eSports
BLAST Premier Returns to North America with Spring Final Set to Take Place in Washington, D.C.
BLAST Premier will be making its long-awaited return to the US with the Spring Final set to take place in Washington, D.C.’s Entertainment & Sports Arena.
BLAST has teamed with Events DC and Monumental Sports & Entertainment to bring its global esports tournament, the BLAST Premier Spring Final, to Washington in June this year.
Hosted at Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, the Spring Final will run from 7th-11th June and will feature the world’s biggest esports teams, battling for the first BLAST Premier trophy of 2023, a share of the event’s $450,000 prize pool and a place in the prestigious World Final.
The nation’s capital will host the first BLAST event to take place in North America since 2019, when the BLAST Pro Series was hosted in Los Angeles, California, and where US-based Team Liquid lifted the trophy.
The announcement and partnership align with BLAST’s on-going commitment to reaching new audiences, delivering incredible experiences in state-of-the-art arenas and bringing esports closer to those who love it most.
Charlotte Kenny, Managing Director for BLAST Premier, said: “North America has some of Counter-Strike’s most passionate fans and talented players. We are delighted to be returning to the U.S. in June to host our first BLAST Premier arena event of 2023. BLAST is focused on uniting fans through their shared love of esports and providing them with first-class entertainment experiences. Washington, D.C. provides the perfect location to deliver on this ambition, where we are excited to be partnering with Monumental Sports & Entertainment and Events DC to bring the Spring Final to a city with such a rich history of hosting leading sporting events.”
“The BLAST Premier Spring Final is a dynamic event to host at the Entertainment & Sports Arena. We welcome Counter-Strike fans to Washington, D.C., a growing hub for the global esports community,” said Events DC President and CEO Angie M. Gates. “This partnership with Monumental Sports & Entertainment and BLAST Premier gives Events DC the opportunity to showcase more experiences that engage, excite and entertain visitors from around the world.”
“Monumental Sports is thrilled to welcome the world-renowned BLAST competition, the elite Counter-Strike athletes and global fans with a showcase of our warm hospitality and incredible facilities,” said Zach Leonsis, President, Media and New Enterprises for Monumental Sports & Entertainment. “The Washington, D.C. region has so many die-hard esports fans and it is a market ripe for accelerated growth. Once long-term and new esports fans see the energy and excitement at District E this summer, we know that will catalyse that trajectory.”
Opened in 2018, Events DC’s 4,000 seat Entertainment & Sports Arena is the state-of-the-art home to the WNBA Washington Mystics and NBA G League Capital City Go-Go. The multi-purpose venue hosts a wide range of entertainment from concerts, wrestling, basketball, esports and more. Further activity will also take place at District E Powered by Ticketmaster, which will debut in March 2023 as a new esports and entertainment destination in downtown DC, developed by Monumental Sports & Entertainment.
BLAST Premier is the world’s leading Counter-Strike tournament series, hosting the best players and teams, offering opportunities to regions across the globe and crowning the world champions of CS:GO. Up to 32 of the world’s best teams take part in the seven BLAST Premier events across the year with a combined prize pool of $2,475,000 on the line.
Six teams will confirm their place for Washington, D.C. during this week’s BLAST Premier Spring Groups which is currently taking place at BLAST’s studios in Copenhagen, Denmark. The remaining two teams will be made up of winners from each regional Spring Showdown (12-16 April).
BLAST.tv will be the home of BLAST Premier in 2023, where fans can get closer to the action than ever before. Innovative and fan-first viewing features will allow fans to tailor their viewing experience, relive key and exciting moments and impact the action unfolding before their eyes.
eSports
North Star Network Acquires Um Dois Esportes
North Star Network has acquired Um Dois Esportes, a sports coverage and analysis site created from the merger of Gazeta Do Povo and Tribuna do Paraná in 2020.
Julien Josset, co-founder of North Star Network, said: “Thank you to the team at GRPCOM for their faith in us to take the brand forward. Um Dois Esportes is an established and renowned site in Paraná State, and we’re excited about the challenge of developing this asset.
“We’re happy to maintain the collaboration with the existing editorial team, and look forward to working with them, bringing our unique NSN approach, to take UDE forward.”
NSN’s signing of Um Dois Esportes is the media house’s fourth acquisition of 2024, following the recent deals to purchase UK-based SportsMole and MrFixitsTips, as well as Chilean site AlAireLibre, which was announced in March.
The latest addition to the North Star media portfolio joins existing assets including Top Mercato, Afrik-Foot, and Vringe. The Paris-based company already oversees a significant Brazilian operation, delivering over 6 million sessions per month, from the likes of Trivela, Premier League Brasil and Lakers Brasil.
NSN will retain Curitiba-based journalists from the Um Dois Esportes legacy team to maintain the asset’s unique tone and popular coverage of the Paraná sports scene across site and social.
Rafael Mello, Director of GRPCOM, said: “We were surprised by the interest, and initially had no intention of selling Um Dois, but as the conversations evolved, we realised this was a serious group with good intentions. We were very happy to see our project being valued by a large international group and going global, demonstrating the quality of the content we produced.
“We’re also proud that North Star inherited our journalists, who are truly responsible for the success of the product we offer readers every day.”
eSports
L&G esports team founded by Alona Shevtsova won the national Dragon EC Cup tournament
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.
eSports
Introducing iSports at iCode: A Cutting-Edge Esports Program for Aspiring Gamers
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.
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