eSports
We ran CS2 Intel Extreme Masters Rio 2024 through a SuperComputer to predict the final stages — with Neymar’s FURIA team set to cause more massive shocks on home soil
- Natus Vincere and Team Vitality are heavy favourites with a 29.7% and 23.5% chance of winning in Rio, respectively
- However, FURIA — the hometown team backed by Brazil star Neymar — have been the tournament’s biggest overachievers in the group stage and are on set to cause an upset
- G2 on the other hand are the biggest underachievers, crashing out in the group stage to hurt their chances of going into the Major season as top seeds
- FURIA were given just an 20.9% chance of making the playoffs on home soil while G2 had been ranked as third favourites to win in Rio before the tournament with a 19.3% chance of glory
Natus Vincere (NaVi) remain the overall favourites to come on top at Intel Extreme Masters Rio 2024 according to the CSDB.gg CS2 Tournament SuperComputer but FURIA, the Brazilian team co-owned by Neymar, are on course to threaten a serious upset on their home turf.
They have already stunned the competition by beating NaVi in a group to secure passage directly through to the semi-finals, with G2 Esports the biggest underachievers in the opening rounds.
G2 had been a team rated as the third favourites to seize glory in Rio before the tournament only to fail to even make the playoffs. Team Vitality are still second only to NaVi according to the SuperComputer’s rating of who can win but FURIA are backed to knock them out in the semifinals to go to the decider for a dramatic rematch with NaVi to decide who will end the tournament as champions.
A total of $250,000 in prize money and a spot at IEM Katowice 2025 are at stake for the winning side, and after NaVi’s loss to G2 Esports in the Blast Fall Final they will be gunning for a chance to bounce back in style. Vitality on the other hand will be chasing their first title since IEM Cologne.
FURIA, the hometown heroes, are in the mix to potentially upset the odds and after entering the tournament with only a 20.9% chance of even making the playoffs now find themselves third favourites to win the whole thing after their heroics in the group stage.
Intel Extreme Masters Rio 2024 predicted by the CSDB.gg CS2 Tournament SuperComputer
- Final: Natus Vincere (29.7%) to beat FURIA (17.6%)
- Semifinal 1: FURIA (41.0%) to beat Team Vitality (40.7%)
- Semifinal 2: Natus Vincere (48.1%) to beat HEROIC (33.0%)
- Quarterfinal 1: Team Vitality (63.8%) to beat MOUZ (36.2%)
- Quarterfinal 2: Natus Vincere (67.0%) to beat Virtus.pro (33.0%)
Playoffs
- Natus Vincere – 29.7% to become champion; 48.1% to make final; 67.0% to make semi-final
- Team Vitality – 23.5% to become champion; 40.7% to make final; 63.8% to make semi-final
- FURIA – 17.6% to become champion; 41.0% to make final
- HEROIC – 11.3% to become champion; 33.0% to make final
- Virtus Pro – 9.7% to become champion; 18.9% to make final; 33.0% to make semi-final
- MOUZ – 8.2% to become champion; 18.3% to make final; 36.2% to make semi-final
It had been quite the run for NaVi prior to Rio despite their loss to G2 at the Blast Fall Final, with back to back grand finals in recent weeks.
Their momentum was immediately slowed by FURIA who got the home turf buff to shock them with a 2-0 in the Upper-Final to skip straight into the semis.
FURIA’s last appearance in a semi-final in front of a Brazilian crowd came at IEM Rio in 2022 where they lost 2-1 to Cadians Heroic after beating Navi in the quarters. They also lost to Heroic in the quarters of the same tournament in 2023 and will be hoping to get all the way to the final this year.
They are now third favourites to take the event with NaVi and Team Vitality still first and second favourites coming into the playoffs, even after slipping up against FURIA and Heroic, respectively.
Vitality have experience at recovering in this competition. They won IEM Rio 2023 from the quarters and will be looking to go back to back in Rio in 2024.
The MVP race is on too with Vitality’s ‘Zywoo’ currently on a 1.54 rating after five maps. He will be looking to take his career total to 21 tying the all-time record currently held by s1mple.
Another MVP would also be a massive step towards taking a record-breaking fourth HLTV number one award for the best player of the year for 2024.
FURIA could cause an upset here too though with home boy KSCERATO on a 1.56 rating after six maps.
