The Esports World Cup Foundation (“EWCF”) and Riot Games today announced a three-year partnership that will see VALORANT, the award-winning 5v5 tactical shooter and one of the world’s most popular esports, make its highly anticipated debut at the Esports World Cup 2025, alongside the return of League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics (TFT).

As the leading titles in their respective genres, all three games will showcase the best clubs, players and talent the esports world has to offer when they come on stage in Riyadh this summer. League of Legends fans can look forward to an international event featuring the best teams battling it out for prestige on a global stage and a life-changing prize pool; VALORANT will bring together some of its most compelling players for the largest major tournament outside the VCT structure; and TFT will provide opportunities for top, international talent to compete in an exciting team format.

The collaboration strengthens the EWC’s position as a global platform for the industry’s most influential games, uniting top esports titles under one competitive banner to expand their reach, engage new audiences, and shape the future of esports as mainstream entertainment. The addition of VALORANT further solidifies this mission, bringing one of the most impactful games to the esports ecosystem in recent years to the event. To date, 23 tournaments in 22 games – including first-person shooters, MOBAs, battle royales, real-time strategy and fighting games – have been announced for 2025, with more to come.

In addition, the agreement includes a global commercial partnership between EWCF and LOL Esports, the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT), and the TFT 2025 competitive circuit. Kicking off at VCT Masters Bangkok on February 20, 2025, the collaboration will feature EWC in-broadcast activations at LoL Esports, VCT, and TFT global LAN events.

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“Riot Games has shaped the cultural impact of competitive gaming, transforming esports into a global entertainment force,” said Fabian Scheuermann, Chief Games Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation. “With League of Legends’ iconic World Championship – which continues to set new standards for immersive experiences, VALORANT’s cultural collaborations, and Teamfight Tactics’ community-driven events, Riot has pioneered an ecosystem far beyond competition. By bringing these titles to the Esports World Cup, we are not just celebrating elite gameplay – we are, together, expanding esports as a global entertainment movement, creating deeper connections with fans across gaming, music, and digital culture.”

League of Legends, one of the world’s most popular games with 100 million active monthly players, delivered a standout moment at the EWC 2024 Grand Final as esports legend Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok led T1 to victory in front of 12.5 million viewers online and thousands of fans in Riyadh. Meanwhile, in the Teamfight Tactics Grand Finals, T1 fell just short, as Wolves Esports, representing English Premier League club Wolves, claimed the title with a 3-1 win, led by MVP Li “LiShao” Chengyu.

Esports World Cup 2025 will once again unite gaming and esports communities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for a global competition that will crown the next Esports World Cup Champion. The tournament’s unique cross-game format will reward clubs and players competing for a life-changing prize pool across a mix of platforms and genres, bringing together esports’ best teams, players and games under one banner in the largest-ever celebration of esports.

The Jockey Club has announced a new partnership with oddschecker, which sees the UK’s leading betting comparison service and FairPlay Sports Media brand named as its Official Betting Technology Partner.

This partnership will see oddschecker providing odds, betting journeys, and exclusive offers across The Jockey Club’s digital platforms, including the newly transformed app and web pages, further enhancing the customer experience for racing fans.

As part of the arrangement, oddschecker will play a significant role in race sponsorships across several Jockey Club venues, beginning with Grand National Trial Day at Haydock Park on Saturday 15^th February.

Oddschecker will also partner The Sefton Novices’ Hurdle on Ladies’ Day at the Randox Grand National Festival before partnering contests at The Betfred Guineas Festival at Newmarket, as well as Haydock Park, Exeter, Cheltenham, and Sandown Park.

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In addition to race sponsorships, oddschecker will be the sponsor of The Racing Room for all four days of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, providing an exciting and immersive experience for guests.

Richard Gale, Chief Revenue Officer FairPlay Sports Media, said: “The Jockey Club is renowned for hosting some of the biggest showcases in UK racing, and with a bumper fixture list kicking off at the Grand National Trial Day, we’re confident this will be a strong partnership for both parties.

“Whatever the sport, we want to give fans and bettors the most exciting and profitable sporting experiences possible, and by combining sponsorship with our technology placements – in the form of odds and offers – on The Jockey Club’s app and site, this partnership will enhance both its digital users and racegoers experiences.”

Dan Glavin, Head of Bookmaker Partnerships at The Jockey Club, added: “We are delighted to partner with oddschecker, a brand that shares our commitment to providing the best possible experience for racing fans.

“This collaboration will see oddschecker’s trusted odds and offers enhance our customers’ enjoyment of racing across some of the biggest events of the year and we’re looking forward to working alongside them.”

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Gainr.ai announces a strategic agreement with Goal Analytics for sports data models

Gainr.ai, a leader in AI-powered alternative trading solutions, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Goal Analytics – a top European data analytics company to enhance the performance of the Gainr Trading portfolio through advanced predictive data insights. This collaboration will provide Gainr Trading with high-quality, data-driven intelligence to optimise trading strategies, improve risk management, and refine AI-driven market-making models.

As a specialist in sports data analytics, Goal Analytics will supply Gainr Trading with in-depth statistical models and proprietary data sources, offering a crucial edge in predictive accuracy for trading syndicates. This partnership marks a significant step in Gainr.ai’s commitment to integrating best-in-class analytical expertise into its trading ecosystem, ensuring partners have access to cutting-edge insights to inform their strategies.

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Gainr Trading is a scalable alternative trading fund, administered and audited by Suntera, leveraging Gainr.ai’s proprietary technology to execute verified prediction market strategies. The addition of high-quality data analytics strengthens its ability to optimise odds, enhance risk assessment, and refine AI-driven decision-making in real time.

Commenting on the announcement, Theodoros Koumis, CEO and Founder of Gainr.ai, stated: “Access to superior data is at the heart of every high-performance trading strategy. Our partnership with Goal Analytics allows us to integrate deeper statistical intelligence into Gainr Trading, ensuring our partners and investors benefit from the most accurate and actionable insights available. This collaboration underscores our commitment to advancing AI-driven trading solutions with academic-grade models and industry-leading automation.”

“We are very happy to team up with Gainr Trading and share our expertise in football data analytics and algorithm development. Gainr Trading’s expertise and experience in trading and execution makes this a highly compelling partnership forming a very strong syndicate for football. We are excited to support Gainr at all levels with our football data-driven expertise, creating a wide range new opportunities in the industry.” Malte Schmielewski CEO Goal Analytics.

With this expansion into Europe, Gainr.ai continues to enhance its alternative trading intelligence framework, ensuring its ecosystem remains at the forefront of AI-powered trading innovation. As demand for agile, data-driven trading strategies grows, Gainr Trading is well-positioned to provide superior analytics and automation for sports betting syndicates and alternative investment firms.