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NiKo won IEM Cologne Major 2026 no matter what the Team Falcon haters say

“I am a prime example to never give up. Never give up on your dreams.” That was Nikola “NiKo” Kovač‘s emotional speech after winning IEM Cologne Major 2026. He’d been to 17 majors over a decade, but this was his first time lifting the trophy. As he wiped away his tears, fans debated whether it … Continued The post NiKo won IEM Cologne Major 2026 no matter what the Team Falcon haters say appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 22.06.2026 23:43 Uhr

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Parasocial behavior and death threats: VALORANT esports fans are going too far

VALORANT Masters London’s second Playoffs day kicked off last week with a three-map thriller between VCT EMEA darkhorse FUT Esports and VCT China legend Champions EDward Gaming (EDG). Tension was brewing throughout the series, with FUT Esports delivering banter on stage and receiving boos from the audience in return. What followed after the series, though, … Continued The post Parasocial behavior and death threats: VALORANT esports fans are going too far appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 20.06.2026 01:33 Uhr

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Every city thinks it can be the “next esports capital,” and no, London is most definitely not

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is the latest guy to claim his city will “lead the world in esports.” It sounds exciting at first, sure, but it made me laugh almost immediately. How many friggin “esports capitals” do we need? It’s a phrase that basically means nothing at this point. During a high-profile trade … Continued The post Every city thinks it can be the “next esports capital,” and no, London is most definitely not appeared first on Esport

Esports Insider 19.06.2026 20:24 Uhr

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Scalping continues to plague big esports events… But fans are apparently willing to pay thousands for those tickets

If you have spent any time trying to buy tickets for a premier esports event lately, you probably have some deeply held, highly aggressive feelings about ticket scalpers. The community sentiment right now is a mixture of absolute exhaustion and pure rage. Over on Reddit, the “IEM Cologne Major: Flights Booked. Hotel Booked. No Ticket. … Continued The post Scalping continues to plague big esports events… But fans are apparently willing to pay thousands for those tickets appeared

Esports Insider 18.06.2026 22:02 Uhr

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Esports will never be taken seriously until people get paid on time

It’s no secret that people working in esports have faced payment delays before, and we’ve been reminded of that fact multiple times this week alone. First, an artist going by “EDICH” who previously worked on Dota 2 merch for some of the biggest events in esports, including The International’s Secret Shop and ESL tournaments, published … Continued The post Esports will never be taken seriously until people get paid on time appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 18.06.2026 21:33 Uhr

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IEM Cologne drove 63% of all Kalshi esports betting volume in the week of June 7–13

The week of June 7–13 saw $66.2 million in esports prediction market contracts on Kalshi, and the story behind what drove that number was never really in doubt. Counter-Strike 2 was responsible for nearly two-thirds of all activity, with IEM Cologne at the epicentre of all esports trading activity. That $66.2M figure is worth comparing … Continued The post IEM Cologne drove 63% of all Kalshi esports betting volume in the week of June 7–13 appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 18.06.2026 14:57 Uhr

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The FGC must transition out of grassroots if it wants to survive

The FGC prides itself on being raw. In fact, one of the community’s main gripes about the Daigo vs MenaRD match a few months ago was that some of the moments felt forced. It’s a far cry from the out-of-nowhere, wonderful moments such as Evo Moment 37 and Hayao’s air parry at Evo Vegas 2024, … Continued The post The FGC must transition out of grassroots if it wants to survive appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 18.06.2026 09:17 Uhr

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League of Legends is one of the most greedy gacha games out there, Brazil has demanded microtransactions be removed

Riot Games is currently learning a very expensive lesson about international gambling laws. A Brazilian court just handed down a massive ruling, ordering the League of Legends developer to pay roughly $3 million over its use of loot boxes. The lawsuit, spearheaded by an association protecting children and adolescents, claims that Riot has been exposing … Continued The post League of Legends is one of the most greedy gacha games out there, Brazil has demanded microtransactions be removed ap

Esports Insider 17.06.2026 20:22 Uhr

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Why I’ll be rooting for the underdogs in the IEM Cologne Major playoffs

Witnessing a lesser-known team conquer an established name in esports and traditional sports is a sight to behold. Whether it’s on the football pitch or the main stage of a high-profile tournament, the idea of a team defying the odds frequently captures the imagination of fans across the world. This year’s IEM Cologne Major has … Continued The post Why I’ll be rooting for the underdogs in the IEM Cologne Major playoffs appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 17.06.2026 19:30 Uhr

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Riot wants Locke to be fair, but will League of Legends’ new assassin break the meta?

