eSports
Prodigy Agency strengthens its North American team and support to players with new hires
Prodigy Agency, a leading esports representation agency, has announced a series of new hires in North America to lead and expand its initiative to support the players from all angles in the region.
Prodigy Agency, founded and directed by Jérôme Coupez, represent more than 100 players around the world , including some of the biggest stars in esports like Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut and Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski on CS:GO, Adil “ScreaM” Benrlitom and Tyson “TenZ” Ngo on Valorant, Alexandre “Kaydop” Courant on Rocket League, or Kacper “Inspired” Słoma and Paul “sOAZ” Boyer on League of Legends (LoL).
Already representing nearly 20 world-class players in North America (TenZ, EliGE, SicK, Palafox, nitr0, steel and more), Prodigy Agency is developing its local team to continue to expand and always provide top-notch services and support to its players with the main goal to welcome new stars but also to focus on nurturing and providing full support to young and upcoming talents in the region.
Angela “woori” Yang and Taylor “Tailored” Broomall have joined the agency as Prodigy Agency’s new North-America FPS Coordinator and Agent, and LoL Coordinator and Agent respectively. Moreover, Amir Fallah has been hired as its North-America Sales & Partnerships Officer.
Prior to joining Prodigy Agency, Amir Fallah served as a Commercial Strategist for Infront Group’s digital arm, Infront X, where he supported the procurement of major sports contracts and collaborated on a number of accounts for strategic advisory including Activision Blizzard and Chelsea FC.
He will be leading the charge of commercialization and monetization for the roster of players in North America, through ambassadorships, sponsorships, licensing and more.
Taylor Broomall has worked as a coach for some of the best teams and organizations in NA, including Splyce or EnVy on CS :GO or TSM on Valorant, while Angela Yang has been working with collegiate and LCS teams on content and social media, having a close relationship with players for years.
Both of them will take over the local initiatives and support to players, by coordinating with all the services from Prodigy Agency.
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“Our main goal with Prodigy Agency is to always provide the best support and protection to all our players and I’m really excited to build a world-class team to develop our North American presence.
Angela, Taylor and Amir perfectly fit our strong values and mindset and will help us constantly raising the bar of players’ representation.
I’m proud to officially welcome them to the Prodigy family, and to already see some amazing results since they joined.
We are aiming to keep expanding our NA team and to open offices in 2022 in order to always be more efficient for our players and the industry, and to be able to provide a 24/7 support via our offices around the world.
Jérôme Coupez, Founder & CEO – Prodigy Agency
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“I’m honored and excited to join Prodigy Agency. This team understands the needs of players because we are passionate gamers ourselves. That passion is echoed in the mission statement of #PlayersFirst, where our values are strengthened by ensuring the business success of the players we represent. I’m confident that my ranged experience in sports will support that mission even further by developing long lasting strategic partnerships to nurture the growth of our athletes and agency. ”
Amir Fallah, North-America Sales & Partnerships Manager – Prodigy Agency
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“As someone who has always worked closely with LCS and Academy players, Prodigy’s motto of “Players first” really resonated with me. I’ve seen my fair share of tragic esports situations and while I’ve always done my best to help players out where I can, joining Prodigy gives me the ability to make a bigger impact. Prodigy is an agency that I can proudly represent – the work ethic and amount of effort and care that goes towards players is unparalleled. I know that players will be taken care of and they can focus on competing at the highest level while we’ve got them covered everywhere else.”
Angela Yang, North-America LoL Coordinator & Agent – Prodigy Agency
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“I feel honored to be joining Prodigy Agency. It was clear from my first meeting with Jerome that the Agency defines themselves by the wellbeing and support they provide their players. My primary goal as FPS Coordinator for North America is to help manage Prodigy’s expansion in the region, specifically in Valorant and CS:GO. I will be principally focused on improving regulations and standards in the region with regards to contract security, employee benefits, mental health practices, etc.
Above all, I want the #PlayersFirst mindset to flourish as our industry grows. Since the outset of my journey in esports helping protect and develop players has been my underlying objective. Jerome and Prodigy are giving me access to invaluable resources that will allow me to work with a wide breadth of talent. ”
Taylor Broomall, North-America FPS Coordinator & Agent – Prodigy Agency
iCode, a premier coding and STEM learning program for kids, announced its latest addition to its program offerings: iSports, a one-of-a-kind esports program geared towards young gamers aged 8-13.
