• After securing a top-4 finish and cementing its place among the world’s leading esports clubs, Team Vitality returns to the Esports World Club Program for a second consecutive year, aiming to continue its success by hoisting World Cup trophies.

• Driven by its ambition to become the best esports club in the world, Team Vitality is setting bold objectives for the 2025 Esports World Cup. This global competition presents a key opportunity to reinforce its status as an esports powerhouse by fielding top-tier rosters and competing for every title. Because in esports, every win counts.

Leading esports club Team Vitality is proud to announce its return to the Esports World Cup (EWC) for the 2025 edition. As an official Club Partner of the Esports World Cup Foundation, Team Vitality is set to showcase its competitive excellence on the global stage and reaffirm that performance is at the core of its identity. Over and above the performance, this type of major event allows us to continue to globalise the Team Vitality brand and increase our visibility around the world.

And this year, the French club is more determined than ever to win its flagship games (Counter-Strike, VALORANT, Rocket League, MLBB, RENNSPORT) and to spring a surprise on others (TFT, Chess, etc.). For the EWC Club Championship, Team Vitality is determined to make history alongside its global fan community!

NEW YEAR, NEW AMBITIONS, NEW GAMES

Launched in 2023, the Club Partner Program is a pioneering initiative that brings together top-tier esports clubs from around the world. Designed to unite esports fans across various game ecosystems, the program aims to expand the global esports community and elevate the sport’s reach and impact. After securing a top-four finish at last year’s inaugural tournament, Team Vitality is aiming for even greater success at the 2025 Esports World Cup.

Advertisement

With the introduction of new titles such as VALORANT and Chess to the competition, the EWC enables Team Vitality to expand its competitive ambitions across multiple disciplines. The club recently welcomed chess grandmaster Maxime ‘MVL’ Vachier-Lagrave as its first professional chess player and made a dominant statement in VALORANT by winning the VCT EMEA Kickoff with its star-studded roster.

AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE ESPORTS HISTORY IN FRONT OF OUR FANS

Competing at this prestigious international event presents a unique opportunity to solidify its place among the world’s best esports organizations. As one of the most renowned global competitions, the EWC has become a key milestone for leading clubs and a catalyst for accelerating international expansion through strategic roster acquisitions.

Team Vitality Co-Founder and President Fabien “Neo” Devide comments: “We are excited to join the Esports World Cup Foundation as an official Club Partner for 2025. This partnership reinforces our commitment to excellence on the global stage and our ambition to reach new heights. Our objective is clear: every win counts and brings us closer to being the best. The EWC presents a unique opportunity to showcase our strength across multiple esports disciplines and secure prestigious titles for our fans and legacy.”

Advertisement

The International Esports Federation (IESF) is proud to announce the expansion of its World Esports network with the addition of five new member nations, bringing its total membership to a record 151 members.

This milestone underscores IESF’s commitment to uniting and developing the esports scene.

The newest additions, Botswana, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Tanzania, mark a significant step in the rapid growth of esports in Africa. Following the success of the African Esports Championship in Casablanca last year, the continent’s esports scene is more ambitious than ever, with increasing participation in regional and international tournaments, and the establishment of dedicated esports organizations.

Advertisement

These new members will contribute to the ongoing development of African esports, bringing more opportunities for athletes, teams, and gaming communities across the region.

Each nation is represented by its official national esports organization:

• Botswana – Botswana Electronic Sports Federation
• Central African Republic – Central African Association of Electronic Games
• Equatorial Guinea – Equatorial Guinean Association of Electronic Sports
• Gabon – Gabon Esports and Associated Disciplines
• Tanzania – eSports Federation of Tanzania

IESF General Secretary Boban Totovski stated: “Welcoming these five nations into the IESF family is a proud moment for us. It reflects the continued expansion of esports and the dedication of national federations to providing opportunities for athletes and communities. We remain committed to supporting our members and working together to drive esports forward.”

With 151 member nations, IESF continues its mission to promote esports as a recognized and sustainable sport while providing platforms for athletes worldwide. The federation looks forward to seeing its newest members participate in upcoming initiatives, including the IESF 2025 Season.

NIP Group subsidiary Ninjas in Pyjamas (NIP), a legendary esports organisation founded in Sweden in 2000, has officially renewed their partnership with iconic energy drink brand Red Bull. Originally teaming up in November 2022, NIP and Red Bull will strengthen operations, drive growth and expand their reach in esports. Red Bull’s global reputation opens new doors across content creation, fan engagement and operational stability for NIP, whilst Red Bull can reach NIP’s young and engaged audience as part of their continued commitment to the esports industry.

This renewed agreement will engage esports fans through exclusive player content – such as behind-the-scenes tournament footage – alongside the integration of Red Bull branding in Ninjas in Pyjamas’ social media, streams, player jerseys across multiple teams and events.

NIP and Red Bull will also work together on various activations, including the annual [SWE] CS Summit held at Red Bull Gaming Sphere in Stockholm, which sees leaders in the Swedish Counter-Strike scene come together to discuss and shape the future of their national scene. Supporting the Swedish esports scene and driving positive change at a national level is a key pillar of this partnership, which both will take steps to achieve through various activations.

Advertisement

Hicham Chahine, Co-CEO of NIP Group, said: “It has been a pleasure working with Red Bull over the past two years, collaborating on a series of highly successful projects. The more we work together, the clearer it has become that we align strongly on values and how to create meaningful experiences for our fans. We are truly delighted to continue this journey with them. Their passion for innovation and excellence aligns perfectly with our vision, and together, we look forward to pushing the boundaries of this industry even further.”