eSports
The World’s Best Street Fighter 6 Players Are Set to Clash at Red Bull Kumite New York on March 16th & 17th – Here’s Everything You Need to Know!
- The two-day event will be held at the historic Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse, New York, March 16 & 17, 2024.
- The Main Event on March 17 will be in single elimination format, where 16 players, including an invitee and the Play-In winner, battle through a bracket drawn during the opening ceremony in first-to-five matches.
- Confirmed fighters include renowned players such as reigning champion Adel “Big Bird” Anouche, Valentin “Valmaster” Petit and Lin “Oil King” Li-wei.
- Commentary lineup features Michael “Yipes” Mendoza, Femi “F-Word” Adeboye, and others for expert insight and analysis.
- AOC returns as the Official Monitor Partner with PlayStation as the Official Console Partner and Vitrix as the official partner of peripherals.
- The tournament will be streamed live on twitch.tv/redbull and youtube.com/@redbullgaming.
Red Bull Kumite, the eminent Street Fighter 6 tournament, is set to take place this weekend in New York with the full roster of fighters announced and ready to duke it out for the title of Red Bull Kumite 2024 Champion. Here’s everything you need to know!
A highlight in the Fighting Game Community’s calendar, the two-day event will take place at the historic Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse, a fitting venue for what will be one of the most memorable FGC events of 2024. Bringing a rich and immersive storyline to this year’s tournament, fans will play witness to the villainous Battle King’s scheme to rule the underground world of Street Fighter, with only one hero set to emerge victorious.
Confirming the final players who complete the exciting lineup, Red Bull Kumite New York features notable talent such as French competitor Valentin “Valmaster” Petit and the 2023 EVO JP Champion, Lin “Oil King” Li-wei. Since January, fierce competition has also been unfolding on local battlefields, with numerous contenders vying for the last two coveted spots in the Grand Final. Last year’s champion Adel “Big Bird” Anouche will be returning to the iconic cage to defend his title in the ultimate Street Fighter showdown. Players from Japan, Italy, USA, Canada, and France have been competing for the final play-in spots and will be in with a chance to overthrow the pros in what would surely be one of the biggest upsets in FGC esports.
Red Bull Kumite New York kicks off with the Play-In on March 16th, featuring a double-elimination, first-to-three tournament between the eight players who have come from World Qualifiers. The winner will then qualify for the Main Event on March 17th.
The Main Event is a single-elimination tournament featuring 16 players, including 14 that have been directly invited, and winners of the Last Chance Qualifier and Play-In. The bracket draw will take place at the opening ceremony, preceding the action kicking off from round one all the way to the Grand Final, all played in a first-to-five format (BO9).
With the stakes at their highest, the event promises a stellar showcase of unbridled talent, complemented by a distinguished commentary team. Renowned players Joe “LI Joe” Ciaramelli and host Rob “RobTV” Burney will join forces to guide viewers through the thrilling matches. The commentary lineup also includes Michael “Yipes” Mendoza, reporter Zhi Liang Chew, Femi “F-Word” Adeboye, Logan Sama, and Samantha “Persia” Hancock, all returning for another year to provide expert insight and analysis.
Confirmed players for Red Bull Kumite 2024 are as follows:
- Victor “Punk” Woodley (USA)
- Saul Leonardo “MenaRD” Mena II (Dominican Republic)
- Tsunehiro “Gachikun” Kanamori (Japan)
- Adel “Big Bird” Anouche (United Arab Emirates)
- Wong “Chris Wong” Yuk-cheung (Hong Kong)
- Derek “iDom” Ruffin (USA)
- Hibiki The Beast (Japan)
- Masato “Bonchan” Takahashi (Japan)
- Lin “Oil King” Li-wei (Taiwan)
- Valentin “Valmaster” Petit (France)
- Hajime “Tokido” Taniguchi (Japan)
- Du “NuckleDu” Dang (United States)
- Shin “Leshar” Moon-sup (South Korea)
- Rob “Broski” Livingston (United Kingdom)
Play-in competitors vying for a spot in the grand final:
- USA: Noah “NoahTheProdigy” Solis
- USA: Sean “Shine” Simpson
- USA: Alan “Nephew” Sun
- USA: Stephen “Space Boy” Agyemang
- France: Nathan “Mister Crimson” Massol
- Italy: Andrea “Garnet” Parlangeli
- Japan: Ryukichi
- Canada: Kuang “Zhen”
Red Bull Kumite New York is joined by three amazing partners for 2024 including AOC as the Official Monitor Partner, bringing exceptional visual clarity and ultra-high refresh rates to competitors, while PlayStation kicks into gear as the Official Console Partner. Red Bull Kumite New York will also be partnering with world-leading peripherals and accessories manufacturer, Victrix, to provide unique and accessible gear to the gaming community.
Watch Red Bull Kumite New York live on March 16 and March 17 via twitch and youtube.
