eSports
GIANTX wins Madrid’s heart during a historic weekend for European esports
Global esports organisation GIANTX has come away from Madrid with a landmark victory, outstanding performances, and the affection of thousands of fans, after the Spanish capital turned into the European hub for esports over the weekend. The LEC Roadtrip, hosted by Movistar KOI — the organisation led by Ibai Llanos — proved to be a resounding success in terms of attendance and organisation. GIANTX, with roots in London and Málaga, played a starring role. Only a narrow defeat against the hosts prevented a perfect weekend. Now, the focus shifts back to Berlin, where GIANTX will fight for a place in the playoffs of the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC), the continent’s premier esports league.
For the first time, the LEC temporarily moved its competition from Berlin to Madrid. The Spanish capital once again demonstrated the strength and passion of its esports community, particularly in League of Legends. Around 10,000 spectators filled the Madrid Arena over two days, witnessing four thrilling matches — all decided on the final map — alongside fan activities and community events. The success of the Roadtrip has reignited calls for more international esports events to be hosted in Spain.
GIANTX approached the weekend with two objectives: to improve their standings by securing key victories and to reaffirm their status as one of Europe’s most historic esports organisations, with more than 15 years of tradition and success. The support for GIANTX was immense, with fans travelling from across the country to gather in Madrid. While the team fell just short of a perfect weekend, they earned the respect and affection of the entire arena.
On the competitive front, GIANTX made a strong start by defeating G2 Esports, the historic powerhouse of European League of Legends. It was GIANTX’s first-ever victory over G2, following a tense three-map series that also played out heavily on social media. In the first game, Lot and Jackies led the charge with standout performances on Jax and Yone. Although GIANTX faltered in the second map after a promising early game, they pulled off an unforgettable comeback in the decisive third map, overcoming a formidable performance from G2’s superstar Caps.
Later on Sunday, GIANTX faced KOI in another fiercely contested series. After a standout performance with Tristana in the second game, GIANTX forced a third map but could not maintain their momentum. KOI, who had defeated Fnatic the day before, emerged victorious and closed out the weekend as Roadtrip champions. Fnatic, meanwhile, secured a win over G2 to salvage their weekend.
GIANTX proved itself a top-level contender at the Madrid Arena, but earlier inconsistencies during the Spring Split now weigh heavily in the standings. To qualify for the LEC playoffs, GIANTX must defeat Team BDS next weekend and Team Heretics the following one. The team currently holds a 2-5 record — results that do not fully reflect the positive performances seen in Madrid.
The post GIANTX wins Madrid’s heart during a historic weekend for European esports appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Oliver Niner, Head of B2B says that DFS remains a compelling vertical with huge growth potential especially if operators expand their offering into esports
The roll out of legal online and mobile sports betting across US states has presented a significant opportunity for operators, but the market has proved harder to crack than many anticipated.
The cost of customer acquisition is skyrocketing, building brand equity is taking much longer than expected, and there’s been a slowdown in new states embracing regulation and licensing.
This has led to a run of operators exiting the market as the numbers simply don’t add up.
But while this is happening, the daily fantasy sports space continues to thrive and remains a compelling opportunity for operators.
DFS has a unique legal standing in many states where sports betting is still restricted, allowing operators to reach audiences they otherwise couldn’t.
It also fosters deeper engagement with those who play – players aren’t just betting on outcomes; they’re actively managing lineups and pitting their knowledge and skills against others.
This is the perfect combination for retention and loyalty – something sportsbooks struggle to achieve with players easily swayed to join another brand simply because of a generous free bets offer.
There’s also an untapped opportunity in bringing the worlds of esports and daily fantasy sports together, allowing operators to connect with an entirely new audience.
Until now, traditional DFS brands have focused on the major sports, but the younger, digital-native audiences are more interested in esports such as CS2 and LoL than the NFL.
Why the DFS model works:
Before discussing how operators can get in on the esports DFS action, it’s important to understand why the DFS model works so well in the US, especially for those looking to diversify their offering.
The first is regulatory accessibility. DFS is legal in more states than traditional sports betting, allowing operators to enter markets where sportsbook licensing is unavailable or complex.
