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.
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.
eSports
Emmy-Winning Director R.J. Cutler’s Docuseries Esports World Cup: Level Up Premieres June 6 on Prime Video
Prime Video, one of the leading entertainment destinations, will premiere the five-part documentary Esports World Cup: Level Up on June 6, with new episodes released weekly. Directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler (Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry, Elton John: Never Too Late and Martha), the series goes behind-the-scenes of the inaugural Esports World Cup (EWC) in 2024 — a defining moment in global esports, where over $60 million in prize money ignited a high-stakes, multinational battle to crown the world’s top esports Club.
The series is produced by This Machine (a part of Sony Pictures Television), with R.J. Cutler directing, John Dorsey serving as showrunner, and Jane Cha Cutler, Trevor Smith, Elise Pearlstein and Mark Blatty executive producing. Level Up will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
Esports World Cup: Level Up offers a rare look inside a global competition that’s redefining what it means to be a champion for a new generation of athletes and fans. R.J. Cutler and his team of expert storytellers embedded themselves within the eight-week tournament – watched by over 500 million fans globally – to uncover the personal sacrifices, rivalries and stakes driving the action.
Shot in verité style, the series combines intimate home visits from around the world and on-the-ground coverage from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It follows a wide cast of characters – from Club CEOs orchestrating million-dollar strategies to rising stars chasing life-changing wins – while capturing the pulse of elite esports competition.
“What drew me to the Esports World Cup was the compelling human stories unfolding within this high-stakes arena. Level Up isn’t just about the incredible competition and prize money; it’s about the dedication, the passion, and the sheer will of these athletes and teams pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Under high pressure, we discover the true character of the competitors who vie for $60 million, but who also expose their humanity in the process,” said Cutler.
At the heart of Level Up is the “EWC Club Championship,” an unprecedented, multi-title tournament format where Clubs compete across more than 20 games, earning points toward a single leaderboard. Every match, every point, reshapes the race for global dominance. With the highest prize pool in esports history on the line, the EWC is not just a tournament – it’s a proving ground for the next generation of sports icons.
“A win might make the headlines — but the real story is the people behind it. Level Up dives into the human side of esports: the pressure, the ambition, the sacrifices. It’s about what it really takes to compete at the highest level — and why it matters. R.J. is the best at bringing those stories to life, and this one captures the heart of what we’re building,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation.
The post Emmy-Winning Director R.J. Cutler’s Docuseries Esports World Cup: Level Up Premieres June 6 on Prime Video appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Daily Fantasy Sports
PandaScore launches game-changing Daily Fantasy eSports product

Esports betting pioneer adds daily fantasy esports offering to its growing range of products, with its sights set on the US market
PandaScore, the award-winning provider of esports odds, data and betting products, has continued to push boundaries with the launch of Daily Fantasy eSports, a truly groundbreaking product for operators and players.
Daily Fantasy eSports has been developed for the US market but will have global appeal with players drawn in by the chance to create virtual teams of real-life players and earn points based on their actual game performances.
Contests range from daily matchups to season-long leagues, with plenty of prizes up for grabs.
PandaScore’s Daily Fantasy eSports is backed by an expert-led esports trading team to deliver fast, accurate settlement data across unique, player-focused markets driven by the provider’s established and proven betting models.
An Interactive Player Widget serves up rich player stats and profiles, with PandaScore’s powerful BetBuilder enabling same-game parlays.
But that’s not all. PandaScore has more than 17,000 players in its esports player age and info database, the largest in the market.
It also offers dedicated helper codes and documentation to ensure smooth and seamless operator integration. It really is as easy as 1-2-3.
1 – There is a kick-off call to align on goals, timelines and fantasy formats.
2 – The operator accesses PandaScore’s dedicated fantasy-focused API to accelerate the build
3 – The dedicated integration manager ensures effortless onboarding and a successful launch
By leveraging PandaScore’s odds and data, alongside its team of experts and specialists, online sportsbook and daily fantasy sports operators can launch faster, ensure accuracy and scale their Daily Fantasy eSports offering with confidence.
Oliver Niner, Head of B2B at PandaScore, said: “Daily Fantasy eSports is a pioneering product from PandaScore that will really hit the mark with operators across North America, as well as other global markets.
“It allows operators to engage esports fans and bettors with a compelling product and proposition, but without the degree of risk that comes with standard betting as the payouts are controlled.
“Daily Fantasy eSports is already live with Dabble and is performing incredibly well, so we look forward to going live with more operators in the coming months.
“This really is a game-changing product, and we can’t wait to see it become available at some of the biggest betting brands in North America and beyond.”
The launch of Daily Fantasy eSports complements PandaScore’s growing esports betting offering, which includes odds and data for a huge number of disciplines, plus betting products like its BetBuilder, MicroMarkets and StoryBuilder.
The post PandaScore launches game-changing Daily Fantasy eSports product appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Artyom Odintsov
Esports Charts Wins “Esports Innovation Award” at the EsportsNext Industry Awards

Esports Charts, a Ukraine-born analytics company that aggregates real-time viewership insights about esports, has won the Esports Innovation Award at the EsportsNext Industry Awards, hosted by the Esports Trade Association (ESTA) in Dallas, US.
The Esports Innovation Award recognizes an organization or individual that has introduced groundbreaking technology, services, or strategies significantly advancing the esports industry.
Esports Charts was honored for its scalable analytics platform, which provides comprehensive tournament and viewership statistics across more than 25 livestreaming services — helping stakeholders from publishers and teams to fans make smarter, data-driven decisions.
“Winning the Innovation Award from ESTA is an important milestone for us as a leading esports analytics service in the world. Also, we’re especially proud to represent Ukraine-born innovation on an international stage.
“From day one, our mission has been to bring clarity and transparency to the world of esports data. And this recognition from the industry is both an honor and a motivation to keep raising the bar.
“Thank you to our incredible team and partners, who believed in us from the start. This award is a shared success — and we’re just getting started,” Artyom Odintsov, co-founder and CEO of Esports Charts.
The post Esports Charts Wins “Esports Innovation Award” at the EsportsNext Industry Awards appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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