Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, Team Vitality’s Counter-Strike 2 star, has signed on as an NVIDIA GeForce brand ambassador, announcing the partnership on 8 June 2026 and putting the GeForce RTX 5080 graphics card front and centre as a “must-have” upgrade. It is the French rifler’s third major individual hardware sponsorship, after deals with ASUS Republic of Gamers and Pulsar Gaming Gears, and the latest sign that elite Counter-Strike players are now drawing global tech brands on their own. Neither side disclosed the financial terms.

I’m happy to team up with @NVIDIAGeForce!

Playing and competing almost every day means I need a setup I can totally rely on, and the GeForce RTX 5080 is just the must have.#GeForcePartner pic.twitter.com/wz7fSU6FU9

— ZywOo (@zywoo) June 8, 2026

ZywOo Fronts the GeForce RTX 5080

ZywOo shared the news through his social media, where he highlighted NVIDIA’s latest hardware and gave special attention to the GeForce RTX 5080, calling it a must-have upgrade for gamers. NVIDIA hardware is already part of his gaming setup. Beyond the headline, the specifics stay thin: neither ZywOo nor NVIDIA disclosed the value of the deal, how long the agreement will run, or whether it includes activities beyond his role as brand ambassador.

ZywOo’s Third Hardware Sponsorship

The NVIDIA partnership is ZywOo’s third major individual sponsorship, all of them focused on gaming hardware and peripherals. It follows his collaboration with ASUS Republic of Gamers, where he became the official global ambassador for ROG gaming keyboards, and his work with Pulsar Gaming Gears on a signature gaming mouse project in June 2025. The run fits a broader shift in which endemic brands increasingly chase individual players alongside their traditional organisation deals, a pattern also seen in the Razer NiKo Collection and Red Bull’s signing of TenZ.

One of Five CS Players to Land a Major Brand Deal

ZywOo is only the fifth esports player in Counter-Strike history to reach ambassador status with a major international company. The full historical list is below, and the site adds a telling footnote: of the five, only ceh9 reportedly did not receive direct financial profit from his deal, a measure of how much the market has changed in the years since.

A Decorated CS Career

The brand interest tracks with ZywOo’s standing in the game. He has established himself as one of the most successful players in Counter-Strike history, winning multiple Major championships and collecting more than 30 MVP awards across his career. He has also earned four HLTV Player of the Year titles, a feat managed by only a handful of players in the game’s history.

NVIDIA and ZywOo have not said how long the partnership will run or whether it stretches beyond the ambassador role, leaving the scope of the deal as the main open question as endemic brands keep pursuing Counter-Strike’s biggest individual names.

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AutoFull is the new Official Chair Partner of the ESL Pro Tour for Counter-Strike 2, with ESL FACEIT Group locking in the ergonomic chair maker for the entire 2026 and 2027 competitive calendar. The two-year deal puts AutoFull seats on every major EPT stage, from the ESL Challenger League grind all the way up to the IEM Cologne Major 2026.

Today we’re excited to announce a partnership with @AutoFullGlobal!

AutoFull will serve as the Official Chair Partner for the #ESLProTour for Counter-Strike 2 throughout the 2026 and 2027 seasons inclusive of #IEM, #ESLProLeague & #ESLChallengerLeague. pic.twitter.com/oU5MLIFiSH

— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) April 20, 2026

It’s a sizeable footprint for a brand that has spent the last year quietly rebuilding its profile in CS2 after its 2025 tie-up with Nikola “NiKo” Kovac, and it lands squarely in the middle of one of the most competitive periods the gaming chair market has seen.

What The Deal Actually Covers

The agreement names AutoFull as the primary chair provider across the full ESL Pro Tour pyramid for CS2. That means competition stages, practice rooms, and player areas at every flagship event on the calendar.

