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Yulo Family receives ₱1 million from Ilocos Sur governo Chavit Singson, who hopes to spark reconciliation between Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo and his parents. Yulo Family Receives ₱1 Million from Chavit Singson as the former Ilocos Sur Governor extends a generous “pre-Yuletide” gift. The heartfelt gesture aims to promote healing and reconciliation between two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo and his parents. With the holiday season approaching, Singson hopes the ₱1 million offering will help mend family ties and encourage unity during this meaningful time of year. Singson expressed his commitment to fostering a spirit of unity. During his visit, he described himself as a “catalyst of love and forgiveness,” urging both sides to prioritize their relationship over personal achievements. He remarked in his statement cited by the Philippine Star, “No amount of success should overshadow one’s love and respect for his family. Forgiveness, understanding, and compassion should always prevail among members of Filipino families.” The call for reconciliation comes at a pivotal moment for Yulo, who made history for his accomplishments in gymnastics. The young athlete captured gold medals in both the floor exercise and vault events at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. His triumph has not only elevated his profile on the global stage but has also come with substantial financial rewards, exceeding P100 million in incentives. The parents of Carlos, Andrew and Angelica, received the P1 million gift, along with their children Elaiza and Eldrew. “As we approach the most wonderful time of the year, Filipinos are hoping for the Yulos to give us a gift that’s more precious than gold—the gift of family unity,” said Singson. Earlier this year, Singson had announced a P5-million reward for Yulo and his family, contingent upon their acceptance of the offer as a united front. Read related article: Carlos Yulo Plans Japan Return, Thanks Japan for Olympic Success

Selangor Red Giants and Team Vamos will represent Malaysia in the M6 World Championship after reaching the MPL Malaysia finals. Selangor Red Giants (SRG) and Team Vamos will represent hosts Malaysia in the M6 World Championship, after emerging as the finalists of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL Malaysia). In the same wing, SRG were crowned league champions after a 4-2 win against Team Vamos during the grand finals duel held on November 2, 2024. This makes SRG the first-ever squad to win back-to-back MPL Malaysia titles in its 14 seasons, allowing the esports organization to get the lion’s share of the US$100,000 prize pool. Selangor Red Giants showcased resilience and strategy, making a comeback after an early loss in the lower bracket to Todak. The grand finals of MPL MY Season 14 were intense, with both teams displaying remarkable gameplay and adaptability. This opportunity holds special significance as Malaysian fans will witness their country’s top teams compete on a global stage. For Selangor Red Giants, the championship serves as a chance to further cement their legacy, while Team Vamos aims to make a powerful international debut. While M6  will be Team Vamos’ international debut as an organization, however, most of its players will bank on past experience, as most of its core players, Xorn, Pabz, Chibi and Smooth all took part in the M5 World Championship in Manila last year under Homebois and Team SMG. SRG has the chance to notch the coveted “Grand Slam” in MLBB if it wins the world championship, which will be held from November 21 to December 15 at the IOI Grand Exhibition & Convention Center and the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Read related article: FNATIC Onic Philippines One Win Away From M6 Finals Slot

Faker leads T1 to 5th League of Legends World Championship title at the O2 Arena in London, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest in esports history. Faker leads T1 to 5th League of Legends World Championship title, proving once again why Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok is considered the undisputed GOAT of the game. His masterful performance at the O2 Arena in London solidified his legacy and secured T1’s place in esports history. On November 2, 2024, South Korea’s T1  defeated League of Legends Pro League (LPL) team Bilibili Gaming in an odds-stacked, 3-2 win, overcoming a 1-2 deficit to claim back-to-back trophies. T1 won the trophy last year at home in Gocheok Sky Dome, through a dominant 4-0 win against Weibo Gaming. The deciding Game 5 was a neutral affair for the first 30 minutes of play. But on the 31st minute mark, T1 averted disaster. Both Faker and Mun “Oner” Hyeon-jun led T1’s counter off a BLG gank on the top lane and taking down four players in the process. It was also Faker who made the game-changing play in Game 4, reading a BLG-initiated flank to keep their opponents undermanned in the crucial stages. Faker won the Finals MVP accolade in the five-game affair. Read related article: League of Legends: China To Host Worlds 2025, Says Riot Games

