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BOOM Rivalry named champions in GAMERS GALAXY: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022 in epic finale comeback

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BOOM Rivalry emerged victorious at the Grand Finals of the GAMERS GALAXY: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022, pulling off an incredible comeback run to stake its claim as one of the top Dota 2 teams in the world and taking home the bulk of the AED 1,000,000 prize pool.

The five-day series came to an epic conclusion on Sunday, as Galaxy Racer, headquartered in Dubai, played host to a thrilling clash between BOOM Rivalry and Tundra Esports, having battled through a field of nine of the biggest Dota 2 teams across a series of gruelling group matches and knockout rounds.

The final day began with a scintillating lower bracket final clash between BOOM Rivalry and Nigma Galaxy, giving Dota 2 fans a fast-paced and right-to-the-wire battle. While Nigma Galaxy equalised the tie to take the match to a final third match, BOOM Rivalry put in a fantastic comeback performance to progress and set the stage for a pulse-racing Grand Final against Tundra Esports.

Tundra Esports dealt ‘first blood’ in the Grand Final, putting in a thrilling first game display to lead the tie, but BOOM Rivalry immediately fought back in a dominant performance in the second game to even things up. The third map could have gone either way, with BOOM Rivalry looking strong in the early phases, but Tundra Esports eventually fought back in an incredibly attritional battle to win the game and step within one win from claiming the Championship.

With everything on the line, BOOM Rivalry showcased their poise under pressure and turned in some clutch plays to give fans a fifth and final game. The two teams saved the best round for last, with a spectacular fifth match that showcased some of the best Dota 2 combat and tactics in motion. Eventually, BOOM Rivalry’s momentum proved too much to handle, and the team came away with the match and Championship after a string of unlikely comeback victories.

With a gruelling round robin in the first round and a tough bracket in the knockouts, getting to the final was no easy feat for BOOM Rivalry, playing eight intense rounds on the Final day, after having to overcome the likes of OG, Team Secret and The International (TI) Champions Team Spirit en route to the final

BOOM Rivalry Captain, Rolen Andrei Gabriel “skem” Ong, said: “It was amazing that we managed to make it through the final day of the competition, playing eight games to win the Championship, and it gives us a lot of confidence. Our mentality is to keep learning every game and every tournament, it doesn’t matter where as long as we’re still learning and playing as a team.”

“This tournament in Dubai was great, especially as a LAN tournament, the atmosphere you get between teams while you’re playing is unlike any other experience, and the ping is just so much better.“

Broadcasted live from Dubai Studio City, the GAMERS GALAXY: Invitational Series Dubai 2022 was the first significant Dota 2 LAN event of the year, while the latest Gameplay Patch 7.31 shook up the meta to add an extra layer of complexity and intrigue to the competition.

The tournament, hosted by Galaxy Racer, was the biggest Dota 2 event in MENA history and starred a talented roster of teams competing for the AED 1,000,000 prize pool, seeing over 2 million concurrent viewers across all livestream channels globally.

Founder and CEO of Galaxy Racer, Paul Roy, said: “Congratulations to BOOM Rivalry, they’ve been exceptional throughout the tournament and have given fans around the world a real spectacle in the Grand Finals. As MENA’s largest-ever Dota 2 tournament, we’re so proud to have delivered what has been an amazing event, showcasing the best teams and players in an exceptional broadcast production, once again putting the region on the map as one of the most exciting esports hubs in the world.”

Dota 2 presenters, Sheever and Kyle helped bring the competition and the playoffs to life for viewers, while the Grand Finals also saw Cap, along with an all-star casting team of past TI winners, N0tail, KuroKy and SumaiL as a broadcasting first, with the trio bringing unparalleled strategic insight into the fascinating matchup to the delight of the Dota 2 community.

GAMERS GALAXY host, Kyle “melonzz” Freedman, added: “There was a lot of doubt about Tundra Esports after all the roster changes, but they’ve shown that they are real competitors, while BOOM Rivalry looks like it has a global superstar in the making with Yopaj. He plays with a ton of confidence and it looks like he’ll be a top player for a long time.

“The success of the GAMERS GALAXY: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022 shows that Dota 2 is a truly international game, and proves how important the LAN experience is for players and what it can bring to fans, even if it’s behind closed doors. LAN is where the biggest Championships should be decided.”

GAMERS GALAXY: Dota 2 Invitational Series Dubai 2022 was the largest esports tournament in MENA, and featured the first-ever Augmented Reality (AR) implementation, showcasing elements of Dubai including the iconic skyscraper Burj Khalifa, together with the desert dunes through state-of-the-art animation and visual graphics animation. The flawless AR implementation and next-gen production quality received tremendous praise from the Dota 2 community.

