ESL FACEIT Group - EFG

DOUBLE NOMINATION at the 2026 Hashtag Sports Awards. 🏆🔥 From world-class festival experiences to purpose-driven partnerships, we’re proud to be shortlisted in two categories celebrating innovation, fan engagement, and cultural impact in gaming and entertainment: 🎮 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗛𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗺 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 has been shortlisted for 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, recognizing the power of live gaming festivals to bring communities together at scale. 🤝 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 DHL to turn esports fans into future talent has been shortlisted for 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽, highlighting how brands can authentically connect with gaming audiences through shared passion. Huge congratulations to everyone involved. 🚀

🎉 THE CDL TEAM WON A SPORTS EMMY! 🎉 The 2025 Call of Duty League® Championship Weekend has officially won the Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Esports Championship Coverage. One of the highest honors in sports broadcasting, this award recognizes the scale, storytelling, and production excellence behind one of the biggest stages in esports. The Call of Duty League Championship is where an entire season builds toward its defining moment and this award reflects the passion, creativity, and relentless commitment of the dedicated teams across Activision and EFG who work year-round to deliver unforgettable moments for fans around the world. A special thank you to Toronto KOI for hosting in Ontario! Accepting the award, Mike Alu, Technical Director at EFG, said: “It’s a privilege to represent this beloved game at events around the world, and to keep creating memories for the players and fans that will stay with them forever.” From cinematic storytelling and world-class broadcasts reaching millions globally to unforgettable arena energy, this recognition celebrates the incredible people behind the scenes who continue pushing Call of Duty Esports forward every single day. Huge congratulations to everyone involved! 🏆

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗸𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹® 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮! 💥 32 elite teams. A $1,250,000 prize pool. Three weeks of intense action. Millions watching worldwide across broadcasts in 20+ languages. The legendary return of the CS Major to the Cathedral of Counter-Strike starts with the high-stakes early stages, before culminating in the spectacular live stadium matches at the LANXESS arena from June 18-21, where 50,000+ fans will witness history. But the elite competition isn't the only draw in Cologne. During those live Playoffs, #TheZone opens its doors as the ultimate hub for decision-makers. As the # 1 meeting point for industry leaders, brands, and creators, it’s where real conversations happen and the future of the ecosystem is built. If your goal is to stay ahead of the curve rather than watch from the sidelines, your schedule starts here. The countdown is down to days. Are you ready? Full tournament details here: https://lnkd.in/egvjkucr

As the esports industry matures, the role of Tournament Organisers becomes more complex, influential, and competitive. Dive into a discussion on the future of tournament systems with a panel of leaders in the sector in Control, Collaboration, Competition: The TOs Shaping Global Esports, part of EGES 2026 at Global Esports Industry Week. Moderated by Zvonimir Burazin, Head of Operations at HLTV.org, panellists Merlin Wiedeking (NODWIN Gaming), Andrew Haworth (BLAST), and Ulrich Schulze (ESL FACEIT Group - EFG) will discuss how they're helping to shape the future of esports. In this candid look at top-level tournaments, the panel will cover collaboration with publishers & governing bodies, building sustainable event models of great scale, and give insight in all the key decisions being made at the forefront of tournament operations to better the future of esports. Join us for GEIW 2026: 📍 Cologne, Germany 📅 June 18–21, 2026 🎟️ Tickets and full lineup of speakers available at www.globalesportsweek.com #GEIW2026

The Major is finally returning to the Cathedral of Counter-Strike after 10 years! An iconic moment for Counter-Strike, and we're proud to see ZOWIE join it as the Official Monitor Partner of #IEMCologneMajor2026. The XL2586X+ 600Hz will be on stage throughout the tournament, supporting the level of speed and consistency players expect at the highest level of competition. From the road to Cologne to the Major stage itself, this partnership with ESL FACEIT Group - EFG represents a shared passion for Counter-Strike and the community that keeps pushing the game forward. 🏆 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/en9682Tj #ZOWIE #IEMCologne #StriveForPerfection #ZOWIEOfficialMonitor

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁. This month’s Everyone’s a Gamer newsletter explores how Counter-Strike’s competitive structure, from FACEIT and ESEA League to the ESL Pro Tour and Major Championships, creates year-round engagement, long-term fandom, and pathways for the next generation of stars. From 3M+ monthly active FACEIT users to record-breaking IEM viewership, this edition breaks down why ecosystems, not standalone events, drive real value in modern esports. 📖 Read the full newsletter. 👇

Congratulations to Activision Blizzard Matt Kliszewski and the entire CDL team from ESL FACEIT Group - EFG , well deserved!!

Congratulations Activision and the CDL team for winning a Sports Emmy! After 20 years of working on COD we finally got one! Amazing job to the CDL and ESL FACEIT Group - EFG team! So proud of our team! GGs Matt Kliszewski Daniel Tsay Nik Visger Alex Penn Spencer Peterson Wojtek Kuklinski

𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗷𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹® 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿. 💥 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗚𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗜𝗘𝗠 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮. From November 2-8, IEM Beijing 2026 will bring world-class Counter-Strike back to the city for the first time since 2019, transforming the Bloomage Biotech·Biohyalux ECM Arena into the center of global esports competition. What’s ahead: 🔥 45,000+ expected fans across both the Group Stage and the Playoffs. ⚡ A brand-new 360-degree stage design for the first time since the IEM Rio Major 2022. 🏆 $1,250,000 in Total Winnings and a crucial point on the road to the ESL Grand Slam VII. 🤝 Team meet-and-greets, partner activations, and immersive fan experiences throughout the week. Hosted in partnership with the Beijing Esports Industry Development Association as part of the “Beijing Esports” initiative, we’re excited to continue expanding the global reach of Counter-Strike and deliver a new landmark moment for esports in Asia by bringing one of Counter-Strike’s most historic circuits back to one of the world’s most passionate esports communities. Beijing, we can’t wait to see you again! 🚀 Read more: https://lnkd.in/eC5ij_7B

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹® 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮! 🔥 From the first matches to a packed arena crowd, the event delivered a massive new chapter for the ESL Pro Tour. 📺 630K+ peak viewers* and almost 12.5M Hours Watched* globally ⚡ Sold-out Playoffs atmosphere 💰 $1,000,000 in Total Winnings on the line 🏆 Natus Vincere claim their first IEM title since IEM Rio 2024 🥇 w0nderful secures his first-ever ESL Pro Tour DHL MVP trophy ⭐ The ESL Grand Slam VII race officially begins Hosted alongside DreamHack Atlanta, IEM Atlanta 2026 helped turn the city into the center of global gaming culture for the weekend and showed exactly why Counter-Strike remains one of the world’s most electrifying live esports experiences. Now, all eyes turn toward the IEM Cologne Major 2026. The Cathedral of Counter-Strike awaits. *𝘈𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴.𝘤𝘰𝘮