

eSports
The Premier League and EA SPORTS launch the 2020/21 ePremier League
The Premier League and Electronic Arts are launching the third season of ePremier League. The EA SPORTS
Registration for this year’s competition opens at 5pm GMT on Thursday 3 December at e.premierleague.com, with online qualification beginning in January. Representatives for all 20 clubs will compete to see who reaches the online playoffs, before the live finals take place next spring (dates TBC). The finals will once again be broadcast live on Sky Sports, Premier League channels and EA SPORTS FIFA Twitch channel. Over the last two seasons, the finals reached more than 22 million fans.
Premier League Commercial Director Will Brass said: “The EA SPORTS FIFA video game series is one of the key channels through which fans all over the world can engage with Premier League clubs and players. We are looking forward to another edition of ePremier League after the first two seasons delivered some thrilling entertainment while giving UK-based fans the chance to represent their teams in high-profile competition.
“ePremier League is a great platform for players of all abilities and a real mix of competitors have progressed to the final stages of both tournaments so far. This includes some of the highest-ranked professional FIFA-gamers in the world and relatively inexperienced players who have proved they can take on the very best.
“We have been able to deliver the live finals to a wide audience in the UK and around the world, thanks to EA Sports and our broadcast partners, and we hope fans enjoy watching and having the chance to participate in another exciting season of ePL action.”
The 2020/21 instalment of ePL was won by Watford FC’s Thomas ‘Hashtag Tom’ Leese after the inaugural ePL tournament was won by World No1 Xbox One player Donovan ‘Fnatic Tekkz’ Hunt on behalf of Liverpool FC.
Hashtag Tom said: “It meant a lot for me to be crowned the 2019/20 ePremier League champion as it is one of the most prestigious tournaments on the professional FIFA circuit and it was the first major trophy of my career.
“I can’t explain the number of times I had walked away from a tournament in FIFA 19 and 20 and felt like I should have won, so to win ePL after a lot of tough losses felt extra satisfying.
“I would recommend the competition to FIFA players as ePL is a massive tournament with a lot of people watching. It also gives you the unique chance to try and represent your favourite Premier League team. And if you’re looking to break into professional FIFA then this is the perfect opportunity for UK gamers to showcase their talent.”
The competition is open to UK residents aged 16 and over and will once again take place on PlayStation®4 and Xbox One. The winner will take home the trophy and a share of the £40,000 prize pot, and there will also be seats on offer for top-ranking players at the EA SPORTS FIFA 21 Global Series (FGS) rules here.
FIFA Deputy Commissioner Sam Turkbas said: “EA SPORTS FIFA esports popularity has the strongest momentum of all time and a key accelerator in its growth is through the power of its accessibility and authenticity. ePremier League gives competitors the opportunity to fulfil their dreams by representing one of their favourite clubs on the virtual pitch.”
During this season’s online qualifiers, all players will be required to play in 90-rated Online Friendlies mode as their chosen Premier League club. Those who progress to the playoffs and beyond will play on FIFA Ultimate Team ePremier League evolved during the 2019/20 season, with the introduction of the ePL Invitational tournament while football was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. This saw first-team players and other famous faces compete on behalf of all 20 Premier League clubs in an online EA SPORTS FIFA 20 tournament. Two instalments of the competition were broadcast across five continents as then-Wolverhampton Wanderers player Diogo Jota and Leicester City’s James Maddison were crowned champions. Highlights from the first two ePL seasons are available here.
ePremier League is operated by esports tournament organisers Gfinity. For more information visit e.premierleague.com.
ePremier League 2020/21 key dates
Thursday 3 December – Friday 15 January: Registration open Monday 4 – Sunday 31 January: Online qualification
Monday 15 February – Wednesday 3 March: Club Playoffs
March/April Live Finals (final dates TBC)
eSports
Ninjas in Pyjamas Renews Partnership with Red Bull

NIP Group subsidiary Ninjas in Pyjamas (NIP), a legendary esports organisation founded in Sweden in 2000, has officially renewed their partnership with iconic energy drink brand Red Bull. Originally teaming up in November 2022, NIP and Red Bull will strengthen operations, drive growth and expand their reach in esports. Red Bull’s global reputation opens new doors across content creation, fan engagement and operational stability for NIP, whilst Red Bull can reach NIP’s young and engaged audience as part of their continued commitment to the esports industry.
This renewed agreement will engage esports fans through exclusive player content – such as behind-the-scenes tournament footage – alongside the integration of Red Bull branding in Ninjas in Pyjamas’ social media, streams, player jerseys across multiple teams and events.
NIP and Red Bull will also work together on various activations, including the annual [SWE] CS Summit held at Red Bull Gaming Sphere in Stockholm, which sees leaders in the Swedish Counter-Strike scene come together to discuss and shape the future of their national scene. Supporting the Swedish esports scene and driving positive change at a national level is a key pillar of this partnership, which both will take steps to achieve through various activations.
Hicham Chahine, Co-CEO of NIP Group, said: “It has been a pleasure working with Red Bull over the past two years, collaborating on a series of highly successful projects. The more we work together, the clearer it has become that we align strongly on values and how to create meaningful experiences for our fans. We are truly delighted to continue this journey with them. Their passion for innovation and excellence aligns perfectly with our vision, and together, we look forward to pushing the boundaries of this industry even further.”
The post Ninjas in Pyjamas Renews Partnership with Red Bull appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
PandaScore and Orenes Grupo unite

