Red Bull Home Ground, the pro VALORANT invitational, is set to make its return with a blockbuster fifth edition, bringing together the world’s top teams to New York City, for one of the most exciting showcases in the esports calendar. From November 13–16, the iconic Hammerstein Ballroom at the Manhattan Center will host four electrifying days of competition, as global giants and rising stars fight to claim the title of 2025 off-season champions.

This year, Red Bull Home Ground will feature a stacked lineup of elite contenders. Returning champions T1 are ready to defend their crown, joined by two-time VCT Global Event winners Fnatic and fan-favourites G2 Esports, Sentinels, and ZETA DIVISION. Joining these giants will be the two top teams who earn their place through the Play-In Stage and an additional team to be revealed – a gauntlet of global qualifiers open to all in India, USA, Spain, Turkey, Chile, Egypt, Belgium, Germany, South Africa, Netherlands, Japan, and EMEA qualifiers, giving players around the world the chance to earn a spot to go against the best-of-the-best on the main stage. The final main stage slot will be revealed at a later date.

For the first time, the Red Bull Home Ground World Final will be hosted in the United States, taking place at the legendary Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan. Known for its grand Beaux-Arts architecture and storied history hosting icons like The Grateful Dead and Guns N’ Roses, the venue offers a perfect blend of classic New York legacy and modern spectacle for this high-stakes tournament. The action kicks off on November 13-14, with both days dedicated exclusively to the Play-in stage and the opening stages of the competition. For fans eager to experience the action live, tickets for the public main stage event on November 15-16 are available for purchase via Ticketmaster.

At last year’s Red Bull Home Ground in Berlin, fans were treated to an unforgettable grand final as T1 stormed to victory over Cloud9, clinching the championship title with a dominant 3-1 series. With every edition, Red Bull Home Ground has elevated the VALORANT off-season calendar, known for its fast-paced format, jaw-dropping plays, and international flair. Red Bull Home Ground continues to be a staple tournament for pro teams looking to compete against the best competition and for fans ready to witness thrilling match-ups.

Today, leading esports club Team Vitality has been crowned champions of the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, held at the iconic Moody Center in Austin, Texas. The Most Valuable Player (MVP), Mathieu ‘ZywOo’ Herbaut, led the charge as the Bees stormed to yet another title, delivering several standout performances throughout the tournament, particularly in the Grand Final against The MongolZ.

In just a few months, Team Vitality has become one of the most dominant rosters in the history of the game, laying the groundwork for a golden era for both the organisation and the wider French esports scene. Every tournament becomes a fresh display of strength, and every victory writes a new chapter in the CS2 history books.

UNDOUBTEDLY THE BEST

The powerhouse lineup of Dan ‘apEX’ Madesclaire, Mathieu ‘ZywOo’ Herbaut, Shahar ‘flameZ’ Shushan, William ‘mezii’ Merriman, and Robin ‘ropz’ Kool delivered another masterclass in CS2, defeating several top-tier teams, including NAVI and MOUZ.

Team Vitality’s incredible 30-game unbeaten run was ended by Brazilian side Legacy in Round 1; however, the Bees’ hopes were not diminished, as the team bounced back to claim a 13-6 victory over Nemiga in Round 2. This result was followed up by a dominant 13-2 display against 3DMAX in Round 3. The icing on the cake that sealed their spot in the playoffs was a convincing 2-0 win over Virtus.pro.

The Quarterfinals saw Team Vitality face off against NAVI. Despite both maps being closely contested, Team Vitality’s composure saw them through to a 2-0 victory, which was capped off by a clutch final-round performance from mezii to secure their place in the Semifinals. There, they faced against MOUZ in a classic rematch of the IEM Dallas 2025 Grand Final. Map 1 (Mirage) saw Team Vitality take a strong 13-8 win on MOUZ’s own map pick. After a tricky game on Inferno, where MOUZ struck back, the series was tied at 1-1. However, on the decider map, Train, the Bees crushed MOUZ, closing out the series with a 2-1 win and sailing to the Grand Final.

The Grand Final against The MongolZ was just as action-packed as the Semifinals. After a shaky start on Mirage, where they fell 5-13, the Bees struck back and secured a dominant 13-4 victory on Dust II. With everything on the line, the squad headed into Inferno – a classic Major finals map – to decide who would take the Austin Major crown. Despite Inferno being Team Vitality’s kryptonite throughout this Major, they pulled off a stunning 13-6 victory, dominating the CT side in the first half and carrying that momentum through to close the series out and secure the title.

This was Team Vitality’s second appearance in a Major final, following the historic victory in Paris in 2023. By winning in Austin, the Bees join an elite group of clubs as the fourth team in history to have won at least two Majors, alongside Astralis, Fnatic, and NAVI.

