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IEM Returns to Beijing as ESL FACEIT Group Deepens China Push
The ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) is expanding its presence in the Chinese market with the return of the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) tournament to Beijing.
- ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) will host the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) in Beijing from November 2–8, 2026, marking the event's first return to the city since 2019.
- The tournament will feature 16 Counter-Strike 2 teams competing for a total prize pool of $1.25 million and points toward the ESL Grand Slam VII.
- EFG expects to draw over 45,000 fans to the Bloomage Biotech·Biohyalux ECM Arena, positioning it as the largest standalone IEM tournament held in Asia to date.
IEM’s Shift from Katowice to Kraków: Bigger Arena, Tighter Footprint
The relocation of the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) winter Counter-Strike event from Katowice’s Spodek Arena to the Tauron Arena in Kraków marks a strategic shift in the event’s physical and commercial execution.
- ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has relocated its flagship winter Counter-Strike event from Katowice’s Spodek Arena to the Tauron Arena in Kraków under a multi-year agreement.
- The move increases venue capacity from approximately 11,000 seats at Spodek to roughly 15,000 seats at the Tauron Arena.
- The transition has resulted in a more compressed event footprint, as the absence of a large, dedicated Expo hall forces partner booths and merchandise sales into the main arena concourses.
ESL FACEIT Group Renews ZOWIE Partnership for Counter-Strike 2 Events
ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has extended its partnership with ZOWIE, the gaming monitor brand owned by BenQ, to serve as the official monitor supplier for its major Counter-Strike 2 tournaments through the end of 2027.
- ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has extended its partnership with BenQ-owned brand ZOWIE to remain the official monitor supplier for all major Counter-Strike 2 tournaments through the end of 2027.
- The agreement covers a global slate of events, including Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) tournaments in Cologne, China, Rio, Atlanta, and Krakow, as well as ESL Pro League Seasons 23 through 26.
- ZOWIE will supply its XL2586X+ 600Hz monitors for use across all covered tournament environments to ensure consistent high-performance hardware for professional players.
Honor of Kings World Championship Grand Final Breaks Guinness World Record
The Honor of Kings World Championship Grand Final, held at the National Stadium in Beijing, China, has officially established a new Guinness World Record for the largest attendance at an esports event.
- The Honor of Kings World Championship Grand Final set a Guinness World Record for the largest attendance at an esports event, with 62,196 confirmed attendees.
- The event was held at Beijing’s National Stadium, also known as 'The Bird’s Nest,' which has a total seating capacity of 80,000.
- Tickets for the Grand Final sold out in 12 seconds, with prices ranging from ¥488 ($69) for grandstand seats to ¥2,088 ($293) for inner field access.
DreamHack Atlanta 2026 to Include IEM Atlanta, CDL Major III
ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has announced that DreamHack Atlanta will return to the Georgia World Congress Center from May 15–17, 2026.
- DreamHack Atlanta 2026 will take place at the Georgia World Congress Center from May 15–17, 2026.
- The event will host the Call of Duty League (CDL) Major III, marking the first time a CDL Major has been held at a DreamHack festival.
- The 2026 festival will feature the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Atlanta, a Counter-Strike 2 competition with a total prize pool of $1,050,000.
BLAST Signs Three-Year Deal With Chengdu Broadcasting Group Corporation
UK-based esports tournament organizer BLAST has entered into a three-year strategic partnership with the state-owned Chengdu Broadcasting Group Corporation (CBC).
- BLAST has signed a three-year strategic partnership with the state-owned Chengdu Broadcasting Group Corporation (CBC) to host esports events in China.
- The inaugural event under this partnership is the $1 million USD BLAST Dota 2 Slam, scheduled to take place in Chengdu from November 25 to December 7, 2025.
- The grand final of the BLAST Dota 2 Slam will be held at the Chengdu Fenghuangshan Sports Park Gymnasium, a venue with a seating capacity of up to 18,000.
GRID Signs Multi-Year Deal With ESL FACEIT Group
ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) and the Berlin-based esports data firm GRID have entered into a multi-year partnership, establishing GRID as the exclusive provider of live esports data, infrastructure, and integrity services for EFG’s Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2 competitions.
- ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has signed a multi-year partnership naming GRID as the exclusive provider of live esports data, infrastructure, and integrity services for its Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2 competitions.
- The agreement covers major EFG-operated circuits, including Intel Extreme Masters (IEM), ESL Pro League, and ESL One.
- GRID will manage live data capture, distribution, and the delivery of audio-video feeds and data-powered visualizations to media and betting partners.
Chengdu, China, to Host Dota 2 BLAST Slam in November
The city of Chengdu, China, is set to host the Dota 2 BLAST Slam in November 2025.
- The Chengdu Sports Bureau has confirmed that the Dota 2 BLAST Slam will be hosted in Chengdu, China, this November.
- This event marks the first international Dota 2 tournament to be held in China since the pandemic.
- The tournament will be operated locally by the state-owned Chengdu Broadcasting Company.
I Tried Microsoft’s Newly Revealed Xbox Gaming Handheld
Microsoft has partnered with Asus to introduce the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, a new line of Windows-based gaming handhelds slated for a holiday release.
- Microsoft and Asus are launching two officially branded gaming handhelds, the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, scheduled for a holiday release.
- The devices run on Windows 11 and feature a specialized 'full-screen experience' that strips away unnecessary background processes to optimize memory and power efficiency for gaming.
- The ROG Xbox Ally features an AMD Ryzen Z2 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, while the higher-spec ROG Xbox Ally X includes an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, 24GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD.
Shikenso Analytics Signs Partnership With ESL FACEIT Group
ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) and Germany-based analytics firm Shikenso Analytics have entered into a multi-year partnership to enhance the evaluation of brand performance across EFG’s global esports portfolio.
- ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has signed a multi-year partnership with Germany-based Shikenso Analytics to evaluate the performance of its brand partnerships.
- Shikenso Analytics will provide EFG with holistic media valuation services and deploy its tracking technology across major events, including the Intel Extreme Masters, ESL Pro League, ESL One, DreamLeague, and the Overwatch Champions Series.
- The partnership aims to help EFG optimize the impact of its commercial deals and better understand the value created for partners across its global esports portfolio.
ESL FACEIT Group Renews Multi-Year Partnership With Intel
The ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has officially renewed its long-standing partnership with Intel, securing a multi-year agreement to continue their collaboration in the global esports sector.
- ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) and Intel have renewed their long-standing partnership through a new multi-year deal to support global Counter-Strike 2 competitions.
- Intel will remain the marquee sponsor for EFG’s Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) and ESL Pro Tour tournament series, extending a collaborative relationship that has spanned 24 years.
- The announcement precedes the IEM Katowice Grand Finals, scheduled for February 7–9, 2025, at the Spodek Arena in Poland, which features a $1.25 million USD total prize pool.
ESL FACEIT Group Partners With Unilever Brands for IEM Cologne, ESL Pro League
The ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has entered into a strategic partnership with several Unilever nutrition brands, including Knorr, Pot Noodle, and Unox.
- ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has entered a partnership with Unilever food brands Knorr, Pot Noodle, and Unox for the 2024 and 2025 Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Cologne tournaments and ESL Pro League Season 21.
- The partnership includes interactive on-site activations, in-arena branding, and on-air broadcast segments, beginning with IEM Cologne 2024, which runs from August 7–18.
- Knorr will host an on-site booth at IEM Cologne featuring prize giveaways, merchandise, and a custom Counter-Strike 2 map where fans can compete for exclusive in-game items and skins.