and sportive brands. Going forward, I believe there’s still a lot of progress to be made in the esports arena and this sponsorship between ambitious GODSENT and Betsafe is a concrete example of our commitment towards the future of esports.”

While CEO of GODSENT, Ludwig Sandgren, added:

“We are very proud that Betsafe, with its long tradition of investing in extraordinary content and sponsorships, has signed this long-standing commitment with us. GODSENT is an extremely ambitious organisation and Betsafe matches that perfectly. They will become an important driver of our CS:GO division and will be a great strategic partner as we grow into a tier-one organisation.”

The agreement was facilitated through a partnership between GRID Esports and GODSENT, and will include data-rich and relevant content for GODSENT’s upcoming matches. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020.

The London Stock Exchange-listed organisation, which is part owned by footballing legend David Beckham, has entered a consulting agreement with Thorin to tap his expertise on CS:GO. Thorin has been covering esports as a journalist for almost two decades, and is a well known analyst and content creator, often seen presenting CS:GO competitions. 

Announcing his collaboration with Guild on Twitter, Thorin said:

“Guild Esports made a splash with their initial announcement and I’m pleased to announce that as they look to enter the Counter-Strike space, where I have been deeply embedded for decades, I have agreed to a consulting partnership with them.”

Guild Esports initially launched in summer with a European Rocket League squad, and FIFA player Niklas ‘NRaseck’ Raseck. It has since added a European VALORANT squad to its lineup, and entry into CS:GO is the next logical move.

Excited to sit under the learning tree of the CS Sensei https://t.co/Vhae8uHdJr

— Guild (@guildesports) November 5, 2020

AYO.NEWS says:

After its high-profile £41.2M London Stock Exchange Listing in October, the pressure is on Guild Esports to live up to expectations, both in terms of on-screen victories and commercial deals. On the latter, Guild has already made progress, landing its first major sponsorship deal with an as yet undisclosed European fintech firm. 

‘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. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020.