After revealing the new League of Legends champion Locke, Riot Games has unveiled his abilities and gameplay details. Corvin Locke will arrive in Patch 26.13 as a new AP melee assassin for the mid lane. Known as the Ashen Exorcist, he is a nail-slinging vigilante born from Demacia’s hidden occult underbelly. He is the only … Continued The post Riot wants Locke to be fair, but will League of Legends’ new assassin break the meta? appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 17.06.2026 01:23 Uhr

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The Pokémon NAIC is moving to Chicago in 2027, but maybe it should move to Canada instead

New Orleans apparently isn’t big enough to accommodate Pokémon‘s rapid growth. After a wild three-year run of filling the Big Easy with thousands of cardboard-slinging, video-game-battling trainers, the tournament is packing up its bags. Starting in 2027, NAIC is officially moving to McCormick Place in Chicago. According to Pokémon’s Director of Global Esports and Events, … Continued The post The Pokémon NAIC is moving to Chicago in 2027, but maybe it should move to Canada inst

Esports Insider 16.06.2026 19:18 Uhr

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LCS Spring Split has all-time low viewership, and it’s because it’s a bit depressing to watch

Riot Games was willing to give us the League Championship Series (LCS) back after the disastrous LTA experiment. But it looks like Riot was right after all about LCS: the League of Legends esports scene doesn’t care about it. LCS Spring 2026 peaked at only 183,152 live viewers, according to Esports Charts, making it the least-viewed … Continued The post LCS Spring Split has all-time low viewership, and it’s because it’s a bit depressing to watch appeared first on Esports

Esports Insider 15.06.2026 20:30 Uhr

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Evo Vegas’ prestige is gone: Registration numbers shine spotlight on Evo’s depressing downfall

It looked like a massive Evo was coming this summer. Last year’s Evo Vegas was massive, with 8,541 unique registered competitors and 14,500 attendees. Then, Evo Japan earlier this year was even bigger, with 9,875 total participants. It was mostly for Street Fighter 6, but still. By all accounts, it seemed like Evo Vegas 2026 … Continued The post Evo Vegas’ prestige is gone: Registration numbers shine spotlight on Evo’s depressing downfall appeared first on Esports Insider

Esports Insider 13.06.2026 03:05 Uhr

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“I’m hooked forever”: Inside the small, toxic, and passionate Super Smash Bros. Brawl scene from the eyes of GENESIS X3 champion Chia

In the corner of the GENESIS X3 convention, with eight CRT TVs, no stage, no livestream, and no microphone, was a tournament for an 18-year-old game with a $450 prize pool on the line. And it meant the world to the 45 or so players who competed. This is Super Smash Bros. Brawl. This is … Continued The post “I’m hooked forever”: Inside the small, toxic, and passionate Super Smash Bros. Brawl scene from the eyes of GENESIS X3 champion Chia appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 12.06.2026 00:23 Uhr

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More transphobia in Game Changers, AI graphics, and Masters London criticism: VALORANT’s turbulent week

Masters London officially kicked off last Saturday, but there’s been plenty of VALORANT esports shake-ups even beyond VCT’s second global event of the year. From concerning Game Changers backlash to the highlights (and lowlights) of Masters London, here’s everything you need to know about last week’s VALORANT shenanigans! Wayne Announces Indefinite Break After Sudden Team … Continued The post More transphobia in Game Changers, AI graphics, and Masters London criticism: VALORANT’s turbulen

Esports Insider 11.06.2026 23:00 Uhr

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Esports prediction markets on Kalshi: Breaking down the $36M by game

Earlier this week, we published our initial piece looking at the headline figures from 1-7 June on prediction market operator Kalshi. This piece dives deeper, looking at the games that generated most interest; which games saw the most money and why. We’ve taken the ten largest Counter-Strike, Valorant, Dota 2 and League of Legends matches … Continued The post Esports prediction markets on Kalshi: Breaking down the $36M by game appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 11.06.2026 16:52 Uhr

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“Everyone is in survival mode”: Inside the struggles of Iran’s esports community

