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Introducing the Valhallan Esports League: a new competitive gaming experience for youth esports teams in the UK and Europe

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Valhallan Esports League (VHEL), a youth esports league exclusively designed for youth esports with players aged 10-16 years, is excited to announce its launch in the UK and Europe. The new initiative expands the US-based league’s footprint following three years of growth in North America.

This summer season, starting on June 12th, the league is inviting coach-led youth esports teams of 2-5 players to participate for free, in a thrilling opportunity to compete across a variety of popular games. The league is open to teams associated with schools, clubs, community organisations, LAN centres and independent teams.

The league features five highly popular esports titles: Valorant, Overwatch 2, Rocket League, Apex Legends and Fortnite. For this initial season, the registration fee that normally starts from £57 per team per season for non-Valhallan teams is waived, offering a competitive, safe and fun platform for young gamers to showcase their skills and teamwork.

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Christopher Baarstad, Vice President of League Operations, said, “After three successful years of shaping the North American youth esports landscape with club teams and scholastic programmes, we’re thrilled to expand our reach and bring the unparalleled VHEL experience to the UK and Europe. Youth teams will have a unique opportunity to compete, develop their skills and foster lasting friendships. The VHEL difference lies in our unique approach, offering a supportive, affordable and anti-toxic league environment that has already attracted over 100 organisations and 2,000 student-players in the US. Now our aim is to create a vibrant gaming community that empowers kids to engage in healthy competition and have fun across the UK and Europe too.”

Registration for the league is open until June 11th, and teams can sign up on the Valhallan Esports League website. Participants will compete against other teams from the UK and Europe throughout the season. Moreover, twice a year, they will also have the opportunity to compete against their counterparts from the US arm of the league, adding an exciting international dimension to the competition.

The Valhallan Esports League is committed to creating a safe, inclusive and enjoyable environment for young gamers, emphasising fair play, sportsmanship and teamwork. With this launch, the organisation looks forward to fostering a thriving esports community for kids across the UK and Europe.

Here’s what coach-led teams in the US like so much about the league:

Safety & Collegiality – the highly moderated Discord server and strict anti-toxicity rules ensure a positive, collegial experience for all participants. VHEL prioritises safety and fair play, relieving the fear and anxiety of allowing kids to play others online, so coaches can focus on what matters most – guiding their teams to a successful, educational and fun season.

Cost Effective – VHEL keeps costs as low as possible to sustain league operations. The pricing model is based on a “team” model as opposed to the notorious “pay per player” model, so that teams are free to use roster cap sizes and substitutes without additional costs.

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Unparalleled Support for Teams – VHEL understands the importance of timely assistance, which is why a dedicated support team is available around the clock via Discord, especially during crucial match-up times.

Competitive Divisional Play – forget the standard swiss model – VHEL’s divisional play structure guarantees exciting, evenly matched contests that foster growth and skill development. Divisional champions advance to face other top teams in the playoffs.

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Thunderpick and HEROIC Launch Path to the Pros Counter-Strike 2 Tournament

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June 17, 2024

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Thunderpick, the premier online crypto betting platform, and leading esports organization HEROIC, announced the launch of the Thunderpick Path to the Pros tournament. This tournament gives the opportunity for avid Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) players and fans to experience competitive gaming like the professionals, whether they’re gathering friends for fun or aiming to make a name for themselves in the world of competitive CS2.

Path to the Pros will be divided into two leagues – one for amateurs (noobs) and one for experienced players. Kicking off on July 6 and running until October, the schedule includes bi-weekly matches on Saturdays, with 16 qualifiers divided into FACEIT levels 1-7 and 8-10. Players can secure their spot in the main event by showcasing their skills and winning their league. Some of Thunderpick’s influencer roster – including Jake Lucky and FlickFlops – are joining up to create a team. Various stages of the tournament will be streamed live.

Participants will compete for a prize pool of $17,500 and the unique opportunity to compete in a showmatch against HEROIC. Throughout the tournament, Thunderpick and HEROIC will be announcing additional giveaways, including a $500 skin. The main event, taking place at the end of the year, will be a professionally produced online tournament featuring 16 teams.

“We are excited to collaborate with our partners at HEROIC to bring the Thunderpick Path to the Pros tournament to the broader gaming community. This event offers an incredible opportunity for CS2 players of all skill levels to compete and have a chance to face off against top-tier teams,” Kelly Sanders, Head of Strategy at Thunderpick, said.