DFS has much lower acquisition costs while serving as a gateway to paid gaming. It often attracts a younger, more engaged audience at a lower CPA compared to traditional sports betting.
Strong user retention is another upside. Unlike one-off bets, DFS players return regularly to manage lineups, track stats and compete in contests, driving retention rates way beyond sports betting.
It’s also esports ready. Esports fans are highly engaged with player performance stats, making DFS a natural fit. It can then serve as an introduction to real-money esports betting when regulations allow.
The esports DFS opportunity to be explored:
DFS is an established and thriving vertical and while some operators offer esports within their proposition, it often lacks depth, innovation and mainstream adoption.
Esports fans are naturally engaged with stats, player performance metrics and in-game analytics, so easily segue into the DFS format.
Titles like LoL, CS2, Dota 2 and Valorant offer rich data sets that allow for creative and competitive fantasy formats, but most operators are yet to really get into it.
This leaves a major gap in the market and a huge opportunity for those who put together a compelling esports DFS product, especially as the popularity of esports betting grows.
What a compelling esports DFS product looks like:
The foundation of any esports DFS product is reliable, real-time data and the ability to provide a range of engaging contest formats.
This is where companies such as PandaScore come in. We provide operators with comprehensive esports data including player and team stats across all the major disciplines.
We supplement this with accurate odds and DFS pricing models, helping operators to set accurate and competitive odds – both our data and odds feeds are integrated seamlessly via API.
We also provide unrivalled market expertise; the team has years of experience powering esports betting which we leverage to ensure our partners can succeed with esports DFS.
In addition to markets and odds, players need to be able to access deep performance metrics so they can make informed decisions.
It’s also important for the operator to provide a smooth and intuitive experience via a seamless UX and mobile first approach to site and app navigation.
The diversity of the contests offered needs to be considered, too. This includes classic salary cap formats as well as pick’em games and more.
It goes without saying that social interaction needs to be baked into the experience through features such as leaderboards, private leagues and head-to-head challenges.
Operators need to get ahead in a rapidly evolving market:
The US sports betting and iCasino market is fast moving with the landscape constantly changing – just look at the conversation around sweepstakes casinos.
For me, DFS and especially esports DFS remain an underutilised growth channel that operators need to take advantage of.
As esports betting gains traction – PandaScore recently surpassed €1bn in bets through its platform – DFS serves as a vital entry point through which operators can build brand recognition and engage a digital-first audience primed and ready to play.
This audience might not be familiar with real-money betting today, but by providing them with an experience they are familiar and comfortable with, they can become the bettors of tomorrow.
At PandaScore, we are here to help operators capitalise on this opportunity with best-in-class data, pricing models and strategic support.
For operators, this means the numbers will always add up when it comes to esports daily fantasy sports.
The post Assessing the esports DFS opportunity in the US appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
eSports
Team Vitality crowned Champions of Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025, securing the ESL Grand Slam
Team Vitality is the undisputed best Counter-Strike 2 team in the world, and their latest victory at Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Melbourne only reinforces that status. This marks their 21st straight win of the year, adding to a dominant run that includes victory titles at IEM Katowice, ESL Pro League Season 21, and BLAST Open Spring 2025.
By winning their fourth ESL tournament in less than a year, the club has gained legendary status, becoming the fifth team in the game to win the ESL Grand Slam (after FaZe, NAVI, Team Liquid, and Astralis). To celebrate this historic moment for the club, Team Vitality is partnering with the iconic brand DearBBall to launch a capsule collection of exclusive products, paying tribute to a team with an undeniable track record of excellence.
THE HIVE MAKES HISTORY: TEAM VITALITY REIGNS SUPREME
Entering the tournament as the top-ranked CS2 team in the world, Team Vitality once again proved its exceptional talent. The elite roster, including captain Dan “apEX” Madesclaire, Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, Shahar “flameZ” Shushan, William “mezii” Merriman, and Robin “ropz” Kool, demonstrated flawless synergy and world-class skills throughout the tournament, concluding in a decisive victory in the Grand Finals against Team Falcons. The team not only secured the IEM Melbourne title but also won the prestigious ESL Grand Slam, a monumental achievement for the organisation.
