eSports
STEVE AOKI, 100 THIEVES, G2’S CARLOS & XAVIER WOODS TO ALL MAKE APPEARANCES AT THE ESPORTS AWARDS PRESENTED BY LEXUS

The Esports Awards presented by Lexus, the most prestigious night in the esports calendar, is just under one week away and the countdown is hotting up to what promises to be an unforgettable event. As the curtain closes on the majority of the esports event calendar, the Esports Awards provides a perfect backdrop to celebrate the accomplishments of 2021.
The night will be hosted by some of the finest esports talents including Eefje ‘sjokz’ Depoortere, James ‘Dash’ Patterson, Alex ‘Goldenboy’ Mendez, Soe Gschwind, Nyvi Estephan and Thom ‘F.’ Badinger with a packed room full of some of the biggest and most recognisable brands, teams, and influencers in the space.
Throughout the night there will also be appearances from some of the biggest names across entertainment and sports, from the likes of Liverpool Football Club manager, JĂŒrgen Klopp who will be helping present the Esports Coach of the Year presented by Expedia, as well as superstar DJ Steve Aoki, singer-songwriter Luke Combs and professional wrestler Xavier Woods who will also make a showing throughout the night.
“After 735 days since our last live and in person event, our entire team is so excited and proud to be back in Arlington, Texas for the 2021 Esports Awards, presented by Lexus. We cannot wait to welcome our distinguished partners, nominees and industry friends to celebrate each nominee and recognise our worthy winners.
I am in a constant state of awe at the unity and support the esports industry has for the platform we continue to create, we are so thankful to our partners, our panel and the esports audience for enabling us to be back where we belong and creating legacy at the Esports Stadium Arlington,” said Michael Ashford, CEO, Esports Awards
There will be over 40 awards given out across six overarching categories including Community, Pro, On-Air, Collegiate, Industry and Creative. These will go out across the weekend’s events and recognise the best within esports over the past year, a moment we’ve not seen in person for what is now 735 days.
Lexus will be displaying several vehicles, including the Gamers’ IS, a one-of-a-kind vehicle designed by and for gamers as the ultimate gaming space.
eSports
Fighting Game GOAT Justin Wong Joins BASILISK, Scienceâs Esports Team

Nine-time Evo Champion and Guinness World Record Holder Brings Legendary Status to Captain New Team, Recruit Talent, and Advance Scienceâs Role in Competitive Gaming
BASILISK, the global esports organization built to champion science, today announced the signing of legendary fighting game competitor Justin âJWongâ Wong as captain of its newly formed Fighting Game Community (FGC) Division. Wong will lead BASILISKâs entry into the FGC by recruiting players, developing community events, and creating FGC – science crossover content.
âJustin isnât just a competitive genius â he is a cultural icon and humble leader within the FGC,â said BASILISK co-founder Christopher Bothur. âWe are incredibly proud to have him leading our FGC division and support the amazing work he already does for the community.â
A nine-time Evolution Championship Series (Evo) Champion and Guinness World Record holder, Wong brings unparalleled FGC credibility and expertise to BASILISK. His reach extends across the entire FGC fandom of millions, and he was immortalized in Evo Moment #37 which has over 100 million views.
As Captain of BASILISK FGC, Wong will leverage BASILISKâs data analytics to scout and train the next generation of FGC pros.
âMath is super important to fighting games. Iâm excited to join scienceâs esports team,â said Wong upon joining BASILISK. âI’m passionate about finding promising players with a positive mentality and shaping them into the next big thing. I want to see somebody else in the spotlight after me and help them reach their potential. If we can discover the next world champion, that would be fantastic.â
The signing comes on the heels of BASILISKâs new partnerships with The Planetary Society and Caltechâs Institute for Quantum Information and Matter (IQIM), announced in July. These collaborations create a powerful bridge between renowned scientific institutions and gamers, which Wong will amplify to his millions of followers and fans.
âJustin is a dream addition to our organization,â added BASILISK co-founder Hans Kassier. âHe exemplifies the dedication and analytical capacity required to be an esports champion or great scientist.â
Wong becomes the second âGOATâ (Greatest of All Time) to join BASILISK, alongside Finnish StarCraft 2 legend Joona âSerralâ Sotala, who just captured the SC2 Esports World Cup Championship in July 2025. The signing also creates opportunities for cross-over content with BASILISK’s diverse roster, including chess Grandmaster Vincent Keymer and award-winning science communicator Kyle Hill, who brings over 2.5 million followers and a vast network of science enthusiasts to the organization.
Compliance Updates
Oddin.gg Officially Registered with LOTBA as a Supplier in the City of Buenos Aires