Starting the week of June 3, 2024, this innovative 12-week esports course will be offered across the entire iCode franchise and is dedicated to introducing students to the thrilling world of competitive gaming in a safe and secure environment. This season will revolve around the popular game Fortnite, which will feature a special iCode-only map within the platform.
“iSports will serve as a great summer activity for kids to get out of the house, but the overall goal is to foster personal development through the many dynamic skills competitive gaming requires. The iSports program places a strong emphasis on developing important life skills like sportsmanship, teamwork and strategic thinking. It will keep participants engaged and learning while school is out, and parents can rest assured knowing that their children are playing in a controlled environment,” Abid Abedi, founder and CEO of iCode, said.
Throughout the 12-week iSports season, participants will dedicate one hour per week to gameplay and skill development. All sessions are led and supervised by knowledgeable iCode coaches. Their administration along with the exclusive iCode-only map is specifically designed to provide a secure gaming experience with a safe, monitored environment. The program culminates in the opportunity to compete in a tournament-style championship to crown the best gamer across iCode national network.
iCode is partnering with MSI to supply an array of state-of-the-art gaming equipment including high-quality headsets and top-tier gaming computers equipped with speedy processors. Gamers will also have access to advanced gaming chairs for maximum efficiency and comfort. This setup will ensure that every participant enjoys a premium gaming experience, mirroring the standards of professional esports environments. In addition, MSI will provide prizes to the top iSports gamers, including one of their brand new Claw handheld gaming devices.
“MSI has been dedicated to cultivating gaming and esports for years with significant achievements. We’re thrilled and honored to partner with iCode to develop this community to another level,” David Chou, VP of Sales at MSI, said.
eSports
HAWKS TALON GC SET FOR THE STEAL ON APRIL 19TH FOR CHANCE TO ENTER NBA 2K LEAGUE 3V3 PLAYOFF
Hawks Talon GC, the official NBA 2K League affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks, will begin play in the STEAL on Friday night against No. 14 Blazer5 Gaming at 7:30 p.m.
Talon collected 90 points over the SLAM and SWITCH, earning 60 points in the SLAM and 30 points in the SWITCH to earn the No. 3 seed heading into the STEAL.
Should Talon advance, they would play the winner of No. 6 Cavs Legion GC and No. 11 Hornets Venom GT on Saturday at 3:45 p.m., followed by the semifinals at 5:15 p.m., and the finals at 5:45 p.m. All games can be followed on the NBA 2K League’s Twitch and YouTube channels.
“The STEAL is probably the toughest tournament in the 2K League, but the guys are locked in and ready to fight for their season,” said Hawks Talon head coach Ismael ‘MAELO’ Diaz Tolentino. “We are looking forward to going out there and proving that we belong amongst the best teams in the league. We were only a game away from clinching a playoff berth and we honestly think we are one of the teams to beat in this tournament.”
Talon owns a 4-4 record in bracket play thus far during the 2024 season over the SLAM and SWITCH opens, going 3-2 over the SLAM and 1-2 over the SWITCH.
The single elimination 3v3 tournament includes all 15 NBA 2K League teams that have not clinched a spot in the 3v3 playoffs, plus one community team from an open qualifier. The final two teams in the STEAL will earn a spot in the 3v3 playoffs beginning next week, with the winner receiving a winner-take-all cash prize.
A new champion was crowned yesterday in New York during the EA SPORTS NHL 24 World Championship, the National Hockey League announced. Ethan ‘Polgz’ Kerr-Polgar, who represented the Toronto Maple Leafs, earned his first EA SPORTS NHL 24 title, the $30,000 USD grand prize and a custom hockey stick trophy. The 21-year-old, Newmarket, Ont., resident won the back-and-forth, best-of-three series, including winning Game 1 in overtime against fellow Canadian Justin ‘Regs’ Reguly. With the win, Polgz cements his status as the top NHL 24 player in the World.
Polgz (@PolgzNHLon X) is an avid hockey fan and gamer who chose to represent his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs in the EA SPORTS NHL 24 World Championship. His superior offensive skills allowed him to score eight goals in the Final series to earn the World title. Polgz dedicated the win to his mother, who is his biggest supporter and has beat cancer three times.
Fellow Maple Leafs representative Regs finished the day as runner-up. Regs was previously the North American Champion of EA SPORTS NHL 22.
The virtual qualifying events for the live competition were hosted in partnership with Rival on its fan engagement platform that connects gamers from all over the world. The NHL 24 World Championship qualifying spanned two continents and showcased the global reach of virtual hockey.
