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BLAST.tv Major 2023 set to be first Counter-Strike Major to take place in France
Esports entertainment company BLAST has revealed it will host and produce next year’s Counter-Strike Major in France. The BLAST.tv Major will take place at the Accor Arena in Paris in May 2023 and be the first CS:GO Major to take place in France.
Ths announcement follows on from French President Emmanuel Macron’s comments back in April this year, where he stated a desire for France to host leading esports events such as the Counter-Strike Major in the future and become the ‘country of video games’.
The BLAST.tv Major will be France’s first ever Counter-Strike Major and BLAST’s first time hosting one of the most watched and loved esports events in the world.
The esports entertainment company has built up a reputation for delivering esports events and experiences that focus on innovation, fan-first moments and high production quality.
Robbie Douek, CEO for BLAST, said: “BLAST has always had an ambition and dream to be involved in a Major, an event that is rightly viewed as the pinnacle of esports and competitive gaming. We’ve been watching and waiting for the right moment to deliver an unforgettable Major. The time is now, with the BLAST.tv Major 2023! Over the last few years we’ve been working hard to deliver the best esports entertainment on the planet, and more recently investing in a digital platform that will allow fans to get even closer to these experiences.
“Paris is a world class location to host the tournament and will precede another high profile international event in the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics. Next year marks 10 years of Majors and we are highly confident of marking this occasion by delivering the greatest Major to date for CS:GO fans to experience and enjoy. We will be working closely with Valve to ensure we meet and exceed the community’s expectations and deliver an incredible event.”
Emmanuel Macron, President of France, confirmed the news on Sunday night: “From next year, in May, in less than 10 months, our country will host an event that will celebrate its 10th anniversary: the BLAST.tv Major Counter-Strike, the very first CS:GO Major organised in France and it will be at the Accor Arena in Paris.”
The BLAST.tv Major joins a list of high-profile international events taking place in France over the next few years, alongside: 2023 Rugby World Cup, 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris and the 2025 Rugby League World Cup.
Over the last few years France has become a hotbed for producing some of esports and Counter-Strike’s leading talents. Deep-rooted in the CS:GO scene, France has developed some of the scene’s most loved teams and players.
2023 will mark 10-years of Counter-Strike Majors and the BLAST.tv Major will look to celebrate this momentous occasion through highlighting and looking back at some of the most iconic moments from the pinnacle of esports and Counter-Strike.
BLAST.tv will be the home of 2023 France Major, 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.
The BLAST.tv Major will also be available to watch across BLAST’s global broadcast network, which is shown in 154 territories and in 25 languages. BLAST will work with Webedia Group, a leading French esports company, to deliver an unforgettable Major.
BLAST.tv Major dates and schedule:
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RMR’s Qualifiers: February – March (exact dates TBC)
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RMR’s: 3rd-9th April
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Major stage: 8th-21st May
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Challengers stage: 8th-11th May
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Legends stage: 13th-16th May
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Champions stage: 18th-21st May (Accor Arena)
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Former Entain exec Jez White joins BetComply
BetComply, iGaming’s most trusted technical and regulatory compliance firm, has hired the former Entain executive Jez White in a new role overseeing safer gambling and sustainability.
White joins BetComply as the firm’s first Safer Gambling & Sustainability Specialist, following more than eight years at Entain, where he served as Director of Player Protection Systems and Analytics. His expertise across responsible gaming, risk management, and player protection technology has been instrumental in shaping industry standards.
In his new position, White will design and implement safer gambling strategies, audit existing safer gambling models and design CRM strategies for BetComply clients.
Daniel Brookes, CEO of BetComply said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Jez, who has been at the very cutting edge of regulated online gaming for many years now. Few, if any, can match his level of expertise, and this is a major coup for BetComply and our partners. His insights and experience will be invaluable as we continue to set new benchmarks in compliance and sustainability.”
