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Intel® Extreme Masters Cologne 2023: Local heroes G2 Esports crowned the final Cologne CS:GO Champion at the Cathedral of Counter-Strike
Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) Cologne 2023 has come to a thrilling conclusion, with G2 Esports emerging victorious after an intense battle between 24 of the best Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) teams from around the world. The competition was held from July 26th to August 6th, and the final three days took place in front of more than 37,000 passionate fans at the iconic LANXESS arena in Cologne, Germany.
ESL’s flagship event in LANXESS arena saw many record-breaking moments, with the tournament selling out faster than any other ESL event in Cologne previously, filling the most seats ever as well as capturing the highest average viewership for any other esports event hosted in the German city.
The Play-in Stage began on the 26th July, with 16 teams battling it out for one of the top eight spots. From the 29th July, the Group Stage saw the top eight teams from the Play-in Stage and eight squads that directly qualified, be split into two groups of eight and go head-to-head. The six best teams – Astralis, Cloud9, ENCE, G2 Esports, HEROIC, and Team Vitality – then proceeded to the live Playoffs on August 4-6, during which they faced off against each other in front of the sold-out LANXESS arena.
The Playoffs had a sensational start with Team Vitality dominating the first Quarter-Final, beating Cloud9 2-0. The second Quarter-Final saw Danish squads HEROIC and Astralis face each other, with the latter emerging victorious in another 2-0 win. The Semi-Finals first saw Finnish and French esports organizations, ENCE and Team Vitality, battle it out for three intense rounds, with ENCE becoming the first team to secure a spot in the Grand Final following a 2-1 win. The second Semi-Final saw G2 Esports dominate, defeating Astralis 2-0 and advancing to the final game of the competition.
The electrifying best-of-5 Grand Final saw G2 Esports control the first two rounds against ENCE, going 2-0 up. ENCE started off strong in map 3, and despite catching up, G2 Esports were unable to secure the win, leading the Grand Final to go into the fourth map.
After a hard-fought and exciting match, G2 Esports beat ENCE by a score of 3-1 winning the coveted and renowned IEM Cologne trophy, taking home $400,000 of the $1,000,000 total prize pool, and joining Team Vitality and ENCE in the race to securing Intel® Grand Slam V. Moreover, the squad is the first team to secure a spot in the Group Stage of the first ESL Pro Tour (EPT) Championship event in 2024.
G2 Esports Rifler Nikola “NiKo” Kovač also secured his very first EPT DHL MVP award which is judged on a combination of player performance, fan voting, and broadcast talent voting.
Following the win, Nikola ‘NiKo’ Kovač commented: “This is the biggest trophy of my career – I’m super happy right now! It’s been a long journey to finally get this trophy but it wouldn’t be possible without this team and I’m so happy to have them by my side. I’m really proud of everyone, we kept it cool and calm throughout the whole series and it doesn’t feel real that we managed to win both [EPT Championship] tournaments in the same year. The experience and playing in the LANXESS arena was amazing!”
By winning the IEM Cologne 2023 title, the German organization claims two EPT Championship competitions back-to-back in the same year, having secured the IEM Katowice trophy earlier this year as well. Furthermore, G2 Esports’ Justin “jks” Savage once more showed he is a force to be reckoned with, winning his third EPT Championship title in two years’ time.
IEM Cologne 2023 saw a peak viewership of more than 727,000.* Moreover, the live part of the event attracted more than 37,000 fans from 70 different countries over three days.
Next up in the ESL Pro Tour is the ESL Pro Tour Season 18, kicking off on August 31 – October 1. For more information and the latest updates about ESL’s Counter-Strike esports ecosystem, head to the official ESL Pro Tour website, and follow ESL CS on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

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DragonBet fires up its slots offering with Stakelogic games
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Stakelogic’s latest UK deal brings its full slot suite and Spin to Win jackpot feature to DragonBet players
Casino content provider Stakelogic has announced a new partnership with UK-facing sportsbook and casino operator DragonBet, bringing its extensive suite of slot titles to one of the UK’s most exciting independent brands. The integration, facilitated via Relax Gaming, further strengthens Stakelogic’s presence in the UK and adds a high-performance slot offering to Dragon Bet’s growing casino vertical.
As part of the deal, Dragon Bet players will now have access to Stakelogic’s complete slot portfolio, headlined by recent top performers including Wrath of Zeus ClusterBreaker and Kraken’s Catch, alongside classic-style fruit games and modern video slots packed with advanced mechanics.
Also included in the rollout is Spin to Win, Stakelogic’s pioneering progressive jackpot system. Built to deliver real-money wins directly from within the base slot game, Spin to Win randomly selects a player and transports them to a live jackpot wheel – injecting gameplay with the potential for an unexpected twist and big rewards.
Neil Tanti, Head of Sales at Stakelogic, said: “Dragon Bet is a standout brand in the UK betting scene, with strong local roots and big ambitions. We’re thrilled to bring our full slot portfolio to their players and to support their casino growth strategy with content built for engagement and performance. Spin to Win is a great example of how we’re pushing the boundaries of what a slot experience can be.”
