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Seven Days Exploring Bangkok's Vibrant Culture and Nightlife

Esports thrives in Asia, a significant esports hub, yet it faces a lack of major tournaments outside of China and South Korea. This is where the role of influential entities like ESL and 1xBet becomes crucial. ESL, a pioneer in the competitive gaming scene, started as the Deutsche Clanliga's...

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5 min read

Seven Days Exploring Bangkok's Vibrant Culture and Nightlife

Rewritten Article:

Lighting Up the Asian Esports Scene: ESL and 1xBet Pave the Way

At first glance, Asia, with its esports giants like China and South Korea, seems set with the esports market. But the truth is far from it. Most countries in the region lack the infrastructure to host major tournaments. That's where ESL and 1xBet step in to make a difference.

ESL on a Roll

ESL's journey began way back in 1997 when Deutsche Clanliga organized its own esports competition. Renamed the Electronic Sports League (ESL) in 2000, the Cologne-based organization has been hosting tournaments, providing tech support, and even publishing an esports magazine. With their keen foresight, ESL was one of the first to provide online streaming of esports matches, featuring expert commentators, and high-quality studios. This move kickstarted the formation of the esports streamers community, which pulled in hoards of enthusiasts to the burgeoning industry.

Originated from Counter-Strike tournaments, ESL expanded to Dota 2 and a multitude of other esports disciplines, including Rainbow Six, StarCraft II, Battlefield 4, World of Tanks, and many others. Today, they organize a series of global tournaments like ESL Pro Tour, ESL One, Intel Extreme Masters, DreamLeague, and more. In 2020, ESL merged with DreamHack and, in 2022, Savvy Games Group (SGG), owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, acquired ESL and FACEIT for a staggering $1.5 billion, making the combined entity, ESL FACEIT GROUP, a powerhouse in the global esports market. By 2023, ESL FACEIT GROUP reached an impressive 225 million esports fans, broadcast an incredible 522 million hours of live matches, and boasted over 3.8 billion social media interactions.

ESL Makes Counter-Strike a Hit

ESL's first major tournament, ESL One, debuted in the summer of 2014 at Frankfurt. Though, it was ESL One Katowice 2015 – a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) major in collaboration with Valve, that brought it into the limelight. At the time, the competition became the largest event in esports history, attracting a record 100,000 visitors to the Spodek Arena in Katowice, Poland, and more than one million views on Twitch. In 2016, they held another major at the legendary Lanxess-Arena in Cologne.

The game-changer came in 2022 with the introduction of global betting company 1xBet. The partnership was announced in March 2021, and 1xBet sponsored the first ESL championship with its logo appearing in the stands during the Intel Extreme Masters Rio Major 2022 at the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro. Thanks to 1xBet's support, the championship's prize pool exceeded $1 million for the first time. Besides financial investment, 1xBet brought its invaluable experience in organizing events and provided extensive media support, driving a significant increase in both online viewers and stadium attendance.

ESL Brings Dota 2 to the Forefront

While Valve traditionally handles The International, Dota 2's main tournament, ESL focuses on hosting majors and regular ESL One Dota 2 series. In 2023, 1xBet joined as a series partner and helped attract a new audience to Asia. Together they organized two highly successful Dota 2 tournaments (ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 and ESL One Birmingham 2024). In 2024, they're planning ESL One Bangkok, the fourth tournament, set to be hosted in Thailand. This token initiative suggests a shift in focus from Europe and America towards Asia - the new esports hub!

ESL One Bangkok 2024 is set to be a grand event, featuring a Cosplay Showcase, where visitors can flaunt their creativity by dressing up as their favorite Dota 2 heroes and compete on stage. It's going to take place at the Royal Paragon Hall in Bangkok from December 9 to 15.

Partner with 1xBet to be Part of the Action

With 1xBet's partnership, ESL and fans alike have seen tremendous growth. If you're interested in monetizing your online presence, you can become a 1xBet partner by joining the 1xBet Affiliate Program. Today, the program boasts over 100,000 members from around the world, and 1xBet's website and mobile apps are visited by over three million passionate gamers every month. As a partner, you could earn a lifetime commission of up to 50% for each attracted client, resulting in a potential 65% conversion rate for the first deposit.

