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Team Vitality crowned Champions of Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025, securing the ESL Grand Slam
Team Vitality is the undisputed best Counter-Strike 2 team in the world, and their latest victory at Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Melbourne only reinforces that status. This marks their 21st straight win of the year, adding to a dominant run that includes victory titles at IEM Katowice, ESL Pro League Season 21, and BLAST Open Spring 2025.
By winning their fourth ESL tournament in less than a year, the club has gained legendary status, becoming the fifth team in the game to win the ESL Grand Slam (after FaZe, NAVI, Team Liquid, and Astralis). To celebrate this historic moment for the club, Team Vitality is partnering with the iconic brand DearBBall to launch a capsule collection of exclusive products, paying tribute to a team with an undeniable track record of excellence.
THE HIVE MAKES HISTORY: TEAM VITALITY REIGNS SUPREME
Entering the tournament as the top-ranked CS2 team in the world, Team Vitality once again proved its exceptional talent. The elite roster, including captain Dan âapEXâ Madesclaire, Mathieu âZywOoâ Herbaut, Shahar âflameZâ Shushan, William âmeziiâ Merriman, and Robin âropzâ Kool, demonstrated flawless synergy and world-class skills throughout the tournament, concluding in a decisive victory in the Grand Finals against Team Falcons. The team not only secured the IEM Melbourne title but also won the prestigious ESL Grand Slam, a monumental achievement for the organisation.
In the Semi-Finals, Team Vitality delivered a masterful performance against Team MongolZ, setting the tone for an electric Grand Final performance against Team Falcons.
After an incredible 3-2 win in the Grand Final, which included a triple-overtime decider on the final map, Nuke, Mathieu âZywOoâ Herbaut was named tournament MVP thanks to a series of impressive performances and a decisive presence throughout the tournament.
In addition to capturing the IEM Melbourne title, the team won the prestigious ESL Grand Slam, a monumental achievement for both the organization and the history of Counter-Strike. With this victory, Team Vitality added one of the most coveted trophies to its collection, along with a $1 million cash prize.
TEAM VITALITY AT THE TOP OF ITS GAME ON COUNTERâSTRIKE 2
By securing a fourth major international trophy this year, Team Vitality and its players have firmly cemented their place among the legends of the game. The clubâs dominance in CS2, highlighted by an ESL Grand Slam victory and an extraordinary 21-game winning streak, confirms its status as a global powerhouse and marks a historic milestone, fueled by the unwavering support of its passionate community.
This triumph also represents a career-defining moment for several players, starting with captain Dan âapEXâ Madesclaire, who captures the final major title missing from his storied record (adding the Grand Slam to his two Majors, Katowice, and Cologne victories). Mathieu âZywOoâ Herbaut continues his remarkable ascent, solidifying his position as the most decorated player in CS history with a 24th MVP title earned during this tournament. Together, apEX and ZywOo become the first two French players ever to win an ESL Grand Slam, a historic achievement for these two icons of the Parisian club.
Driven by a clear ambition to become the worldâs leading esports organization, Team Vitality places performance at the core of its new strategic era. In Counter-Strike, the mission is bold: to inspire, to dominate, and to leave a lasting legacy on the global stage. This vision reflects the clubâs commitment to establishing itself as a benchmark in international competition and making an enduring impact on fans around the world.
Fabien âNeoâ Devide, President and co-founder of Team Vitality, said:Â âThis is a historic moment for Team Vitality as we become the 5th club in history to win the ESL Grand Slam. We are now part of a legendary club that has left its mark on the history of the game. After more than six hours of play, Iâm proud of the mentality and the incredible display from this team. To see them achieve such greatness makes me feel so proud.â
CELEBRATING IN STYLE: A CAPSULE COLLECTION WITH DEARBBALL TO CELEBRATE THE EVENT
To celebrate their Grand Slam victory, Team Vitality and basketball brand DearBBall are launching an exclusive capsule collection. This limited-edition drop pays tribute to the five players on the roster, highlighting their unique personalities, strengths, and lifestyles.
For each player, the collection features a dedicated hoodie, sweatshirt, and t-shirt, available in black or white, each piece accompanied by a personalized description. A historic collaboration and a must-have for fans â available in limited quantities!
The post Team Vitality crowned Champions of Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025, securing the ESL Grand Slam appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Scientific Games Builds on Digital Lottery Momentum with Key Executive Hires
Company Continues Investment in Globally Expanding Digital Lottery Business
Scientific Games, the worldâs largest lottery games company, is bolstering its digital leadership team with the appointment of two seasoned executives, underscoring its continued investment in its globally expanding digital business.
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Keshav Pitani joins Scientific Games as Senior Vice President, Digital Games, bringing extensive experience in content, product development and innovation. He previously served for seven years as Senior Director of Product Development for Bally Technologies until its acquisition by Scientific Games Corporation in 2014.
Laura Higgins has been named Vice President, Customer Success & Strategy for the Companyâs global digital team. She brings more than 20 years of experience in e-commerce, general management, strategy, product, marketing and finance from leading companies such as Procter & Gamble, Shutterfly, Albertsons and Gartner.
