eSports
TEAM VITALITY RENEWS WITH ZEN UNTIL 2026, PAVING THE WAY FOR ROCKET LEAGUE LEGACY
- Team Vitality renewed its contract with Alexis ‘zen’ Bernier for two years, with the ambition to continue making Rocket League history.
- Zen’s meteoric rise highlights the club’s approach to recruiting and supporting the development of young talent.
- The French prodigy has been with the club since before he entered into the professional scene, all the way to his crowning as Rocket League world champion.
- The renewal comes as part of Team Vitality’s ambition to retain its superstar players with its sights set on a third World Champion star for its jersey.
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Paris, June 18th, 2024 – Team Vitality, the internationally leading esports club, is proud to announce the renewal of its prodigy player Alexis “zen” Bernier until 2026. In just one year of his career, zen has already made his mark on the history of Rocket League thanks to his unprecedented performances.
This year, the 17-year-old even made it into the prestigious Forbes “30 under 30” ranking in the Sport & Games category for Europe. The renewal of zen’s contract underlines Team Vitality’s desire to maintain its status as the best Rocket League team in the world and to enshrine its players in the club’s legend.
FROM A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH TO WORLD CHAMPION
In 2022, Alexis debuted his talent in 1V1 show matches on Scottish Rocket League caster JohnnyBoi_i’s channel. Undefeated and undeniably talented, he quickly became a phenomenon and reinvented the very way of playing the game. Thanks to his incredible creativity and his unprecedented mechanical accuracy, zen was quickly considered the best player in the world, despite never having played in an official competition before.
At the age of 16, zen finally made his debut in official competition under the colours of the Bees. Joining the roster for the third split of the RLCS in April 2023, he made a sensational entrance alongside his teammates and friends Yanis “Alpha54” Champenois and Andrea “Radosin” Radovanović. Together, they exceeded the club’s wildest expectations.
During the 2023 season, the French trio remained undefeated in knockout matches, securing victories in three Regionals and the Major in the 2023 Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS). Zen’s contributions were pivotal in making Team Vitality the first team to achieve the perfect split. Where his crowning achievement came with Team Vitality’s triumph at the RLCS 2023 World Championships in Düsseldorf, and zen’s stellar performance earned him the MVP title.
In 2024, the team has already won a first regional and two qualifications for the Majors (Copenhagen and London) in fierce European competition. Zen’s rise within the ranks of Team Vitality continues and his in-game performances continue to draw attention.
THE ROAD TO WORLDS AND A THIRD STAR
Zen’s renewal sends a clear message to the world – Team Vitality is here to win another World Championship title. With its powerful roster, Team Vitality is ready to redefine the standards of excellence in the Rocket League circuit and consolidate its position as a favourite in the Rocket League scene. Having recently won the RLCS 2924 Major 2: Europe Open Qualifier 4, beating French rivals Gentle Mates Alpine in a thrilling 4-1 victory in the finals, secured their spot in the Finals of the RLCS Major 2 in London this summer.
A win at the London Major this June would not only solidify their position as the leading team in Europe but would also grant them a coveted spot at the World Championship in Austin, Texas. The global stage would present a golden opportunity for the roster to etch their names in history once again. A victory at Worlds would not only mark their second championship title but also a third star on their jersey, signifying their reign as three-time Rocket League World Champions.
“We have been with Alexis from the start of his professional career in the world of RLCS, and we take immense pride that he has renewed his trust in us. He knows that we are ready to support him in the upcoming chapters of his career because together we have established a healthy and trusting relationship.” said Fabien ‘Neo’ Devide, co-founder and President of Team Vitality, “Our club aims to retain its most talented players, to continue to be the best team in the world for years to come, and zen will continue to remain here and to be apart of the club’s legend and discipline.”
As the club accelerates its international development, Team Vitality wants more than ever to retain its gems. The renewal of zen and its desire to shine on the world stage also coincides with a pivotal moment in the history of the French organisation. His unwavering commitment to performance, his intelligence and his team spirit embody the very essence of the club’s values – enough to push the limits of the game and inspire a whole generation of athletes!
A NEW TEAM VITALITY JERSEY TO CELEBRATE THE RENEWAL
To celebrate the occasion, Team Vitality is proud to announce the release of a special series of very limited edition jerseys. The club’s classic black and blue jersey will feature gold flocking on the player’s name as well as on the two stars on the chest.