We hope the success of ESL One Bangkok 2024 pushes the ESL and 1xBet duo to bring more major esports tournaments to Asia. With an audience that simply can't get enough of esports, Asia is an irresistible opportunity!

  1. The Asian esports scene is being illuminated by ESL and 1xBet, bridging the infrastructure gap.
  2. ESL, once Deutsche Clanliga, began its esports journey in 1997, hosting tournaments, providing tech support, and publishing magazines.
  3. ESL's online streaming of esports matches marked a pivotal moment, fostering the esports streamers community.
  4. ESL ventured into various esports disciplines beyond Counter-Strike, including Dota 2, Rainbow Six, StarCraft II, Battlefield 4, and World of Tanks.
  5. ESL gaming tournaments, like ESL Pro Tour, ESL One, Intel Extreme Masters, DreamLeague, and more, attract millions of viewers worldwide.
  6. By 2023, ESL FACEIT GROUP reached 225 million esports fans, broadcast 522 million hours of live matches, and amassed over 3.8 billion social media interactions.
  7. ESL One Katowice 2015, a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive major in collaboration with Valve, solidified ESL's place in the esports industry.
  8. 1xBet, a global betting company, partnered with ESL in 2021, sponsoring the first ESL championship at the Intel Extreme Masters Rio Major 2022.
  9. The partnership between ESL and 1xBet drove a significant increase in both online viewers and stadium attendance.
  10. In 2023, ESL and 1xBet teamed up for the ESL One Kuala Lumpur and ESL One Birmingham tournaments, attracting a new audience to Asia.
  11. ESL One Bangkok 2024, set to take place at the Royal Paragon Hall in Bangkok, will be the fourth collaboration between ESL and 1xBet in Asia.
  12. The Cosplay Showcase at ESL One Bangkok 2024 will offer a platform for visitors to showcase their creativity as Dota 2 heroes.
  13. As a 1xBet partner through their Affiliate Program, you can monetize your online presence, with potential commissions of up to 50%.
  14. The 1xBet Affiliate Program has over 100,000 members worldwide and receives over three million passionate gamers monthly.
  15. Being a 1xBet partner could result in a high 65% conversion rate for the first deposit.
  16. Asia's appetite for esports presents an unmissable opportunity for further growth and partnership between ESL and 1xBet.
  17. Doping policies and regulations play a crucial role in maintaining fairness and integrity in esports.
  18. Education and self-development resources are vital for esports players to improve their skills and manage their personal finance.
  19. Managing debt and savings effectively is essential for any esports career, ensuring financial stability and longevity.
  20. Relying on venture capital, private equity, and investments in stocks and real estate can help secure a steady income for esports professionals.
  21. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through cooking nutritious meals, exercise, and regular rest is crucial for esports athletes to perform at their best.
  22. Learning from books, online tutorials, and specialist coaches can enhance an esports player's overall skillset and strategic thinking.
  23. Balancing esports training with travel, car maintenance, and social media management is essential for a successful career.
  24. Joining sports betting on platforms like 1xBet can help earn extra income during downtime in the esports season or in between tournaments.
  25. As esports grows in popularity, it intersects with industries such as technology, entertainment, celebrities, and cultural travel.
  26. Esports athletes can become social media influencers, endorsing products relevant to their audience, such as gadgets, clothing lines, or healthy-cooking equipment.
  27. In collaboration with the esports and entertainment industries, Asia presents numerous opportunities for adventure travel, movie and TV production, and cultural immersion experiences.
  28. The rapid growth of esports in Asia also raises questions about policy and legislation regarding the protection of minors, gaming addiction, and responsibility in the industry.
In Asian esports landscape, despite its enormous potential, countries beyond China and South Korea often miss out on major tournament hosting. Enterprises like ESL and 1xBet playing significant roles in this scene are crucial, given their history. ESL traces its beginnings to 1997, when the German Clan League established its own esports competition.

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