The Esports Advocate
Esports business news: deals, legal, and governance.
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Esports World Cup Foundation Reveals Esports Nations Cup
The Esports World Cup Foundation has announced the launch of the Esports Nations Cup, a biennial international tournament designed to foster national-level competition.
- The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has announced the launch of the Esports Nations Cup (ENC), a biennial international tournament featuring nation-versus-nation competition.
- The inaugural Esports Nations Cup is scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November 2026.
- The EWCF is co-developing the competition in partnership with major game publishers including Electronic Arts, Krafton, Tencent, and Ubisoft.
Gaimin Gladiators Opt Out of The International
The esports organization Gaimin Gladiators has officially withdrawn from The International, the premier annual Dota 2 tournament scheduled for September 11–14, 2025, in Hamburg, Germany.
- Esports organization Gaimin Gladiators has withdrawn from The International 2025, the premier Dota 2 tournament scheduled for September 11–14 in Hamburg, Germany.
- Valve confirmed the withdrawal resulted from an internal failure between the organization and its players to reach an agreement on participation terms.
- The withdrawal is unexpected, as Gaimin Gladiators publicly posted a countdown to the event on social media on the same day the news broke.
Guild Esports Confirms Closure Amid Insolvency and Assets Auction
London-based Guild Esports has formally announced its permanent closure due to insurmountable financial challenges and the prevailing economic climate.
- London-based Guild Esports has officially confirmed its closure and is undergoing an insolvency auction to address its financial collapse.
- The organization, previously co-owned by David Beckham, cited insurmountable financial challenges and the current economic climate as the primary reasons for its cessation of operations.
- In October 2024, DCB Sports LLC acquired 100% of Guild’s assets, including the assumption of over £2 million ($2.6 million) in liabilities and a £100,000 ($130,000) cash infusion, but failed to stabilize the business.
NODWIN Buys Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Stake in Evolution Championship Series
NODWIN Gaming has acquired Sony Interactive Entertainment’s (SIE) stake in the Evolution Championship Series (Evo), marking a significant shift in the ownership structure of the premier fighting game circuit.
- NODWIN Gaming has acquired Sony Interactive Entertainment’s (SIE) stake in the Evolution Championship Series (Evo) for an undisclosed amount.
- SIE will transition from a partial owner of Evo to a global sponsor through 2028, maintaining its involvement via the PlayStation Tournaments platform.
- Qiddiya, a Saudi government-backed mega-city project, has acquired an undisclosed stake in Evo co-owner RTS.
Ohad Finkelstein and Jonathan Epstein Join WaveClear Board of Directors
WaveClear Ltd., an Israel-based developer, has expanded its leadership team by appointing Ohad Finkelstein and Jonathan Epstein to its board of directors.
- WaveClear Ltd. has appointed Ohad Finkelstein as board chairman and Jonathan Epstein as a member of the board of directors.
- Bruce Hack, founder and CEO of BLH Venture, has joined the company as a board observer.
- The new board appointments are intended to support WaveClear's strategic expansion from its current focus on gaming into other high-impact verticals.
Affinity Esports Group Acquires CT Esports Academy
Affinity Esports Group, a Newtown, Connecticut-based organization, has acquired CT Esports Academy to bolster its presence in the regional grassroots gaming market.
- Affinity Esports Group has acquired CT Esports Academy to expand its grassroots esports operations into Wilton, Connecticut.
- The acquisition includes an expanded partnership with the Riverbrook Regional YMCA in Wilton to host local esports programming.
- Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed by the Newtown-based Affinity Esports Group.
Bayes Esports Files for Insolvency
Berlin-based esports data firm Bayes Esports Solutions GmbH has entered formal insolvency proceedings after being declared both illiquid and over-indebted by the Charlottenburg district court.
- Berlin-based esports data firm Bayes Esports Solutions GmbH filed for insolvency on May 26, 2025, and was officially declared illiquid and over-indebted by the Charlottenburg district court on August 1, 2025.
- Attorney Dr. Benedikt de Bruyn has been appointed as the insolvency administrator, with a creditors' meeting scheduled for September 12, 2025, to discuss asset sales and potential merger agreements.
- The company has undergone significant staff reductions, leaving only a small core team tasked with managing the insolvency process and facilitating potential business transitions.
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.
Evolution Championship Series Details Partner Activations and More for Vegas
The Evolution Championship Series (Evo) has finalized plans for its 2025 flagship event, scheduled for August 1–3 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
- The Evolution Championship Series (Evo) will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center from August 1–3, 2025, featuring participants from over 60 countries and an expected attendance of tens of thousands.
- Organizers project a global viewership of more than 6.5 million fans for the event, which includes eight core Arena game titles and various extended lineup tournaments.
- Chipotle is implementing an interactive 'Burrito Meter' on Twitch and providing free entrée cards for tournament performance, while also operating a 'Burrito Bus' for event transportation.
Esports World Cup Foundation Partners With Spotify and IMG
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has secured strategic partnerships with Spotify and the global sports marketing agency IMG to enhance the 2025 Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has partnered with Spotify and IMG to support the 2025 Esports World Cup, a seven-week tournament in Riyadh with a prize pool exceeding $70 million.
- IMG will produce over 50 hours of original programming, including a two-hour show titled 'EWC Spotlight' that will be broadcast globally across networks such as Fox Sports, DAZN, and beIN/TOD.
- Spotify will manage an EWC music hub featuring the event's official anthem, artist collaborations, and curated playlists, building on a partnership that began with the event's predecessor, Gamers8, in 2022.
GameSquare Embarks on $100 Million Ethereum Treasury Strategy
GameSquare Holdings has initiated a significant financial pivot by launching an Ethereum-based treasury strategy, aiming to diversify revenue streams and enhance balance sheet flexibility.
- GameSquare Holdings has authorized a $100 million Ethereum-based treasury strategy to generate crypto-native yields and diversify its revenue streams.
- The company initiated the strategy with an underwritten public offering of 8,421,054 common shares at $0.95 per share, raising approximately $8 million in gross proceeds.
- GameSquare is partnering with crypto-native firm Dialectic to deploy capital via the Medici platform, targeting annual returns of 8% to 14%.
NODWIN Gaming Partners With Esports World Cup Foundation
NODWIN Gaming has entered into a strategic partnership with the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) to manage media rights sales and distribution across South Asia.
- NODWIN Gaming has partnered with the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) to manage media rights sales and distribution across South Asia, including India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
- Under the agreement, NODWIN Gaming will serve as the EWCF’s marketing partner for the Indian market, executing localized campaigns and initiatives.
- The Esports World Cup is an annual multi-title tournament held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, running from early July through the end of August.