

eSports
Esports Entertainment Leader Joins Forces with Leading Esports Training and Development Pioneers To Take Teen Esports Events To A Global Audience
Two leaders in the flourishing, multi-faceted market of Esports are joining forces to provide unprecedented access and opportunities to high school esports competitors and enthusiasts.
EsportsTower LLC, the largest amateur training club in North America, has signed an exclusive partnership with ESTV EsportsTV to extend their wildly popular Esports Tower Rumble events to a global audience. First aired in February 2021, Rumble events were streamed on Twitch through a partnership with Boise State University. With the addition of ESTV, weekly events are expected to reach over 150,000 unique viewers weekly per game title. ESTV is the first worldwide 24-7 live, linear video channel dedicated to esports. Launched in May 2019, ESTV provides round-the-clock coverage of esports athletes and gaming franchises from an insider perspective.
Esports Tower branded Rumble events feature amateur high school club players who want to go pro and score college scholarships while playing against top-ranked high school teams. Adding to the excitement, college partners this year have helped build out the mental health and wellness-inspired Esports Tower ApproachTM curriculum and contributed nearly $2-million in scholarship awards. Pro-teams have also started scouting Esports Tower clubs for talent, with team Kungarna announcing a tryout event planned for mid-December as the company launches its newest game – Apex Legends. Esports Tower currently offers club members live training twice weekly, along with weekly events where players test out new skills in action and gain insights from insiders about working in the fast-growing industry of esports. Current games include Rocket League, Valorant, Overwatch, and Fortnite.
“Watching high-ranked players in solo-queue doesn’t tell us much. What we like about Esports Tower is we get to see players in the development phase. We watch their progress in Rumbles from week to week and ultimately their coachability.” said Dr. Chris “Doc” Haskel, Head Coach at Boise State University and 2020 College Esports Coach of the Year (NAECAD), 2020 Esports Director of the Year (NACE).
“What I loved about talking with Esports Tower players last month is they remind me of myself. They’re eager to learn, open to critique, and unafraid to ask questions. And some of their players are better than you’d expect – I watched as one took out top-ranked Tenz when they played at this summer’s BFC Smeag Cup hosted by FaZe BabyBay, it only happened once, but it was unexpected and made for great entertainment!” said Thomas “Trippy” Schappy, FaZe Trippy Head Coach For TheFaZe Valorant Team.
“We are thrilled to partner with Eric and the team at ESTV. Their global platform is found on family-friendly devices and viewable via Roku, Amazon Fire, Sling, and many other providers in over 45 countries,” said David Adams, CEO and founder of Esports Tower. “We strive to do more than any other amateur organization to get our players seen and considered for collegiate and pro-opportunities. Partnering with ESTV is a natural step in helping our Generation-Z athletes expand their personal brand while supporting our college partners seeking to recruit top talent for their varsity teams.”
“We experienced some of the highest tune-in rates when we piloted Esports TowerRumbles last month,” said, Geoff Kowalski, Chief Revenue Officer of ESTV. “Esports Tower’s gameplay is compelling, and their interviews and editorial content provides interesting and entertaining insights of what happens behind the scenes showing what players do to advance both their gameplay and goals to go pro. It will be a great addition to ESTV programming and sponsorships, given it’s appeal to elusive teen viewers and their families.”
ESTV was launched in 2019 to meet the demand for round-the-clock coverage of esports athletes and gaming franchises from an insider perspective. Today, it’s the first dedicated channel for esports and gaming personalities, with programming providing round-the-clock coverage of esports athletes and gaming franchises from an insider perspective.
“ESTV’s mission is to deliver the most innovative esports and gaming programming available everywhere,” said Eric Yoon, Founder and CEO of ESTV. “As ESTV distributes the world’s best esports content on a linear programming schedule, Esports Tower will be a foundational pillar in our mission to provide content for all esports fans, promote opportunities within esports and expand the presence of esports media in homes across the globe.”
