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eSports
Team Vitality reveals CS:GO powerhouse and €50M talent investment
Team Vitality continues its journey to European esports domination as it reveals it has signed dupreeh, magisk, and zonic to create one of the best CS:GO rosters in history as part of a €50M talent investment
Team Vitality is excited to share it is taking its CS:GO roster to the next level with the signing of Peter “dupreeh” Rasmussen, Emil “magisk” Reif, and Danny “zonic” Sørensen. The decorated trio join Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, Dan “apEX” Madesclaire, and Kévin “misutaaa” Rabier to complete one of the strongest line-ups in CS:GO history. The new roster comes as part of a €50M investment from Rewired.gg spread over the next three years to create European super teams capable of winning the most coveted trophies in esports. The news follows the reveal of Team Vitality’s League of Legends roster, featuring World Champion finalist Luka “Perkz” Perković and back-to-back European Champion Matyáš “Carzzy” Orság.
Team Vitality’s CS:GO and League of Legends rosters represent a new era for the organisation as it aims to dominate European esports, bolstered by increased investment, unrivalled facilities and performance staff, and a strong leadership team from the sport and lifestyle industries. With a new laser focus on performance and securing the best international talent in esports, it is Team Vitality’s goal to conquer the biggest stages of them all by being the most serious contender at Worlds and Major on the three next years.
These gigantic rosters are represented in the “Watch us follow us” Team Vitality brand video in which CS: GO and League of Legends athletes become real Titans and gather to conquer the world. The video showcases Team Vitality’s ambitious objectives and performance goals which the organisation has created to take themselves to the next level.
As a legacy player, dupreeh is one of only five to have attended every CS:GO Major with titles secured at an impressive four tournaments including ELEAGUE Major: Atlanta 2017, FACEIT London Major 2018, IEM Katowice 2019, and StarLadder Major: Berlin 2019. magisk also joins Team Vitality with a long list of accolades including winning the prestigious Intel Grand Slam, a $1,000,000 prize awarded to teams who win a number of S-Tier events organised by ESL or DreamHack. Leading the helm, the most decorated coach in CS:GO history, zonic brings a wealth of experience, trophy wins, and expertise which is set to take Team Vitality to new heights.
“This scale of talent investment has never been seen in esports before and I am honoured to be leading the charge with these rosters which have the potential to make history in Europe and beyond,” said, Fabien “Neo” Devide, Co-Founder and Esports Director, Team Vitality. “Since the beginning of our entrance into CS:GO, we have been working with intensity to get to the top and nurture some of the best talent France has to offer. It’s now time to think internationally and create a new CS:GO culture of European talent with legacy athletes. As proven winners, dupreeh, magisk & zonic have what it takes to move us from not just being a strong contender, but the best CS:GO team in the world.”
CS:GO has always been central to Team Vitality’s competitive ambitions with a long history of winning trophies and nurturing some of the biggest players in the space. Team Vitality is home to back-to-back HLTV Player of The Year and Forbes 30 under 30 honoree ZywOo. At only 21 years old, ZywOo is on track to mark the history of his sport and broke records by becoming the holder for the most MVP awards earned by a player during their first competitive year, securing five. With this new roster of experienced talent, Team Vitality is set to elevate ZywOo to earn another HLTV Player of The Year award and take his skills to unprecedented heights.
“I couldn’t be more excited to have dupreeh, magisk, and zonic join the team. Together they have achieved so much and I know there is a lot both myself and the team can learn from them. I am so ready to show everyone how far this team can go!” said Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut.
Team Vitality’s new CS: GO roster will be composed of:
- Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, France, 21 years old
- Two time, and current, HLTV best player in the world
- Kevin “Misutaaa” Rabier, France, 18 years old
- Blast Premier Fall 2020 winner as a rookie
- Dan “apEX” Madesclaire, France, 28 years old
- Captain and 2015 Major winner
- Peter “dupreeh” Rothmann Rasmussen, Denmark, 26 years old
- 4 time Major winner and Intel GrandSlam Winner
- Emil “magisk” Hoffmann Reif, Denmark, 23 years old
- Major MVP, 3 time Major winner and Intel GrandSlam Winner
Asia
Esports World Cup Foundation Announces Strategic Partnership with Tencent
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Partnership to drive EWC’s expansion in China, leveraging Tencent E-sports’ networks and expertise to connect Chinese esports with EWC’s global ecosystem
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced a partnership with Tencent, making Tencent E-sports the EWCF’s strategic partner in China to drive the expansion of the Esports World Cup’s presence in the region. This partnership marks a significant milestone in the EWCF’s purpose to unite global esports fans under one competitive umbrella and underscores its commitment to integrating the world’s most important and rapidly growing esports market into the Esports World Cup platform. The agreement was formalized at the Empower Esports Worldwide Series – The Esports Operation and Technology Session in Shenzhen, China.
