eSports
Skyesports Masters: Gods Reign crowned champions of India’s First Franchised Esports Tournament; bag major chunk of INR 2 crore prize pool
Skyesports Masters, India’s biggest Esports tournament with an INR 2 Crore Prize Pool, reached its exhilarating conclusion as Gods Reign took the crown at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium, Bangalore. The team took down Revenant Esports in the thrilling two-day Grand Finale to become the inaugural champions of India’s first-ever franchised Esports tournament on Sunday.
The Skyesports Masters Grand Finale at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium was the country’s first post-pandemic Esports event that took place in a stadium. With more than 7,100 people registering to attend the event live, the on-ground matchup unfolded in front of a huge crowd who were gathered to cheer for their favorite CS:GO team.
The finals contested by Revenant Esports and Gods Reign turned out to be an electrifying affair between the two titans of India’s CS:GO landscape. The star-studded team led by Hrishikesh “Crazy_Gamer” Shenoy and comprising Anshul “KiiLSwitCh” Adarkar, Piyush “Clouda” Kalwania, Akash “Ph1NN” Bose, and Parijaat “Rev3nn” Banerjee performed to the best of their abilities to close the series 2-0 against a formidable Revenant Esports.
Commenting on the victory, Hrishikesh “Crazy_Gamer” Shenoy, Team Captain of Gods Reign CS:GO said, “We came into the Grand Finale to win it all and I am glad that my team was able to pull it off. It truly feels amazing to win the inaugural season of the Skyesports Masters after the countless hours of practice and dedication we have put in. We are grateful to all our fans who came to the venue to support us and the others watching from home. This victory goes to them.”
The finals kicked off with both teams exchanging rounds initially to set up nail-biting action in the first map. However, Gods Reign was able to snowball a late-game round win towards the victory. The second map, though, was comparatively one-sided as Gods Reign took the command initially and prevented Revenant from making a comeback, similar to the semifinals.
The event also witnessed the presence of N.A. Haris, Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Vice-President of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) who felicitated the players of Gods Reign. “I wish all the best to Esports and our government is in support for you and anything we can do. We are always here for you,” he stated.
The Skyesports Masters was one of India’s biggest gaming tournaments. The event kicked off with the League Stage from July 8 to August 17 as the eight franchised teams competed for the four spots in the Grand Finale. With more than 50 matches played, the tournament was a testament to the competitiveness of Counter-Strike Esports.
“Congratulations to Gods Reign for their triumph in the biggest CS:GO tournament in the country. The Skyesports Masters served as a platform that showcased the talent and competitive spirit that runs through the veins of the country’s Esports community. We are also grateful to Mr. N.A. Haris for gracing the event with his presence and reaffirming the government’s commitment to developing the Esports ecosystem of India. Skyesports will continue to nurture the growth of Esports by organizing high-profile tournaments that enable competitive players along with their teams to thrive and create a name for themselves,” said Shiva Nandy, Founder and CEO of Skyesports.
According to the “Windows of Opportunity” report on India’s Media and Entertainment industry by FICCI-EY, the number of brands investing in Esports in India grew from 72 in 2021 to 80 in 2022, and it is estimated to reach 100 in 2023.
Being the biggest gaming event in the country, Skyesports Masters was a testament to this as the tournament roped in industry giants including AMD, Windows 11, Flipkart, and Zebronics as the sponsors along with Loco, who were the broadcasting partners for the event and played host to the livestream.
Besides the high-octane Esports action, fans were treated to brand booths by Zebronics, AMD, Windows 11, and Flipkart. The event featured a fusion between Esports and music as rap sensation Karma teamed up with prominent content creator Mortal for a music performance.
eSports
Emmy-Winning Director R.J. Cutler’s Docuseries Esports World Cup: Level Up Premieres June 6 on Prime Video
Prime Video, one of the leading entertainment destinations, will premiere the five-part documentary Esports World Cup: Level Up on June 6, with new episodes released weekly. Directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler (Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry, Elton John: Never Too Late and Martha), the series goes behind-the-scenes of the inaugural Esports World Cup (EWC) in 2024 — a defining moment in global esports, where over $60 million in prize money ignited a high-stakes, multinational battle to crown the world’s top esports Club.
The series is produced by This Machine (a part of Sony Pictures Television), with R.J. Cutler directing, John Dorsey serving as showrunner, and Jane Cha Cutler, Trevor Smith, Elise Pearlstein and Mark Blatty executive producing. Level Up will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
Esports World Cup: Level Up offers a rare look inside a global competition that’s redefining what it means to be a champion for a new generation of athletes and fans. R.J. Cutler and his team of expert storytellers embedded themselves within the eight-week tournament – watched by over 500 million fans globally – to uncover the personal sacrifices, rivalries and stakes driving the action.
