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Despite The World Against Him, Ivan Yeo Managed To Find Purpose With New Direction In Life

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3 years ago

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

 

After building an empire with Number 1 Esports Team in Southeast Asia, EVOS Esports, Ivan was forced to restructure his life due to his growing health concerns. After restructuring his life, he managed to continue his passion of helping people achieve their dreams through web3, thus leading him to create his latest project, Avium.

Singapore, 17th May 2022 – It was five years ago when the ex-CEO of EVOS Esports, Ivan Yeo, was given the news of his Kennedy Disease, a rare disease which would cause him lose his ability to properly walk and speak. While to many, it would be a deterrent, to Ivan, it was a form of motivation.

“It took awhile for me to grasp with the news, it was life changing.”

On a ticking time clock, Ivan was determined to make EVOS Esports into a colossus in the esports industry. In half a decade, EVOS Esports expanded into 5 different countries, picking up 3 World Championship titles in the process, building up one of the influential brands in the gaming sector with influencers around the region representing the brand.

While his mind was not discouraged, his body would not ignore.

As the days went by, every small action was getting a little harder. The mindless tasks weren’t mindless anymore, the simple movements weren’t that simple anymore; that’s when he realized that he had to prepare his succession plan and groom the next generation to take over.

“While I started to feel my body, I knew I couldn’t escape the reality anymore, I had to prepare for the next steps, not only for me but for EVOS Esports as well.”

Throughout 2021, EVOS Esports had a restructure, with Ivan closely with the new management team to pass the baton down, to ensure the organization had a plan after his inevitable succession. By January 2022, Ivan was no longer in charge of the day-to-day operations of the organization.

After stepping down, Ivan decided to use his newfound freedom to focus on his physical & mental health, choosing to follow a strict diet and exercise routine. The down time helped him refocus his life, allowing him to rediscover what was truly important to him.

“For the first time in my life, I could just focus on myself, I had nothing else on my mind except to just get healthier”

Inspiring the next generation & turning dreams into the reality. A phrase that stuck through his mind throughout his life. Ivan wanted to build a platform where he could lay a foundation for people to chase their dreams, he knew going back to EVOS wasn’t an option anymore, he had to find a new outlet.

The Second Wind

It was during late 2021 that Ivan started to pick up Web3 & realized the potential of the space. The industry allowed people to chase their passion in its purest form, with the possibility of enabling millions of people to build their dreams.

“As I thought deeper into the Web3 space, I realized my time at EVOS Esports prepared me perfectly for this, it was basically creating what I envisioned, in a new ecosystem.”

Now, Ivan is fully focused on his new project, Avium, a brand built on the blocks of Web3. It wasn’t just a new platform for Ivan to inspire people and bring people together, it was also a new inspiration for Ivan himself, the potential to change millions of lives through Avium was the spark he needed for his second wind.

While the brand he is carrying has changed, his vision has not, and the his core mission remains on course; to enable passion & build dreams. Ivan truly believes that creating an open metaverse ecosystem will empower millions new opportunities to create that they truly love.

“Everyone has their own belief in what the metaverse is. For me, it’s simple. The metaverse is supposed to allow accessibility to the masses, to connect people with one another, to allow them to enable their dreams. The metaverse isn’t just about the blockchain, it’s about the community. There shouldn’t be limits in life, if you believe, you should be able to make it happen. That is what I’m trying to build and what I have confidence in.”

The past half decade has been one steep challenge for him, through the blood sweat and tears, he is still here following his own passion, to inspire millions. Avium has created a short animation video, drawing inspiration from Ivan’s life story, to outline the struggles of his life and the vision he is aiming to create, as he mentions, there shouldn’t be any limits in life.

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Banijay Asia and NODWIN Gaming form Strategic Partnership to Amplify Youth Engagement in India

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4 days ago

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May 21, 2025

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Banijay Asia, a part of Banijay Entertainment, and NODWIN Gaming, a material subsidiary of Nazara Technologies, today announced a strategic partnership to revolutionize esports, gaming and youth entertainment in India. This collaboration marks a significant step in blending cutting-edge content with the booming gaming and youth culture ecosystem. As part of this alliance, Banijay Asia will take the helm in producing Playground, NODWIN Gaming’s flagship gaming reality show that has redefined the intersection of gaming, entertainment, and influencer culture in the region. The partnership will also bring new scripted and captive reality shows to daylight, with both companies co-developing new intellectual properties (IPs) and pioneering fresh content concepts across gaming, esports and youth culture.

Deepak Dhar, Founder & Group CEO – Banijay Asia & Endemol Shine India, commented, “This collaboration with NODWIN Gaming is an exciting extension of our vision to create content that resonates with evolving youth audiences. Gaming is not just a sport; it’s a culture, a lifestyle, and a massive content opportunity. With Playground and our upcoming IPs, we aim to redefine engagement and storytelling in this space.” He further added, “I look forward to the creative collaboration with Akshat Rathee, and Joost Roset who we previously worked with, in bringing iconic global IPs to India. This is an invaluable opportunity to create clutter-breaking formats in the youth and gaming space.”

With a diverse portfolio of high-impact IPs including the televised esports tournament – BGMI Masters Series (BGMS), Comic Con India, NH7 Weekender, and more, NODWIN Gaming is a key player in the gaming, esports and youth entertainment ecosystem.

