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NODWIN Gaming and BLAST Triumphantly Conclude ‘The Draft’ with ‘shox’- Led Marcos Gaming Clinching Inaugural Title

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South Asia’s leading gaming and esports media company, NODWIN Gaming, in partnership with global esports entertainment company, BLAST celebrates the successful culmination of the region’s first legends-led  Counter-Strike tournament, ‘The Draft’. After an electrifying Super Six LAN final phase and a riveting BO5 grand final encounter against KennyS’ True Rippers Esports, Marcos Gaming, under the leadership of Counter-Strike icon Richard ‘shox’ Papillon, clinched a heart-stopping 3-2 victory, securing their place as the inaugural champions of ‘The Draft’.

Held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and powered by energy drink partners Red Bull, the Super Six LAN final phase of ‘The Draft’ featured 6 of the best Counter-Strike teams from India and Pakistan, with  India’s True Rippers Esports and Marcos Gaming emerging as the grand finalists. Richard ‘shox’ Papillon of team Liquid, G2, Team Vitality fame, boasting a remarkable career tally of over a dozen global CS tournaments including 1 Major led Marcos Gaming across the finish line. Shox was also named the tournament MVP with 302 kills, 187 deaths, and an impressive ADR of 103 across 5 Super Six LAN phase matches.

Speaking on the recently concluded tournament, Gautam Virk Co-Founder and CEO of NODWIN Gaming said, “We’re thrilled by the overwhelming success of ‘The Draft’ and the extraordinary display of Counter-Strike talent witnessed throughout the event. It’s been an exhilarating journey, witnessing the unwavering passion and dedication of gamers from the region. ‘The Draft’ embodies our unwavering commitment to not only elevate the esports ecosystem but also to nurture talent and cultivate a dynamic gaming community. The collaboration between NODWIN Gaming and BLAST has been a beacon of opportunity, providing emerging CS stars from the region with a platform to shine. Our heartiest congratulations to Marcos Gaming for their historic triumph as the inaugural champions of ‘The Draft’.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our esteemed partners at BLAST, the participating teams, esteemed legends, and everyone who contributed to making this event a resounding success. Additionally, our heartfelt appreciation goes out to our passionate community whose steadfast support fuels our drive for excellence. As we conclude this remarkable chapter, we look forward to continuing our mission of pushing the boundaries of esports and creating more platforms for players to realize their full potential.”

Faye Marlborough, Director of Brand at BLAST, said: “The inaugural ‘The Draft’ has been a huge success and just goes to show the ever-growing passion and talent currently available in the South East Asia esports region. The event highlights the need for more opportunities for these underserved gaming regions and ‘The Draft’ provided exactly that with Counter-Strike legends joining them on a global platform where we saw the very best from each region – the skill, passion and dedication on display was incredible.”

Speaking on ‘The Draft’, Counter Strike legend and MVP of the tournament, Richard ‘shox’ Papillon said, “CS isn’t as well known in this region as it is in Europe or North America but being here to lend a hand feels really good. Sharing the passion for the game is key because, without that spotlight, it’s tough for players to progress. I’m just glad to be part of that journey. Every kid deserves a shot at making their dreams come true, no matter where they’re from. And I’m looking forward to meeting some fans, I hope there are some fans in the teams here that we can meet and interact with. It’s not often they get the chance to meet us, so being in this smaller intimate setting gives us a chance to connect – different people, different cultures, and different countries. It’s what makes this whole experience so special.”

The tournament started with 64 teams each from India and Pakistan vying for a spot in the group stages to join the 4 invited teams in the India group stage and 1 invited team in the Pakistan group stage. From the group stages  True Rippers Esports, Marcos Gaming, and Gods Reign represented India at the Super Six LAN phase while Pakistan was represented by Pak Boyz, Team Wah Wah, and Com Mid. Counter-Strike legends Adam ‘friberg’ Friberg, Ladislav ‘GuardiaN’ Kovacs, Richard ‘shox’ Papillon, Olof ‘olofmeister’ Gustafsson, Christopher ‘GeT_RiGhT’ Alesund, and Kenny ‘kennyS’ Schrub were drafted in to lead and mentor the teams, further elevating the tournament’s intensity and prestige.

‘The Draft’ stands as a testament to the joint commitment of NODWIN Gaming and BLAST to enable the Counter-Strike ecosystem in the region and provide a platform for emerging CS talents to showcase their esports prowess on the world stage while playing alongside some of the brightest and legendary names to have ever played the game.