Oddin.gg has been officially registered as a supplier by the Lottery of the City of Buenos Aires (LOTBA). This authorization clears the way for Oddin.gg to provide its end-to-end esports betting ecosystemâincluding its Odds Feed, Risk Management, BetBuilder, Widgets, and moreâto licensed operators in the City of Buenos Aires. The milestone reinforces Oddin.ggâs strategic focus on supporting partners across Latin America.
LOTBA, the regulatory authority for online gaming within the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is well known for its rigorous compliance and technical standards. While the body manages licensing and enforcement, suppliers must undergo a formal registration process before providing services to local operators. Oddin.ggâs successful registration confirms that it has met all relevant technical, financial, and compliance requirements.
Juana Bischoff, Senior Business Development Manager LATAM at Oddin.gg, said: âBeing officially registered with LOTBA marks an important step in Oddin.ggâs long-term commitment to the Latin American market. Esports is gaining real traction across the region, and we want operators in Buenos Airesâand beyondâto have the tools and insight to deliver a top-tier esports betting experience. Weâre not just bringing leading technologyâweâre bringing the local expertise and regulatory awareness needed to help our partners like Betsson and Jugadon grow.â
eSports
Mirage Digital Announces Partnership with Team Liquid

Mirage Digital, the next-generation content studio shaping the future of digital entertainment, announced a groundbreaking partnership with global eSports organization Team Liquid. With over 35 million social media followers across platforms, 100+ championship titles with its over 120+ players and content creators worldwide, Team Liquid is the highest earning eSports team in the world to launch a 24/7 live-streaming programming experience surrounding the fan-favorite World of Warcraft: Race to World First event.
Mirage has created a new content monetization model for creators and enterprising entities, unlocking previously untapped non-traditional revenue streams. The company helps its clients with repurposing, redistributing, licensing, and selling content across numerous platforms and territories. Resulting in over a million dollars for its eclectic roster of over 300 creators, the company leverages its extensive creator network and expertise in original content development, to redefine digital content syndication. Mirage Digital is bridging the gap between creators and enterprise opportunities by sourcing high-quality content from creators and repurposing it for expanded deal flow and pipeline of distribution across OTT and FAST platforms.
Team Liquid, coming off a championship win in March, is set to make history with its most ambitious Race to World First campaign yet, with live coverage kicking off in July. For the first time, the tournament and its surrounding content will be broadcast beyond Twitch to OTT and FAST audiences, expanding access for new and longtime fans alike.
âThis launch marks a huge moment not just for Team Liquid, but for the future of all eSports and creator content. Weâre unlocking a format that merges always-on content with world-class competitive play, giving fans a reason to tune in every hour of every day. This is a monumental moment for both television networks and eSports to recognize the boundaries they are breaking in both parallels,â said Griffin Haddrill, Founder of Mirage Digital.
The multi-day broadcast includes full tournament coverage alongside exclusive behind-the-scenes content, player profiles, real-time strategy breakdowns, and each dayâs highlights – providing an unprecedented level of access to Team Liquidâs journey and personalities within the event.
Team Liquid will bring its world-renowned Race to World First event to new audiences with a livestream on The Roku Channel in late August. Widely regarded as one of the most thrilling competitions in MMORPG gaming, Race to World First draws millions of global viewers eager to watch elite teams battle for supremacy in World of Warcraft. Known for pushing the boundaries of eSports entertainment, Team Liquid is once again innovating – this marks the first time the iconic event will be available via a dedicated OTT streaming platform, giving fans an even more immersive viewing experience.
“This collaboration is the result of our mission to re-imagine where and how gaming and creator content lives. All parties saw an opportunity to take one of the most anticipated eSports events of the year and expand its reach to new audiences through OTT and FAST distribution. This is about creating long-term value for teams, fans, and platforms alikeâand Race to World First is just the beginning,â said Robin Bigge, Co-CEO of Mirage Digital.
âThis is a historic evolution in how we bring eSports to the world. Weâve built a legacy on competitive excellence, and this partnership lets us showcase the heart, hustle, and humanity of our players in a way weâve never done beforeâ24/7, across every screen,â said Claire Hungate, President & COO of Team Liquid.
This moment also marks the first time Team Liquid has programmed content specifically for a FAST Channel, a move that speaks to the maturation and crossover appeal of eSports for general audiences.
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