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THE ESPORTS AWARDS CROWNS THE BEST IN ESPORTS FROM THE PAST DECADE, INCLUDING NADESHOT, SJOKZ AND FAKER

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The Decade Awards ceremony, held alongside the Esports World Cup as part of the ‘Summer of Celebration’, saw an incredible 9.8 million votes cast by fans, celebrating esports and gaming’s most legendary figures in a landmark tribute to a decade of excellence.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, August 24th, 2025: The most prestigious night in the esports calendar returned this evening, as the Esports Awards hosted their one-off special, the “Decade Awards”. Presented by Trevor “Quickshot” Henry, Jessica “JessGOAT” Bolden and Barney Banks, this year’s Decade Awards marked the Esports Awards’ 10th anniversary and honoured a decade of industry-defining achievements and trailblazers in esports across 14 different categories.

Among the evening’s standout honours was League of Legends superstar Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, who was named Esports PC Player of the Decade, alongside his team T1, who were crowned Esports Team of the Decade, and their coach Kim “kkOma” Jeong-gyun, recognised as Esports Coach of the Decade. Riot Games were also at the forefront, receiving multiple accolades including Esports Publisher of the Decade, Esports Game of the Decade for League of Legends, and Esports Live Event of the Decade for the unforgettable League of Legends Worlds 2017 Championship.

Marking the grand finale of the Summer of Celebration, the Esports Awards delivered yet another iconic evening, with a star-studded roster of presenters taking to the stage to announce the winners. Highlights included legendary professional skateboarder Tony Hawk, Twitch sensation Tyler1, renowned content creator and Sidemen member Vikkstar, and multiple-time EVO champion Justin Wong.

Over the past decade, the esports scene has grown exponentially, with countless players, teams and creators contributing to its growth into the global phenomenon it is today. Tonight, the Decade Awards celebrated those who have defined the last ten years in esports, honouring the individuals, teams and organisations whose achievements have left a monumental mark on the industry. The complete list of Decade Awards winners is as follows:

  • Esports Game of the Decade – League of Legends
  • Esports Personality of the Decade – Matthew “Nadeshot” Haag
  • Streamer of the Decade – Félix “xQc” Lengyel
  • Esports Commercial Partner of the Decade – Intel
  • Esports Content and Coverage Platform of the Decade – Liquipedia
  • Esports Publisher of the Decade – Riot Games
  • Esports Live Event of the Decade – League of Legends Worlds 2017
  • Esports PC Player of the Decade – Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok
  • Esports Breakthrough Player of the Decade – Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
  • Esports Controller Player of the Decade – Anthony “Shotzzy” Cuevas-Castro
  • Esports Coach of the Decade – Kim “kkOma” Jeong-gyun
  • Esports Team of the Decade – T1 – League of Legends
  • Esports Organisation of the Decade – Team Liquid
  • Esports On-Air Talent of the Decade – Eefje “Sjokz” Depoortere

“Over the past ten years, the growth in the esports industry has been incredible to see, and it’s been a great honour to recognise the icons who have contributed to its rise in popularity,” says Mike Ashford, CEO of the Esports Awards, “Tonight, we showed the world just how global and impactful esports has become, and celebrated the individuals and companies that have consistently driven its success. Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to the esports community for your ongoing dedication and support.”

The Decade Awards is brought to you by the Esports World Cup, Oakley and Media Partner Hitmarker. The full stream can be found here: twitch.tv/esportsawards.

The post THE ESPORTS AWARDS CROWNS THE BEST IN ESPORTS FROM THE PAST DECADE, INCLUDING NADESHOT, SJOKZ AND FAKER appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Hyprop and MTN Launch SHIFT COD Tournament as Part of 2025 Shift Gaming Experience

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With four spots, one stage and R60 000 on the line, South Africa’s sharpest squads are gearing up for a Call of Duty clash like no other.

The 2025 Hyprop MTN Shift Gaming Experience is about to get louder, faster and more intense. Hyprop, in collaboration with MTN, is introducing SHIFT COD – a Call of Duty tournament designed to test South Africa’s sharpest squads in a no-excuses, high-pressure arena. Four online qualifiers. One LAN finale. R60,000 in prize money. Only the best survive.

The format stays sharp and unforgiving: each qualifier is a single-elimination best-of-five series. Teams will battle across Hardpoint, Search and Destroy, and Control. Only the top squad from each of the four qualifier events will earn a shot at the LAN finale, taking place at Canal Walk on 12 and 13 September. Finalists will cover their own travel and accommodation, but the stage – and the spotlight – will be waiting.

