eSports
Inaugural Pan American Esports Championships unites worlds
Momentous partnership between Global Esports and Panam Sports marks historic integration of esports at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games, 30k fans and visitors attend GEFesitval
In a groundbreaking moment, the Pan American Esports Championships (#PEC23) were officially integrated into the esteemed Santiago 2023 Pan American Games. This historic alliance between traditional sports and esports signifies the global rise of esports, thanks to the collaboration between the Global Esports Federation and Panam Sports.
At the official Welcome Ceremony, Paul J. Foster, CEO of Global Esports Federation, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “This historic integration of esports into the Pan American Games is a testament to the inclusive nature of our community. Esports is no longer just a pastime; it’s a movement, and today, we take a giant step forward in showcasing its cultural significance and the power of collaboration.”
Meanwhile, Neven Ilic, President of Panam Sports, shared, “The #PEC23 is a pioneering event that highlights the evolution of sports. Esports is now firmly rooted in the Pan American Games, and this integration strengthens the spirit of unity that is at the heart of Panam Sports.”
#PEC23 proudly champions diversity and inclusivity by uniting over 120 esports athletes from 25 countries. This event sets a pioneering example of gender equality, with Open and Women’s categories featured in eFootball 2024 and Dota 2. For the first time, esports athletes are sharing the Pan American Village with their athletic counterparts, fostering collaboration and understanding between these two worlds.
The GEF, in partnership with Panam Sports, upholds values of equality, fair play, diversity, and inclusion. This historic event showcases the GEF’s mission to promote the credibility and prestige of esports while engaging with a #worldconnected community. It brings together top athletes – traditional sports and esports – from across the Americas, competing in 39 traditional sports and two popular esports titles.
Dr. Melita N. Moore, GEF Vice President, emphasized, “We are proud to provide esports athletes with the platform they deserve. Their participation in this historic convergence is a testament to the powerful connection of two worlds.”
The esports competition begins on November 2 and runs until November 4 at the National Stadium Sports Park in Santiago. The #PEC23 athletes will also participate in the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games Closing Ceremony on November 5, further cementing the connection between traditional sports and esports.
Concurrently, the GEFestival, a fusion of esports’ inclusive culture with games, music, dance, technology, and entertainment, welcomed nearly 30,000 fans and visitors during its first days.
For the first time, the #PEC23 will be streamed LIVE from November 3, in four languages – Spanish, English, Portuguese, and Chinese. Viewers can watch the action on GEF’s Twitch and YouTube, Panam Sports Channel, BTS Brasil, Epulze, Douyin, Douyu, and Huya.
eSports
ANICHESS PARTNERS WITH ESPORTS LEADER TEAM SECRET AHEAD OF PVP LAUNCH
Anichess, a subsidiary of Animoca Brands and the progressive chess-based online strategy game developed in partnership with Chess.com and five-time World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, today announced a partnership with global esports brand Team Secret to further connect competitive gaming and Web3. John Yao, CEO of Team Secret, will join Anichess as an advisor.
Anichess is an innovative chess-based Web3 game developed in a collaboration between Animoca Brands and Chess.com, the renowned global online chess platform. Anichess provides a novel tactical twist on the classic game of chess by implementing spells that open up new strategies and gameplay, and that require players to rethink the rules of traditional chess as they uncover the expansive lore within the world of the gameboard. Anichess recently raised a funding round of US$1.8 million, led by Sfermion and Amber Group with participation from Fenbushi Capital, Aspen Digital, SNZ Capital, and others (see announcement of 25 April 2024).
Team Secret is a global esports brand dedicated to bringing together the best gamers to compete worldwide, while also delivering entertaining experiences to its fans. It offers advertising and promotional sponsorship, talent and team development, business management, coaching, and other forms of support to both professional and aspiring players in the esports arena.