Shot in verité style, the series combines intimate home visits from around the world and on-the-ground coverage from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It follows a wide cast of characters – from Club CEOs orchestrating million-dollar strategies to rising stars chasing life-changing wins – while capturing the pulse of elite esports competition.
“What drew me to the Esports World Cup was the compelling human stories unfolding within this high-stakes arena. Level Up isn’t just about the incredible competition and prize money; it’s about the dedication, the passion, and the sheer will of these athletes and teams pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Under high pressure, we discover the true character of the competitors who vie for $60 million, but who also expose their humanity in the process,” said Cutler.
At the heart of Level Up is the “EWC Club Championship,” an unprecedented, multi-title tournament format where Clubs compete across more than 20 games, earning points toward a single leaderboard. Every match, every point, reshapes the race for global dominance. With the highest prize pool in esports history on the line, the EWC is not just a tournament – it’s a proving ground for the next generation of sports icons.
“A win might make the headlines — but the real story is the people behind it. Level Up dives into the human side of esports: the pressure, the ambition, the sacrifices. It’s about what it really takes to compete at the highest level — and why it matters. R.J. is the best at bringing those stories to life, and this one captures the heart of what we’re building,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation.
The post Emmy-Winning Director R.J. Cutler’s Docuseries Esports World Cup: Level Up Premieres June 6 on Prime Video appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Esports betting pioneer adds daily fantasy esports offering to its growing range of products, with its sights set on the US market
PandaScore, the award-winning provider of esports odds, data and betting products, has continued to push boundaries with the launch of Daily Fantasy eSports, a truly groundbreaking product for operators and players.
Daily Fantasy eSports has been developed for the US market but will have global appeal with players drawn in by the chance to create virtual teams of real-life players and earn points based on their actual game performances.
Contests range from daily matchups to season-long leagues, with plenty of prizes up for grabs.
PandaScore’s Daily Fantasy eSports is backed by an expert-led esports trading team to deliver fast, accurate settlement data across unique, player-focused markets driven by the provider’s established and proven betting models.
An Interactive Player Widget serves up rich player stats and profiles, with PandaScore’s powerful BetBuilder enabling same-game parlays.
But that’s not all. PandaScore has more than 17,000 players in its esports player age and info database, the largest in the market.
It also offers dedicated helper codes and documentation to ensure smooth and seamless operator integration. It really is as easy as 1-2-3.
1 – There is a kick-off call to align on goals, timelines and fantasy formats.
2 – The operator accesses PandaScore’s dedicated fantasy-focused API to accelerate the build
3 – The dedicated integration manager ensures effortless onboarding and a successful launch
By leveraging PandaScore’s odds and data, alongside its team of experts and specialists, online sportsbook and daily fantasy sports operators can launch faster, ensure accuracy and scale their Daily Fantasy eSports offering with confidence.
Oliver Niner, Head of B2B at PandaScore, said: “Daily Fantasy eSports is a pioneering product from PandaScore that will really hit the mark with operators across North America, as well as other global markets.
“It allows operators to engage esports fans and bettors with a compelling product and proposition, but without the degree of risk that comes with standard betting as the payouts are controlled.
“Daily Fantasy eSports is already live with Dabble and is performing incredibly well, so we look forward to going live with more operators in the coming months.
“This really is a game-changing product, and we can’t wait to see it become available at some of the biggest betting brands in North America and beyond.”
The launch of Daily Fantasy eSports complements PandaScore’s growing esports betting offering, which includes odds and data for a huge number of disciplines, plus betting products like its BetBuilder, MicroMarkets and StoryBuilder.
The post PandaScore launches game-changing Daily Fantasy eSports product appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Esports Charts, a Ukraine-born analytics company that aggregates real-time viewership insights about esports, has won the Esports Innovation Award at the EsportsNext Industry Awards, hosted by the Esports Trade Association (ESTA) in Dallas, US.
The Esports Innovation Award recognizes an organization or individual that has introduced groundbreaking technology, services, or strategies significantly advancing the esports industry.
Esports Charts was honored for its scalable analytics platform, which provides comprehensive tournament and viewership statistics across more than 25 livestreaming services — helping stakeholders from publishers and teams to fans make smarter, data-driven decisions.
“Winning the Innovation Award from ESTA is an important milestone for us as a leading esports analytics service in the world. Also, we’re especially proud to represent Ukraine-born innovation on an international stage.
“From day one, our mission has been to bring clarity and transparency to the world of esports data. And this recognition from the industry is both an honor and a motivation to keep raising the bar.
“Thank you to our incredible team and partners, who believed in us from the start. This award is a shared success — and we’re just getting started,” Artyom Odintsov, co-founder and CEO of Esports Charts.
The post Esports Charts Wins “Esports Innovation Award” at the EsportsNext Industry Awards appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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