The MVP award will almost always goes to the winning team’s best player and he could pick up his first career MVP on home soil should FURIA continue to confound expectations. Neymar would be proud!
How was the CSDB.gg CS2 Tournament SuperComputer created?
The CSDB.gg CS2 Tournament SuperComputer is a predictive model created using world ranking points, team quality ratings and performance trends. An element of randomness is also included in the model to avoid the best teams and players always winning, to reflect the fact that upsets can happen.
Every tournament is simulated 1,000 times with the results aggregated into a percentage rating of the chances teams or players have to achieve the predicted result.
CSDB.gg CS2 Tournament SuperComputer playoffs forecast in full
Elimination stage:
The post We ran CS2 Intel Extreme Masters Rio 2024 through a SuperComputer to predict the final stages — with Neymar’s FURIA team set to cause more massive shocks on home soil appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
The Pokémon Company Announces Open-For-All Pokémon UNITE Winter Tournament India 2025 With $10,000 Prize Pool, Skyesports To Serve As Esports Partner
The Pokémon Company, with Skyesports as the esports partner, has announced an exciting new grassroots esports tournament, the Pokémon UNITE Winter Tournament India 2025. Open for all players across the country, this competition offers an opportunity for aspiring pro players to represent India on the global stage.
Registrations for the tournament are now live and will remain open until Jan. 29, 2025. Players from across the country can sign up on the official website to secure their spot and compete for national pride and international glory.
The Pokémon UNITE Winter Tournament boasts a massive prize pool of $10,000. The stakes are even higher, though, as the tournament winner will join the champion of the Pokémon UNITE ACL India League as India’s representatives in an international tournament. This international competition is the Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League 2025 Finals which will bring the best-of-the-best from across Asia to Shinjuku, Japan on March 29 and 30 to fight for the ultimate title!
- The Pokémon UNITE Winter Tournament India 2025 will begin with the Qualifier Stage, which will follow a single-elimination bracket.
- The top 16 teams from the qualifiers will advance to the Group Stage. Here, they will be evenly split into 4 groups where a single round-robin format will be followed.
- Finally, the top two teams from each group will progress to the Playoffs. These top 8 teams will compete in this penultimate stage across a double-elimination bracket for glory and the chance to represent India on the international stage.
The Pokémon Company executive said, “While the ACL India League supports the top-tier organizations of the country, the Winter Tournament highlights our commitment to grassroots development. By supporting players at every level—from grassroots to the pro scene—we aim to ensure the sustainable growth of Pokémon UNITE esports in India.”
Commenting on the tournament, Shiva Nandy, Founder and CEO of Skyesports, said, “With the ongoing Pokémon UNITE ACL India League bringing esports action to thousands of players, we are now thrilled to introduce the open-for-all Pokémon UNITE Winter Tournament. This competition gives every aspiring pro player a chance to shine and represent the country in Japan. As long-term partners of The Pokémon Company, the tournament underscores Skyesports’ vision of giving Indian players and teams a chance to compete on the global stage. I wish the best of luck to all participants.”
With its intense 10-minute matches, Pokémon UNITE has seen remarkable growth in India, attracting a vibrant community of players and fans. The Winter Tournament is the latest effort to nurture and expand this ecosystem.
Today’s announcement follows the Pokémon UNITE ACL India League, where The Pokémon Company has directly invited India’s top eight esports organizations to compete, which includes the likes of S8UL, GodLike, Revenant XSpark, and Global Esports. The tournament, currently ongoing, is set to wrap up on Jan. 26, 2025. Immediately after, Skyesports will kick off the Pokémon UNITE Winter Tournament to continue the momentum of Pokémon UNITE esports in the country.
The complete schedule for the Pokémon UNITE Winter Tournament India 2025 is as follows:
- Registrations: Until Jan. 29
- Qualifier Stage: Feb. 1 and 2
- Group Stage: Feb. 8
- Playoffs: Feb. 9
The post The Pokémon Company Announces Open-For-All Pokémon UNITE Winter Tournament India 2025 With $10,000 Prize Pool, Skyesports To Serve As Esports Partner appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
PandaScore, the premier provider of esports betting odds, data, and innovative products, has announced an exciting new collaboration with BET99, one of Ontario’s top-ranking sportsbook and casino operators. This marks another major milestone for PandaScore as it continues to build its network of high-profile operators.
