Esports News

When playing Dota 2, Matchmaking Rating (MMR) is the main way to evaluate a player's progress in terms of game comprehension. Understanding how MMR works and how to improve it is essential both for new players unlocking ranked for the first time and for veteran players trying to climb to Immortal.

With the IEM Krakow 2026 Play-In Stage now complete, ESL has revealed the Group Stage matchups. The 16 teams will be split into two double-elimination groups, and only six total teams will advance to the playoffs.

Team Liquid’s battle against Karmine Corp was a show of determination and grit. After a close series loss the previous week to Team Vitality, Liquid found themselves now in the Middle Bracket of VCT EMEA Kickoff with two lives left to battle to Santiago. Backs against the wall after a dismal Map 1 performance, Liquid turned their fortunes around to complete the reverse sweep, propelling themselves with their first official win of the season. Following the conclusion of their series, Strafe Esports sat down with Team Liquid IGL and captain Ayaz “nAts” Akhmetshin to reflect on the series as a whole, the challenges of heading into a new season with a substitute for Week 1, his evolution as a leader for the team, and so much more in this exclusive interview.

VALORANT Night Market will return in Season 2026 Act 1 on February 5th and continue until March 2nd.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone Season 2 drops on February 5, 2026, bringing a massive content update across Multiplayer, Zombies, Endgame, and Warzone. The Guild may be down, but they're not out yet, and Alden Dorne is about to unleash hell with Victoria Atwood leading the charge.

The inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC) is scheduled to commence in November 2026, backed by a $45 million commitment from the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) in the form of prize money, incentives, and development funds.

Team Vitality’s clash against Team Liquid in the Upper Bracket of VCT EMEA Kickoff proved to be the first real test for the squad, going the full distance in an all-out brawl between the two teams. Vitality eventually emerged as the victor, placing them two series wins away from qualifying for Masters Santiago. Following their series win, Strafe Esports sat down with Team Vitality’s Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev, who spoke on the series as a whole, the team’s preparation coming into Kickoff, his thoughts on the new crop of teams taking over the EMEA stage and more in this exclusive interview.

Chen is a support who turns neutral creeps into tools for ganks, pushes, and saves. He rewards players who plan routes, control units well, and play for early objectives. This Dota 2 Chen breakdown explains what Chen does, how his abilities work together, and how to choose items and creeps without wasting time. Chen's Lore Chen is known as the Holy Knight. He was born in the Hazhadal Barrens and grew up among outlaws that used animal enthrallment to survive.more

Saudi Arabia continues to invest in the Esports ecosystem. The yearly EWC has become one of the biggest events of the year for over 20 titles and this year, a new tournament will be introduced. The Esports Nations Cup aims to bring countries together to compete across 16 titles. Two have already been announced, and now Dota 2 joins the list of games being played. Esports Nations Cup will include 32 Dota 2 teams One thing that stands out ismore

StarCraft II’s exclusion from the Esports World Cup 2026 and Blizzard’s new showcase roadmap make one thing painfully clear: the RTS legend is no longer part of esports’ future, only its past. This essay dissects the slow, corporate-engineered death of a genre-defining game.

s1mple and BC.Game kick off their IEM Krakow campaign with a stunning 2-0 victory over Legacy, featuring a first-map comeback from an 11-2 deficit.

T1 have officially announced the return of their Home Ground events for the 2026 LCK season. As part of the LCK Roadshow, Incheon and Seoul will host two special weekends where fans can experience T1 matches live during the regular season.

As players continue to acclimate to League of Legends in 2026, patch 26.03 rolls into town with a number of adjustments aimed at addressing player frustration. With plenty of changes coming, let’s take a look at the biggest changes coming based on the official preview. LoL Patch 26.03 is set to release on February 4th, 2026.

Tachanka is one of the most distinctive operators in Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction. Known for his heavy armor, mounted firepower, and calm presence under pressure, he plays a key role in REACT’s fight against the Chimera Parasite. This article explores Tachanka’s background, his role in Operation Chimera, his psychological profile, and how his gameplay mechanics define him as a defensive anchor. Every detail is based strictly on established in-game information. Who Is Tachanka? Alexsandr Senaviev, codenamed Tachanka, is amore

In a significant legal blow to the operator of the world’s largest PC gaming platform, a UK court has ruled that a £656 million (approx. $900 million) class-action lawsuit against Valve Corporation can proceed to trial. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of 14 million UK Steam users, alleges that Valve has abused its dominant market position to overcharge gamers.

Leona stands as one of the most important figures tied to Mount Targon and the Solari faith. As the Aspect of the Sun, she represents devotion, order, and sacrifice. Her story blends belief, conflict, and duty, shaping both her identity and her role on the Rift. This article covers Leona’s origins, her bond with Diana, her rise as an Aspect, and her abilities as a warrior empowered by solar magic. Leona and the Solari Faith Leona was born on Mountmore

Tyson "TenZ" Ngo has officially unveiled the finalists for his VALORANT Community Awards, and the list features some of the biggest names from both the VCT and Game Changers circuits. Players and coaches from across the competitive scene voted to determine who'd earn a spot in the final running, and now it's down to the wire before the live ceremony hits on February 4th. This isn't your typical esports awards show. The whole thing came together through a partnership betweenmore

Though we're entering only the second League of Legends patch of the new season, it is never to early to start climbing the ladder. With so many champion changes, new item additions, and more, several Solo Queue standouts continue to emerge as players figure out the meta. So if you’re looking to keep climbing as the meta stabilizes, these are the best champions to climb ranked in LoL Patch 26.02.

Dragon Knight is one of the most lore-rich heroes in Dota 2. Known as Sir Davion, he is both a disciplined knight and the vessel of an ancient dragon. His story is built on honor, sacrifice, and a bond formed through blood and death. This article explores the full lore of Dragon Knight, focusing on his origins, personality, powers, and the lasting consequences of carrying an Eldwurm within his body. The Origins of Dragon Knight Sir Davion of the Scaledmore