eSports
A New Era: EXCEL ESPORTS and Giants Gaming announce merger, forming GIANTX
British esports organisation EXCEL ESPORTS and Spanish esports institution Giants Gaming, are pleased to announce the merger of both companies to form GIANTX. The new venture will unify each organisation’s renowned competitive esports rosters, management and resources to accelerate the organisation’s growth in an effort to expand its geographical and competitive presence. This merger underpins a core strategy to develop GIANTX’s heritage markets in the UK and Spain, whilst also supporting wider European and Global growth. GIANTX will continue to compete on Global stages in the world’s biggest competitive titles, together with growing an unrivalled global fan base and associated commercial propositions.
With a cross-cultural fan base and team, GIANTX will capitalise on its diverse roster of professional players and content creators to deliver engaging bilingual content to resonate with both audiences. This includes leveraging the Spanish-speaking fanbase to establish a strong presence in the market. GIANTX will participate in two of the most esteemed esports franchises: the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) and VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT), with its involvement extending to the Spanish LVP and the inclusive GameChangers initiative.
Staying true to UK and Spanish roots, GIANTX’s current 60 employees will continue to be based in the regional headquarters of London and Malaga, as well as a competitive performance centre in Berlin. GIANTX will leverage its strong foundations, exceptional staff, and the support of its formidable investor group to explore new business avenues. This includes entering new competitive gaming titles and furthering global partnerships that resonate with the brand’s esports demographic. Existing partners for EXCEL ESPORTS and Giants Gaming will remain following the merger, offering new and diverse opportunities through a broadened global audience.
GIANTX will be led by Tim Reichert; German esports pioneer and current CEO of EXCEL ESPORTS, and Jose Diaz; considered one of the most important entrepreneurs in the Spanish esports scene CEO and founder of Giants Gaming – both of whom will be Co-CEOs. The leadership team will also be composed of Chief Commercial Officer and former EXCEL ESPORTS Commercial Director, Mark Carter; Chief Strategy Officer and Giants Gaming Co-Owner, Virginia Calvo; and Vice President of Marketing and Brand, Oskar Sisi.
Tim Reichert, Co-CEO of GIANTX, commented: “The merger and establishment of GIANTX represents a pivotal and noteworthy chapter in the history of EXCEL ESPORTS, and we are thrilled to be joining one of Spain’s leading esports organisations, Giants Gaming. Through bringing together the two brands, each having cultivated passionate and distinct audiences, we are excited about presenting a fresh and compelling vision for the future.
“Whilst EXCEL and Giants Gaming are leaders in different markets, together we have created a clear and unified vision that will offer new and diverse opportunities for our partners through broadening our global audience, along with optimising our competitive strategies amongst our rosters. Drawing upon our combined 24 years of rich cultural heritage built in the UK and Spain, GIANTX aspires to emerge as a formidable new force in European esports.”
José Díaz, CO-CEO of GIANTX emphasizes: “Launching GIANTX represents an extraordinary opportunity. After multiple achievements and years of leadership in the industry, where Giants has become one of the major references in the Spanish-speaking market, it’s time to evolve and take a new leap. We believe that in EXCEL ESPORTS, we have found the ideal partner to continue growing. Our mission is for GIANTX to establish itself as one of the most valued esports clubs internationally, and for our teams to rank among the best in the most important esports competitions worldwide.
The spirit of GIANTX is global: from London to Malaga, with Berlin as our sports headquarters. Our markets and audience also expand with this merger. So do the opportunities: we aspire to become a winning and relevant organisation at the highest levels within the esports universe. We are confident that we will achieve this and fully honour the legacy that Giants and EXCEL have built all these years with work, effort, and passion.”
JRJ Group, who acquired a majority stake in EXCEL in 2018 alongside TOMS Capital, will remain the controlling shareholder, with all existing shareholders continuing in their support of the ambitious future growth plans of GIANTX.
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’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.
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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