The deal gives BET99 access to PandaScore’s industry-leading Odds feed, which delivers comprehensive coverage of the world’s most popular esports titles, including Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), Dota 2, and League of Legends (LoL). Powered by advanced algorithms and supported by a team of specialized traders, PandaScore’s feed enables operators like BET99 to offer competitive odds while hitting a standard-setting margin of 6%.
In addition to PandaScore’s Odds feed, BET99 will integrate cutting-edge features such as BetBuilder and MicroBetting markets. These tools empower players to customize their wagers and enjoy dynamic, fast-paced betting experiences, aligning perfectly with the demands of today’s esports audiences.
The move into esports betting comes at a pivotal moment for the sector, which continues to see exponential growth. PandaScore recently surpassed €1 billion in esports bets processed through its platform, underscoring its expertise and leadership in this space.
Oliver Niner, Head of B2B, PandaScore, said: “Esports betting is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of the betting industry, and we’re thrilled to support BET99 as they take this exciting step. With our powerful Odds feed and innovative products like BetBuilder, BET99 is uniquely positioned to deliver a premium esports betting experience to players across Ontario.
“Our collaboration with BET99 is representative of the incredible momentum PandaScore has built in expanding our operator network. We’re excited to collaborate with BET99 and support their ambitious plans to become a leader in esports betting.”
Andre Bewerungen, Head of Sportsbook, BET99, added: “At BET99, our mission has always been to deliver a world-class player experience through personalization and innovation. With esports rapidly emerging as a key vertical, we see an incredible opportunity to engage the next generation of bettors who are passionate about this dynamic space.
By collaborating with PandaScore, we can provide tailored, engaging, and cutting-edge betting options that resonate with esports fans. Their comprehensive odds feed and advanced betting tools allow us to create a seamless, interactive experience that enhances player engagement and builds lasting connections with this growing audience. We’re excited to collaborate with PandaScore and take esports betting to the next level in Ontario.”
Revenant XSpark, one of India’s leading Esports organization is excited to announce a ground-breaking partnership with iQOO, the high-performance smartphone brand. Leveraging the growing appeal of Esports, Revenant XSparks & iQOO have partnered together, with iQOO securing the naming rights for India’s top-performing Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) roster under the Revenant XSpark brand. The team will now compete under the name iQOO RNTX, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of Indian esports. This collaboration stands as one of the biggest deals in Indian Esports history.
A collaboration between Revenant Esports and Team XSpark; The vision & goal behind the creation of ‘Revenant XSpark’ was to redefine the Esports landscape in India and neighbouring regions.
Having been unveiled at the recent collaboration, Revenant XSpark’s (BGMI) roster competes across regional and international competitions. With an unmatched track record of securing two back-to-back titles at major Krafton events, the team is led by coach Osmium as one of the premier teams in the country. Dominating competition across the board, the team of Sarang (Sarangajyoti Deka), Spraygod (Harsh Malik), Joker (Khush Singh), and Shadow (Tenzin Kelsang), have been able to carve a name for themselves in the Esports landscape as a force to be reckoned with in both global and local platforms.
Champions at the BGMI Pro Series and BGMI India Series, the team already has a firm foothold in the India market and is aiming to build and expand its narrative globally. Alongside iQOO’s innovation driven mindset, the collaboration will leverage expertise from both sides for mutual beneficial outcomes.
Rohit Jagasia, Founder and CEO of Revenant Esports, said, “We’re incredibly proud to announce our groundbreaking partnership with iQOO. This is a monumental moment for Indian Esports – marking one of the largest deals in the industry. iQOO’s commitment to innovation aligns perfectly with our vision at Revenant XSpark. By joining forces, we’re creating a powerful synergy that will elevate the Indian Esports scene to new heights. Together, we aim to redefine the landscape of competitive gaming and inspire the next generation of gamers.”
Nipun Marya, CEO, iQOO said, “We’re thrilled to be part of this moment in Indian esports. Partnering with Revenant XSpark goes beyond supporting an exceptional team it’s an investment in the future of competitive gaming. Together, we aim to inspire the next generation of gamers, drive meaningful innovation, and shape the future of esports in India. This collaboration is a step towards achieving long-term synergies that align with our broader vision to elevate the gaming experience.”
The post Revenant XSpark Partners With iQOO In Landmark Esports Deal appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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