The Esports Advocate

Dedicated to the business of esports and gaming | Contact: [email protected] | [email protected]

[The Esports Advocate @TEAdvocated]

Beijing Return: IEM is heading back to Beijing in Nov. 2026 for what ESL FACEIT Group says will be the largest standalone IEM event ever held in Asia, with 16 CS2 teams, $1.25M in total winnings, 45,000+ expected fans, and a six-day live-audience format.

https://t.co/z3hXjYSBzy

[James B Fudge @jfudge]

A quick health update for anyone that's interested.

https://t.co/Nxo6ZsstVI

[The Esports Advocate @TEAdvocated]

Corporate Challenger: Alibaba PKQ, a team made up of Alibaba Group employees, is competing in the $1.46M Honor of Kings Challenger Cup.

The roster includes LLM algorithm engineer Ye “Lemon” Yun, the only female player at the event.

https://t.co/ajiI8HsYL3

[Kevin Hitt @Kevin_Hitt]

.@PeterSchoenke If you didnt know, from behind the scenes, Peter, Jeff, and the Rotowire gang were already providing #esports updates for #ESPN in the form of match recaps and statistic updates in CS:GO, DOTA 2, and League of Legends. @Rotowire was ahead of the esports curve hiring a team of analysts and journalists to cover the burgeoning scene. My very first job was with Rotowire. Peter is stepping down from the place he helped build. A place that has given millions of people fantasy sports entertainment and more over the years. Peter, thank you for allowing me to be a part of the Rotowire Esports legacy and best of luck in your next adventure.

[The Esports Advocate @TEAdvocated]

Lifetime Ban: TJ Sports has banned TOP Esports player Yang “Naiyou” Zijian for match-fixing, with the league warning teams over player-management failures.

✍️ @CHYchenhongyu

🔗 https://t.co/3vAOwiHIba

[The Esports Advocate @TEAdvocated]

Stars and Stripes: USA Esports has been named ENC partner for the U.S.

In an interview, CEO Jesse Bodony discusses player selection and the challenge of securing pro team cooperation.

✍️ @TheUrbanShep

🔗 https://t.co/xOXAIbqqN0

[The Esports Advocate @TEAdvocated]

A post surgery update from the boss:

[James B Fudge @jfudge]

A little update from Mass General Brigham post surgery:

https://t.co/iPbdkonKcs

[The Esports Advocate @TEAdvocated]

Gold Deficit: NLC organizer League ApS is “no longer in a position to operate the league.”
Riot and individual stakeholders are now exploring next steps for the Northern League of Legends Championship.

✍️ @Dom_Sacco

🔗 https://t.co/DPykoVGHJ7

[James B Fudge @jfudge]

My laryngectomy has been pushed to next week because at the eleventh hour the anesthesiologist decided, "Oh, we need a stress test before we can do the operation."

Kind of sucks, and I had to check into the hospital overnight anyways, so I am stuck in Boston until tomorrow afternoon. It's 70 degrees out today here but I missed it because I'm half naked in a hospital gown on the 11th floor. BTW the staff at Mass General are amazing. I'm glad I am here; it is the best possible care I can get in New England.

[The Esports Advocate @TEAdvocated]

Creator Power: Los Ratones may be gone, but the story isn’t over. Much of the roster has returned as Witchcraft, taking an EMEA Masters slot Bulldog Esports expected.

@Dom_Sacco discusses how creator-led teams are reshaping Tier-2 League of Legends.

🔗 https://t.co/Iyp4NuUaO0

[The Esports Advocate @TEAdvocated]

Creator Power: Los Ratones may be gone, but the story isn’t over. Much of the roster has returned as Witchcraft, taking an EMEA Masters slot Bulldog Esports expected.

@Dom_Sacco discusses how creator-led teams are reshaping Tier-2 League of Legends.

🔗 https://t.co/Iyp4NuUaO0

[The Esports Advocate @TEAdvocated]

Is esports actually a sport?

@TheUrbanShep argues the question is more complicated than it seems, examining how national sports laws, publisher control, and intellectual property create unique legal and governance challenges for esports.

🔗Full analysis: https://t.co/zUQ8m7kwdp

[The Esports Advocate @TEAdvocated]

Bigger Arena, Smaller Footprint: IEM’s move from Katowice to Kraków reshapes the event’s footprint.

Guest contributor Yushi Wang, who attended both events, examines the structural changes and industry implications.

🔗Full story: https://t.co/BbYvbyqlRQ

[The Esports Advocate @TEAdvocated]

Virtual Kickoff: Major League Soccer has selected ESL FACEIT Group to operate the 2026 eMLS Cup, culminating in a Columbus studio final where the top EA SPORTS FC players will compete for EA FC World Championship qualification.

https://t.co/IlVBfp5IXE

[Dom Sacco @Dom_Sacco]

@stayfreshshoe @jon_winkle @RuddyCorp There's some more in this article I wrote for The Esports Advocate here

https://t.co/7rWQwLptek

[The Esports Advocate @TEAdvocated]

Comeback Cancelled: Insomnia Gaming Festival 74 will no longer take place, as organizers say reduced sponsorship and rising production costs made delivering the event at the expected standard impossible.

✍️ @Dom_Sacco

🔗 Full story: https://t.co/SCD7LgC90b

[James B Fudge @jfudge]

Well, it's time to pause and get ready for my laryngectomy next week. I'll be taking a break from @TEAdvocated starting March 1. See you on the other side of this thing, friends.

https://t.co/g28whsLe0n

[The Esports Advocate @TEAdvocated]

Power Play: @WolvesEsports teams up with @LUNAesports_gg for the ePremier League EA Sports FC competition this weekend in the UK.

https://t.co/QAThdwJQCy

[The Esports Advocate @TEAdvocated]

Spending Spree: @GSQHoldings repurchases nearly $500,000 USD in common stock, plans to aggressively repurchase more going forward.

https://t.co/2IyttnpqjY

[The Esports Advocate @TEAdvocated]

School Rivalry: @Alienware Collegiate Clash returns in 2026, brings @MarvelRivals to the big stage.

https://t.co/gmsQYJa94L