The collaboration will establish a dedicated Development Team to enhance EWC’s visibility, engagement, and industry collaboration in China, while leveraging EWC’s and Tencent E-sports’ networks and expertise to connect Chinese esports with EWC’s global ecosystem. Tencent E-sports will provide marketing expertise, strategic consulting, and operational support to deliver diverse content and experiences.
“The Esports World Cup has created a global stage for competitive gaming, demonstrating its influence not only in China but across the world,” said Mars Hou, Vice President of Tencent Games and General Manager of Tencent E-sports. “Through this partnership, we are committed to elevating EWC’s presence in China and integrating our esports industry with the world’s largest competitive gaming event. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with EWCF to push esports forward on a global scale.”
“The Esports World Cup’s purpose is to create a global platform for esports and gaming fans worldwide, and investing in key growth markets for esports is a core pillar of our mission,” said Thamer Al Shuaibi, Chief of Staff at the Esports World Cup Foundation. “China plays a critical role in this vision, and Tencent’s leadership in gaming and esports positions it as an essential partner. By combining our expertise, we will continue to strengthen esports as an industry, providing new opportunities for Chinese players and Clubs, and bringing the best of the Esports World Cup to Chinese fans.”
Esports World Cup 2025 will once again unite gaming and esports communities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for a global competition that will crown the next Esports World Cup Champion. The tournament’s unique cross-game format will reward Clubs and players competing for a life-changing prize pool in a mix of platforms and genres, bringing together esports’ best players, Clubs and games under one banner in the largest-ever celebration of esports.
The post Esports World Cup Foundation Announces Strategic Partnership with Tencent appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Compliance Updates
ESIC Implemented its Anti-doping Testing Programme at IEM Katowice 2025
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The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) implemented its comprehensive anti-doping testing program at IEM Katowice 2025, organised by ESL FACEIT Group (EFG). Conducted at EFG’s request, this initiative reinforced the commitment of both organisations to maintaining the highest standards of competitive integrity in esports.
ESIC’s anti-doping procedures, carried out in accordance with the ESIC Anti-Doping Code, ensured that all participating competitors at IEM Katowice adhered to globally recognised best practices. The programme featured advanced testing protocols, thorough monitoring and rigorous enforcement measures, all designed to uphold fair competition.
“At ESIC, our mission is to protect the integrity of the esports ecosystem. By deploying our anti-doping testing at IEM Katowice 2025, we reaffirmed our dedication to supporting event organizers like EFG in hosting competitions where athletes compete responsibly and ethically,” Stephen Hanna, Chief Executive Officer of ESIC, said.
Over the past few years, ESIC has administered more than 700 anti-doping tests at major esports events, including those hosted by EFG. This extensive experience further cements ESIC’s reputation for providing industry-leading services that prioritise player welfare, competitive fairness and a culture of transparency.
“Protecting integrity is paramount for esports, which is why EFG and ESIC are constantly working together to ensure fair competition. ESIC have proven themselves to have the experience, as well as an advanced system that provides the credibility and peace of mind needed at one of our biggest and most prestigious events, IEM Katowice,” Carsten Kramer, Director of Tournament Management at EFG, said.
The post ESIC Implemented its Anti-doping Testing Programme at IEM Katowice 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
Abios partners with Kindred Group to provide full esports betting solutions
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New partnership will see Kambi’s Esports division deliver its full suite of esports products, including odds via Kambi’s Odds Feed+ API, to Kindred’s in-house sportsbook
Abios, a leading esports data and odds provider and part of Kambi Group, is pleased to announce a multi-year partnership with Kindred Group, one of the world’s leading online betting and gaming operators, to provide its full range of best-in-class esports betting solutions.
Abios will supply its complete esports package, including odds, data, widgets and always-on content, to Kindred’s Unibet and 32Red brands, providing the operator’s in-house sportsbook with unrivalled esports betting experiences.
Leveraging Kambi’s Odds Feed+ API, Abios will deliver its high-uptime odds feed which includes comprehensive esoccer and ebasketball coverage, as well as leading esports titles such as Counter-Strike 2, League of Legends, Dota 2 and VALORANT. Utilising automated modelling, Abios’ low latency odds feed utilises official tournament data to power leading features such as bet builder and player props.
The new agreement is in addition to the Esports odds service Abios currently provides to Kindred as part of Kambi’s Turnkey Sportsbook service.
Anton Janér, Managing Director and Co-founder of Abios, said: “We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with Unibet and the wider Kindred Group, a leader in the global sports betting and gaming market. This agreement showcases the value of Abios’ full esports odds packages and our ability to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of operators and enables them to reach new audiences through the growth of esports.”
Ben Colley, Sportsbook Director of Kindred Group, added: “Esports continues to grow in popularity, and it’s essential that we offer our customers the best possible experience in this exciting category. Extending our partnership with Abios via Kambi’s Odds Feed+ API and leveraging their deep expertise and esports odds solutions ensures we remain at the forefront of esports betting, delivering unparalleled products and services to our players.”
The post Abios partners with Kindred Group to provide full esports betting solutions appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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