In the Semi-Finals, Team Vitality delivered a masterful performance against Team MongolZ, setting the tone for an electric Grand Final performance against Team Falcons.
After an incredible 3-2 win in the Grand Final, which included a triple-overtime decider on the final map, Nuke, Mathieu ‘ZywOo’ Herbaut was named tournament MVP thanks to a series of impressive performances and a decisive presence throughout the tournament.
In addition to capturing the IEM Melbourne title, the team won the prestigious ESL Grand Slam, a monumental achievement for both the organization and the history of Counter-Strike. With this victory, Team Vitality added one of the most coveted trophies to its collection, along with a $1 million cash prize.
TEAM VITALITY AT THE TOP OF ITS GAME ON COUNTER–STRIKE 2
By securing a fourth major international trophy this year, Team Vitality and its players have firmly cemented their place among the legends of the game. The club’s dominance in CS2, highlighted by an ESL Grand Slam victory and an extraordinary 21-game winning streak, confirms its status as a global powerhouse and marks a historic milestone, fueled by the unwavering support of its passionate community.
This triumph also represents a career-defining moment for several players, starting with captain Dan “apEX” Madesclaire, who captures the final major title missing from his storied record (adding the Grand Slam to his two Majors, Katowice, and Cologne victories). Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut continues his remarkable ascent, solidifying his position as the most decorated player in CS history with a 24th MVP title earned during this tournament. Together, apEX and ZywOo become the first two French players ever to win an ESL Grand Slam, a historic achievement for these two icons of the Parisian club.
Driven by a clear ambition to become the world’s leading esports organization, Team Vitality places performance at the core of its new strategic era. In Counter-Strike, the mission is bold: to inspire, to dominate, and to leave a lasting legacy on the global stage. This vision reflects the club’s commitment to establishing itself as a benchmark in international competition and making an enduring impact on fans around the world.
Fabien “Neo” Devide, President and co-founder of Team Vitality, said: “This is a historic moment for Team Vitality as we become the 5th club in history to win the ESL Grand Slam. We are now part of a legendary club that has left its mark on the history of the game. After more than six hours of play, I’m proud of the mentality and the incredible display from this team. To see them achieve such greatness makes me feel so proud.”
CELEBRATING IN STYLE: A CAPSULE COLLECTION WITH DEARBBALL TO CELEBRATE THE EVENT
To celebrate their Grand Slam victory, Team Vitality and basketball brand DearBBall are launching an exclusive capsule collection. This limited-edition drop pays tribute to the five players on the roster, highlighting their unique personalities, strengths, and lifestyles.
For each player, the collection features a dedicated hoodie, sweatshirt, and t-shirt, available in black or white, each piece accompanied by a personalized description. A historic collaboration and a must-have for fans – available in limited quantities!
The post Team Vitality crowned Champions of Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025, securing the ESL Grand Slam appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Hero Esports, an industry leader and the largest esports company in Asia, has announced its championship venues for the Asian Champions League (ACL) Grand Finals 2025 taking place May 16-18 in Shanghai. The landmark event will transform three of the city’s most iconic venues into battlegrounds for nine premier esports titles, cementing Shanghai’s status as the global esports capital.
The tournament is expected to attract 80,000+ live attendees across three venues, with global broadcasts reaching millions via Twitch, YouTube and TikTok. Participating teams will be competing for a total prize pool of $2 million. Selected ACL winners will earn direct entry to the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—the largest esports event in history due to take place from July to August.
“Shanghai’s selection as our host city reflects its unmatched esports infrastructure and passionate community. By combining elite competition with DreamHack’s festival energy, we’re creating a new blueprint for global esports events,” said Jonny Wang, CEO of ACL.
“This is Hero Esports’ most ambitious project to date. The ACL bridges Asian talents with the world stage while delivering unforgettable fan experiences through cutting-edge production,” said Danny Tang, Co-Founder & CEO of Hero Esports.
The post Hero Esports Announces Venues for ACL Grand Finals 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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