Inaugural Esports World Cup is a global celebration of competitive excellence and esports fandom,  with a record-breaking prize pool of over $60 million (500 Cr.)

Star Sports Network and the Esports World Cup Foundation (“EWCF”) today announced the acquisition of broadcasting rights for the Esports World Cup (“EWC”) 2024. The tournament, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from July 3rd to August 25th, will unite the global gaming communities and deliver premier competition in a unique format at an unprecedented scale. Over eight weeks, the EWC will feature the world’s top Esports clubs competing in 21 of the most popular game titles, making it the largest multi-game Esports tournament ever. As the official broadcaster, Star Sports is set to deliver comprehensive coverage of the tournament, offering viewers and fans an unparalleled Esports experience with in-depth commentary in English and Hindi. The Esports World Cup will be streamed on Star Sports’ YouTube channel and broadcast on linear TV via Star Sports First and Star Sports 2.

In 2022, BGMI Masters became the first Esports franchise to be broadcast in India by the Star Sports Network, drawing in millions of viewers over its linear television debut. Highlighting the immense popularity of the online multiplayer battle royale game, Star Sports has been instrumental in bringing esports to the mainstream Indian gaming audience.

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Vikram Passi, Head Marketing – Sports, Disney Star, stated, “Esports is rapidly emerging as a significant force, fuelled by India’s burgeoning gaming culture and its recognition on the global stage. The BGMI Masters’ Series, in just a few seasons, has firmly established itself as a premier tournament in India, demonstrating the immense potential for world-class Esports competitions. With the upcoming Esports World Cup broadcast, we aim to expand our audience base, energize the gaming community, and foster greater acceptance of Esports among non-gamers. This event will not only captivate dedicated Esports enthusiasts but also engage a younger demographic across our platforms, driving a broader appreciation for the competitive gaming landscape.”

Ralf Reichert, CEO Esports World Cup Foundation, said “Our partnership with Star Sports brings the Esports World Cup to India’s massive and passionate gaming audience. Having witnessed this firsthand, I’m thrilled to nurture India’s growing esports scene and inspire future champions. With the world’s best competing in Riyadh, we hope to spark a new wave of esports fandom in India, and maybe even see an Indian team claim victory.”

The EWC will offer the largest prize pool in esports and feature the most popular esports titles across all major gaming genres. It will welcome a new cross-game competition format, awarding prizes for individual game titles and club performances. This will be a first ever Esports World Cup with a prize pool of more than $60 million (INR 500 crore)

The eight games to be broadcasted on Star Sports Network are Call of Duty: Warzone, Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2, Overwatch 2, Apex Legends, Fortnite, EA Sports FC 24, and PUBG Battlegrounds     .

Specific highlights include:

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• Opening Broadcast: Week 1 July 3rd at 10 PM on SS First and SS YT Channel with Call of Duty: Warzone in Hindi.
• Weekly Schedule: From Week 3, starting July 18, EWC will be broadcast at 9 PM on SS2 and SS First along with SS YT Channel
• Hindi Commentary: Call of Duty: Warzone (Week 1) and Counter-Strike 2 (Week 3) will be shown with Hindi commentary on SS First along with and SS YT Channel

The Esports World Cup broadcast on the Star Sports Network will further solidify esports as one of the fastest-growing sports in India, bringing the best of global esports action to India. The Esports World Cup Foundation is pleased to share Star Sports’ vision in bringing esports to a broader audience as they continue to pave the way for the future of competitive gaming in India

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation today said a former high ranking government official tried to facilitate the grant of gaming licenses to some of the illegal POGOs that have been recently raided and found engaged in illegal activities.

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco also said those investigating the suspicious activities of former POGO licensees must likewise look into the role of former officials and their conduits in the grant of licenses to POGO applicants with dubious backgrounds.

The PAGCOR chief said he will reveal in the proper forum the identity of the former Cabinet member who had been lobbying for the illegal POGOs, as well as the circumstances that led to the proliferation of illegal and criminal offshore gaming operations.
“As a regulator, it is our mandate to ensure that only those with valid licenses are allowed to operate all forms of gambling and gaming activities, whether these are land-based casinos or online platforms,” Mr. Tengco said.

“It is in the interest of the government to crack the whip against illegal operators, including the so-called offshore gaming operators or POGOs and their backers, because the criminal activities associated with their illegal operations pose serious threats to our people,” he said.

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The PAGCOR chief explained that the current administration has been doing its part to weed out illegal operators, resulting in the significant decrease in the number of licensees from 298 during the previous administration to only 43 licensees now.

“What we need to question, in the first place, was how those 298 POGO licensees were able to secure their licensees in the past because clearly, during our cleansing process, we found most of them to be ineligible and outright suspicious,” Mr. Tengco said.

“We are also ready to reveal the roles of other controversial individuals behind these criminal POGO enterprises,” he added.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation formally unveiled its latest and most recently completed Socio-Civic Center here Wednesday, June 26, two years after the project’s groundbreaking in March 2022.

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco led the inauguration ceremony for the Php50-million state-of-the-art structure in Barangay Pansipit, a village named after the river that connects Taal Lake to Balayan Bay.

The two-story facility can serve as a venue for various events, social gatherings, educational activities and various programs and activities of the local government, not to mention as an evacuation center in times of calamities.

In his address, Mr. Tengco emphasized the importance of projects that help promote community development and resilience.

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He also said that PAGCOR rebranded its previous multi-purpose evacuation facilities into Socio-Civic Centers because the buildings can serve many other purposes aside from being a shelter during disaster situations.

“Minarapat po naming tawaging Socio-Civic Center ang mga gusaling ito sapagkat hindi lamang ito dapat na magamit sa mga panahon ng sakuna kundi para sa pagdaraos ng iba’t ibang programa at mga aktibidad,” the PAGCOR chief said.

The new PAGCOR Socio-Civic Center is thus expected to contribute to the overall socio-economic development of Agoncillo since its modern design and facilities makes it a perfect venue for events, trainings and conferences for surrounding communities.

To date, a total of 39 PAGCOR-funded Socio-Civic Centers have been completed and unveiled nationwide, while 33 others are still undergoing construction.

During the ceremony, Mr. Tengco also announced the agency’s donation of two desktop computers to the municipal government of Agoncillo.

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Agoncillo Mayor Cinderella V. Reyes expressed her appreciation to PAGCOR for its continuing support to their town which sits on the shores of Taal Lake and is very near the active and turbulent Taal Volcano.

“We are deeply grateful to PAGCOR for the unwavering support. This Socio-Civic Center will undoubtedly become a cornerstone structure in our town, providing a venue for numerous activities that will benefit our residents.

“We look forward to maximizing its potential to foster unity and progress in Agoncillo,” she said.

Classified as a 4th-class municipality, Agoncillo has previously been a beneficiary of PAGCOR’s Corporate Social Responsibility projects.

In 2022, the town received Php30 million funding for the construction of the PAGCOR Village, a housing project designed to provide safe and permanent shelter for families displaced by the frequent eruption of Taal Volcano

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