Please see below for a recap:
- Red Bull Kumite, the prestigious fighting game tournament, will take place in New York and kick off on March 16 & 17, 2024 at Brooklyn’s historic Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse
- AOC will be this year’s official Monitor Partner, bringing exceptional visual clarity and ultra-high refresh rates to competitors. Playstation joins Red Bull Kumite for the first time as Official Console Partner with Victrix joining as official partner of peripherals.
AOC
Founded in 1967, AOC is a globally leading monitor and IT accessories brand and a subsidiary of TPV Technology Limited, the world’s largest LCD manufacturer. AOC’s comprehensive product portfolio provides innovative, ergonomic, environmentally conscious and stylish solutions for professional as well as personal applications. The sub-brand of AOC, AGON by AOC, offers one of the strongest portfolios of high-performance gaming monitors in the world and a complete ecosystem of gaming accessories grouped in three categories: AOC GAMING for core gamers, AGON for competitive gamers and AGON PRO for esports enthusiasts and professional esports players. Since 2020 AGON by AOC has been one of the leading gaming monitor brands and a top choice of gamers worldwide.For more information please refer to AGON by AOC’s official website or follow AGON by AOC on Facebook, X or Instagram.
PlayStation
PlayStation Tournaments enables gamers of all levels to compete, win prizes, and connect with others worldwide, directly from their PlayStation consoles. PS5 Tournaments are available in a diverse range of games, fostering a community where participants can showcase their skills, enjoy competitive play, and take-home incredible prizes.
Victrix
PDP Gaming is an industry leader providing high-quality licensed peripherals and accessories for all major video game platforms. PDP believes that design-forward, high-performance gear should be as unique and accessible as the gaming community itself. From beginner to professional, PDP’s product lines offer uncompromising performance and striking designs that transport gamers into seamless, immersive experiences where competition, connection, and personal expression are limitless. Victrix by PDP is purpose built for Esports athletes and enthusiasts looking for unmatched performance and competitive advantage. For over 25 years, PDP has been supplying video game peripherals and accessories to major retailers across the world, including the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. For more information, visit PDP website and VICTRIXPRO website.
Awards
BETBY SHINES AT SiGMA AMERICAS WITH LOCALISED STRATEGY AND WINS ESPORTS AWARD

BETBY, the cutting-edge sportsbook provider, has further cemented its position as one of the most innovative suppliers in the sports betting landscape following a standout appearance at SiGMA Americas, the leading event for the iGaming industry in Latin America.
Hosted in São Paulo, Brazil, SiGMA Americas brought together the industry’s most influential stakeholders, with a spotlight on the dynamic and fast-growing Latin American market. BETBY stood out at the event by showcasing the full strength of its flexible sportsbook solution, designed to empower operators with complete control over the betting experience.
A major highlight of the exhibition was BETBY’s showcase of its hyper-localised content capabilities, which empower operators to engage regional audiences with culturally relevant offerings. This strategic focus was exemplified by the industry’s most comprehensive Vaquejada betting solution, a rodeo-style sport particularly popular in northeast Brazil. BETBY’s unique content portfolio, which includes both pre-live markets and an immersive e-sim version of the sport, resonated strongly with operators and attendees. It demonstrated not only a deep understanding of regional preferences, but also the supplier’s ability to create tailored content for any market.
Alongside this, BETBY exhibited continued innovation through its proprietary esports feed BETBY Games, and its comprehensive suite of AI tools AI Labs, which leverages artificial intelligence to deliver personalisation, real-time recommendations, and enhanced operational efficiency.
As further recognition of its ongoing innovation in the iGaming industry, BETBY was honoured with the Best Esports Product award during the SiGMA Americas Awards ceremony. This win underscores BETBY’s vision to redefine the esports betting experience through its BETBY Games solution, which is designed to deliver unmatched flexibility, customisation, and engagement for operators and players.
“This recognition at SiGMA Americas is a proud milestone for our entire team, even though our presence in Brazil this week was about much more than awards,” said Leonid Pertsovskiy, BETBY’s Chief Executive Officer. “It was about connecting with the region, understanding what local players truly value, and showing that we have the technology and vision to meet those needs. We’re building products that scale globally but connect locally, and that’s what sets BETBY apart.”
The post BETBY SHINES AT SiGMA AMERICAS WITH LOCALISED STRATEGY AND WINS ESPORTS AWARD appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
eSports
Esports World Cup to Feature Record-breaking Prize Pool of More Than $70M for 2025 Event

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has announced a record-breaking $70+ million prize pool for the upcoming Esports World Cup 2025 (EWC), the world’s largest esports event, set to return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 through August 24. With the highest stakes in esports history, the $70+ million prize pool elevates EWC as one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events and reinforces the EWCF’s long-term commitment to the sustainable growth of the esports industry. The total prize pool is a $10 million increase from last summer’s inaugural event, marking a significant step in the Esports World Cup Foundation’s mission to create life-changing opportunities and provide sustainable career paths for competitive players and multidisciplinary esports Clubs.