Daniel Falvey, Casino Manager at Dragon Bet, added: “At DragonBet, we’re committed to offering something fresh, exciting, and truly engaging for our players. Stakelogic fits that bill perfectly. With innovative, fast-paced slots and unique features like their Spin to Win progressive jackpots, they bring a dynamic new edge to our offering that we’re confident our players will love.”
The post DragonBet fires up its slots offering with Stakelogic games appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Xtremepush Confirms €12m Financing by AshGrove Capital
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Xtremepush, a market leader of CRM and gamification powered by AI, has announced today that it has received €12m in new funding from its long-term investment partner, AshGrove Capital.
The European capital solutions provider, which specialises in B2B software companies, has issued a flexible debt facility to Xtremepush, which will allow a scaling up of its ambitious growth and acquisition strategies. In addition, it will cement Xtremepush’s market-leading position as a unified CRM and gamification software platform while also advancing its footprint in regulated verticals such as financial services, e-commerce, and publishing.
Xtremepush’s next growth phase, set to be expedited by this latest funding, will see it scale up its operations in multiple regulated markets. This will allow Xtremepush, with Ashgrove’s support, to continue its investment in industry leading R&D, explore new opportunities in other verticals, expand its global market footprint, and power its acquisition strategy complementary to its existing model. The CRM experts hold a five-year investment relationship with AshGrove Capital and this funding round gives a strong approval of the trajectory of the Dublin-based firm, which also has private equity relationships with tech-focused Grafton Capital and Bettor Capital.
Tommy Kearns, CEO and co-founder at Xtremepush, said of the latest funding: “AshGrove Capital has been a hugely supportive partner over the last five years and this latest financing commitment will help us realise our ambitious growth strategy and will accelerate our acquisition plans in the very near future.
“Xtremepush has gone from strength to strength as a CRM and gamification leader in a short space of time, and this backing makes it a truly exciting time to push on following such a major vote of confidence in our technology, leadership, and business direction.”
Jonathon Ferguson, Co-Founder and Partner of AshGrove Capital, added: “Xtremepush are one of very few innovators in the CRM space, consistently raising the bar and demonstrating value to its partners, who inevitably continue their relationship for the long haul”.
“This latest investment is testament to our belief in their ambitious growth strategy, strong leadership, and robust organisation – one that empowers regulated businesses to deliver compliant, tailored communications at scale. With this new commitment, we’re ready to facilitate the next step of the Xtremepush journey and help the firm scale to become a leader in CRM across various regulated sectors.“
The post Xtremepush Confirms €12m Financing by AshGrove Capital appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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BGaming Strengthens Its Presence in Italy with San Patrignano Contribution and Introduces New Game Classification
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Rapidly expanding content provider shows commitment to responsible gambling in Italy ahead of SiGMA Rome
Popular iGaming content provider BGaming solidifies its position in Italy with a refreshed game classification system and a new local social initiative. As part of its growing commitment to the Italian market, BGaming has made a significant financial contribution to San Patrignano, a local non-profit organisation supporting people struggling with gambling and other addictions. The donation will help fund the community’s recovery programme dedicated to the rehabilitation of people with gambling addiction, reinforcing BGaming’s focus on responsible gaming and customer well-being.
San Patrignano’s long-standing rehabilitation programme helps individuals rebuild their lives through professional guidance, education, and strong community support for both participants and their families.
This initiative follows BGaming’s recent acquisition of a licence in Italy in March 2025, highlighting the company’s ongoing efforts to build a sustainable and socially responsible presence in the region.
Alongside its social commitment, BGaming has also introduced a new classification of its gaming portfolio, designed to reflect the studio’s diverse and player-oriented approach. The refreshed structure divides its titles into three key categories: Casual, Classic, and Entertainment.
The Casual category features fast, easy-to-play titles that typically provide shorter playing sessions and high engagement rates. Top performers in this category include hits like Aviamasters, Plinko, Plinko 2, Balloon Mania, Golden Piñata Hold & Win, and Winter Fishing Club.
The Classic category includes more traditional slot games, featuring classic gameplay mechanics and low to medium volatility. Popular games in this category include Burning Chilli X, Hot Chilli Bells, Lady Wolf Moon, and Fruit Million.
Finally, there is the Entertainment category, featuring high-volatility games characterised by their advanced gameplay features, bonus buy options, and strong appeal to streamers. Headliners in this category include Snoop Dogg Dollars, Merge Up, Bonanza Billion, Aztec Cluster, Wild West Trueways, and the iconic Elvis Frog series.
Those interested in discussing what BGaming has to offer can visit the company at booth 2049 during SiGMA Rome, which takes place from November 3rd to 6th.
Olga Levshina, CCO at BGaming, said, “Italy is an incredibly important market for us, and we are proud to strengthen our presence here not only through innovative content but also through meaningful action. Our partnership with San Patrignano reflects BGaming’s belief that entertainment and responsibility must go hand in hand.
At the same time, the refreshed game classification provides both our partners and our players with more clarity on what to expect from each game. We are excited to showcase the diversity of BGaming products and meet potential partners at SiGMA Central Europe.”
The post BGaming Strengthens Its Presence in Italy with San Patrignano Contribution and Introduces New Game Classification appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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