The collaboration between South Asia’s leading esports and gaming media company NODWIN Gaming and global esports giant BLAST underscores a collective initiative to enhance and elevate the overall esports landscape within South Asia.

 

About BLAST

We’re on a mission to take esports to the next level of global entertainment. We excite and invite billions of fans to join the esports revolution. We create live and digital experiences – from tournaments that pack out major arenas around the world to great content that’s guaranteed to blow your socks off.

We work with some of the world’s best game publishers and brands to elevate their properties into amazing esports experiences – having delivered tournaments, content and shows in a variety of games, including: Counter-Strike, Rainbow Six Siege, DOTA 2, VALORANT, Apex Legends, FIFA 2022 and Fortnite.

BLAST Premier is a worldwide Counter-Strike tournament series where the best teams and biggest superstars fight it out for glory and a multi-million dollar prize pool. Famous for its unparalleled production quality and game changing fan-first moments. Attracting tens-of-thousands of fans to our crazy-big-adrenaline-pumped live events in big arenas from London and Copenhagen to Miami and Sao Paulo, with millions more watching at home on our broadcast tuning in from more than 154 territories and in 25 different languages.

 

About NODWIN Gaming

NODWIN Gaming, a material and independent subsidiary of Nazara Technologies Ltd. (BSE: NAZARA), holds a significant position in the global gaming and esports industry as a leader in emerging markets. NODWIN Gaming is valued at $349 million as of 2023. Since its inception in 2014 by Akshat Rathee and Gautam Virk, NODWIN has established a global presence in regions such as South Asia, Singapore, the Middle East, and Turkey. The company’s business centers around building and monetising gaming and esports IPs such as Leagues, Tournaments, Reality shows. It engages with professional esports athletes, teams and content creators. Notable investors include Nazara, KRAFTON Inc, Sony Group Corporation and JetSynthesys

A key focus for NODWIN Gaming is the expertise in the mobile gaming and esports sector, where it has established a dominant position worldwide. By catering to the youth demographic, NODWIN is expanding its Total Addressable Market (TAM) by becoming increasingly relevant in the rapidly evolving digital entertainment landscape. Their diverse range of intellectual properties that engages the youth spans esports, gaming, pop culture, music, and comedy. This strategic expansion and cultivation of new intellectual properties are crucial to NODWIN’s aim of maintaining a significant role in the global gaming esports arena.

Asia

NOVOMATIC Announces New Strategic Distribution Partnership with Harvest Gaming

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NOVOMATIC has announced a new strategic distribution partnership with Harvest Gaming, a renowned company based in Singapore. This new venture marks an important step in NOVOMATIC’s strategy of expanding its presence across Asia and reinforces the Group’s long-term commitment to international growth through strong regional collaborations.

Under the new agreement, Harvest Gaming will represent NOVOMATIC’s leading portfolio of land-based gaming solutions in Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. With its in-depth market knowledge, excellent industry relations, and a customer-focused approach, Harvest Gaming is ideally positioned to support NOVOMATIC’s growth and deliver tailored solutions to local operators.

“We are delighted to partner with Harvest Gaming in order to strengthen our footprint in Southeast Asia. Their deep understanding of the regional markets and dedication to supporting our customers make them excellent representatives of the NOVOMATIC brand. This partnership will allow us to serve operators in Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam better with our tailored, high-performance gaming solutions,” Michael Barsin of NOVOMATIC Sales said.

“We are proud to be appointed as NOVOMATIC’s distributor for this important region. NOVOMATIC is globally recognized for its innovation, quality, and reliability – values that perfectly reflect our own business philosophy. We look forward to working closely with the NOVOMATIC team to support our customers and drive mutual growth in Southeast Asia,” Alfred Hwee, General Manager at Harvest Gaming, said.

This new partnership further expands NOVOMATIC’s global distribution network and enhances the Group’s ability to meet the specific needs of customers in one of the most dynamic regions of the international gaming industry.

The post NOVOMATIC Announces New Strategic Distribution Partnership with Harvest Gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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ZITRO TO SHOWCASE CONCEPT CABINET LINE AND NEW GAMES AT G2E ASIA 2025

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As excitement builds for G2E Asia 2025, Zitro is set to make a powerful statement with the debut of its all-new CONCEPT cabinet line alongside a portfolio of new, tailor-made game titles designed specifically for the Asian gaming market. This year’s lineup reflects Zitro’s continued evolution as a key player in gaming innovation, offering both cutting-edge hardware and captivating content.