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Intel® Extreme Masters Cologne 2024: All 16 teams set to compete in the 10 year anniversary event

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4 days ago

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June 13, 2024

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From August 10 – 18, 16 top Counter-Strike (CS) teams will battle it out during Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) Cologne 2024 for a share of the $1,000,000 prize pool, a win in the race to secure the Intel® Grand Slam V, and the coveted trophy. Today, we are thrilled to share with you the full lineup of teams competing in the celebratory event.

IEM tournaments are the pinnacle of esports competition for players worldwide and are at the heart of excitement for fans from around the globe. This year, we are celebrating our 10 year anniversary at the LANXESS arena as the final three days of IEM Cologne 2024 will once again take place in the iconic and packed-out arena in Cologne, Germany.

Also dubbed the Cathedral of Counter-Strike, the event’s significance lies in its long-lasting traditions and ability to consistently deliver legendary moments. This year, everyone is invited to go on a trip down memory lane and to experience the world’s best CS teams to-date playing CS2 for the first time on stage in Cologne.

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The teams competing at IEM Cologne 2024 are:

  • Team Spirit (IEM Katowice 2024 winner)
  • FaZe Clan (IEM Chengdu 2024 winner)
  • MOUZ (ESL Pro League Season 19 winner)
  • G2 Esports (IEM Dallas 2024 winner)
  • Team Vitality (ESL World Ranking Global)
  • Natus Vincere (ESL World Ranking Global)
  • Astralis (ESL World Ranking Global)
  • Virtus.pro (ESL World Ranking Global)
  • ALTERNATE aTTaX (Online Qualifier Germany)
  • HEROIC (ESL World Ranking Europe)
  • Eternal Fire (ESL World Ranking Europe)
  • Team Falcons (ESL World Ranking Europe)
  • Complexity Gaming (ESL World Ranking North America)
  • 9z Globant (ESL World Ranking South America)
  • The MongolZ (ESL World Ranking Asia)
  • FlyQuest (ESL World Ranking Oceania)
  • Team Liquid (ESL World Ranking Global)
  • Imperial Esports (ESL World Ranking Global)
  • FURIA Esports (ESL World Ranking Global)
  • BIG (ESL World Ranking Global)
  • BetBoom Team (ESL World Ranking Global)
  • paiN Gaming (ESL World Ranking Global)
  • MIBR (ESL World Ranking Global)
  • SAW (ESL World Ranking Global)

The post Intel® Extreme Masters Cologne 2024: All 16 teams set to compete in the 10 year anniversary event appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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SIS strengthens bet365 partnership with global launch of eSoccer product

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5 days ago

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June 12, 2024

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Operator significantly enhances content offering around the world

SIS (Sports Information Services), the leading content supplier of 24/7 live betting services, has agreed a landmark deal with long-term partner, bet365, to deliver its comprehensive eSoccer portfolio across all regulated markets and boost the renowned operator’s global offering.

The integration of the complete suite of H2H Global Gaming League™ eSoccer matches will see bet365 benefit from the increase in betting opportunities which are proven to maximise engagement and margin.

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The agreement considerably strengthens SIS’ Competitive Gaming offering across the globe with eBasketball already live. The addition of eSoccer contests means more than 150,000 events will now be available on the world’s leading sports betting operator’s online platform.

Built specifically for sportsbooks, SIS’ H2H Global Gaming League™ is proven to deliver superior margins, adding as much as 10% in value to operators. Professional gamers take part in all eBasketball and eSoccer matches which are produced entirely in-house at SIS’s UK-based secure studios.

Competitive Gaming is the only product available on the market to have been awarded the Esports Integrity Commission’s (ESIC) Gold Standards. The highest possible accreditation created to set unmatched levels of integrity and safety in the industry, it has trained referees overseeing every contest.

Paul Witten, Managing Director EMEA at SIS, said: “We are very pleased to launch our eSoccer product as part of our long-term partnership with bet365.

“It is evident that customers have taken to our fast-paced, highly competitive short-form action and engage with the many available betting opportunities and we expect this to continue with the integration of our complete Competitive Gaming offering across regulated markets.”

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The post SIS strengthens bet365 partnership with global launch of eSoccer product appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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