Jez White, Safer Gambling & Sustainability Specialist at BetComply, added: “I’m incredibly proud of the advancements made in player protection during my eight years at Entain, and I’m now excited to join BetComply. They have very quickly emerged as the leading compliance firm in our industry, and I’ll be contributing to their vision of creating a safer and more sustainable gaming sector.”
While at Entain, White led the implementation of an industry-leading safe gambling strategy that incorporated pattern recognition models and real-time interaction technology.
BetComply has been expanding its senior team over recent weeks. In February, Paola Menchem was brought in to lead its legal and regulatory compliance services.
The post Former Entain exec Jez White joins BetComply appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Darts Player Prakash Jiwa Gets Eight-year Ban for Match Fixing
Darts player Prakash Jiwa has been banned from all Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) events for eight years after being found guilty of match-fixing and betting on darts.
The UK Gambling Commission’s Sports Betting Intelligence Unit (SBIU) supported the investigation by facilitating information gathered in the course of its enquiries.
Following a hearing before the DRA Disciplinary Committee on 21 January 2025, Jiwa was found guilty of fixing four matches and betting on darts. He was found not guilty of obstructing the enquiry.
The Committee has suspended him from playing in or being involved in any DRA-regulated events until 6 November 2031, provided he pays costs of £17,741.46 in full.
There is no suggestion that the other players in these matches were involved.
John Pierce, Commission Director of Enforcement, said: “All betting customers in Britain should have confidence that bets placed with licensed gambling businesses are on markets that are fair and free from betting-related corruption.
“Our Sports Betting Intelligence Unit works closely with partners such as the Darts Regulation Authority to support sporting integrity investigations and combat match-fixing. This decision sends a clear message that betting-related corruption in sport will not be tolerated.”
The post Darts Player Prakash Jiwa Gets Eight-year Ban for Match Fixing appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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HERO ESPORTS Asian Champions League: 6 Spots for Esports World Cup Up for Grabs in Teamfight Tactics Tournament
The HERO ESPORTS Asian Champions League (ACL), Asia’s premier multi-title esports tournament hosted by Asia’s leading Esports company Hero Esports, has announced that a total of six spots for the Esports World Cup are up for grabs in ACL Teamfight Tactics Tournament. Details regarding the tournament format, schedule and prize pool have also been unveiled.
The ACL Teamfight Tactics Tournament is set to commence on April 15 and will conclude on May 18. The total prize pool for the tournament amounts to $150,000, with six teams earning direct entry to the Esports World Cup.
Unlike previous Teamfight Tactics events, the ACL Teamfight Tactics Tournament features a 4V4 team battle format. This emphasis on teamwork will offer the audience a fresh and engaging viewing experience.
The ACL Teamfight Tactics Tournament is structured into three stages: Regional Qualifiers, Asian Challenge and ACL Grand Finals.
Registration for the tournament will open on March 23 and close on March 31. Teams must register in groups of four players. The Regional Qualifiers will be divided into APAC and CN regions. The eight highest-ranking teams from the APAC region and the seven highest-ranking teams from the CN region will qualify for the Regional Qualifiers. Team rankings are determined by the total points accumulated by the top three players in each team at the registration deadline. These points are calculated based on performance in the TFT Open, Tactician’s Crown and Regional Finals over the latest three seasons.
In the Regional Qualifiers, four teams from each region (APAC and CN region) will advance to the Asian Challenge through online competitions. The APAC Qualifier will take place from April 15 to 18, whereas the CN Qualifier is scheduled from April 24 to 27. Additionally, the top three teams from each region will secure spots in the Esports World Cup, while the fourth and fifth teams from each region will qualify for the Last Chance Qualifier of EWC.
In the Asian Challenge, which will take place from May 8 to 11, a total of eight teams from the Regional Qualifiers will compete for three spots in the Finals.
The post HERO ESPORTS Asian Champions League: 6 Spots for Esports World Cup Up for Grabs in Teamfight Tactics Tournament appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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