The League of Legends (LoL) World Championship is the first PC/console esports series to reach 1 billion hours watched and the second esports series overall, per a report. Over the years, Worlds has evolved and constantly found new audiences to connect with. The game is truly one of the most global esports titles, with all corners of the world tuning in to the world championship matches,” esports database and news website Esports Charts said in their report. This comes next to the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang  Professional League by Riot rival, MOONTON Games. The report by Esports Charts, however, noted the frequency of MPL tournaments across the globe as compared to the Worlds’ annual ocurrence. Previous Esports Charts reports also noted record viewership numbers for some of its markets, particularly in Asia, which houses the more dominant teams in the month-long culmination of the League of Legends circuit. The Asian market proved a significant audience in the month-long series held across Europe from the playoffs. In fact, viewership in the quarterfinals match of reigning champions T1 and TES peaked at around 3,610,849 viewers. The data accrued by Esports Charts, however, excludes Chinese platforms, just as it has done the last few years. “Interestingly, the biggest growth came from English and Vietnamese broadcasts, while Korean viewership surprisingly dipped slightly: last year’s series between T1 and LNG attracted a bit more viewers on Korean streams,” Esports Charts said. Meanwhile, the play-ins match between Vietnam’s GAM Esports and Japan’s Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS had 1.16 million peak viewers, reaching over 402.3k peak Vietnamese language viewers. However, GAM Esports did not make it into the knockout stages. “The viewership was exactly half that of the Vietnamese Peak reached during the grand finals of last year’s Worlds event, a promising peak to be reached so early during Worlds 2024,” Esports Charts reported. Read related article: 2024 League of Legends Worlds Finals Most-Viewed Esports Game

League of Legends: China is set to host Worlds 2025, bringing the prestigious global esports championship back to one of the game's most passionate regions. The announcement was made as Riot Games said it was extending its sponsorship with Chinese smartphone manufacturer OPPO, as reported by Esports Insider. League of Legends: China is set to host Worlds 2025, marking the third time the prestigious tournament returns to the country. The 2017 edition of the League of Legends World Championship was previously held across major Chinese cities, including Wuhan, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and the capital, Beijing. “For the past five years, OPPO has been there for some of the biggest moments in League of Legends Esports history. In sharing the news of their continued global partnership with League of Legends Esports as part of the OPPO Find X8 series launch event in Chengdu, OPPO was alongside Riot Games for another major milestone, revealing China as the home of Worlds 2025,” the announcement read. The 2024 edition of Worlds is ongoing in Europe, with China teams Bilibili Gaming and Weibo Gaming, alongside Korean squads Gen.G and reigning champions T1, as the remaining contestants. The Grand Finals will culminate at the O2 Arena in London on November 2. T1 won the title last year against Weibo Gaming in Seoul, South Korea, marking the team’s first world title in over seven years and their fourth overall. Read related article: League of Legends World Series Hits 1 Billion Total Views