It’s been over 70 days since the conflict between the United States and Iran began, with fighting in the Middle East resulting in sharp increases in oil prices, damage to infrastructure, and the inability to access the internet. Before the conflict, Iran’s government focused on controlling its citizens’ internet activity, restricting access to social media … Continued The post “Everyone is in survival mode”: Inside the struggles of Iran’s esports community appeared

Esports Insider 10.06.2026 22:06 Uhr

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Touch grass, kick a ball, play Counter-Strike 2: Esports fans wonder if signing a kid at 7 years old is a harmful marketing stunt

Esports organization Inner Circle made headlines after signing a seven-year-old Counter-Strike 2 player, making him one of the youngest signings in this industry’s history. The kid was sitting at FACEIT Level 6, which is honestly pretty impressive for someone his age. However, the announcement quickly backfired and became a self-report, as FACEIT took notice and … Continued The post Touch grass, kick a ball, play Counter-Strike 2: Esports fans wonder if signing a kid at 7 years old is a ha

Esports Insider 10.06.2026 21:56 Uhr

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The Smash scene needs Super Smash Bros. 6 to come out ASAP

Another Nintendo Direct, another disappointment. I didn’t even bother watching the livestream, and I’m glad I didn’t: just a bunch of remakes, DLC, and a bunch of other crap we’ve already seen before. No Super Smash Bros. 6. We already knew this, of course. Masahiro Sakurai has essentially confirmed another Smash is coming, but given … Continued The post The Smash scene needs Super Smash Bros. 6 to come out ASAP appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 09.06.2026 22:07 Uhr

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Smash TOs retract L4st sexual assault allegations, MenaRD finally wins a Dominican Republic SF6 tourney: FGC’s weird week leading to Mixup 2026

Last week, we saw a previous king crowned yet again, a rising star challenge the throne, and some good *ss Tekken. However, what seemed like an exciting week was marred by yet another reminder that the Smash community still has its share of weird people. While the allegations were retracted by the tournament organizers, people … Continued The post Smash TOs retract L4st sexual assault allegations, MenaRD finally wins a Dominican Republic SF6 tourney: FGC’s weird week leading to Mixup 2026

Esports Insider 09.06.2026 20:46 Uhr

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CS2 drives bulk of $36 million esports volume last week on Kalshi

Counter-Strike 2 accounted for nearly two-thirds of all esports prediction market volume on Kalshi this week, with League of Legends the clear second, and Valorant and Dota 2 both posting solid numbers. The data pulled is from 1-7 June 2026. Kalshi’s esports markets generated a total of $36.18 million in total contract volume, across 408 … Continued The post CS2 drives bulk of $36 million esports volume last week on Kalshi appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 09.06.2026 15:25 Uhr

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VALORANT continues to be afraid of exploring Nanobomb even during Pride Month

Pride Month is a month-long celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, and many games find ways to take part. Riot is under fire once more after the Give Back V26 bundle in VALORANT leaked during Pride Month, pushing a straight couple rather than its queer agents at this questionable time. Where is Nanobomb? Esports titles are … Continued The post VALORANT continues to be afraid of exploring Nanobomb even during Pride Month appeared first on Esports Insider.

Esports Insider 09.06.2026 00:17 Uhr

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Team WE’s dwindling hope, SkewMond becoming best LEC player, Cloud9’s last chance: League of Legends action leading up to MSI

Even though the Mid-Season Invitational is less than three weeks away, teams across the world are busy with their spring splits. Some leagues have crowned their champions while others are still finalizing their seeds, with four teams still to be confirmed. This past week, Top Esports has booked its place, leaving BiliBili Gaming, Anyone’s Legend, … Continued The post Team WE’s dwindling hope, SkewMond becoming best LEC player, Cloud9’s last chance: League of Legends action lead

Esports Insider 08.06.2026 21:49 Uhr

eSports

From $1.5M contracts to players paying their own $2K transfer fees, a damning indictment of the Call of Duty League economics

From multi-million-dollar deals and record-high transfers for League superstars just six years ago, to minimum-wage contracts and players “buying” their own transfer fees out, the Call of Duty League’s economic landscape has crashed and burned. Call of Duty esports has always had a complicated relationship with Benjamin Franklin. The $100 bills flow like there’s no … Continued The post From $1.5M contracts to players paying their own $2K transfer fees, a damning indictment of t

Esports Insider 05.06.2026 18:10 Uhr

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