Available for purchase online and in store at the V.Shop in Paris, these special versions of classic jerseys are limited to 50 “Vitality 2024 Pro Kit Jersey” jerseys and 50 “Vitality Paris Jersey 2024”.
The post TEAM VITALITY RENEWS WITH ZEN UNTIL 2026, PAVING THE WAY FOR ROCKET LEAGUE LEGACY appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Leading esports organisation Team Vitality is proud to announce that eight of its teams will be participating in this summer’s Esports World Cup. Driven by the ambition to be number one in the world, Team Vitality aims to win as many victories as possible thanks to its powerful rosters. The aim is to secure the best position per game and also in the club rankings. This major international competition represents a crucial step in Team Vitality’s strategic international development plan.
AN ELITE TEAM VITALITY DELEGATION TAKES ON THE EWC
After several months of qualification phases across the globe, Team Vitality has secured the coveted ticket to the Esports World Cup 2024 for eight of its teams.
Team Vitality delegation for the Esports World Cup
Counter-Strike 2
Holders of the title of the best team in the world in the HLTV 2023 rankings, Team Vitality’s CS2 roster has been invited to take part in the Esports World Cup Counter-Strike tournament. With their reputation firmly established, Team Vitality’s players stand ready to defend the title they won at Gamers8 2023.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
After taking first place at the WSL Season 8, Team Vitality’s MLBB team qualified for the EWC’s MLBB Women’s Invitational. Made up of talented young Indonesian players, the team has proved its worth by winning all their recent competitions. They are ready to demonstrate their mastery of the game and maintain their leadership status.
StarCraft 2
Made up of Maru, Solar and Ryung, Team Vitality’s Starcraft II players earned their ticket to the Esports Worlds Cup thanks to their outstanding performances. Maru’s second place finish at IEM Katowice 2024 made him the first Team Vitality player qualified to the Esports World Cup overall. Continued success throughout the year allowed Solar to secure his participation in Riyadh through his Global Ranking. Ryung will participate in the Korean qualifiers to earn his spot, potentially bringing the entire lineup to the Esports World Cup. The athletes are determined to continue their interstellar domination this summer.
Tekken 8
Talented showman Jeondding earned his place in the Esports World Cup at the ATL Super Tournament Summer 2024 this June. Known for his technical mastery and quick reflexes, the showman is ready to take on the world’s best players and once again establish himself at the top of the podium.
RENNSPORT
With a second place ranking in the 2024 Spring Season of ESL R1, Team Vitality’s RENNSPORT team has demonstrated its unfailing excellence, earning their spot in the Esports World Cup. Fresh from joining the ranks of the French team, the drivers are more than ready to make their engines roar as they conquer the international scene.
Teamfight Tactics
The brand-new Team Vitality team successfully secured qualification for the EWC Americas Qualifiers tournament. Made up of outstanding strategists, Team Vitality’s TFT roster is made up of renowned American streamers Kevin “setsuko” Jiang, Michael “k3soju” Zhang, Jeffrey “Milk” Pan as well as Libo “torontotokyo” Chang, who complete the lineup for the Esports World Cup while Kevin “Prestivent” Zou adds additional strength behind the scenes. Combining quick thinking and precise execution, they are ready to compete against the best teams in this competition.
Call of Duty: Warzone
Securing their spot by invitation, following their performance at the Grand Finals of the World Series of Warzone 2023, Team Vitality’s Warzone roster is ready to demonstrate its mastery at the Esports World Cup!
Honor of Kings
After an outstanding performance at the Honor of Kings Invitational 2024 Season 2 in Kuala Lumpur, the roster has secured its place among the world’s top teams. They now stand ready to represent the colours of Team Vitality on the international stage!
TEAM VITALITY AIMS FOR THE TOP
Team Vitality’s main objective is to reach the top of the Esports World Cup standings. Thanks to the recent integration of several talented teams, the Paris-based esports club aims to make its mark on the international scene. Participation in the Esports World Cup is a springboard for the club’s internationalisation strategy.
By engaging elite international teams in high-level competitions, Team Vitality aims to win prestigious titles, reinforce its reputation for excellence, and celebrate outstanding performance around the world. Its ambition is to raise the profile of the French organisation and inspire the next generation of players and fans.