Leading online sportsbook and casino operator in Spain and Mexico integrates provider’s cutting-edge esports odds feed
PandaScore, the award-winning provider of esports data, odds and betting products, has added yet another tier-one operator to its roster of partners after signing a deal with Orenes Grupo.
The partnership sees Orenes Group deploy PandaScore’s powerful Odds feed across its online betting brands in Spain and Mexico, allowing it to offer comprehensive and competitive odds for some of the most popular esports disciplines.
PandaScore’s Odds Feed really is unrivalled in the scope of markets and the value of the odds it allows operators to offer to their players. It uses a sophisticated model backed by a team of experienced traders including specialist traders for each discipline including CS2, Dota 2 and LoL.
PandaScore has seen a surge in demand for its esports betting data, odds and products as the vertical continues to go from strength to strength, especially as more tier-one brands look to get in on the action. This has seen PandaScore pass €1 billion in esports bets through its platform.
In addition to its Odds Feed, PandaScore offers a range of products including a smart BetBuilder, MicroBetting markets and an innovative AI-powered StoryBuilder.
João Carvalho, Senior Sales Manager at PandaScore, said: “Orenes Grupo has established itself as a leading operator in both Spain and Mexico with its sportsbook and casino brands and through this partnership with PandaScore, can really strengthen that position with a compelling esports betting offering.
“Demand for esports betting is on the rise and savvy operators are looking to capitalise on this by offering markets and odds to their players, which is what Orenes Grupo can now while being confident its odds are among the most competitive.
“We are thrilled to add another power player to our network of partners and look forward to working with the Orenes Grupo team to help the operator maximise the opportunity that esports betting presents.”
Vicente Rabasco, Head of Product & PMO at Orenes Grupo, added: “PandaScore is a leading provider of esports betting odds and products and we really couldn’t think of a better partner to be working with.
“We have established and defended our position by embracing new trends and delivering experiences our players demand, and this deal with PandaScore allows us to really build momentum behind our esports betting offering by putting quality at the heart of our proposition.”
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eSports
BETBY LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVE CUSTOM CS2 LEAGUE FOR CSGOEMPIRE

BETBY, a premium provider of innovative sports betting solutions, has announced the launch of a custom-made Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) league exclusively for CSGOEmpire, a leading operator in the esports sector. This latest addition reinforces BETBY’s commitment to delivering tailored esports experiences that enhance engagement and offer operators unique branding opportunities.
The newly introduced league, integrated into BETBY’s award-winning esports content portfolio BETBY Games, fully replicates the lifecycle of a real CS2 match. It follows a best-of-three (BO3) format with a maximum of 24 rounds (MR24) and overtime, incorporating side switches, weapon purchases, bomb plants, and all the mechanics that define real CS2 gameplay.
Featuring top teams from the HLTV ranking, the league ensures a high level of competition. Additionally, a special guest team, ‘Empire’, representing CSGOEmpire’s brand owners, joins the lineup with an up-to-date roster. This exclusive league was made possible through complex mathematical modeling and advanced infrastructure. It is available only on CSGOEmpire, providing its audience with an unparalleled esports betting experience.
This initiative is part of BETBY’s broader strategic collaboration with Moonrail Limited, the parent company of CSGOEmpire. Through this partnership, BETBY has provided its cutting-edge technology and services to enhance CSGOEmpire’s sportsbook operations, further strengthening its position in the sports betting sector.
Kirill Nekrasov, Head of Sportsbook Product at BETBY, commented: “Our partnership with CSGOEmpire to develop a custom CS2 league highlights our ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of innovation in esports betting. We have meticulously designed this league to replicate the real dynamics of professional CS2 gameplay, ensuring that CSGOEmpire’s users enjoy an authentic and engaging experience that cannot be found anywhere else.”
A representative from CSGOEmpire added: “At CSGOEmpire, we are always looking for ways to bring our users the most authentic and immersive esports betting experiences. BETBY’s ability to develop a fully customized CS2 league that mirrors real gameplay is a game-changer for us. This exclusive league not only strengthens our brand identity but also provides our community with a truly unique betting product they won’t find anywhere else.”
The launch of this league builds upon BETBY’s previous announcement introducing customizable esports tournaments, allowing operators to create tailor-made leagues that align with their brand identity. This framework enables partners to personalize various aspects of their tournaments, from team branding to in-game visuals, making content more engaging and brand-specific. The collaboration with CSGOEmpire is a prime example of how this approach can deliver a unique product that resonates with the platform’s users.
The post BETBY LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVE CUSTOM CS2 LEAGUE FOR CSGOEMPIRE appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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