“The Shift Gaming Experience is about putting real competition at the centre of public spaces and connecting people through the power of play,” said Christie Stanbridge, Brand and Campaigns Marketing Manager at Hyprop. “Adding Call of Duty to the lineup takes the intensity up a notch. We’re giving gamers a serious platform to show what they can do – live, on stage and in front of a crowd.”

The four qualifiers took place online, where teams signed up for free:

All qualifier finals were broadcast, giving fans full access to the action and allowing players to gain exposure beyond the scoreboard.

Four teams qualify for the LAN finale, where they’ll compete in a double-elimination bracket for a prize pool structured as follows:

  • 1st place: R30,000
  • 2nd place: R15,000
  • 3rd place: R10,000
  • 4th place: R5,000

Now in its third year, the Hyprop MTN Shift Gaming Experience has become one of the country’s most visible platforms for esports and casual gaming. Hosted at Hyprop-owned malls including Canal Walk, Clearwater and The Glen, the experience blends competitive tournaments with public engagement to bring gaming into the mainstream.

“MTN SHIFT isn’t about gimmicks. It’s built for players, whether you’re grinding in ranked or showing up to prove a point on LAN,” said Stanbridge. “We’ve seen how gaming can energise our spaces and create new communities. SHIFT COD builds on that energy.”

With only four LAN spots available, the window to make your mark is narrow, and the competition will be ruthless. Visit acgl.gg/mtnshift.

Remaining Tournament Dates & Venues:

SHIFT COD is part of the MTN Shift Gaming Experience which takes place at:

Capegate – Online Qualifier: 31 Aug | In-Centre Event: 5 – 7 Sep

Canal Walk – Online Qualifier: 7 Sep | In-Centre Event: 17 – 21 Sep

The post Hyprop and MTN Launch SHIFT COD Tournament as Part of 2025 Shift Gaming Experience appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon Fights off the Competition to Reign as TEKKEN 8 at 2025 Esports World Cup Champion, Securing Back-to-Back EWC Titles

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Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon has claimed the TEKKEN 8 at EWC 25 crown having beaten Yoon “LowHigh” Sun-woong in a 5-2 grand final finish. His victory secures DN Freecs their first win at EWC 25 as he takes home $250,000 of the $1,000,000 prize pool.

Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon had a strong run at EWC 25, losing just one series against Kim “Kkokkoma” Mu-jong in the first match of the second phase. From that point on, however, he went unbeaten on his way to the grand final, even taking down Kim “Kkokkoma” Mu-jong for revenge on his way back from the lower bracket.

In the semifinals, Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon booked his place in the grand final with a 5-3 finish over Kim “CherryBerryMango” Jae-hyun, securing his second EWC TEKKEN 8 grand final in a row. Ulsan showcased his mastery of Dragunov throughout the grand final, setting the scene with a decisive victory in the first set, before taking the title in the seventh set with a 5-2 win.

His grand final opponent, Yoon “LowHigh” Sun-woong, took down Team Vitality’s Jeon “JeonDDing” Sang-hyun in a 5-2 finish to lock his place in the grand final. The former EVO champion displayed his Bryan skills throughout the final against Ulsan, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the overall winner.

“I never expected this. I cannot imagine I would win again. I mean, this year I had a rough start; there was a nerf to Dragunov, I had a lot of difficulties – I wanted to prove myself on this stage, and I have done it,” said Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon. “It’s been like a dream to be here. Thank you to those who support me from everywhere, my team, my friends, all my partners, and especially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for making this the biggest tournament in the world.”

“I’m still hungry. I just want to make myself a legend,” said Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon.

Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon secured 1000 Club Championship points for DN Freecs, who, as a result, jumped up to joint-eleventh place in the Club Championship standings, with 1200 points. Despite having three players in the top eight, DN Freecs will only receive one lot of points.

It was a disappointing showing from Team Falcons in TEKKEN 8, as all three representatives were eliminated before earning any points. With only a few games left to earn points, Team Falcons had high hopes for TEKKEN 8. Elsewhere, Twisted Minds, who secured victory earlier in the day in PUBG, failed to make it two for two on Saturday, also failing to score points in TEKKEN 8 as Arslan “Arslan Ash” Siddique was eliminated by overall winner, Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon.

The post Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon Fights off the Competition to Reign as TEKKEN 8 at 2025 Esports World Cup Champion, Securing Back-to-Back EWC Titles appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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