âOur Digital team is experiencing strong momentum and weâre building an adaptable organization with a clear focus on the future,â said Matt Lynch, President, Digital for Scientific Games. âWe are thrilled to welcome top-tier digital experts like Keshav Pitani and Laura Higgins. Their addition to our team reflects our continued investment in innovation, which is key to long-term sustainability for our lottery customers worldwide through consumer-centric digital programs.â
Pitani will lead Scientific Gamesâ digital games and SG Content Hub strategy, leveraging his expertise across digital game studios and partnerships to drive innovation and growth. A proven leader in managing creative and technology teams, Pitani has a strong background in developing game studios, delivering omnichannel content and designing scalable platforms. His prior accomplishments include playing a critical product strategy role in Scientific Games Corporationâs 2022 launch of Light & Wonder and the companyâs successful entry into the U.S. and Canadian video lottery markets. Pitani has successfully launched creative digital and retail product verticals, designed a real-time AI product for high-speed casino play activity, and developed the satellite communication sub-system used in Boeing 737s and 747s.
Higgins spent most of her career identifying new growth opportunities in the consumer product goods, digital and ecommerce sectors, building and running new businesses. She has a proven track record of unlocking growth and loyalty through a deep understanding of customers and marketplaces. At Procter & Gamble, Higgins led the launch of several new consumer products as a Brand Director within Home Care. As General Manager of Category Expansion at Shutterfly, she drove new category development. Most recently, as Vice President of Shopper Engagement Platforms at Albertsons, she led a team that launched highly successful digital programs integrating retail consumer experiences and leveraging AI-powered assistant innovations.
Scientific Games is a trusted partner to more than 30 lotteries globally with iLottery solutions, including in the U.S., Canada, UK, Denmark, Germany, France and Turkey. With operations on five continents, the company provides retail and digital games, technology, analytics and services to 150 lotteries in 50 countries worldwide.
The post Scientific Games Builds on Digital Lottery Momentum with Key Executive Hires appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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The winners of the Casino Guru Awards 2025 announced: A night of celebration, integrity, and inspiration
The Casino Guru Awards 2025 concluded in spectacular fashion last night, as nearly 150 distinguished guests gathered at the stunning Portomaso Suite, Hilton Hotel, to honor the changemakers shaping a safer and fairer future for online gambling.
From laughter echoing through the elegant venue to heartfelt applause for industry trailblazers, the atmosphere was vibrant and full of purpose. The night wasnât just a gala, it was a statement. In her opening speech, Daniela Sliva, PR & Creative Projects Director at Casino Guru, set the tone:
âThe Casino Guru Awards are more than just trophies and titles. Theyâre a celebration of the people and companies who are truly moving the industry forward. The ones who choose to be responsible, innovative, and proactive in how they do business.â
Hosted by Martin Sepiano, the evening honored the winners in 10 categories, all evaluated through a radically transparent and values-driven process. And the winners are:
- iGaming Changemaker of the Year: Ebbe Groes, CEO, EveryMatrix
- Most Effective Handling of Complaints: Vulkan Vegas
- Most Transparent Casino: OnlyWin Casino
- Most Impactful Social Responsibility Initiative: Mindway AI
- Fairest General Terms & Conditions: OnlyWin Casino
- Fairest Bonus Policy: Wazbee Casino
- Best Implementation of RG Tools (Operators): L&L Europe
- Best Implementation of RG Tools (Providers): Mindway AI
- Voice of the People â Public Vote: iWild Casino
- Playersâ Choice Casino â Public Vote: Pragmatic Play
Following the awards, the celebration continued at the glamorous Tiffany Lounge, where guests enjoyed cocktails, conversation, and music by DJ Luke Panza until late into the night.
The Awards stand apart for their credibility, with judges required to declare conflicts of interest, direct interviews with shortlisted nominees, and clear evaluation criteria. This yearâs edition saw over 150,000 public votes in the âVoice of the Peopleâ category, reinforcing the Awardsâ commitment to transparency and community-driven recognition.
âThis night isnât just about recognition, itâs about building momentum for lasting change,â added Sliva. âSeeing this room filled with leaders who care about integrity and fairness makes me hopeful for whatâs next.â
With a powerful lineup of finalists, the Casino Guru Awards 2025 Gala reaffirmed that ethical innovation in iGaming isnât just an ideal, itâs becoming a reality.
The post The winners of the Casino Guru Awards 2025 announced: A night of celebration, integrity, and inspiration appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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MightyTips and Boomerang Partners expand media collaboration with exclusive Andrea Pirlo interview
MightyTips, one of the leading global football content platforms, is proud to announce the next stage of its strategic media partnership with Boomerang Partners, a prominent player in the iGaming industry, highlighted by an exclusive interview with Italian legend Andrea Pirlo.
This expanded collaboration builds on a shared commitment to delivering world-class football content and exclusive access to the gamâs iconic figures.
âCollaborating with Boomerang has allowed us to go beyond match stats and predictionsâ, said Eugene Ravdin, Head of PR of SEOBROTHERS. âItâs about capturing the emotional and personal side of football â what it means to the players and the fans.â
In the exclusive MightyTips interview, Pirlo spoke about pivotal career moments, his former AC Milan and Italy partners, including Paolo Maldini and Francesco Totti, and the heartbreak of the 2005 UEFA Champions League final, which he described as the most painful defeat of his career.
âEvery child who wants to be a footballer dreams of winning the World Cupâ, Pirlo told MightyTips. âItâs the ultimate prize, the pinnacle of success in our sport. For me, lifting that trophy was the realisation of a dream that seems almost unattainable for so many.â
With this renewed commitment, MightyTips and Boomerang Partners will continue to collaborate on original interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and compelling media projects that bring fans to football closer than ever.
The full Andrea Pirlo interview is available now on MightyTips.com.
The post MightyTips and Boomerang Partners expand media collaboration with exclusive Andrea Pirlo interview appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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