The events confirmed under the partnership are the Intel Extreme Masters series, including the marquee Krakow and Cologne stops, the ESL Pro League across the 2026 and 2027 seasons, and the ESL Challenger League circuit that feeds new talent into the top tier. The IEM Cologne Major 2026 is the headline date inside that bundle, with AutoFull’s chairs set to be on the LANXESS Arena stage when the tournament rolls around.

How AutoFull Will Show Up At Events And On Stream

Beyond just supplying the furniture, AutoFull is being woven into the broadcast and live event experience in a way that goes further than a standard logo placement.

• Branding and supply across all competition stages and practice areas at EPT events
• Integration into the English-language global broadcasts
• On-site booth activations at live events where fans can try the chairs themselves
• Joint social media campaigns aimed at the wider CS2 community

The on-site activations are the most fan-facing part of the deal. Anyone heading to an IEM event over the next two years will be able to sit in the same models the pros are using on stage, which is the kind of try-before-you-buy access gaming chair brands have leaned on heavily at LAN events.

Read More: nocries Joins BC.Game as Stand-In for IEM Atlanta 2026 Alongside s1mple

What Both Sides Are Saying

Daniel Mauritz, SVP Brand Partnership at EFG, framed the deal around player welfare and the technical demands of pro Counter-Strike. “Player performance and comfort are paramount to the integrity of professional play. Partnering with AutoFull as our Official Exclusive Chair Partner ensures that our competitors are supported by world-class ergonomics at every level of the ESL Pro Tour,” he said.

Anna Ding, Founder of AutoFull, leaned into the same talking point while pointing at the long hours pro players actually spend in their chairs. “Counter-Strike demands the highest level of focus and physical endurance. By becoming the Official Exclusive Chair Partner, we are not just supplying equipment, we are supporting the longevity and peak performance of the world’s most elite athletes,” she said.

Landing Right After A Historic Vitality Run

The timing of the announcement is worth a mention. It comes just a day after Vitality lifted the trophy at IEM Rio 2026, sweeping Spirit 3-0 in the grand final to become the first team in Counter-Strike history to win two ESL Grand Slams, and the first to do it back-to-back. That run also handed ropz his third career Grand Slam, a record no other player holds.

It means AutoFull’s first full cycle as EPT chair partner kicks off with the tour’s biggest narrative in years already in motion, with Vitality chasing further history and the rest of the field hunting for the team that finally cracks them.

A Crowded Gaming Chair Market Right Now

AutoFull’s return to the front of CS2 sponsorship lists comes at a moment when the gaming chair sector is unusually busy, with most of the big names locked into high-profile esports deals of their own.

Secretlab is currently the chair partner of the Esports World Cup, PGL, and VCT Americas. Blacklyte has built visibility through Team Liquid, the Rainbow Six Invitational, and both 2025 CS2 Majors. Razer holds down a regional position through VCT EMEA. AutoFull stepping into the ESL Pro Tour gives it the one big CS2 property that was still up for grabs.

Falcons Reshape Their Roster Heading Into Cologne

The roster picture at the top of the scene is also shifting fast. Falcons confirmed the signing of Finn “karrigan” Andersen from FaZe on April 20, hours after benching Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski following the team’s third-place finish at IEM Rio. The move reunites karrigan with NiKo, his old FaZe teammate from 2016 to 2018, and hands the Falcons project a new in-game leader heading into the IEM Cologne Major 2026 cycle.

For AutoFull, that adds another layer of broadcast value to the deal. Two of the highest-profile names in CS2, NiKo and karrigan, will now be sitting in their chairs on the same team, on the biggest stages of the next two years.

Why The Timing Lines Up With IEM Cologne

The two-year window that AutoFull has signed up for slots neatly around the biggest dates on the CS2 calendar. IEM Katowice and IEM Cologne sit on opposite ends of each year as the tour’s two crown-jewel stops, and the Cologne event in 2026 carries Major status, which guarantees the largest viewership numbers of the season.

For AutoFull, that means the brand will be visible on the highest-rated CS2 broadcast of 2026 within months of the partnership going live. It also gives the company a runway into 2027, when the next round of Major slots will be allocated and chair partnerships start rolling over again across other circuits.

