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Esports News

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Vitality vs FaZe: Budapest Major 2025 Grand Final Preview - Dynasty vs Destiny in a Historic Bo5

Vitality vs FaZe: Budapest Major 2025 Grand Final Preview - Dynasty vs Destiny in a Historic Bo5

It all comes down to this. Team Vitality and FaZe Clan are going to battle it out in the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 grand final on December 14th, and what a story it's turning out to be. The MVM Dome's packed with 20,000 fans ready to lose their minds, $1,250,000 is on the line, and for the first time ever, a CS Major grand final goes to a best-of-five. Yeah, this one's different. Two completely different journeys Vitality's path? Clinical.more

4h
Thales Costa
LoL Patch 25.24B Preview: Lux Buffs, Zaahen Nerfs, and More

LoL Patch 25.24B Preview: Lux Buffs, Zaahen Nerfs, and More

League of Legends Patch 25.24B will be closing out the year, as well as laying down the groundwork for the start of next season; one which will be packed with changes. Though LoL Patch 25.24B won't be putting out anything too drastic, it will attempt to correct some of the champions that have been tearing through Solo Queue lately, while also lifting up a few other picks that have lost priority. Let's go over everything there is to know about LoL Patchmore

18h
Martin Arévalo-Östberg
FaZe Clan vs Natus Vincere: StarLadderBudapest Major 2025 Semifinal Showdown

FaZe Clan vs Natus Vincere: StarLadderBudapest Major 2025 Semifinal Showdown

The StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 has reached its pivotal moment. On December 13th, FaZe Clan and Natus Vincere will battle it out in the semifinals at Budapest's MVM Dome, with a spot in the grand final hanging in the balance. Both teams have defied expectations to reach this stage, and this Best of 3 clash promises to be an absolute barnburner. The Road to the Semifinals FaZe Clan punched their ticket to the semis with a 2-0 victory over MOUZmore

13 Dec
Thales Costa
The 2025 Game Awards Winners: Counter-Strike Claims Top Esports Accolade

The 2025 Game Awards Winners: Counter-Strike Claims Top Esports Accolade

The 2025 Game Awards winners have claimed their accolades at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. In an event set to honor some of the greatest and most influential names in the industry, games like Counter-Strike and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stood out as the biggest winners of the night. When it came to the Best Esports Athlete award, the race became a tight affair between LoL's Jeong "Chovy" Ji-hoon and CS2's Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut. Whoever the winner maymore

12 Dec
Martin Arévalo-Östberg

More news

Hearthstone World Championship 2025: Format, Schedule, Players, Choose Your Champion, and More!

Hearthstone World Championship 2025: Format, Schedule, Players, Choose Your Champion, and More!

The 2025 Hearthstone Masters Tour is heading for its grand conclusion as the best players from all over the world clash for the biggest title. The Hearthstone World Championship 2025 will feature 16 players compete for a piece of the $500,000 prize pool and a place in HS history starting Thursday, December 18. Here's everything you need to know about the 2025 Hearthstone World Championship, including a detailed look at the schedule, the full lineup of players, what drops youmore

12 Dec
Martin Arévalo-Östberg
Spirit vs Vitality: Clash of Titans at the StarLadder Budapest Major Semifinals

Spirit vs Vitality: Clash of Titans at the StarLadder Budapest Major Semifinals

With the first two quarterfinals of the StarLadder Budapest Major concluding, two titans of Counter-Strike prepare to face off inside the MVM Dome. Team Spirit will take on Team Vitality, with both teams looking to etch their name deeper into CS2 history. With both sides in stellar form heading into the semifinals, fans are in for a showdown worthy of the stage. Team Spirit: The Dragon Awakes  Team Spirit’s year has been quite decent, with wins at PGL Astana, bothmore