Talking about the partnership, Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder & MD, NODWIN Gaming, said, “Youth entertainment is evolving rapidly, and our partnership with Banijay Asia positions us perfectly to lead that change. With Playground, we’ve just begun to explore what’s possible. Backed by Banijay’s global expertise, we’re now set to scale the IP across multiple languages and markets, with the ambition of building an international format. At the heart of our approach is our philosophy of ‘timeshare of mindshare’. We’re not just creating content, we’re creating cultural moments. The Rusk creative team will stay actively involved as we expand the universe of Playground, aiming to grow from one show to between five and ten each year. This is just the beginning of a bold new chapter in gaming and youth content.”

With gaming emerging as one of the most influential youth-driven industries, this partnership is poised to set new benchmarks in how gaming and entertainment are consumed in India. By leveraging Banijay Asia’s expertise in content creation and NODWIN Gaming’s deep-rooted understanding of gaming communities, the collaboration promises to push creative boundaries and capture the imagination of young audiences nationwide.

Banijay Entertainment has strong expertise in the gaming space, via its global distribution arm Banijay Rights, with successful gaming activations leveraging key brands including Peaky Blinders, Black Mirror, Simon’s Cat and MasterChef.

The post Banijay Asia and NODWIN Gaming form Strategic Partnership to Amplify Youth Engagement in India appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Esportes Gaming Brasil, the group behind Esportes da Sorte and Onabet, announces Hugo Baungartner as Executive Director for Institutional Relations and Partnerships

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5 days ago

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May 20, 2025

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The executive will focus on expanding the group’s presence in Brazil’s regulated market, with an emphasis on institutional engagement, new business, and compliance.

Esportes Gaming Brasil, the group composed of Esportes da Sorte and Onabet, announces the appointment of Hugo Baungartner as its new Executive Director of Institutional Relations and Strategic Partnerships (Chief Business Officer – CBO). He joins the company’s leadership team with the mission of strengthening institutional engagement with public authorities, regulatory bodies, and strategic partners, as well as driving the continued expansion of the group in Brazil.

Baungartner will be responsible for liaising with institutions such as the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA/MF), the Federal Revenue Service, the Central Bank, and COAF, as well as certification bodies and accredited laboratories. His responsibilities also include preparing the company for developments in the regulatory landscape.

“Hugo’s arrival strengthens our ability to act strategically in a constantly evolving sector. He brings an experienced, technical perspective aligned with the principles of governance and innovation that guide our group’s companies,” said Darwin Filho, CEO of Esportes Gaming Brasil.

“Brazil is going through a crucial moment in regulating the sector, and being at the forefront of this movement with such a relevant group is a challenge that truly motivates me. Our goal is to ensure our operations not only meet legal requirements but also serve as a benchmark for best practices, innovation, and sustainable growth,” said Hugo Baungartner.

With over 28 years of experience in the technology and gaming sectors, Baungartner will also be responsible for developing partnerships with global providers, evaluating merger and acquisition opportunities (M&A), and structuring new projects with full legal and regulatory compliance. He previously held leadership roles at companies such as Grupo Aposta Ganha, RCT Gaming, and Prohards.

The post Esportes Gaming Brasil, the group behind Esportes da Sorte and Onabet, announces Hugo Baungartner as Executive Director for Institutional Relations and Partnerships appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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eSports

GeoGuessr Joins the Esports World Cup Festival 2025

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5 days ago

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May 20, 2025

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The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) and GeoGuessr announced that GeoGuessr will join the Esports World Cup Festival tournament program, a new series of competitive events held alongside the Esports World Cup 2025 (EWC). The Esports World Cup and its accompanying EWC Festival will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 through August 24.

The EWC Festival will play host to a Last Chance Wildcard Tournament for the 2025 GeoGuessr World Championship. Taking place during Week 3 (July 21–27), the last chance tournament will feature a $20,000 prize pool and award two spots for the GeoGuessr World Championship later this year in Copenhagen on August 29–30. 16 of the top ranked GeoGuessr players will be invited to compete for the final two places on the global stage.

Celebrated for transforming online exploration into a competitive experience, GeoGuessr joins the EWC Festival as a global fan favorite. Launched in 2013, the geography-based guessing game gained worldwide momentum in 2020, similar to Chess, which also debuts at EWC 2025 this year. Since then, GeoGuessr has attracted millions of players to its browser-based and Steam platforms, connecting players through exploration of countries, continents, and cultures. Using the widely recognized Google Street View, GeoGuessr makes exploring the world accessible to all.

“We’re excited to welcome GeoGuessr to the Esports World Cup 2025 as part of our EWC Festival tournament program,” said Fabian Scheuermann, Chief Games Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation. “Few games have captured the imagination of players around the world quite like it – its blend of exploration, puzzle solving, and fast-paced competition has turned it into a global phenomenon. Together, we are bringing GeoGuessr’s official tournament to the Middle East to grow global ecosystems, expand opportunities for players and fans, and showcase the diversity of modern competitive gaming on the world’s biggest stage.”

Since launching the official GeoGuessr World Championship in 2023, the game has further elevated itself into a professional esport, with elite players and creators drawing global audiences across competitive circuits and livestreams.

The inclusion of GeoGuessr at EWC represents a major milestone for the game’s competitive scene, placing it alongside iconic titles and opening new opportunities to reach players and fans worldwide. The EWCF remains committed to providing games with strong communities and competitive potential the platform to grow and thrive.

The Esports World Cup Festival is a global celebration of gaming and esports culture. From esports tournaments and live music stages to retro arcades, anime cafes, cosplay shows and creator studios, the EWC Festival invites millions to explore and play together in the heart of Riyadh during the Esports World Cup.

The Esports World Cup 2025 will feature 2,000 elite players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries, competing in 25 tournaments across 24 games for a record-breaking $70+ million prize pool.

The post GeoGuessr Joins the Esports World Cup Festival 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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