Counter-Strike leads as the top choice for esports betting, according to a new report, highlighting its dominance in the competitive gaming and betting scene. Counter-Strike continues to hold the title of the most favored game among esports bettors, according to a recent report from esports data provider Abios. The game has achieved a remarkable 58% share of the total betting handle, outpacing other titles such as League of Legends, Dota 2, Valorant, and Call of Duty. In the third quarter of 2024, major Counter-Strike events contributed significantly to this dominance. Notable tournaments like ESL Pro League, which accounted for 14% of the betting handle, Blast Premier at 13%, and Intel Extreme Masters at 9% collectively drove over one-third of the total betting volume for the year. Moreover, the report highlighted a 6 percent increase in the average size of esports wagers since 2020. This aligns with estimates from Eilers & Krejcik, which previously set the average esports bet at around $27 during the latter half of 2020. If the current trend continues, the average wager has now risen by nearly $2, indicating that as the Gen Z demographic matures, they are likely to have more disposable income for entertainment. What sets Counter Strike betting market apart? Betting on Counter-Strike involves placing wagers on match outcomes, player performances, or specific in-game events. Bettors can use traditional currency or trade in-game items known as skins, which can be valued significantly based on rarity. This dual currency system adds an exciting dimension, as skins can be traded or sold for real money, making them an appealing option for many players. The integration of skins into betting has created a vibrant market, attracting both gamers and gamblers alike Valorant and In-play betting Valorant is also gaining traction in the betting space, with its share increasing from 2% to 5% in Q3 2024 compared to the same quarter last year. This upward trajectory indicates growing interest and engagement from bettors. Abios’ report emphasized the importance of in-play betting, which constituted 53% of the total betting handle during Q3. This figure represents a slight decline from the 60% recorded in the previous quarter. Dota 2 players, in particular, have been significant contributors, as 63% of their game’s betting handle in Q3 came from in-play wagers. Despite the positive trends in other games, the International tournament saw a notable decline in interest, with only 3% of the total betting handle attributed to it in Q3 2024. This drop raises questions about the tournament’s current appeal among bettors. While Abios’ Q3 report did not delve into the geographic distribution of esports betting, previous data revealed that Europe remains the dominant market, contributing 71% of the total betting handle in Q2 2024. Meanwhile, both Oceania and Latin America saw significant increases, accounting for 13% and 10% of the betting volume, respectively, compared to their usual share of 6-8%. Overall, the landscape of esports betting is evolving, with Counter-Strike firmly at the forefront and emerging titles like Valorant making strides. As the demographics of bettors change and markets diversify, the future of esports betting looks promising. Read related article: Counter Strike 2 Tops 2024 Esports Betting: Report

FNATIC Onic Indonesia, led by Pinoy Mobile Legends: Bang Bang import Kairi absorbed an early playoff exit in MPL Indonesia Season 14.  Pinoy Mobile Legends: Bang Bang import star Kairi “Kairi” Rayosdelsol and the rest of FNATIC Onic Indonesia were booted off from MPL Indonesia Season 14, after absorbing a 2-3 loss against Geek Fam, during their play-ins match held at the Eldorado Dome in Bandung, October 23. Tied 2-2 in the series, FNATIC Onic squandered a lord dance in the nearly 40-minute deciding map. Geek Fam, led by Pinoy Allen “Baloyskie” Baloy eliminated the final lord, giving them enough firepower for the final push. This enhanced lord helped them wipe out all of FNATIC Onic ID’s players right in front of their base for the win and to profress to the next round. This ends FNATIC Onic’s four-season hold on the MPL  Indonesia title, and the first time since Kairi joined the team as their import in 2022. This will also be the first time FNATIC Onic will miss an international tournament since the 4th World Championship held in 2023, when Indonesia hosted. Geek Fam will face top-seeded RRQ Hoshi at 7:15 in the evening of October 24. Read related article: Mobile Legends Coach Yeb Parts Ways With FNATIC Onic Indonesia