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Smart home innovation meets esports as Midea partners with Honor of Kings for one of the year’s biggest tournaments, the Honor of Kings International Championship 2025 (KIC 2025).

Midea Steps Into Esports

Global smart home appliance giant Midea has been announced as the Official Appliance Sponsor for KIC 2025, marking its first major move into the world of mobile gaming and esports. The international championship, set to take place in the Philippines, will feature 16 elite teams battling for the title of world champion.

Discover Happiness with Midea!

We’re excited to announce that Midea, one of the world’s smart home appliances brand, partners with Honor of Kings as the Official Appliance Sponsor for #KlC2025! 🔥

Midea brings innovation and comfort to your home, empowering players to perform… pic.twitter.com/rb7NZxfldZ

— HoK Esports (@HoKEsports) November 10, 2025

The collaboration celebrates Midea’s core philosophy of “Discover Happiness”, bringing technology, comfort, and performance together in both home life and competitive play.

From Football to Esports

Midea’s partnership with Honor of Kings is a surprising yet strategic move. The company is best known for supporting traditional sports, having previously partnered with FC Barcelona and the Asian Football Confederation. Its entry into esports reflects a growing trend of mainstream brands recognising gaming’s massive global audience and cultural impact.

By aligning with Honor of Kings, one of the world’s most-played mobile MOBAs, Midea is tapping into a younger, tech-savvy demographic that values both innovation and entertainment.

The KIC 2025 Experience

The Honor of Kings International Championship 2025 runs from November 14 to 30, featuring 16 top international teams competing for a $1 million USD prize pool and a coveted qualification spot for the Challenger Cup 2025.

The defending champions, HomeBois BSE (formerly Black Shrew Esports), will be back to defend their title against some of the best teams from around the world.

Adding even more flair to the event, Filipino pop sensation SB19 has been announced as the official music artist of KIC 2025. The group will perform the tournament’s anthem live before matches kick off, bringing music, culture, and esports together on one global stage.

For fans who can’t make it to the Philippines, every match will be streamed live across Honor of Kings’ official YouTube and Twitch channels, ensuring that no one misses the action.

Honor of Kings Continues Its Global Rise

Developed by TiMi Studio Group, a subsidiary of Tencent Games, Honor of Kings has become one of the most dominant forces in mobile esports. The game’s 5v5 team-based gameplay has captured millions of players worldwide, making it one of 2025’s most-watched competitive titles.

Just this past weekend, Honor of Kings shattered a Guinness World Record for the largest live audience ever recorded for an esports match, proving its immense global reach and growing influence.

With partnerships like Midea’s joining the fold, Honor of Kings continues to blur the lines between lifestyle, entertainment, and gaming, solidifying its place as a true global phenomenon.

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FaZe Clan has locked in one of the biggest sponsorship deals in esports history, with Rollbit increasing its commitment to the team under parent company GameSquare Holdings.

The partnership, which first began in 2024, has now grown to $3.25 million annually, up from the previous $1.75 million agreement. As part of the new terms, Rollbit’s logo will take the prime centre patch position on FaZe Clan’s Counter-Strike jerseys, ensuring maximum visibility across tournaments and broadcasts.

This marks the third expansion of Rollbit’s sponsorship since the original deal was signed, underlining just how valuable FaZe remains as a global esports brand. The crypto and NFT casino has made no secret of its ambition to back some of the biggest names in gaming, and FaZe’s worldwide reach makes the organisation a perfect fit.

GameSquare announces the expansion of @Rollbit’s sponsorship with @FaZeEsports, growing from $1.75M to $3.25M annually.

