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.”

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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

Swedish gaming giant the only B2B company awarded Tier 2 seal in recognition of “aspirational level” of ESG reporting 

Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, has today announced it has received the Malta Gaming Authority’s ESG-C Tier 2 Seal in recognition of its efforts and reporting of ESG activities.  

Earlier this year, the legendary games studio released its 2023 Sustainability Report, outlining its commitment to a sustainable future, both for the iGaming industry and the planet as a whole. The report covered everything from Play’n GO’s commitments to “Net Zero”, greener working practices, and the company’s “Culture of Belonging” in a Digital First world. 

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Play’n GO recently became the only iGaming business to be nominated at the 2024 Corporate Star Awards, where its Sustainability Report was recognised alongside global leaders such as SONY Entertainment and Globo.  

Vanessa Arenram, CSR Director at Play’n GO, commented “We’re pleased to have our commitment to a sustainable world recognised in this way by the Malta Gaming Authority. Our commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility goes far beyond mere words- it’s reflected in our actions, initiatives, and the positive impact we strive to create, both within our industry and the wider world. Our 2023 Sustainability Report received very positive feedback, both internally and externally, and we look forward to publishing the 2024 version early next year. We would like to thank the Malta Gaming Authority for this award, and pledge to continue the work for many years to come.”