There's no shortage of funds in esports and yet organizations and group owners are finding new ways to draw not only interest but further capital. Artist Drake and NBA professional Michael Jordan are the latest celebrities to invest in esports. League of Legends 2018 is also well underway with the quarterfinals proving to be action-packed.
Europe pushes NA out of Worlds 2018
G2 went into the semifinal playoff against Invictus Gaming as the underdogs and the comfortable 3 - 0 victory for the Chinese squad only cemented that fact. While G2 attempted to switch things up and make plays happen, the European second seed just couldn't break through the IG onslaught.
While one European team was booted out in the semifinals, another succeeded. FNATIC had Cloud9 to contend with, the last remaining hope for North America, but even the veterans in the C9 squad couldn't hold back FNATIC with a decisive 3 - 0 victory.
FNATIC take on Invictus Gaming on November 3.
NBA athlete Michael Jordan invests in Team Liquid
Michael Jordan has made the switch from being an NBA athlete to an investor in esports, pouring in money to Team Liquid group owner aXiomatic. Jordan was joined by Declaration Capital to raise funds, allowing the group to further bolster its support in the esports industry.
The industry is set to continue expanding, drawing in more traditional sports faces as franchises are valued way above the original cost, like in League of Legends.
Caught in the act
What's worse than cheating in a video game? Cheating on stage in a $100,000 prize tournament, which results in getting your team both banned and dissolved in the aftermath. That's exactly what occurred during eXTREAMESLAND Zowie Asia CS:GO 2018 where Nikhil "forsaken" Kumawat of OpTic India was caught using a hack by administrators.
Organizers supplied the recorded clip on social media, showing the admin checking the player's PC and even attempting to restrain him. It's amazing how a sole individual can ruin the potential of an entire squad. Talking to AFK Gaming, Kumawat stated he wishes he could go back to the first day he played CS:GO and uninstall the game.
Drake becomes part of 100 Thieves
Initially founded by former Call of Duty professional gamer Matthew "Nadeshot" Haag, 100 Thieves managed to attract Drake and Justin Bieber's manager Scooter Braun as investors. The pair will join the company on its board and act as advisors for expanding the apparel line and forming a larger content team.
According to the Forbes report, 100 Thieves raised more than $25 million. 100 Thieves is in a strong position, largely due to Haag's vision for the company from creation, focusing on content and merchandise and a strong relationship with fans.
Upcoming live events
- League of Legends Worlds Grand Final - November 3, watch on Twitch.
Rainbow Six Siege and toxicity: Why censorship is not the solution
Over the past few years, the word "toxicity" has been thrown around when people want to dismiss groups they have no interest in hearing from. However, dismissing others has transformed into silencing them, which has had serious side effects.
Can't decide which AMD Radeon RX 6000 GPU to buy? We can help.
AMD has five new RX 6000 graphics cards that have been released or are set to release soon, and you might be wondering which one is going to be the best fit for your build.
China is slowing down NVIDIA's ARM acquisition
If you thought Brussels was NVIDIA's greatest obstacle to clearing its ARM acquisition, think again: China's slowing the process as well.
These are the best gaming mice for folks with large hands
A great gaming mouse is important for anyone looking to get into PC gaming. However, if you have large hands, you may struggle to find a mouse that feels comfortable for you. Thankfully, there are plenty of plus-sized mouse options on the market.