Archive

All stories

Everything published in Esports Observer, newest first.

Betting

Kalshi files esports player-stat contracts with the CFTC, bars insiders

A self-certification filed on March 6 sets how esports player-statistic contracts are settled from official data and lists the players, staff and officials barred from trading them.

9 min read
Leagues

LEC Spring 2026: best-of-three season, two Roadtrips, no Monday crowd

Riot Games has published the plan of the 2026 LEC Spring Split, from March 28: last year's format, Mondays without spectators in Berlin, two Roadtrips and two MSI places.

10 min read
Sponsorships

LCK adds Gillette as a partner ahead of its 2026 season

The LCK has signed Gillette as a new partner before its 2026 season starts in April. The brand returns to League of Legends after seven years; terms were not disclosed.

8 min read
Transfers

Sentinels sign former G2 initiator JonahP ahead of VCT Americas Stage 1

Sentinels have added JonahP to their Valorant roster five weeks before Stage 1. It is the first change since the coaching switch, and the team has not said who leaves the five.

9 min read
Revenue

IEM Krakow 2026 draws over 38,000 fans in its first year out of Katowice

ESL FACEIT Group counts more than 38,000 attendees from over 50 countries at the first IEM Krakow, with a larger arena, sold-out final days and paid signing sessions.

8 min read
Transfers

LOUD sign erde from LEVIATÁN Academy to lead its VCT Americas roster

LOUD have handed the in-game leader role to an 18-year-old signing five weeks before VCT Americas Stage 1. Four of the five starters stay, and pANcada is out of the line-up.

9 min read
Regulation

Germany makes esports a charitable purpose: what clubs gain in 2026

Since January 1, 2026, Germany's Fiscal Code counts esports as sport for charitable status. How the rule was written, how esports is defined, and what it changes for clubs.

13 min read
Media Rights

Masters Santiago Swiss stage draws 8.53 million hours watched

Esports Charts counted more than 8.53 million hours watched in the Masters Santiago Swiss stage, led by NRG against Paper Rex and by French co-streams for Gentle Mates.

9 min read
Sponsorships

RRQ sign ZOWIE as monitor and jersey partner for VCT Pacific 2026

RRQ have signed ZOWIE, already the official monitor brand of VCT Pacific, to supply monitors to their Valorant roster and appear on its jersey. No terms were disclosed.

8 min read
Integrity

Valve's conflict-of-interest rules for CS2 teams and organizers

How Valve's Counter-Strike 2 rules keep the people who run tournaments apart from the teams that play them: business ties, shared owners, payments, sponsors and disclosure.

17 min read
Sponsorships

Michelin becomes an official partner of the RLCS 2026 season

Michelin has signed with BLAST, organizer of the 2026 Rocket League Championship Series, and is named an official partner of the season. No terms or activations were given.

8 min read
Publishers

Ubisoft opens R6 Europe MENA Challenger Circuit to partner events

Ubisoft has replaced its second-tier European Rainbow Six circuit with the EML Challenger Circuit: €75,000, three tournaments and points for licensed partner events.

9 min read
Tournaments

First Stand 2026: eight teams and best-of-five play in São Paulo

Riot Games has published the primer of First Stand 2026, played March 16 to 22 in São Paulo. Six of the eight teams are known, and every match is a best-of-five.

10 min read
Rankings

Vitality overtake FURIA in Valve's March 2026 regional standings

Valve's standings of March 2, 2026 put Vitality first with 2029 points, 136 ahead of FURIA. The update sends invitations to four events and is the last but one before the Cologne Major.

9 min read
Careers

Global Study Finds 8% Would Choose Pro Gaming as a Career Restart

A 12-market, 18,000-person study found 8% globally would become a professional gamer if restarting their career, rising to 15% among Gen Z respondents.

8 min read
Tournaments

BLAST sets a six-event CS2 circuit for 2027 with an Open in Rio

BLAST has published its 2027 Counter-Strike calendar: six events, a Bounty cut from 32 teams to 16 and played fully on LAN, and a first city, Rio de Janeiro.

9 min read
Creators

ALGS Online Open 2026 names its official watch parties in four regions

Electronic Arts picked nine hosts, from creators and casters to a coach and a tournament organizer, to stream the qualifiers that open Year 6 of the Apex Legends Global Series.

8 min read
Leagues

ESL Pro League Season 23 opens with two online stages before Stockholm

ESL Pro League Season 23 starts on March 1 with 24 teams, two online Swiss stages and an eight-team final weekend in Stockholm, for a pool of US$1,000,000.

10 min read
Careers

Gen.G and ASU's GAME School open a gaming career camp in Los Angeles

Gen.G and Arizona State University's GAME School launch a summer career camp for high school and college students in Los Angeles, and Gen.G's CEO joins ASU as a professor of practice.

8 min read
Transfers

HANJIN BRION sign Loki from Cloud9 to take over their mid lane

HANJIN BRION signed midlaner Loki on February 27 until the end of 2027. He returns to Korea after a year at Cloud9 and replaces Roamer after an LCK Cup without a series win.

9 min read