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Team Vitality is victorious at Intel® Extreme Masters Rio 2023 and qualify for IEM Cologne later this year
Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) Rio 2023 has come to a thrilling end, with Team Vitality emerging victorious after an intense competition between 16 of the best Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) teams from around the world. The competition was held from April 17-23, and the final three days took place in front of a passionate crowd at the iconic Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Group Stage began on April 17, with the participating teams competing in two groups of eight. The six best teams – BIG, Cloud9, FURIA, Heroic, Natus Vincere, and Team Vitality – then proceeded to the live Playoffs on April 21-23, where they faced off against each other in front of an energetic crowd. In the first Semi Final, Team Vitality completed the reverse sweep over Cloud9 to advance to the Grand Final on April 23. During the other Semi Final, Heroic managed to close out the match with back-to-back rounds, 16-9, meaning they secured their spot as Finalists of an IEM competition in the Brazilian coastal city for the second time.
Team Vitality kicked off the Grand Final strong by winning the first seven rounds back-to-back, and managed to fend off a powerful Heroic comeback to clinch the first game on Vertigo. In the second round, things were looking good for Team Vitality, but Heroic came back strong to tie the match after 11 rounds. However, this wasn’t enough to stop the French organization from claiming their deserved place as the Intel® Extreme Masters Rio 2023 champions, and denying Heroic their first IEM title.
After a hard-fought and exciting match, Team Vitality beat Heroic, with a score of 2-0 winning the coveted trophy and taking home the lion’s share of the $250,000 prize pool and a win in the race to the Intel® Grand Slam V and its $1,000,000 cash prize. As the winners of IEM Rio 2023, they join G2 Esports and FaZe Clan as the third team to qualify for a spot in the Group Stage of IEM Cologne 2023. Team Vitality player, Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, also secured the DHL MVP award which is judged on a combination of player performance, fan voting, and broadcast talent voting.
Starting the Group Stage from the lower bracket, Team Vitality defeated MIBR, FaZe Clan, and OG, 2-0, 2-0, 2-1, respectively to qualify for the Playoffs which saw the international squad only lose one game throughout the final phase of the tournament.
Team Vitality’s Dan “apEX” Madesclaire commented: “I’m proud of the boys but what we need to remember is that last time, we won the last tournament before the Major and we messed up. So, now we know what [we] have to do. It’s a game of confidence for sure and I think we were the better team today.
I think the biggest improvement we had was our map pool, right now it is getting really good. We worked a lot on our weakest map; this shows it. That’s one tournament win in 2023 and I hope for some more.”
Fans from Brazil and beyond had the opportunity to experience the excitement of the competition live during the Playoff Stage and witness the top teams in action. IEM Rio 2023 saw a peak viewership of more than 562,000* and attracted more than 15,000 fans over the final three days.
Local favorites FURIA, MIBR, and Imperial Sportsbet thrilled the home crowds, showing their skills and determination against top-tier teams from around the world. FURIA managed to get all the way through to the quarterfinals where they were eventually defeated by Heroic, while both MIBR and Imperial Sportsbet got eliminated after losing their first two matches.
While at IEM Rio, fans around the world got to see some of their favourite players compete in a one-off show match on Counter Strike 2 with Team Brasil, featuring Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo, Epitácio “TACO” de Melo, and Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato, going against Team World, including Christopher “GeT_RiGhT” Alesund and Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyljev. In the end, Team World bagged the win with a result of 16-8.
Next up in the ESL Pro Tour for CS:GO are the currently ongoing ESL Challenger League Season 45 concluding on May 28, ESL Challenger Melbourne in Melbourne, Australia, on April 28 – 30, and IEM Dallas 2023 in Dallas, Texas, USA, on May 29 – June 4. For more information the latest updates about ESL’s CS:GO esports ecosystem, head to the official ESL Pro Tour website, and follow ESL CS on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
*According to Escharts

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GGPoker to Broadcast WSOP Online 2025 Final Tables Live, Featuring GGPoker.tv Broadcast Debut of Poker Legend Phil Hellmuth
Join Jeff Gross and his legendary co-hosts on September 23 and September 30
GGPoker, the World’s Biggest Poker Room, today announced it will live stream the final table action of two of the most prestigious events from the ongoing WSOP Online 2025 tournament series. The broadcasts will be available on GGPoker.tv, the brand’s official YouTube channel, and will feature the debut of poker legend Phil Hellmuth as a live GGPoker.tv broadcast host.
The first broadcast, on September 23, will showcase the high-stakes drama from the final table of the $5,000 WSOP Online Main Event, arguably online poker’s most important annual tournament. This landmark event will be co-hosted by frequent GGPoker anchor Jeff Gross and the 17-time WSOP bracelet winner, Phil Hellmuth. Known for his “poker brat” persona and unparalleled tournament record, Hellmuth’s inclusion will provide viewers with an unprecedented look into the mind of one of poker’s greatest champions.
The action continues on September 30, with the final table of the $10,300 GGMillion$ High Rollers event. Joining Jeff Gross for this broadcast will be GGPoker Global Ambassador and fellow poker icon, Daniel Negreanu. Negreanu, with his engaging style and deep understanding of the game, will provide expert commentary and analysis, making this broadcast another must-watch for poker fans everywhere.
“We are incredibly excited to bring the WSOP Online 2025 action directly to our fans with these two live broadcasts,” said Paul Burke, Head of Public Relations at GGPoker. “Having Phil Hellmuth and Daniel Negreanu on air alongside Jeff Gross to break down the action will be a true treat. This will be more than just watching a final table; it’ll be a masterclass in poker strategy from two of the best to ever play the game.”
