

eSports
LEC Partners with Red Bull, Warner Music, and Secretlab for 2022
We’re thrilled to announce the return of three long-term partners for the LEC 2022 season.
As we prepare for the start of LEC Spring 2022, we’ve been working with our partners to ensure that we offer the best possible viewing experience for our fans around the world. Today, we’re proud to announce that three of our long-term partners will be returning to support the 2022 season.
The first of these partnerships is our Official Energy Drink Supplier, Red Bull. This will be our fourth consecutive year working with Red Bull and we can’t wait to build on our partnership throughout the year.
Red Bull will excite the LEC followership by creating content activations that will appear throughout LEC events and also promoting grassroots LoL esports over the next 12 months. Further, Red Bull Solo Q, the official 1v1 League of Legends tournament, in which fans can compete against each other, is returning for 2022.
Next, we are ecstatic to confirm that Warner Music will once again be joining us as an Official Music Partner for 2022. Over the four years we’ve been working with Warner, they’ve introduced some truly amazing artists to LEC fans and we can’t wait to see what they’ve got in store for the year ahead.
Warner Music was instrumental in powering the 2022 LEC promotional video with Chrissy Constanza, and will be bringing a similar calibre of talent to LEC content going forward.
Finally, we’re excited to confirm that Secretlab will be returning for a multi-year partnership as the Official Gaming Chair Partner for the LEC and EU Masters! From chairs inspired by K/DA’s music releases and the Ruination event to the premiere of Arcane on Netflix, Secretlab has been a constant in the League of Legends universe, celebrating major League milestones since 2019. As the Official Gaming Chair at regional leagues and global tournaments including the World Championship, the Mid-Season Invitational, and All-Star, esports teams have gotten familiar with Secretlab chairs and we’re delighted to have them return to support the LEC for the third year running with the new Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022.
Additionally, the exclusive Secretlab x League of Legends Tilted emote that was first dropped during Worlds 2021 will be making its return during LEC 2022 – stay tuned to Secretlab’s social media pages to find out how you can get yours.
“LEC has constantly kept us on the edge of our seats with mind blowing plays each year. With the induction of increasingly younger talents across the league, following an action-packed year which made LEC 2021 the most watched season of all time, we’re expecting even more epic faceoffs in the upcoming season and the teams can count on being supported by the world’s best gaming chairs in their battle for a spot at Worlds,” says Beatrice Wee, Senior Manager, Global Partnerships, Secretlab. “There’s no compromise when it comes to equipping Europe’s best.”
With these amazing partners alongside us, we can’t wait for what will no doubt be the most exciting year of LEC action yet. Will MAD Lions continue their reign at the top, or will old favourites G2 Esports or Fnatic rise back to the top spot with their refreshed rosters?
Compliance Updates
ESIC Issues Lifetime Ban to StarCraft II Player Xue “Firefly” Tao Following Match-Fixing Investigation

The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) announced the outcome of its investigation into serious integrity breaches involving professional StarCraft II competitors Xue “Firefly” Tao and Jinhui “Jim” Cao. Mr. Xue has been banned from ESIC Member events and competitions for life, while Mr. Jinhui has been provisionally suspended pending further sanction.
Following a detailed inquiry spanning April to July 2024, ESIC uncovered evidence of a coordinated match-fixing and profit-sharing scheme. The investigation found that Mr. Xue deliberately manipulated match outcomes to benefit illicit betting activity orchestrated by Mr. Jinhui, with whom he had a long-standing association.
Key findings include:
• Pre-match wagers placed by Mr. Jinhui predicting Firefly’s losses — often by precise scorelines.
• Consistent match losses by Firefly aligning with those wagers across seven tournaments.
• Large Alipay transfers from Jim to Firefly immediately following these matches.
• A WeChat exchange on 21 August 2024 directly referencing prior payments and an effort to conceal evidence.
ESIC has concluded that Xue “Firefly” Tao committed 21 breaches of the ESIC Integrity Programme, spanning both the Anti-Corruption Code and Code of Conduct. As a result, he has been handed a lifetime ban from all ESIC member events and competitions in any capacity.
Mr. Jinhui has been provisionally suspended and served with a Notice of Charge. He has until 14 July 2025 to respond before ESIC issues a formal sanction.
The post ESIC Issues Lifetime Ban to StarCraft II Player Xue “Firefly” Tao Following Match-Fixing Investigation appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
BETER Wins Esports Betting Supplier Award at the EGR B2B Awards 2025