12 Dec
Kaustavmani Choudhury
Astini Will Guide Heroic In DreamLeague 27

Astini Will Guide Heroic In DreamLeague 27

After leaving PARIVISION, Filipe "Astini" Ribeiro announced that he will work as a temporary internal analyst for Heroic during DreamLeague Season 27. The news came from Astini hours before Heroic faces his former team. We also learned that Clement "Puppey" Ivanov will coach PARIVISION during the event. This raises two key questions. Will Puppey finally return to pro Dota 2 as a full-time coach? And will Astini overcome his former teammates and one of the game’s biggest legends? Astini Workingmore

12 Dec
Eric Oliveira
Stone-Cold Initiator: Dominate Games with Tiny in Dota 2

Stone-Cold Initiator: Dominate Games with Tiny in Dota 2

Tiny in Dota 2 is a hero who literally grows during the fight. He starts as a small chunk of stone and turns into a massive siege machine that smashes heroes and buildings alike. This guide explains Tiny’s lore, abilities, roles, items, and practical tips. The goal is to help you understand how to get value from his early burst and late-game physical damage. Overview of Tiny in Dota 2 Tiny is a Strength hero who fills several roles: Carry,more

11 Dec
Aidan van Vuuren
Valve Bans Skin Gambling Sponsors From All CS2 Events

Valve Bans Skin Gambling Sponsors From All CS2 Events

First reported by Dust.us, Valve has made changes to the guidelines to run the tournament. According to the new amendment, all tournaments featuring Valve IP, i.e. Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2, will not be allowed to onboard skin gambling/trading sites or case opening sites as sponsors. Furthermore, tournament organizers have to ensure the logos of such sites aren't visible on the official broadcast. While this on the surface is a small negligible change, the repercussion might be lasting. Valve’s TORmore

10 Dec
Ganesh Jadhav
Rainbow Six Siege X Easter Egg Hunt Ends in Disappointment

Rainbow Six Siege X Easter Egg Hunt Ends in Disappointment

Rainbow Six Siege players have been treated to an unexpected Easter egg hunt orchestrated by Ubisoft, sending sleuths across multiple maps to uncover mysterious blueprints and piece together a hidden reward. What began as a cryptic tweet from the official Siege Twitter account on December 9 quickly spiraled into a full-scale in-game scavenger hunt that had the community buzzing. Clues Hidden Across the Maps It all started when Ubisoft posted a short clip showing a peculiar image tucked under amore

10 Dec
Kaustavmani Choudhury
1
Snowball Fight returns to VALORANT to Cap Off 2025

Snowball Fight returns to VALORANT to Cap Off 2025

The long-awaited return of the Snowball Fight game mode is nearly upon us. Set to return on December 11th, the beloved mode will see an extra tweaking of love ahead of its release. Moreover, the end of the 2025 season will also see an End of Year Event filled with winter goodies. Snowball Fight Returns after Long Hiatus Snowball Fight was a 5v5 deathmatch released back in December 2020. The game mode would only make an appearance that year andmore

10 Dec
Foo Zen-Wen
Overwatch 2 December Patch: Mischief and Magic, plus Massive Competitive Revamp

Overwatch 2 December Patch: Mischief and Magic, plus Massive Competitive Revamp

Blizzard has unwrapped a festive update for Overwatch 2 with the December 9, 2025 patch, combining the return of Winter Wonderland with major Competitive mode overhauls, a new Stadium map, a complete Cassidy rework, and a whole lot more. Running from December 9 to January 7, this holiday event mixes fun seasonal content with serious gameplay improvements. Winter Wonderland Returns with Mischief and Magic Overwatch’s annual holiday celebration, Winter Wonderland, is back with a twist. Weeks 1–2 (Dec 9–22): Playersmore

10 Dec
Kaustavmani Choudhury
TheShy to Take a Break from Competitive League of Legends

TheShy to Take a Break from Competitive League of Legends

One of the biggest names in the history of League of Legends esports, and a legend of the LPL, will be taking a break from competing. According to Invictus Gaming themselves, Kang "TheShy" Seung-lok will be "temporarily stepping away from the competitive stage for the upcoming season." At the time of writing, Invictus Gaming are yet to announce who will take TheShy's place on the roster. Is This the End? The truth is that, as of now, nobody knows howmore

10 Dec
Martin Arévalo-Östberg
League of Legends Player Count and Statistics (2025)

League of Legends Player Count and Statistics (2025)

Released in 2009, League of Legends remains as one, if not the most popular games in the world. While Riot Games have not published a player count or viewership reports, third party sources indicate ~110 million players login into their League of Legends account monthly. These paired with the 6.78M peak viewership (excluding China) of Worlds 2025, the Riot Games’ first offering continues to dominate competitive gaming.

