Connect with us
Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 (25-26 March)

eSports

BEACON Split 1 2023 will see a brand new Tournament Structure, with Teams competing for promotion to the VALORANT Challengers Northern Europe: Polaris 2024

Published

on

Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

VALORANT Regional Circuit: BEACON Split 1 2023, the Northern European VALORANT circuit focused entirely on the grassroots-level of play, is kicking off on February 25 with a LAN event at EPIC38. Following on from last year, budding VALORANT pros will be able to compete in a series of events and accrue circuit points, giving them a chance to qualify for the prestigious Polaris Regional League through the end-of-split Division 1 Circuit Finals taking place on May 22-26.

The BEACON Circuit has always prioritised getting as many eyes on up-and-coming VALORANT talent as possible, to help them on their journey towards professional play. In 2022, the BEACON Circuit saw just under 40,000 unique viewers consume nearly 24,000 hours of livestream content, giving aspiring VALORANT pros the opportunity to showcase their skills to a wider audience. The 2022 BEACON Split 1 Finals Weekend also made waves on social media in 2022 with 1.3 million impressions, 250 thousand engagements, and 361 thousand video views.

This year the BEACON circuit, operated by license holders Promod Esports, will be separated into three new tiers of competition; Minors, LAN Events, and Majors with each awarding up to 100, 500, and 1000 circuit points respectively. These points will contribute towards a team’s qualification and seeding for the Division 1 Circuit Finals. A full list of the confirmed BEACON Tournament partners, including the tier of the tournament they are hosting within the circuit, can be found down below.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Circuit events will start on February 25, and run until the BEACON Split 1 2023 Circuit Finals that take place from May 22. Teams will be able to compete in as many tournaments as they like within this time period, however, points earned from LAN-tier tournaments will not stack, and only the highest point finish across all BEACON Split 1 2023 LAN events will count towards the team’s total points. The 2023 Split 1 Division 1 Circuit Finals will once again feature eight teams that accumulated the most points throughout the split, as well as the two lowest-placed teams from the previous Challengers Northern Europe: Polaris Split. The top two teams from the Division 1 Circuit Finals will then lock in their place for Polaris in 2024.

Rob Black, Founder and CEO of Promod Esports, said, “We’re thrilled to be supporting grassroots VALORANT players through the BEACON Circuit in 2023. Offering future star players a clear and defined pathway to professional play has always been a key goal for us, and we are proud that we can continue to provide that with BEACON throughout the coming year.”

Broadcasted events throughout the split can be found on the local tournament organisers’ Twitch channels, so make sure you’re keeping an eye out for announcements on our social media so you can follow and tune in to all the action! For more information on the VALORANT Regional Circuit: BEACON Split 1 2023, check out the BEACON website and Discord.

Confirmed BEACON Tournament Partners:

  • Majors:

    • Leagues.gg

    • The Goose House

    • FEL

  • LANs:

    • EPIC38

    • The Gathering

  • Minors:

  • Gamer.no Norway

  • RÍSÍ Iceland

  • Leagues.gg Sweden

  • Leagues.gg Denmark

  • England, Wales, Northern Ireland & Ireland Minor (TBC)

  • Esports Scotland

  • FEL Finland

 

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

More events may be added to the circuit, so keep an eye out for new partners and tournament editions as we move closer to the start of the Split. If you are interested in hosting an official BEACON event this Split, please apply via the official website.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Asia

Esports World Cup Foundation Announces Strategic Partnership with Tencent

Published

on

esports-world-cup-foundation-announces-strategic-partnership-with-tencent
Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

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.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

“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.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)
Continue Reading

Compliance Updates

ESIC Implemented its Anti-doping Testing Programme at IEM Katowice 2025

Published

on

esic-implemented-its-anti-doping-testing-programme-at-iem-katowice-2025
Reading Time: < 1 minute

 

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.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

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.

Continue Reading

eSports

Abios partners with Kindred Group to provide full esports betting solutions

Published

on

abios-partners-with-kindred-group-to-provide-full-esports-betting-solutions
Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

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.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

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.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)
Continue Reading

Trending