“The record-breaking $70+ million prize pool, along with our commitment to the Club Partner Program and our multi-year publisher agreements, is a privilege to announce and validation of our purpose to elevate the industry, by giving players, clubs, publishers and all other stakeholders the stability needed to invest for future success. While more than $70 million is an incredible, life-changing sum, it’s always aligned with a long-term vision rather than short-term impact. It’s not just to have more money at stake, but to create opportunities for everyone at every level of the ecosystem, and strengthen the industry for generations to come,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of Esports World Cup Foundation.
With 25 tournaments in 24 games announced to date, including four new games—Chess, Crossfire, FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves and VALORANT—EWC 2025 will bring together more than 2000 elite esports players and 200 top Clubs for the largest multi-game competition in history, with a life-changing prize pool rewarding more players and Clubs on the world’s biggest stage.
“Winning the Club Championship crown and $7 million at the inaugural Esports World Cup was a defining moment for Team Falcons. The opportunity to compete in front of our home fans, where they made the arenas shake with every great play, motivated us like never before, and it was an honor to secure the victory for them. We’ve used the momentum and winnings from last year to build on our success and we look forward to continuing that legacy this summer,” said Mosaad Al-Dossary, CEO of Team Falcons.
“Competing at the inaugural EWC contributed to one of the most successful competitive years in our 24-year history, securing a strong second-place finish in the EWC 2024 Club Championship. With our winnings, we expanded into new games like chess, strengthened our international presence in Southeast Asia, and supported philanthropic initiatives. The experience, momentum, and rosters we’ve built over the past year put us in the perfect position to claim the Championship crown at EWC 2025. We believe this to be our year,” said Steve Arhancet, Co-CEO of Team Liquid.
The post Esports World Cup to Feature Record-breaking Prize Pool of More Than $70M for 2025 Event appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
ESFI’s Lokesh Suji Re-Elected as Asian Electronic Sports Federation VP, South Asia, Strengthening India’s Esports Leadership
In a significant boost for Indian esports, Lokesh Suji has been re-elected unopposed as Vice President for South Asia in the Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF) during its recent online Electoral General Assembly in Hong Kong for a four-year term. Holding this position since AESF’s inception, Suji’s re-election highlights India’s growing influence in international esports, reinforcing the Esports Federation of India’s (ESFI) role in shaping the region’s competitive gaming landscape.
The AESF Electoral General Assembly, chaired by outgoing President Kenneth Fok, convened representatives from 38 member nations and OCA Deputy Director General Vinod Tiwari. Thailand’s Santi Lothong secured the AESF Presidency with a simple majority, alongside new Vice Presidents for different Asian zones.
“I am deeply grateful for the continued trust placed in me and extend my sincere thanks to Kenneth (Fok) for his leadership and guidance over the years. I also look forward to working closely with Santi (Lothong) for this next phase. This re-election is not just a personal milestone but a testament to the remarkable growth of esports in India and South Asia. Esports in Asia is entering a defining era, and I am committed to ensuring that our players, federations, and stakeholders receive the recognition, opportunities, and platforms they deserve,” said Lokesh Suji, Vice President, South Asia, of AESF and Director of ESFI.
As Asia’s esports governing body, recognised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), AESF has been instrumental in getting esports included in Asian Games and hosting major tournaments like the Asian Esports Games 2018 and the Asian Games 2022, featuring top titles such as Dota 2, Street Fighter 6, and FIFA Online. AESF has also been selected as the Technical Delegate for Esports at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
Commenting on Suji’s re-election, Santi Lothong, the incoming AESF President, said: “Having worked alongside Lokesh for years, I have witnessed his unwavering dedication to developing esports in South Asia and beyond. His leadership, vision, and relentless efforts have helped shape the region’s competitive landscape. I look forward to continuing our collaboration and strengthening esports across Asia under this new leadership phase.”
Kenneth Fok, the outgoing AESF President, added: “Lokesh has been a steadfast pillar in AESF’s journey, always pushing to elevate esports across Asia. His passion and commitment have left a lasting impact, shaping key initiatives and strengthening our community. It’s been a pleasure working alongside him, and I am confident he will continue driving esports forward.”
Under Suji’s leadership, India has made significant strides in esports, with historic medal finishes in the Commonwealth Esports Championship 2022, BRICS Esports Championship and Asian Esports Games and strong performances in the Asian Games 2018 and 2022, where Indian athletes proved their mettle against the world’s best. ESFI is further cementing India’s esports dominance with the WAVES Esports Championship (WESC) —a pioneering initiative that fosters homegrown talent and provides Indian players with an international platform to compete at the highest level. WAVES Esports Championship is one of the ‘Create in India Challenge’ as part of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s marque event ‘World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit’ (WAVES) to be held on 1-4 May 2025, Mumbai.
Recognized by and Member of the International Esports Federation, Asian Esports Federation, and Global Esports Federation, ESFI remains dedicated to strengthening India’s position on the global esports stage.
The post ESFI’s Lokesh Suji Re-Elected as Asian Electronic Sports Federation VP, South Asia, Strengthening India’s Esports Leadership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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