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Champions crowned as Riyadh Masters 2023 wraps up Dota 2 action at Gamers8
The Dota 2 Riyadh Masters 2023 competition wrapped up yesterday after 12 days of thrilling matches featuring 20 elite teams vying for victory and taking home a share of the $15,000,000 prize pool. As one of the premier tournaments in the Dota 2 calendar, Riyadh Masters 2023 ran the globe’s greatest teams through a round-robin group stage and then double-elimination playoffs in the popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA).
Among the teams competing for the top prize was Dota 2 powerhouse Team OG, the first team in Dota 2 history to win four Dota Major Championships. Team Tundra Esports, reigning champions of Dota’s iconic “The International” tournament, also headed into the 2023 Masters amongst the favorites. Of course, there could only be one winner, and this achievement went to Team Spirit, who triumphed in the final, beating Team Liquid in an encounter for the ages.
The $15,000,000 prize pool is the largest available of any Dota 2 competition this season, and the action did not disappoint, with the stakes being so high. Over 120,000 fans tuned in to the official broadcast on Twitch to witness the epic showdown. Team Spirit reached the Grand Final for the second year in a row, knocking out the season’s most dominant performer, Team Gaimin Gladiators, along the way and beating Team Liquid 2-1 in the upper-bracket final as the team looked to banish last years demons and finish in first place rather than second. Team Liquid earned a shot at their redemption by crushing Team Talon 2-0 in the lower bracket final. But the result of this eagerly anticipated rematch in the five-game Grand Final went to Team Spirit, an unassailable 3-1. As champions, Team Spirit left Gamers8 and Boulevard Riyadh City $5,000,000 richer, the runners-up collecting $2,500,000 from the overall prize pool.
Faisal bin Homran, Chief Esports Officer at the Saudi Esports Federation, said: “The Dota 2 Riyadh Masters tournament at Gamers8: The Land of Heroes has captured the imagination of the thousands in attendance at Boulevard Riyadh City’s Esports Arena and the tens of millions watching avidly across the globe. Since July 19th, the global gaming and esports scene has been captivated by the exploits of the best Dota 2 teams and players in the world. Competing for a $15 million prize pool – the biggest third-party prize pool for a tournament ever – the action has been even more dramatic than anticipated and epitomizes the level of standard for which Gamers8 has become renowned. We congratulate Team Spirit on their success and thank all the teams, players, fans, sponsors, and partners at the Dota 2 Riyadh Masters for being part of a special moment in Saudi Arabian gaming history.”
Although the Riyadh Masters may have finished, there’s plenty more action on offer as part of Gamers8: The Land of Heroes in its 2023 edition. Esports athletes from around the world are competing in a 12-tournament lineup with a prize pool of $45 million to the soundtrack of musical superstars like Imagine Dragons, Alan Walker, and Metro Boomin’, who are putting on a show for the crowds at Gamers8. The festival, the world’s largest for gaming and esports, has been full of action since it kicked off in July, with seismic impacts such as Pakistan winning the Nations Cup in Tekken against a well-favored Korean team. Among the other titles taking center stage at Gamers8’s home in Boulevard Riyadh City are Rocket League, PUBG Mobile, FIFA, and Counterstrike.
Fans can enjoy further exciting events as the festival continues through August 27th, following which the Gamers8 festival will conclude with a gaming and esports forum. Known as the ‘Next World Forum,’ it brings together sector leaders and experts from around the world to Saudi Arabia. Gamers8 is playing a key role in developing the grassroots esports scene in Saudi Arabia and providing opportunities for esports athletes around the world. Over 67% of Saudi citizens are gamers, and multiple world champions have come from the Kingdom already to win on the world’s largest stages.

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The Battle for VCT Pacific 2026 Begins in Bangkok as Ten Teams Clash at VCT Ascension Pacific 2025
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Velocity Gaming Represents South Asia at VCT Ascension Pacific 2025 — Set to Take on APAC’s Finest for a Place in the VCT Pacific League 2026
National, October 14, 2025: The road to the next VALORANT Champions Tour season reaches its decisive stage as VCT Ascension Pacific 2025 kicks off today in Bangkok. From October 14 to 26, ten elite teams from across the Asia-Pacific region will converge at the Imperial Samrong Convention Hall to fight for two coveted berths in the VCT Pacific League 2026 and a share of the USD 100,000 prize pool.