The partnership between Anichess and Team Secret aims to solidify chess’s esports status by combining a new platform to play and learn on for an engaged audience of up-and-coming online chess masters. Ahead of the player-versus-player (PvP) mode launch later in Q2 2024, Anichess will receive input from Team Secret on its game design as well as support in bringing the spellbinding game to a dedicated community of esports players.
“Esports has always been a core pillar of Anichess’ modernization of chess’ legacy,” said Brian Chan, head of Anichess. “Anichess’s engaging visuals, tools to improve and thrilling spells make it an amazing platform for all competitors, regardless of chess experience. We look forward to those willing to take on the challenge when PvP arrives in-game soon.”
“For how ancient the game of chess is, its esports scene is a fresh, rising star in terms of viewership, player base and tournaments,” said John Yao, CEO of Team Secret. “Anichess is a promising twist on chess, with even more of what makes the original great: compelling tactics, broad recognition and rewards for players willing to think outside the box and surprise opponents. I’m looking forward to guiding Anichess into the realm of esports and integrating the new chess platform into our dedicated community.”
The post ANICHESS PARTNERS WITH ESPORTS LEADER TEAM SECRET AHEAD OF PVP LAUNCH appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Bucks Gaming
CREAM CITY CONVERGENCE ESPORTS TOURNAMENT SELECTED AS CAPCOM PRO TOUR EVENT
Bucks Gaming’s Cream City Convergence Esports Tournament has been selected as a Capcom Pro Tour event, becoming one of just three tournaments in North America chosen to be a qualifier for the prestigious Capcom Cup.
The Capcom Cup is an annual Street Fighter 6 competition, hosted by video game developer and esports organizer Capcom, with a $1 million first place prize. Each year, Capcom selects a small number of tournaments worldwide to serve as Capcom Pro Tour events, with the winning players from each event qualifying for the Capcom Cup. As one of the tournaments selected by Capcom for the honor this year, Cream City Convergence will become the first esports event run by an NBA team to work with a major esports organizer.
Top-ranked Street Fighter 6 players will compete at Cream City Convergence when it returns for its second year on Saturday, Aug. 24, at Baird Center. In addition to Street Fighter 6, this year’s tournament will also have brackets for Tekken 8; Super Smash Bros Ultimate; Super Smash Bros Melee; and Guilty Gear: Strive.
eSports
Kambi and Abios Join ESIC as Anti-Corruption Supporters
The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has announced Kambi and Abios, its esports data subsidiary, as new ESIC Anti-Corruption Supporters. This partnership signals the alignment of Kambi’s longstanding commitment to corporate probity and sports integrity with ESIC’s ongoing battle against match-fixing and corruption in esports.
Kambi and Abios join a distinguished class of other Anti-Corruption Supporter stakeholders who have historically worked with ESIC to ensure that attacks against the competitive integrity of esports competition are appropriately reported and dealt with. Anti-Corruption Supporters assist ESIC in investigating suspicious betting activity, supporting ESIC’s broader mission to combat cheating and betting fraud in the esports industry. Kambi and Abios’ entrance into the Anti-Corruption Supporter class will see the entities actively work with ESIC to assist in ESIC’s mission to disrupt, prevent, investigate and prosecute all attempts to compromise competitive integrity in esport competition.
Abios’ Managing Director and Founder, Anton Janér, commented: “Our mission at Abios has always been to enable the sustainable growth of esports. As such, we’re incredibly excited to join ESIC in their mission to future-proof esports through combatting match-fixing and other integrity-related malpractices. Fair play is a crucial component in ensuring the viability of esports as a long-term community and investment and we hope to be able to support the industry together with ESIC going forward.”
Stephen Hanna, ESIC’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We are pleased to welcome Kambi and Abios as Anti-Corruption Supporters. Kambi and Abios are well trusted and recognised operators in their respective industries, and their entrance into the Anti-Corruption Supporter class of ESIC membership emphasises their shared commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity and fair play within the esports industry.”
The post Kambi and Abios Join ESIC as Anti-Corruption Supporters appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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