MPL Philippines teams Aurora, FNATIC Onic, and MPL Cambodia's CFU Gaming secure spots in the M6 World Championship, set to take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. MPL Philippines teams Aurora and FNATIC Onic, and MPL Cambodia squad CFU Gaming, are the latest teams to bag slots in the M6 World Championship to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Reigning champions Philippines are allotted two slots to the world championship, while Cambodia has one slot. In Manila, Grant Duane “Kelra” Pillas finally bagged an MPL championship of his own after FNATIC Onic outlasted Renejay “Renejay” Bacarse and the rest of breakout team Aurora, 4-3. This took place during the match held at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati during the evening of October 20, 2024. Tied 3-3 in the best-of-seven series, FNATIC Onic ended hopes of what could’ve been a Cinderella story for  Aurora , who slugged it out in the lower bracket to book their seat to the finals. The cardiac match became the MPL Philippines’ most-watched series ever, notching over 1.5 million concurrent views according to Esports Charts. FNATIC Onic punished a botched lord push by Aurora in Game 7, doing a counter-attack of their own to defeat their opponents. Kelra became the finals MVP after his crucial damage-dealing in the deciding map. Aurora’s run was nothing short of excellent, however, slaying former world champions Blacklist International, Team Liquid, and M5 world champions Falcons AP Bren in the lower bracket to move on to the Grand FInals. This was Aurora’s first season in the MPL Philippines after filling in Minana EVOS’ franchise slot. Meanwhile, FNATIC Onic had a monumental run in MPL Season 14, only losing one game in the regular season and becoming one of the immediate favorites to win the crown. Both FNATIC Onic PH and Aurora will try and get the Philippines’ 5th straight world championship. CFU Gaming reigns as first all-local team to win MPL Cambodia crown in 4 seasons In Cambodia, CFU Gaming became the first all-Cambodian team to win a MPL Cambodia crown after outlasting Galaxy Legends. Wadu, Detective, Zee, Xingg, and Oppi defeated Galaxy Legends, bannered by Cambodians SHADOW, Linnn, Wickyy and Pinoys Cadenza and Wickyy. This will be the first time in four seasons that the league will have an all-Cambodian champion. Cambodia has one of the largest number of Filipino MLBB imports since the concept was fully utilized in mid-2022 amid the dominance of the Philippines in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang scene. Read related article: Teams Competing in the 6th Mobile Legends World Championship

The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL PH) is the first esports series to reach 1 billion hours of screen time, according to a recent report. This was based on data from the Esports Charts database. Esports Charts is one of the largest resources of esports news and data globally. “Since its inception, the MPL has grown to become one of the industry-leading esports series and some of esports’ largest and most passionate regional audiences. Although the MPL is the first billion-hours-watched event series, it will soon be joined by another circuit,” Esports Charts announced in a statement released on October 16, 2024. Launched in 2017, the MLBB Professional League marked the creation of an official elite esports scene for Moonton Games’ popular mobile title. Initially focused on the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, the league has rapidly expanded its reach to encompass additional regions worldwide. The League of Legends World Championships series currently has 999 million views, followed by Korean league LCK, which has 960 million views. Esports Charts noted however that MPL and LCK have a “unique advantage” against the annual Worlds series. “To contextualise MLBB’s achievement in the mobile gaming industry, the MPL has received about quadruple the viewership of the PUBG Mobile Pro League, which has a similar total Airtime to the MPL. It also recorded more than triple the watch time of Twitch Rivals, which not only has over 600 tournaments but appeals to the large, loyal audiences of famous internet personalities,” Esports Charts said. MPL currently has tournaments around Southeast Asia, concentrated on Mobile Legends Bang Bang biggest markets such as Indonesia and the Philippines. The MOBA is played by around 80 million people globally, a chunk of which also have an eye on the esports scene. Websites such as GG.Bet and 1xBET offer chances for users to bet on their favorite teams. Read related article: Indonesian Mobile Legends Star Alberttt to Join EVOS Glory