Among the titles on display will be Legendary SwordTriple Charm JourneyFairyland QuestKing Fu FrogMerging Fu PotsLucky Vaulty, and Cash Totems—each developed with exciting features, enhanced with rich narratives, and high-quality multimedia to elevate player engagement across diverse markets.

Zitro’s rising influence in Asia is evident. The company’s recent expansion in the Philippines—where Zitro’s slot games are among the top performers in casinos within Entertainment City—underscores its rapid success in the region.

“We are proud to showcase our latest innovations at G2E Asia 2025,” said Sebastián Salat, President International of Zitro. “Our commitment to the Asian market remains steadfast, and we are confident that our player-centric products—crafted with deep understanding of the region’s vibrant gaming culture—will resonate with both operators and players. The introduction of our CONCEPT cabinet line and ambitious 2025 game release roadmap in place marks a new chapter for Zitro in this market, and we look forward to sharing it with the Asian gaming community.”

The post ZITRO TO SHOWCASE CONCEPT CABINET LINE AND NEW GAMES AT G2E ASIA 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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NOVOMATIC: Showcasing cutting-edge gaming innovations for the Asian market at G2E Asia 2025

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Visitors to the NOVOMATIC booth #A518B will experience a portfolio designed to meet diverse operator needs, featuring the latest cabinets, game mixes, and electronic table games that exemplify NOVOMATIC’s ongoing commitment to excellence and innovation.

New highlights and classic favorites await

This year, NOVOMATIC’s booth will spotlight a dynamic selection of state-of-the-art products, with a focus on enhancing the player experience and maximizing operator performance. The DIAMOND X™ series returns with significant upgrades to its sophisticated design and powerful performance, presenting: DIAMOND X™ 1.55J QUATTRO featuring XTENSION LINK™ Volume 3XTENSION LINK™ Volume 4, and the all-new XTENSION LINK™ Evolution. The multi-screen version DIAMOND X™ 2.32/3.32 equipped with GAMINATOR™ X5, will deliver a rich selection of entertaining game titles.

Additionally, the BLACK EDITION II series will make a remarkable appearance with BLACK EDITION II XL 2.32/3.32 showcasing the popular IMPERA LINK™ Series 2 and BLACK EDITION II 1.49J featuring both Impera PROLINK™ and the latest RISING TREASURES™. New releases will be complemented by proven classics such as MASTER SL™ 2.32/3.32 featuring the GAMINATOR™ X5.

Innovative solutions to enhance operational efficiency

Among the highlights of NOVOMATIC’s presentation will be the NOVO UNITY™ PRO, a state-of-the-art electronic table game solution with unprecedented functionality and adaptability. This ETG solution seamlessly integrates electronic live games – including Sic BoBaccaratRoulettePokerBlack Jack, and even slot games – across numerous player stations. The key benefits include customization for unique gaming experiences, the advanced management console & NOVO UNITY™ DB server as well as Tournament Mode and Simultaneous Betting/Parallel Play – where players can take part in up to three live games simultaneously, enhancing interactivity and engagement. Extra game windows on the betting screen enable guests to switch between the available games and versions.

Also on display will be the NOVOVISION™ Casino Management System, with its comprehensive suite of modules that include powerful loyalty features, TITO, cashless or single wallet solutions, advanced biometric functionalities and much more. From player recognition to secure access solutions, NOVOVISION™ sets a new standard for an efficient and secure gaming management.

Engage, experience, and innovate at G2E Asia 2025

Kenan Bajram, Deputy Director Global Sales at NOVOMATIC AG, highlights the company’s enthusiasm for the event: “G2E Asia is a key platform for NOVOMATIC to demonstrate our latest innovations to the Asian market. This year, we are excited to present a diverse portfolio of cutting-edge solutions that cater to the specific needs of our customers. From the DIAMOND X™ series to the innovative NOVO UNITY™ PRO, our showcase is designed to inspire and impress. We look forward to welcoming visitors to our booth and sharing our latest advancements.”

Visit NOVOMATIC at Booth #A518B during G2E Asia 2025 to discover the future of gaming technology, tailored specifically for the Asian market.

The post NOVOMATIC: Showcasing cutting-edge gaming innovations for the Asian market at G2E Asia 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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