The post GGPoker to Broadcast WSOP Online 2025 Final Tables Live, Featuring GGPoker.tv Broadcast Debut of Poker Legend Phil Hellmuth appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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WILDZ INTRODUCES CUTTING-EDGE ENTERTAINMENT WITH WILDZ TV
Ta ‘Xbiex, Malta, September 2025: The Wildz Group is pleased to announce an impressive new addition to its flagship Wildz platform: Video-On-Demand product Wildz TV.
Wildz TV is a rich content offering that takes into account the popularity of Video On Demand (VOD). The service delivers rich media entertainment created by guest presenters that enhances the iGaming user experience within the sportsbook and online casino verticals.
As the first Wildz Group brand to provide a full sportsbook offering that accompanies its popular online casino within the same platform, Wildz is the ideal space to boost the enjoyment even more by introducing VOD content. Aligning with the brand’s ‘GET MORE’ payoff line, this complete entertainment suite provides streaming, live chat and 24/7 customer support, setting the bar high for one-stop leisure gaming.
Embracing the trend
VOD content is sweeping the globe as the preferred option chosen by customers seeking to make the most of their leisure activities, allowing them exclusive access to content suited to their tastes (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ being notable examples). According to Markets dot com, in 2023 the VOD market size was valued at USD 146.6 billion, and it’s forecast to balloon to USD 270.3 billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 13%. It made sense to the Wildz team that this trend will inevitably dominate gambling entertainment, too, leading to the creation of a VOD tier of video action in Wildz TV.
Wildz hosts the phenomenal team at Gämblerscast to showcase how this works. They’re renowned for their razor-sharp commentary and insights. Viewers can enjoy Gämblerscast episodes, explore dedicated Gämblers Picks for selected sports and even dip into the Gämblers Favourite Slots.
About Gämblerscast
The collective at Gämblerscast has been amassing a growing following of enthusiasts on Twitch, YouTube and TikTok. As gambling enthusiasts, they know exactly how to create content that appeals to players, including insights, observations, humour and plenty of fun. This winning combination makes them a great fit as the first-ever team to be hosted on Wildz.
The added value of VOD
Players get the opportunity to access exclusive content for a modest premium, content that’s designed to match their interests. While Hulu and Paramount+ (for example) cater to mass markets, sites such as Wildz TV can provide niche content.
Contained behind a paywall, VOD entertainment is perfect for gambling as it underscores the importance of providing access to content according to Responsible Gaming principles and guidelines. Better yet, this source of revenue for entertainers offers a more sustainable form of entertainment that allows others to explore their creativity, too.
Jani Koskinen, Chief Marketing Officer at Wildz Group, says, “VOD is the way forward for gambling platforms seeking to acquire, entertain, engage, and retain players. We’ve seen a great impact from hosting the Gämblerscast team and premium sports events, and we anticipate quality engagement as we explore the benefits of offering rich and exclusive media to our customers. Welcome to the future of iGaming entertainment!”
Wildz TV is yet another reason players are moving to Wildz and sticking around for more quality gambling entertainment.
The post WILDZ INTRODUCES CUTTING-EDGE ENTERTAINMENT WITH WILDZ TV appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Adidas Arena Set to Welcome the 2026 Six Invitational
Ubisoft and BLAST are thrilled to announce that the 2026 Six Invitational, the biggest event in the BLAST R6 calendar, will take place at the Adidas Arena in northern Paris for the very first time.
Reopened in 2023 following major renovations, this state-of-the-art venue has quickly become one of Paris’s premier destinations for sport and entertainment. Designed with fan experience in mind, the Adidas Arena regularly hosts top-tier basketball games, concerts, and cultural events, and was a key stage during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
With cutting-edge broadcast capabilities, spacious backstage areas for players, and infrastructure built for live streaming and large-scale digital productions, the Adidas Arena is also positioning itself as one of the most esports-friendly venues in Europe.
“The Six Invitational is not just a tournament, it’s a celebration of the Rainbow Six community,” said Robbie Douek, CEO of BLAST. “Bringing the event to Adidas Arena allows us to create an unforgettable experience for players and fans in one of Europe’s most exciting venues.”
“Hosting the Six Invitational 2026 in Paris, at the Adidas Arena, is a milestone for Ubisoft and for French esports,” said François-Xavier Deniele, VP, Esports & Competitive Gaming, Ubisoft. “France has become a leading hub for competitive gaming, and bringing Rainbow Six’s biggest event here highlights our commitment to the community.”
About the Tournament
The Six Invitational will span three distinct phases, each crafted to deliver intense competition and compelling narratives.
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Phase 1: Group Stage20 qualified teams will be divided into four groups of five. Each team will face the others in Best-of-3 matches. The top four teams from each group will advance.
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Phase 2: Playoffs16 teams will enter a double-elimination bracket, with all matches played in Best-of-3 format. Teams knocked to the lower bracket will have one final lifeline to stay in the competition. By the end of this phase, only six teams will remain.
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Phase 3: FinalsThe final six teams will battle in front of a live Parisian crowd at the Adidas Arena. Across two days of Best-of-3 matches, the field will narrow to the last two contenders, who will face off in a Best-of-5 Grand Final to crown the world champion.
Ticket Information
Tickets for the Six Invitational 2026 will go on sale this week. Ticket categories include the ELITE Merchandise Bundle (€300), Carré Or, and multiple standard categories ranging from €75 to €175 (3-day passes), with 1-day passes starting from €30.
The post Adidas Arena Set to Welcome the 2026 Six Invitational appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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