10 Dec
Ganesh Jadhav
Rainbow Six Siege’s Queen of Chaos | Ela Bosak

Rainbow Six Siege’s Queen of Chaos | Ela Bosak

Ela Bosak is a REACT Operator in Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction. She is unlocked by default and built around control, survival, and fast reaction play. Her mindset is clear in her quote: “No one can prepare for chaos, just have to know how to survive it.” — Ela This article covers Ela Bosak’s role in REACT, her psychological profile themes, her loadout options, and the exact way her GRZMOT Mines work in missions. Who Is Ela Bosak in REACT?more

10 Dec
Aidan van Vuuren
StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Quarterfinals: Fixtures, Preview, and Prediction

StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Quarterfinals: Fixtures, Preview, and Prediction

The stage is set, the MVM dome is ready and we have the final eight teams playing the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. These teams have survived the grueling Swiss stages and will now play in front of one of the biggest, if not the biggest, crowds Counter-Strike has ever seen. Taking the center stage, surrounded by the cheering fans, the teams not only battle their opponents but the pressure from the audience for the second Counter-Strike 2 Major of 2025.more

10 Dec
Ganesh Jadhav
T1 to Face Gumayusi for the First Time at 2025 KeSPA Cup Semifinals

T1 to Face Gumayusi for the First Time at 2025 KeSPA Cup Semifinals

Just a month ago, Gumayusi and the rest of his T1 teammates were busy celebrating their record-setting third consecutive Worlds title. Now, they're set to take each other on in the Semifinals of the 2025 KeSPA Cup: T1 on one side, Gumayusi and Hanwha Life Esports on the other. Friends to Foes Gumayusi's decision to leave T1 right after winning a World Championship (for the third time, no less) was shocking enough as it was. Few people could have expectedmore

9 Dec
Martin Arévalo-Östberg
DreamLeague Season 27: Format, Schedule, Fixtures and More

DreamLeague Season 27: Format, Schedule, Fixtures and More

The year is about to end, but not before DreamLeague Season 27 starts off the new season for the ESL Pro Tour. This time, we will have a change in organization, and it begins with an unbelievable total of 24 teams entering the Group Stage. This will be an almost two-week event, and we will tell you everything you need to know about it. Let's check who qualified, who the favorites are, and how each team comes into the tournament. At the same time, we will give you all the essential information so you do not miss anything. DreamLeague Seasonmore

9 Dec
Eric Oliveira
BLAST Slam V Meta Recap: The Return of the Walrus

BLAST Slam V Meta Recap: The Return of the Walrus

BLAST Slam V broke the pattern in the Grand Finals and now it's time for our meta recap to break expectations. After an interesting succession of events on the tournament, now it's time for us to check how it affected the Dota 2 metagame. We will check how the changes in the meta compared to other tournaments while also highlighting the most performant teams with each of the most popular heroes. In the meantime, we should also revisit the Shadowmore

9 Dec
Eric Oliveira
Device to Reportedly Join 100 Thieves in Their Return to Counter-Strike

Device to Reportedly Join 100 Thieves in Their Return to Counter-Strike

One of Counter-Strike's most decorated players could be making a surprising move to North America. Nicolai "device" Reedtz, the legendary Danish AWPer, is reportedly in advanced negotiations with 100 Thieves to join their newly reformed CS2 roster. The potential transfer would mark a dramatic shift for both the player and the organization, with the latter making its grand return to Counter-Strike after a five-year absence. Building a European Superteam The North American organization officially exited the Counter-Strike scene in 2020,more

9 Dec
Thales Costa

FAQ

What is Strafe?