Fabien “Neo” Devide, co-founder and President of Team Vitality, comments: “We’re taking part in the Esports World Cup with a single ambition: to win as many individual tournaments per game as possible. Our teams have worked tirelessly to qualify and prepare for this moment. We are confident in their talent and determination to carry Team Vitality’s colours high. All our players are ready to give their all to achieve our goals.”
The post Team Vitality is on the road to the Esports World Cup! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
PandaScore, the provider of esports betting odds, data and products, has welcomed former Flutter Entertainment executive Joseph Noone as Senior Sales Manager.
Noone is an experienced sales and account management leader with a demonstrated track record of building successful sales teams and driving revenue growth.
Over a 15-year career, he has led positions at pioneering companies both in and out of industry, including navigating the fast-paced world of video games media and agencies with stints at CBS Interactive and Curse.
He made his first move into the online gambling industry when he joined Flutter Entertainment as Relationship Management Team Leader for its Betfair brand before moving back into the video games space with director roles at Project N and Attention Seekers.
Whether in the trenches of start-ups or amidst the giants of the industry, Noone has always been able to spot opportunities in challenges and drive success in every arena.
As Senior Sales Manager at PandaScore, he is on a mission to drive the adoption of the company’s data-driven, AI-powered esports odds offering and innovation products including its revolutionary BetBuilder and PlayerProps.
Over the next few months he will be rallying PandaScore’s amazing team, forging new partnerships and ensuring that existing clients are maximising the potential of its odds, data and betting products.
Oliver Niner, Head of Sales at PandaScore, said: “We have incredible momentum behind the business right now having signed several big-name operators in recent months. Joseph will be able to use his skills and experience to keep this momentum going.
“Joseph’s enthusiasm and love of video games mean he will fit in perfectly with the wider PandaScore team and I look forward to working with him closely as we support more and more operators in their efforts to offer compelling esports betting experiences to their players.”
Joseph Noone, Senior Sales Manager at PandaScore, added: “I am excited to be the fresh blood in the PandaScore team and to make even more operators aware of our market-leading odds, data and betting products.
“As a fan of video games and esports, I understand the thrill of betting on such games and I’m thrilled to be able to bring this to more players in more markets, one sportsbook at a time.”
The post Former Flutter exec Joseph Noone joins PandaScore appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Two of the leading companies in esports data, Bayes Esports and GRID, partner up to support the single largest esports event in history, the Esports World Cup. They are working together to provide comprehensive official data solutions that will help drive match integrity and community engagement worldwide.
Starting on July 2nd, and running for eight weeks, the world’s best esports teams will compete across 21 game titles and 22 tournaments to be crowned the first ever Esports World Cup Club Champion. The unique cross-game format and an unprecedented prize pool of $60 million makes the EWC one of the most exciting events of the season. Bayes Esports and GRID will help bring engaging and immersive fan experiences to the event’s global audience through live data.
Both Bayes Esports and GRID have a long-standing history of advocating for official data in the esports industry. Both companies have a shared vision of building a sustainable infrastructure for esports which can only be done by forging official data partnerships. By uniting together, Bayes Esports and GRID can ensure the reliability, integrity, and innovation for the Esports World Cup.
“The Esports World Cup is unmatched in its ambition and scale in our industry, and their vision for the future is equally impressive. It’s a great pleasure to collaborate with Bayes Esports on this project to help provide integrity services and deliver community access to official data from the event.” says Charles Hanley-Nickolls, Chief Procurement Officer of GRID. “Bayes Esports and GRID both bring unique strengths to the table and this combined offering will be a first in the industry, we’re really excited about the potential of this partnership.”
“Partnering with GRID for the Esports World Cup marks a pivotal moment in our industry, bringing together the two leading data providers. We want to unite our strengths and tackle integrity and gray market issues together. Jointly, the companies can expand on the individual successes of the companies and build an overwhelmingly powerful service portfolio,” says Amir Mirzaee, Co-CEO and Managing Director of Bayes Esports. “We are both committed to delivering unparalleled data experiences built on fair and transparent practices. In doing so, we will fortify the esports industry as a whole.”
The post BAYES ESPORTS JOINS FORCES WITH GRID TO SUPPORT ESPORTS WORLD CUP Partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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