BETER, the in-demand provider of fast-betting content, data, and odds for esports and sports, has been awarded Esports Betting Supplier at the prestigious EGR B2B Awards 2025.
It is the first time BETER has received this award, marking a significant milestone in the company’s journey and reflecting the growing demand for its fast-paced esports products.
The EGR B2B Awards celebrate the companies powering the global iGaming industry, recognizing excellence and rewarding those leading in innovation, reliability, and client service.
BETER’s esports offering features the fan-favorite ESportsBattle tournaments, providing non-stop betting action across popular disciplines such as eFootball, eBasketball, and eHockey, with eTennis set to become available to all partners soon. It means bettors can wager on approximately 500,000 matches annually, with up to 50 markets per event, while operators benefit from an average margin of 7.5%.
In addition, BETER provides a comprehensive Esports Odds Feed, delivering market-leading odds for over 40,000 pre-match and live events per year. These odds are calculated using official data and compiled by a team of expert traders.
With a team of over 130 esports traders, BETER ensures that players across all partner operators can place bets on the provider’s events with more than 90% uptime.
All ESportsBattle`s matches come with 24/7 live streaming, real-time data and odds, and are closely monitored by BETER’s in-house Integrity team to ensure strict adherence to fair play standards. As a result, only 0.01% of matches have been flagged as suspicious in the past 12 months.
Gal Ehrlich, CEO of BETER, said: “We are incredibly proud of the entire BETER team for the hard work that led to this achievement.
“Their tireless efforts to deliver best-in-class esports products for the next generation of bettors have paid off—not just in winning this award, but in delivering a top-tier product and experience to our partners and their players, consistently exceeding expectations.
“This award rounds off an incredible six months for BETER, and we head into the second half of the year with strong momentum behind us.”
Adam Conway, General Manager of Esports Business Division at BETER, added: “Our esports betting products are unmatched—led, of course, by our ESportsBattle tournaments.
“These tournaments truly set the standard for what a fast-betting esports experience should be, and we’re thrilled to see that recognized by the EGR B2B Awards judges.
“Our Esports Odds Feed is equally impressive and has become an essential tool for operators looking to offer the best accurate odds in the industry.
“I’d like to thank the entire BETER team for their dedication and to EGR for this recognition. We couldn’t be happier to add our first EGR B2B Award to the trophy shelf.”
The post BETER Wins Esports Betting Supplier Award at the EGR B2B Awards 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
Esports World Cup Foundation Renews Partnership with Albaik

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has announced the renewal of its partnership with Albaik for a second consecutive year, aimed at enriching the experience of both visitors and players participating in the Esports World Cup (EWC). With a deep-rooted history in Saudi Arabia since 1974, Albaik will continue supporting the Kingdom’s gaming and esports sector through this prestigious partnership, aligned with its broader mission to empower youth and foster local talent in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
This partnership is built on a shared commitment to the future – bringing diverse entertainment offerings to the largest esports and gaming event in history. With audiences attending from across the globe, EWC 2025 offers visitors an exciting mix of competitive matches, immersive experiences and cultural programming.
Albaik’s continued involvement in EWC 2025 reflects its long-standing commitment to social, sporting and economic development in the Kingdom. It also reinforces the company’s belief that meaningful community impact is a core part of doing business – a principle that shapes its contributions to national development and youth empowerment.
Returning to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 to August 24, 2025, the Esports World Cup will unite global gaming communities for a celebration of esports culture. With 25 tournaments across 24 games, 2000 elite players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries, the EWC will feature the largest prize pool in esports history, over $70 million. Fans can expect exclusive experiences, from high-stakes competition to live music, anime cafes, retro arcades, cosplay and more, drawing millions of fans online and in person.
The post Esports World Cup Foundation Renews Partnership with Albaik appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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