The tournament marks the culmination of a year-long regional circuit, bringing together emerging contenders and established names, including Velocity Gaming, who will step onto the international stage to take on the Pacific’s top contenders, aiming to secure the region’s first-ever spot in the VCT Pacific League. Over the next twelve days, the stage in Bangkok will determine which teams rise to the international league in 2026.
Qualified Teams – Ten teams from across APAC have earned their place at Ascension Pacific 2025:
South Asia:
- Velocity Gaming
VCT Pacific:
- BOOM Esports
- Nongshim RedForce
Southeast Asia:
- Motiv Esports
- NAOS
- FULL SENSE
- Team NKT
Japan:
- RIDDLE ORDER
Korea:
- SLT Seongnam
Oceania:
- E-KING
Velocity Gaming has qualified for VCT Ascension Pacific 2025 after beating S8UL 3-1 in the Grand Final of the OMEN VALORANT Challengers South Asia 2025 Ascension Qualifiers.
Tournament Format
The competition begins with a Group Stage featuring two groups of five teams each, seeded based on regional performance. Both VCT Pacific representatives will be placed in separate groups. Teams will face off in a single round-robin, best-of-three format within their groups.
The top six teams will advance to the Playoffs, a modified double elimination bracket where the top two seeds from each group start in the upper bracket, and the third seeds begin in the lower bracket.
All playoff matches will be best-of-three, except the upper and lower bracket finals, which will be best-of-five qualification matches, determining the two teams that will ascend to VCT Pacific 2026.
Schedule – The full tournament unfolds over 12 days of competition:
- Group Stage: October 14 – 21
- Playoffs: October 22 – 26
- Upper Bracket Final: October 25
- Lower Bracket Final: October 26
Matches begin daily at 14:00 GMT+7 / 15:00 GMT+8 / 16:00 GMT+9.
Schedules are subject to change. For the latest updates, visit valorantesports.com.
Tickets
- Fans can experience the thrill of Ascension Pacific 2025 live as the tournament reaches its climax from October 24 to 26 at the Imperial Samrong Convention Hall in Bangkok.
- Come cheer for your region’s best as they battle for a spot in the VCT Pacific League 2026.
Venue Address:
- 999 Sukhumvit Rd, Samrong Nuea, Mueang Samut Prakan District,
- Samut Prakan 10270, Thailand
Tickets:
- Early bird tickets went on sale on September 20, followed by general sales on September 23.
- Tickets are available now via Ticketmelon — simply search for “VALORANT Ascension Pacific 2025” to secure your spot.
The post The Battle for VCT Pacific 2026 Begins in Bangkok as Ten Teams Clash at VCT Ascension Pacific 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Airoclip Raises $2.75M Seed Round Led by T-Accelerate Capital and Co-led by Centre Court Capital and BITKRAFT Ventures
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Airoclip, an AI-powered gaming studio focused on building adaptive gaming experiences for global audiences, has raised $2.75 million in a seed funding round led by T-Accelerate Capital (TAC), co-led by Centre Court Capital and global gaming investor BITKRAFT Ventures.
Founded in 2024 by IIM Calcutta alumni Naga Rohith Anisetty and Pruthvi Sai Y, Airoclip is pioneering a new era of mobile puzzle games by integrating adaptive story progression, innovative monetisation models, and scalable live operations. The company focuses on AI-driven personalisation and dynamic content generation to deliver superior gaming experiences to the world from India.
Airoclip, with its flagship puzzle games Tap Hexa and Hexa Dreams, has rapidly gained strong traction among players in the USA and Europe. With a stellar 4.8/5 rating on the Play Store and more than 300,000 installs, the studio is just beginning its journey to craft premium puzzle experiences for global audiences.
“We’re not just building games, we’re crafting experiences that evolve with every player. We’re thrilled to partner with investors who share that vision and will help us bring it to life,” said Rohith, co-founder and CEO of Airoclip.