Strafe is your ultimate esports hub, providing an unparalleled experience for esports enthusiasts. As a comprehensive platform, we specialize in delivering live scores, real-time statistics, and the latest news for popular esports titles like League of Legends,Dota 2, CS:GO,Overwatch, Call of Duty, and Valorant.

Stay ahead in the fast-paced world of esports with our live updates from majoresports tournaments and championships globally. With Strafe, you'll never miss a moment, as we ensure you're always informed about your favourite teams and players.

In addition to scores and statistics, Strafe offers expertly curatedesports news, interviews, and event coverage, keeping you updated and engaged in the esports community. We have an up-to-date esports calendaravailable, which will give you match schedules for all matches and tournaments, from global championships to regional events, all year long.

What are Esports?

Esports, short for electronic sports, refers to competitive video gaming. Players compete against each other in organized tournaments and leagues, often with large audiences watching online or in person. Esports can involve a variety of games, from first-person shooters to strategy games, and players can earn significant amounts of money through sponsorships, prize money, and streaming revenue.

Esports, or competitive video gaming, has exploded in popularity in recent years. With millions of fans and lucrative prize pools, it's no wonder that esports is becoming a major player in the entertainment industry.

What games are played in Esports?

Esports encompasses a wide range of games and tournaments, each with its own unique rules and formats. Some of the most popular esports games include League of Legends, Dota 2, Counter-Strike, and Overwatch. Tournaments can range from small local events to massive international competitions with millions of dollars in prize money. Some of the biggest esports tournaments include The International, the League of Legends World Championship, and the Overwatch League Grand Finals. As the industry continues to grow, we can expect to see even more games and tournaments emerge in the world of esports.

Why is Esports a sport?

Esports has already gained a significant following and has been recognized as a legitimate sport by many. With the continued growth of the industry, esports has become a mainstream sport in many respects. In fact, esports is now an Olympic event. As technology continues to advance and more people become interested in competitive gaming, the potential for esports to become a major player in the sports world is very real.

When did Esports start?

Esports, as we know it today, has its roots in the early days of video gaming. The first recorded competitive gaming event took place on October 19, 1972, at Stanford University. The event, known as the "Intergalactic Spacewar! Olympics," featured the game Spacewar!, with participants competing for a one-year subscription to Rolling Stone magazine.

However, esports truly started gaining momentum in the 1990s with the advent of internet connectivity and online gaming. In 1997, the Red Annihilation tournament for the game Quake marked one of the first major esports events, attracting around 2,000 participants.

Since then, esports has grown exponentially, with the rise of popular games likeStarCraft, League of Legends,Dota 2, and Counter-Strike. The industry now features professional players, teams, leagues, and multi-million dollar prize pools, attracting fans and players from all around the world.

Esports is a rapidly growing industry, with millions of fans tuning in to watch their favourite players and teams compete in video game tournaments. Stay in the know with our coverage of the latest esports news, including updates on major events, player signings, and industry trends.

Get your daily dose of esports news with Strafe, the ultimate destination for all things related to competitive gaming. Our esports news section is your go-to source for the latest updates, scores, and highlights from the world of esports.

From breaking news and exclusive interviews to in-depth articles and expert analysis, our esports news content is carefully curated to cater to the diverse interests of esports fans across the globe. Our team of seasoned writers and journalists is passionate about the industry, providing you with up-to-date information and insights on your favourite games, teams, and players.

The Latest Esports News: Stay Up-to-Date with our Top Stories

Our articles cover some of the most exciting moments in the industry. From the League of Legends World Championship to the Overwatch League Grand Finals, these events bring together the best players and teams from around the world to compete for huge prizes and bragging rights. Stay up-to-date with the latest news and results from major tournaments and events to see who comes out on top.

Esports Entertainment News

At Strafe, we go beyond the scores and standings to bring you the latest esports entertainment news. From the personalities behind the games to the events that shape the industry, our coverage offers a unique perspective on the world of competitive gaming. With exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes features, and captivating stories, we showcase the vibrant culture of esports and keep you informed and engaged with the latest trends and developments. Join us as we explore the fascinating world of esports entertainment news.