The alliance follows new original programming and expanded Rumble titles offered at Esports Tower.
eSports
Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon Fights off the Competition to Reign as TEKKEN 8 at 2025 Esports World Cup Champion, Securing Back-to-Back EWC Titles

Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon has claimed the TEKKEN 8 at EWC 25 crown having beaten Yoon “LowHigh” Sun-woong in a 5-2 grand final finish. His victory secures DN Freecs their first win at EWC 25 as he takes home $250,000 of the $1,000,000 prize pool.
Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon had a strong run at EWC 25, losing just one series against Kim “Kkokkoma” Mu-jong in the first match of the second phase. From that point on, however, he went unbeaten on his way to the grand final, even taking down Kim “Kkokkoma” Mu-jong for revenge on his way back from the lower bracket.
In the semifinals, Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon booked his place in the grand final with a 5-3 finish over Kim “CherryBerryMango” Jae-hyun, securing his second EWC TEKKEN 8 grand final in a row. Ulsan showcased his mastery of Dragunov throughout the grand final, setting the scene with a decisive victory in the first set, before taking the title in the seventh set with a 5-2 win.
His grand final opponent, Yoon “LowHigh” Sun-woong, took down Team Vitality’s Jeon “JeonDDing” Sang-hyun in a 5-2 finish to lock his place in the grand final. The former EVO champion displayed his Bryan skills throughout the final against Ulsan, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the overall winner.
“I never expected this. I cannot imagine I would win again. I mean, this year I had a rough start; there was a nerf to Dragunov, I had a lot of difficulties – I wanted to prove myself on this stage, and I have done it,” said Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon. “It’s been like a dream to be here. Thank you to those who support me from everywhere, my team, my friends, all my partners, and especially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for making this the biggest tournament in the world.”
“I’m still hungry. I just want to make myself a legend,” said Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon.
Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon secured 1000 Club Championship points for DN Freecs, who, as a result, jumped up to joint-eleventh place in the Club Championship standings, with 1200 points. Despite having three players in the top eight, DN Freecs will only receive one lot of points.
It was a disappointing showing from Team Falcons in TEKKEN 8, as all three representatives were eliminated before earning any points. With only a few games left to earn points, Team Falcons had high hopes for TEKKEN 8. Elsewhere, Twisted Minds, who secured victory earlier in the day in PUBG, failed to make it two for two on Saturday, also failing to score points in TEKKEN 8 as Arslan “Arslan Ash” Siddique was eliminated by overall winner, Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon.
The post Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon Fights off the Competition to Reign as TEKKEN 8 at 2025 Esports World Cup Champion, Securing Back-to-Back EWC Titles appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
Twisted Minds Clinch the PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS at 2025 Esports World Cup Grand Prize, in the Closest PUBG Final in Years Twisted Minds avenge their 2024 EWC disappointment with a nail-biting win in the PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS competition at the Esports World

Twisted Minds have secured the PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS at 2025 Esports World Cup title after coming out victorious in one of the closest PUBG finals ever.
Twisted Minds claimed the title after a ridiculously close final, making up for their failed run at Esports World Cup 2024. The side came into that event as the favourites, having won PUBG Global Series 4 just weeks before heading to Riyadh, but failed to bring it home on the big stage. They would go on to have a very successful end to 2024, but the loss on the EWC stage was a major blip on their impressive year.
Now, at EWC 2025, they have done it, by claiming the championship they craved – and they did so in style in one of the toughest and hardest-fought PUBG grand finals ever. With 12 teams in contention for the overall win by the final game, they held on out with plenty of tenacity and solid plays throughout each game to scoop a high amount of placement points.
This year’s finals will go down in PUBG history as one of the closest ever, as heading into the final two matches, anyone inside the top 12 could have theoretically won the entire event. The intense action of match 11 saw our first breakaway side as Twisted Minds started to pull away, giving themselves a significant lead for the final drop. Twisted Minds would struggle early in the final match, with just two players having to survive to the final stages alone. Eventually, it was just Dmytrii “Perfect1ks” Dubenyuk alive, but it was enough for Twisted Minds to secure an incredible overall victory.
