eSports
Fnatic partners with New York Institute of Technology for pioneering esports performance wear research
Fnatic, the London-based esports performance brand, has today revealed a brand new partnership with New York Institute of Technology (New York Tech), which will see the esports organisation and university collaborate on two pioneering pieces of research exploring the effects of upper and lower body compression sleeves on professional gamers.
Joining forces with Fnatic’s High Performance Unit, experts from New York Tech’s Center for Esports Medicine will work with the London-based esports organisation over the course of a six-month-period. The first study, analysing upper body compression sleeves, will assess whether the esports wear positively increases the longevity of performance and improves recovery rates of competitive gamers. Meanwhile, the study analysing the effects of lower body compression sleeves will assess whether the sleeves help to enhance the blood flow of gamers and reduce the risk of long-term, lower body health risks of esports professionals.
Fnatic’s High Performance Unit is dedicated to holistically improving various aspects of elite gaming through eight different performance pillars. The pillars include health, research, technology and software, in-game performance, processes and operations, youth structure, infrastructure and education. The ambition of the unit is to consistently improve the capabilities of Fnatic players by making marginal performance gains and improving results, creating the very top pro gamers in the world across all Fnatic game titles. The unit will also use its insights and learnings to inform the creation of Fnatic’s physical and digital products, helping fans worldwide to game better.
The team has previously undertaken research which tracked the sleep, heart-rates and workout data of some of its pro gamers over the course of a six-month-period, in order to better understand the lifestyle habits of their teams. Recently, the unit also explored AI-powered fitness coaching in collaboration with training app Freeletics.
Jens Hofer, Director of Fnatic’s High Performance Unit, said: “At Fnatic, we’re dedicated to pushing the boundaries of esports performance to make marginal gains in the gaming arena. One way in which we are looking to improve performance is by conducting relevant research that can then be used to inform our decision making. This particular collaboration with New York Institute of Technology, a university that is pioneering esports and gaming related research, will help us better understand the benefits of compression sleeves and in turn, use these insights to inform how to use the technology and develop our own products in the future.”
New York Tech – a highly ranked and accredited not-for-profit university – has a robust esports program, offering esports-related career paths and the opportunity to join teams across a large selection of esports titles through its collegiate esports team, The Cybears. In addition, the college’s institution’s Center for Esports Medicine features a team of dedicated physicians and healthcare professionals working to enable esports athletes to reach their full potential, preventing injury, optimising performance, and maintaining overall wellbeing.
Exercise Physiologist Joanne Donoghue, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Research at New York Institute of Technology, said: “As a future-focused university, we’ve been increasingly investing in esports research and facilities for some time now. Fnatic are paving the way when it comes to innovation in the area of esports performance and we were delighted to partner with them, offering our unique expertise for this pioneering piece of research.”
Ukrainian esports team L&G won the Dragon EC Cup tournament, held on the 20th of April by Dragon Esports Club. Four teams competed in the tournament’s final: Lazer Cats, L&G, which received a direct invitation to the final stage, EsportsBattle, and ThunderFlash, which had open qualifiers. During the Grand Final, the L&G team competed with Lazer Cats on Mirage, Anubis, and Vertigo maps.
“This victory is a testament to the exceptional talent and commitment of our players, as well as the collective effort of our coaching staff and support personnel,” said Alona Shevtsova, founder of L&G Esports. “We are immensely proud of their accomplishments and grateful for the unwavering support of our fans.”
L&G is among the top 5 Ukrainian teams in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. It was founded in 2021. The previous name was Leogaming, and it was created on the initiative of the famous Alona Shevtsova from the fintech sector.
The team began competing in top tournaments and almost immediately made it to the Advanced division of the ESEA League Europe competition. The team also participated in and took prizes in European tournaments such as the SCL League, WhiteBit Crypto Open, Phoenix League, and local competitions. The team players are marat2k, r0ublE, kr1vda, kL1o, OneUn1que, rji (coach).
The winners received a 50,000 UAH prize. Dragon Esports Club also prepared a 15-skin giveaway for the broadcast’s viewers.
It is worth mentioning that the L&G team created its merch items, which are available for order worldwide. To get more information about the team, visit the L&G Instagram page, Twitch, or Telegram Channel.
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.
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