Team Liquid was dethroned from their MPL Philippines title after an early exit in the Season 14 playoffs on October 16, 2024, held in Makati. Team Liquid’s Season 14 campaign ended in disappointment after a 2-3 loss to newcomer Aurora in the first round of the playoffs—marking their worst finish in five seasons. In an interview with the Philippine Star, head coach Archie Reyes a.k.a. Tictac said the team struggled to adapt to the current meta, or game updates which change how the game is played. “With the many problems we had, we had to prioritize adapting to the meta, at the expense of losing our discipline and focus. This is what we should instill to our players. But with the many problems of our team, we let go of that,” he said in Filipino. The series went back-and-forth between both teams, and Aurora emerged with the win as Jan “Domeng” Delmundo’s Harith finished off three of Liquid’s members in the last skirmish, before the death push. This set back hopes on the expectations for Team Liquid PH, formerly known as ECHO, which underwent a massive rebrand after the European-based organization acquired the squad in the middle of this year. In an earlier outing, Blacklist International ousted Smart Omega from the playoffs through a quick 3-0 sweep, cutting Omega’s redemption arc short. Omega made their playoff comeback after missing the elimination phase in MPL Season 13 for the first time. Read Related Article: Kairi, FNATIC Onic Indonesia absorb early exit in MPL Indonesia

Saudi Arabia will host the inaugural Olympic Esports Games in 2025, co-organized by the IOC, as part of its push to grow its esports scene. The Olympic Esports Game 2025 in Saudi represents a major milestone for competitive gaming, bridging esports with the Olympic tradition. This landmark event further legitimizes esports as a recognized sporting discipline, on par with the Winter Olympics and the Paralympics, while also challenging long-held stigmas about video gaming as a professional career. Plans for the event were first announced toward the end of the 2024 Paris Olympics, with the IOC selecting Saudi Arabia for its “expertise in the field of esports with all its stakeholders,” according to IOC President Thomas Bach. “By partnering with the Saudi NOC, we have also ensured that the Olympic values are respected, particularly regarding the game titles on the program, the promotion of gender equality, and engagement with the young audience that is embracing esports,” Bach stated. With over eight months to go before the start of the inaugural event, here’s what we know so far: Why Saudi Arabia? The partnership between the IOC and Saudi Arabia’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) spans 12 years. However, it is unclear whether the event will be held in Saudi Arabia throughout the partnership’s duration. Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, an avid gamer, currently chairs the Saudi Esports Federation. Through this initiative, Saudi Arabia seeks to capitalize on its growing gaming community, which includes 23 million gamers globally, and the “significant growth” of esports within the Gulf nation, while emphasizing gender equality as part of its Vision 2030 initiative. Saudi Arabia has become increasingly involved in the global esports industry, recently hosting the Esports World Cup and partnering with the Esports Awards, the most prestigious ceremony in competitive gaming, where esports legends like Faker and N0tail have been recognized. Since 2018, the Kingdom has successfully hosted over 100 major international sporting events, showcasing both male and female athletes across a range of sports, including esports, football, motorsports, tennis, equestrian events, and golf, attracting more than 2.6 million spectators. However, this has sparked scrutiny, with some alleging that the Kingdom’s involvement in sports is part of its efforts to commit “sportswashing” or the use of sport to redirect public attention away from unethical conduct. This tactic is often criticized in traditional sports. Will the Philippines Attend? While no game titles have been confirmed for the tournament, the Philippine Esports Organization (PESO), the country’s national sporting association for esports, is already preparing to send players. “We still don’t know which titles will be featured, but PESO is all-in on mobile [games]. We have a great chance. We cannot miss this opportunity, and for the first time, our chances of winning a medal in esports are much closer,” PESO Executive Director Marlon Marcelo said at a press conference last September, as quoted by the Manila Bulletin. Saudi Arabia’s investment Saudi Arabia has made substantial investments in the esports sector, focusing on both infrastructure and partnerships to position itself as a global esports hub. The country’s National Gaming and Esports Strategy, spearheaded by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and entities like Savvy Games Group, aims to contribute around $13.33 billion to its GDP by 2030, while targeting 39,000 new jobs in the esports industry. Meanwhile, the Esports World Cup in Riyadh offered a $60 million prize pool, featuring established esports titles, and a funding program encouraging global esports organizations with the likes of Team Liquid, FNATIC, Team Falcons, and the Philippines’ very own Blacklist International to recruit players to participate for the three-month long event. One of the key infrastructure investments is the launch of “Savvy Games Group,” which oversees multiple acquisitions, including ESL and FACEIT for $1.5 billion and Scopely for $4.9 billion. These acquisitions help to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s esports infrastructure and global positioning. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is home to major gaming events like the Esports World Cup, which further cements its status as a gaming hub. The $60 million prize pool of the Esports World Cup in Riyadh showcases the Kingdom’s commitment to the competitive gaming ecosystem. On the partnership front, the Kingdom is working with international entities to boost its esports presence. Savvy Games Group collaborates with global companies to foster innovation and talent in the esports space. Initiatives such as “GGFORALL” promote inclusivity and tackle discrimination in the esports community. Former Initiatives The IOC has previously explored competitive gaming, recognizing its growing popularity, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when many traditional sporting events were halted. Four years ago, the IOC held the Olympic Esports Series in Singapore, which faced criticism for its lack of representation of mainstream esports titles, instead featuring virtual sports like Archery, Baseball, Chess, Cycling, Dance, Motor Sport, Sailing, Taekwondo, Tennis, and Sport Shooting. The only widely known esports title included was the Battle Royale game, Fortnite. Read Related article: PH National Team Eyes MLBB “Avengers” for Olympic Esports Games