“I’m feeling great, I feel like I’m just thankful for my team, thankful to my family, thankful to my girlfriend, and to the whole Twisted Minds family. To the fans that are here, it was the most amazing tournament, because this crowd was cheering us on the whole event. And now we are finally World Champions,” said Aleksandr “BatulinS” Batulin.
ROC Esports’ Gabriel “sxntastico” Silva was named the SONY MVP, after a series of impressive performances during the PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS championship. His 18 kills and 25 knockouts were instrumental in ROC Esports’ surprising performance that saw them top the table at multiple points throughout the event. He will receive an additional $10,000 and the MVP medal to recognise his achievements.
Twisted Minds earn 1000 Club Championship points for their victory; sending them firmly into Championship contention, having moved from 2200 points to 3200 points, just 1200 points behind the leaders. The win is Twisted Minds’ second battle royale victory in the space of two weeks, having won Call of Duty: Warzone in Week 5, keeping their late charge well and truly on.
With a third place finish for Team Falcons, they gain a crucial 500 points in the Club Championship, sending them back into first place with a 200 point lead over Team Liquid. Elsewhere, Virtus.pro, who had the lead entering the final day of PUBG, could only bring home 50 points, enough to keep them joint fourth with newly crowned PUBG champions Twisted Minds.
The post Twisted Minds Clinch the PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS at 2025 Esports World Cup Grand Prize, in the Closest PUBG Final in Years Twisted Minds avenge their 2024 EWC disappointment with a nail-biting win in the PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS competition at the Esports World Cup 2025. appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
From Street Fighter Glory to a Global Tetris Path: Inside the First-Ever Red Bull AFK Party

Mumbai turned into a gamer’s paradise as Red Bull hosted the first-ever Red Bull AFK Party – a one-of-a-kind celebration that brought together gaming, music, and culture in a way India has never seen before. Described by many as the coolest party for gamers, the night united the country’s top gaming creators, esports stars, and fans for an immersive, high-energy experience done the Red Bull way.
The party welcomed people the Red Bull way, with a real static Formula 1 car right at the entrance. Inside, the venue transformed into a playground for gamers: an adrenaline-pumping RC Racing Track hosted by Ocean Sharma, Red Bull Athlete V3nom’s Reflex Challenge to test reaction speeds, Retro Arcade Section with a life-sized PAC-MAN and Tetris arcade, while the Console Gaming Zone buzzed with intense matches in EA FC 25 and Street Fighter.
As the night wore on, the gaming gave way to a packed dance floor with sets from OG Shez and DJ Kaartl.
V3nom on Red Bull’s Push for Gaming in India
The Red Bull AFK put Red Bull’s gaming athletes at the heart of the experience, showing the brand’s commitment to growing the ecosystem. As V3nom summed it up:
“Red Bull is getting into gaming full-on, hosting a lot of events and bringing together top creators and gaming athletes at gatherings like Red Bull AFK. It’s a huge and positive step for the community. I’m really happy to see it, and I hope events like this continue because we have so much more to do for gaming in India, ensuring future generations can make the most of the opportunities ahead.”
When asked about his favorite part of the party, V3nom added: “I think my V3nom Reaction Challenge, because it combines a bit of fitness with reaction time, and tests your reflexes — which are essential for gaming.”
From Mumbai to Dubai – The Tetris Challenge
One activation that had everyone talking was the Tetris challenge, inspired by Red Bull Tetris. Here, players could stack their way up the leaderboard for a chance to represent India at the Red Bull Tetris World Finals in Dubai later this year — bringing a global competitive pathway right to the AFK floor.
Jonathan’s Championship Moment
Another highlight was the Street Fighter x BC One Dance-Off, a crossover where gaming skill met dancing. Four creators — Jonathan, Ocean, Sharkshe, and V3nom — each teamed up with a professional dancer for a two-part battle.
After Sharkshe edged past Ocean and Jonathan toppled V3nom in the semis, the grand finale saw Jonathan dominate in Street Fighter before his dance partner delivered a flawless routine to seal the win.
The post From Street Fighter Glory to a Global Tetris Path: Inside the First-Ever Red Bull AFK Party appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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