EA SPORTS NHL 24 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Round Robin
Polgz (Toronto Maple Leafs) 3 vs. Regs (Toronto Maple Leafs) 2 (OT)
Deeks (Montreal Canadiens) 7 vs Tempannen (Anaheim Ducks) 3
Regs (Toronto Maple Leafs) 2 vs. Tempannen (Anaheim Ducks) 1 (OT)
Polgz (Toronto Maple Leafs) 4 vs. Deeks (Montreal Canadiens) 3
Regs (Toronto Maple Leafs) 5 vs. Deeks (Montreal Canadiens) 1
Polgz (Toronto Maple Leafs) 4 vs. Temppanen (Anaheim Ducks) 1
Standings after Round Robin
1. Eki (*automatically advanced to Semifinal) *defeated Gren for 1st seed
2. Gren (*automatically advanced to Semifinal)
3. Polgz, TOR (3-0-0), 6 pts
4. Regs, TOR (2-0-1), 5 pts
5. Deeks, MTL (1-2-0), 2 pts
6. Temppanen, ANA (0-2-1), 1 pts
Semifinal (best-of-three)
EKI (NYI) vs. Regs (TOR)
Regs wins series 2-0
Gren (BUF) vs. Polgz (TOR)
Polgz wins series 2-0
Final (best-of-three)
Game 1: Polgz, 3 vs. Regs, 2 (OT)
*Polgz took an early lead over Regs by scoring the first goal of the series. Polgz secured a two-goal lead in the second period, which was quickly answered by Regs bringing the score to 2-1. Regs made an epic comeback in the third period, tying up the game with 17 seconds left and forcing the first game into overtime. Despite strong gameplay from both sides, Polgz pulled through to earn the overtime win.
Game 2: Polgz, 0 vs. Regs, 5
*Regs dominated in Game 2 of the Final. He scored two goals in quick succession in the first period, then took a three-goal lead in the second period. Polgz had some good chances in the second period, but ultimately was unable to overcome Regs. Regs sealed the deal with another two goals towards the end of the third period, securing a 5-0 win over Polgz and tying the series at 2-2.
Game 3: Polgz, 5 vs. Regs, 3
*An unstoppable Polgz took the early lead, scoring four unanswered goals in the first period. After a mostly quiet second period, Regs got on the board with two unanswered goals of his own, suddenly cutting Polgz’s lead in half. Entering the third period at 4-2 with Polgz in the lead, Regs made up ground with another goal early in the third period, making for an exciting battle for the win. In the end, Polgz locked in the win with a fifth goal in the third period, winning Game 3 with a final score of 5-3 and ending the series 2-1.
World Championship History
| YEAR | WINNER | RUNNER UP |
| 2024 | Polgz (Ethan Kerr-Polgar) | Regs (Justin Reguly) |
| 2023 | Jos x 10 (Joseph Olmstead) | EKI (Erik Tammenpää) |
| 2022* | NA: Regs (Justin Reguly)
EUR: EKI (Erik Tammenpää) |
NA: Gren-35- (Matthew Grenier)
EUR: J-_-JamalTheMan (Jimi Rönkkönen) |
| 2021* | NA: Gren-35- (Matthew Grenier)
EUR: EKI (Erik Tammenpää) |
NA: Regs (Justin Reguly)
EUR: NikkeDangles (Niklas Tukiainen) |
| 2020* | CAN: Regs (Justin Reguly)
USA: OF’s HF (Josh Fuss) EUR: Artuzio (Arttu Mustila) |
CAN: YungGren (Matthew Grenier)
USA: Top Shelf Cookie (Matthew Gutkoski) EUR: MrNipsuli (Roni Kajan) |
| 2019 | Top Shelf Cookie (Matthew Gutkoski) | JohnWayne90 (John Casagranda) |
| 2018 | EKI (Erik Tammenpää) | Jr Pens (David Roebuck) |
*World Championship canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions NA = North America / EUR = Europe
EA SPORTS NHL 23 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL STANDINGS
1. Polgz, Toronto Maple Leafs ($30,000 USD)
2. Regs, Toronto Maple Leafs ($10,000 USD)
3. Gren, Buffalo Sabres ($5,000 USD)
4. Eki, New York Islanders ($5,000 USD)
5. Deeks, Montreal Canadiens ($1,000 USD)
6. Temppanen, Anaheim Ducks ($1,000 USD)
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