This capital infusion will accelerate the development of Airoclip’s proprietary game personalization technology and strengthen its teams across game development, data, design, and marketing.
“We combine strong game design principles with innovative content formats that generative AI now enables. This approach will significantly enhance player engagement and unlock new revenue streams. By creating personalized, culturally relevant content, we can scale
efficiently across global markets with experiences that truly resonate with players everywhere,” added Pruthvi, co-founder.
Investors see Airoclip’s approach as a blueprint for how Indian founders can merge creative depth with analytical precision to build global gaming experiences.
“We’re excited to partner with Airoclip on their growth journey. Their sharp blend of analytical depth and creative ambition reflects the evolution of India’s gaming ecosystem and underscores the confidence of a new generation of studios ready to compete on the global stage,” said Carol Wong, Founding General Partner at T-Accelerate Capital.
Backed by increasing digital adoption and rising global playtime and revenue, the casual gaming segment is seeing sustained investor interest and global momentum.
“Airoclip represents the new wave of ambitious gaming studios emerging from India with global potential and vision. Their focus on quick prototyping along with their past experience in scaling games globally positions them to create enduring mobile gaming franchises from India in the future,” said Anuj Tandon, Partner – India & UAE at BITKRAFT
The post Airoclip Raises $2.75M Seed Round Led by T-Accelerate Capital and Co-led by Centre Court Capital and BITKRAFT Ventures appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Genting Casino Launches the £20k Spin Leaderboard Challenge with VIP finale at Resorts World Birmingham
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Premium online casino brand Genting Casino has announced the launch of its headline £20k Spin Leaderboard Challenge, an exciting promotion offering players the chance to spin for £20,000 grand prize in a roulette showdown at Resorts World Birmingham in December.
Live now until 17 November 2025, this exclusive multi-channel promotion gives eligible UK online casino customers the opportunity to get free spins on deposit, compete in a leaderboard by playing selected games, and secure a place in a live-filmed casino tournament, culminating in a single spin worth £20,000.
Players can opt in by making a deposit of £10 or more at Genting Casino using the bonus code WIN20K, which grants 150 free spins on Big Bass Splash, 10 leaderboard points and a shot at climbing the top 50.
The top five players on the leaderboard will be invited to Resorts World Birmingham for a VIP experience including an overnight stay on the 13th December, up to £150 travel reimbursement and entry into a high-stakes live roulette tournament. The overall tournament winner will claim the Grand Prize Spin which could be worth £20,000.
Those finishing between 6th and 50th place on the leaderboard will receive 100 free spins on Fishin’ Frenzy The Big Catch 2.
Mike Vella from Genting Casino said: “We’re thrilled to offer our unique £20k spin promotion to online customers again, culminating in our unique live finale. The campaign brings players from screen to casino floor in a spectacular fashion and is part of our commitment to capitalise on the exclusive journey we can offer our online customers thanks to our partners at Resorts World Birmingham.”
Leaderboard points are earned playing Online Slot Games and selected Live Tables. Double points are available on specific games on certain weeks with eligible titles including Genting Live Roulette from Manchester, Lucky Lady’s Charm Deluxe and Fishin Frenzy The Big Splash.
The final five players will participate in a filmed, bracket-style live roulette tournament at Resorts World Birmingham, with one last spin deciding who walks away with the life-changing top prize.
Winners will be contacted on 19 November 2025, and the live tournament date will be on 13 December 2025.
This is another example of Genting Casino offering customers a chance to play their favourite online games in order to climb the leaderboard to win prizes from cash following on from previous promotions which offered winners experiences including trips to see some of the world’s most prestigious sporting events.
Genting Casino offer a premium online experience with over 7,000 casino games ranging from the classic casino table games including live roulette, blackjack and a catalogue of online slots and instant win games from leading studios and providers, including favourites like Starburst, Fishin’ Frenzy and Book of Dead, all within a safe and secure gaming environment.
The post Genting Casino Launches the £20k Spin Leaderboard Challenge with VIP finale at Resorts World Birmingham appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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