This solidifies one of the largest partnerships in esports history. Rollbit’s logo will now appear in the center patch position on FaZe Clan’s Counter-Strike… pic.twitter.com/wJ2OSUtskg

— GameSquare Holdings Inc. (@GSQHoldings) September 24, 2025

Strengthening GameSquare’s Web3 push

For GameSquare, the move ties directly into its Web3 growth strategy, which generated over $8 million in new annual revenue during the third quarter of 2025 alone. The company has been aggressively building partnerships in the Web3 space, including agency-of-record deals with Rekt Brands ($2 million) and the Animecoin Foundation ($2.5 million), as well as launching its own treasury management platform earlier this year.

Justin Kenna, CEO of GameSquare, described the deal as another milestone in the company’s strategy.
“This agreement underscores the strength of FaZe Clan Esports as the world’s leading esports brand and the value of GameSquare’s unique platform that brings together esports, media, and Web3,” Kenna said. “By deepening our relationship with Rollbit, we are adding another record-setting partnership that enhances profitability and validates our strategy to build sustainable, high-growth businesses at the intersection of culture and technology.”

Rollbit’s growing role in esports

Sam Norman, Head of Partnerships at Rollbit, said the expansion reflects the brand’s confidence in FaZe’s continued impact on competitive gaming.
“Expanding our partnership with FaZe Clan Esports marks another milestone in Rollbit’s journey to be at the forefront of global esports,” Norman explained. “Since our initial deal in 2024, FaZe has consistently delivered unmatched reach and engagement, helping Rollbit connect with one of the most dynamic audiences in digital entertainment.”

Founded in 2020, Rollbit has quickly grown its footprint in both online gaming and sports partnerships. The expanded FaZe sponsorship further cements its presence in the esports world, while giving the team a financial boost to stay competitive on the global stage.

With FaZe Clan’s iconic status and Rollbit’s growing ambitions, this deal not only reinforces one of the most lucrative sponsorships in esports but also highlights the increasing role Web3 companies are playing in shaping the future of gaming.

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Argentinian esports organisation 9z Team has announced a two-year sponsorship agreement with online betting company 1xBet, strengthening its Counter-Strike 2 ambitions while adding another major partner to its roster.

We’re thrilled to welcome @9zTeam to the 1xBet family 💙

Now we’re playing in the big league together! pic.twitter.com/HnStwEZI9K

— 1xBet Esports (@1xBet_Esports) September 11, 2025

The financial terms of the deal weren’t revealed, but the partnership will see 9z promoting 1xBet across social media, curated video content, livestreams, and at select esports events where gambling sponsorships are permitted. Beyond simple branding, 1xBet has stated it will collaborate with 9z to support the growth of Counter-Strike in Argentina, offering resources and community-driven initiatives to boost the team’s visibility.

Founded in Argentina, 9z Team has established itself as one of Latin America’s biggest esports names. The organisation made history in 2022 as the first non-Brazilian team from the region to qualify for a Counter-Strike Major, and since then has earned more than half a million dollars in prize money. Its most notable results include winning the FiReLEAGUE Global Final in 2024, a top-four finish at IEM Dallas 2024, and a recent runner-up placement at FiReLEAGUE Buenos Aires 2025.

This deal makes 1xBet the tenth official partner of 9z, joining global brands like Monster Energy and Samsung. The company has been busy expanding its footprint in esports throughout 2025, securing partnerships with tournament organisers such as PGL and BLAST, alongside existing sponsorships with major teams including OG Esports, Tundra, Team Spirit, MIBR, and Talon Esports. Beyond esports, 1xBet also sponsors high-profile football clubs like FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

For 9z, the deal comes at a critical moment. Its Counter-Strike roster is currently ranked 51st in the Valve Regional Standings and will need to climb significantly to qualify for the StarLadder Budapest Major later this year. The team recently qualified for the Aorus League 2025, which offers a $6,500 prize pool, and is set to make its first Tier 1 appearance since IEM Rio 2024 at the Thunderpick World Championship later this year.

With 1xBet’s backing and a packed competitive calendar ahead, 9z Team will be aiming to solidify its place among Counter-Strike’s top contenders and continue building on its legacy as Latin America’s trailblazing squad.

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