“Two years after our first Major win in Paris, we’re incredibly proud to experience this immense joy once again with this golden team. This victory crowns a historic start to the year, during which we’ve already claimed some of the biggest titles, including the ESL Grand Slam. Winning this Major was a key objective, a title that firmly places Team Vitality among the greatest clubs in Counter-Strike history. This team is the best in the world, without question. We are living in the Vitality era, and every other team is living in it too,” said Fabien “Neo” Devide, President and co-founder of Team Vitality.

“This latest title is a testament to our ability to build a long-term project rooted in excellence, one that blends talent and execution. Winning a second Major in just two years is not only a milestone in esports history, but also a powerful signal to the entire industry that French esports has reached the next level. This success is the result of collective strength, from our players and staff, to the unwavering support of our partners who share in this ambition. Together, we’ve achieved an unprecedented milestone,” said Nicolas Maurer, CEO and co-founder of Team Vitality.

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WELCOME TO THE VITALITY ERA OF COUNTER–STRIKE

With this win, Team Vitality has claimed its seventh consecutive title of the year, extending a historic run and asserting its dominance at a prestigious event (the first Major to host 32 teams). Amid fierce competition and high-stakes matches, this trophy marks a defining chapter in Team Vitality’s golden history.

Dan ‘apEX’ Madesclaire and Mathieu ‘ZywOo’ Herbaut, who have been part of the Counter-Strike division since its inception in 2018, have now secured their second Major title in Team Vitality colours following their triumph in Paris in 2023, a feat that cements their status as true icons of global esports.

ZywOo also becomes the third player in history to win two Major MVP titles, and at just 24 years old, earns his 27th career MVP title. Meanwhile, apEX wins his third Major as an In-Game Leader, once again displaying his leadership skills and his key role in the club’s successes.

Robin ‘ropz’ Kool, whose arrival earlier this year marked a turning point in the team’s journey, has now claimed the second Major title of his career. His exceptional impact has been instrumental in elevating the team to new heights. For William ‘mezii’ Merriman and Shahar ‘flameZ’ Shushan, this marks their first-ever Major win, the pinnacle of competitive success in Counter-Strike, and a fitting reward for their steadfast dedication and standout performances in the tournament’s most intense moments.

THE VITALITY UNIVERSITY JERSEY 2025 COLLECTOR’S SHIRT – NOW ON SALE

To celebrate this victory, Team Vitality has unveiled a collector’s edition of its Vitality University Jersey 2025. This special edition features a second star above the bee logo, in recognition of the club’s two Major Championship wins (Paris and Austin), as well as a unique graphic on the back of the jersey. With its iconic bee-yellow colour and oversized design, this jersey is inspired by the timelessness of United States university fashion.

The Vitality University Jersey 2025 – Austin Major Champions is available now on the official store at the price of €89.99.

The International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) announced the appointment of Michael Soll as president beginning July 7. Soll succeeds Arthur Paikowsky who is credited with facilitating significant growth in high quality, peer-reviewed research at ICRG, transforming its ability to mitigate player harms and creating a more sustainable environment for the gaming industry. Paikowsky will join the ICRG board of directors and remain a valuable voice in the organization’s future.

Soll has served on the ICRG board of directors since 2022 and brings nearly 30 years of gaming industry experience to the organization. Most recently, he has served as president of The Innovation Group (TIG), a premier research and advisory firm serving the global gaming, entertainment, and hospitality industries. Soll’s experience in gaming is matched by two decades of philanthropic leadership, where he has served actively as a board member, fundraiser, and day-to-day administrator.

Soll began his career as a city planner and social policy analyst. His focus shifted to finance and hospitality after directing asset management at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, then serving as vice president, gaming and leisure equity research, at Bear Stearns & Co. Prior to joining TIG in 2008, he held planning and development roles at Hard Rock International and Caesars Entertainment, working in emerging U.S. commercial, tribal, and international gaming jurisdictions. Soll was named one of “25 People to Watch” by Global Gaming Business magazine in 2019.

“Michael’s background makes him a particularly astute choice to lead the ICRG at this moment. The Innovation Group is perhaps best known for its rigorous industry research measuring the economic and social outcomes of gambling. The appointment of a gaming research expert like Michael gives us decades of first-hand experience balancing stakeholder interests with research integrity and quality. It really puts a point on the current needs of the organization,” said Mark Lipparelli, ICRG Chair Emeritus.

“I am honored and privileged to begin leading the ICRG, whose mission I became passionate about while serving its board of directors. During his tenure, Art and team have instituted transformational changes that create a sustainable future for the organization – I’m excited to build upon Art’s work and help drive significant, high-quality research with actionable results,” said Soll.