Two Filipino Mobile Legends imports are stranded in Singapore with no return tickets, as their club, Bleed Esports, faces legal and financial issues. SEA Games 2022 Gold medalist Kyle Dominic “Dominic” Soto, fellow Pinoy Folkmarr, and coaches Cesar “Amethyst” Santos and Douglas “Imbadeejay” Astibe were stuck in the Lion City with “no flight tickets back and 0 contact,” caster  Sean “Hades” Goh   wrote on X (Formerly Twitter) on October 15, 2024. “Suddenly the upper management guys of ggBleed who love to parade their roles have just decided to leave their PH ML imports stranded at the bootcamp with no flight tickets back and 0 contact. The COO has left their GC [group chat] and they have nobody to help them. WP [well played] guys,” Hades, a former Bleed Esports employee shared, as quoted by a report by Spin.PH . Later on, Hades shared that they Pinoy imports’ families booked airplane tickets so they could head back to Manila on Thursday night, October 17, adding that he “and the manager will pay for meals till then.” The revelation came after MPL Singapore Season 8, as the esports  squad faltered early into the playoffs. Aside from this, the Singaporean esports organization’s management was revealed to have faced several issues legally and financially. Bleed CEO Mervyn Goh and investor Lincoln Lim Jun Hong were accused of criminal and federal charges, according to esports website ggscore.com . Goh, alongside Lim, were accused of punching, kicking, and pushing a woman at a club. Hong was accused of trespassing and punching another person. Meanwhile, Goh is set to attend an October 21, 2024 hearing. Prior to this revelation, Bleed Esports was also stripped of the Valorant team franchise privileges, which are usually given to organizations who are not only recognized for their performance but their capacity to sustain their players and staff financially. “Removal of a team from the Riot Games esports ecosystem is not something we take lightly. However, due to persistent operational failures of the team, Bleed Esports will no longer participate in VCT Pacific to protect the best interest of the players and the league,” Valorant Esports said in a statement. Aside from this, both staff and players alike have come forward alleging that they have not been paid salaries and prize money, with Bleed failing to pay thousands of dollars to various people in the industry. Counter Strike: Global Offensive esports coach Aleksandar Trifunovic aka “kassad” claimed that they weren’t paid their salaries and prize money. Rainbow Six Siege’s Taylor “Terdsta” Ching also shared that Goh “completely disappeared,” adding that the organization owed him US$35000, as an import. “To this day, BLEED owes me $35000 USD+. I live abroad throughout the year, and without streaming, I would literally not be able buy food for myself. This is not a new issue, it’s plagued us since we joined this organization and we were constantly met with the same ChatGPT replies and false promises by BLEED’s upper management,” he shared. Read Related article: CFU Gaming, Aurora, FNATIC Onic PH bag seats to M6