Sunday, December 28, 2025
Home Blog Page 176

C.O.P.A. Free Fire 2025: Teams, Dates, and Tournament Structure Announced

The C.O.P.A. Free Fire 2025 tournament is set to kick off on February 1, 2025, bringing together 16 top-tier Brazilian teams in an electrifying battle for supremacy. This annual tournament, now in its fifth edition, promises high-octane action with a revamped format featuring three competitive stages: Group Stage, Relegation, and Grand Finals. Notably, the number of participating teams has been reduced from 18 to 16, ensuring a more competitive landscape.

C.O.P.A. Free Fire 2025 Format and Schedule

Group Stage (February 1–16, 2025)

The 16 teams are divided into four groups, competing in a round-robin format. At the end of this stage:

  • The top four teams will advance directly to the Grand Finals.
  • The remaining 12 teams will enter the Relegation stage.

Relegation (February 17, 2025)

  • The 12 teams will battle in six matches.
  • The top eight teams will secure spots in the Grand Finals.
  • The bottom four teams will be eliminated from the tournament.

Grand Finals (February 22–23, 2025)

The top 12 teams from previous stages will compete for the C.O.P.A. Free Fire 2025 championship title.

Participating Teams in C.O.P.A. Free Fire 2025

The following 16 teams will be competing for glory:

  1. Alfa 34
  2. Alpha7 Esports
  3. Corinthians
  4. E1 Sports
  5. Flamengo Esports
  6. Fluxo
  7. iNCO Gaming
  8. Influence Rage
  9. LOS
  10. LOUD
  11. Pain Gaming
  12. Savex Gaming
  13. Team Solid
  14. Tec Toy Cripz
  15. Vasco eSports
  16. W7M Esports

The C.O.P.A. Free Fire 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive Free Fire events of the year. With a restructured format and Brazil’s best teams vying for supremacy, fans can expect thrilling matches and strategic gameplay. Mark your calendars for February 1, 2025, as the battle for Free Fire dominance begins!


Stay ahead in the world of esports with the TalkEsport app! Download now to get instant access to the latest news, live points tables, comprehensive esports calendars, and live streams of your favorite tournaments. Don’t miss out—get the app today.

EA FC 25 Future Stars: Players, Start Date & More

0

Get ready for the Future Stars promo to light up EA FC 25! Following the whirlwind Team of the Year event, EA SPORTS is keeping the momentum going with another fan favorite. This promo celebrates the young guns of football, the rising stars poised to dominate the sport for years to come.  

Mark your calendars: the Future Stars event kicks off on Friday, January 31, 2025, coinciding with the official end of Team of the Year. While the exact duration remains unconfirmed, a two-week run, similar to the FC 24 edition, is anticipated. This would mean two separate squads of players released, with the event concluding around February 14th.

For those unfamiliar, Future Stars spotlights the brightest young talents in football. Since its debut in FIFA 19 Ultimate Team, this promo has offered a tantalizing glimpse into the future of the sport. Bestowing these promising players with significantly boosted ratings and stats, paints a picture of their potential peak.  

Future Stars is consistently a highlight of the Ultimate Team calendar, shining a light on lesser-known players who might not otherwise receive such recognition. Past editions have featured future superstars like Vinicius Jr. and Phil Foden, whose Future Stars ratings proved remarkably prescient. EA FC 25 aims to continue this tradition, identifying and celebrating the next generation of global icons.

Beyond the featured players, we can also anticipate the release of special Icons, honoring legendary players who similarly burst onto the scene early in their careers. And, as always, the promo will be accompanied by a wave of Squad Building Challenges (SBCs), objectives, and Evolutions, providing ample opportunities to upgrade your Ultimate Team squad.

While the official Future Stars squad is still under wraps, some exciting leaks have surfaced. Here are the players rumored to be included:

  • Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
  • Endrick (Real Madrid)
  • Connor Bradley (Liverpool)
  • Lucas Beraldo (PSG)
  • Johan Cruyff (Icon)
  • Xabi Alonso (Icon)
  • Bobby Charlton (Icon)

Imperial Signs chayJESUS to Replace felps

0

Imperial has officially welcomed Richard “chayJESUS” Seidy to their Counter-Strike roster, securing the player from Fluxo, both organizations confirmed. This acquisition fills the gap left by João “felps” Vasconcellos, who transferred to RED Canids earlier this month.  

chayJESUS’s journey with Fluxo began in October 2023 after a transfer from Sharks. He spent ten months as a core member of the starting lineup before being benched in favor of Kayke “kye” Bertolucci. Following his time on the bench, he competed in online tournaments with Tropa do Taco, alongside familiar names like Epitacio “TACO” de Melo and Vinicius “vsm” Moreira.

Imperial is banking on this roster change to revitalize the team, particularly after a lackluster end to their 2024 season. Their early exit from the Shanghai Major, finishing 0-3 in the Opening Stage with losses to paiN, FURIA, and Complexity, was a significant setback.

Fans won’t have to wait long to see chayJESUS in action for Imperial. He’s set to debut later this Thursday in the Round of 16 of CCT Season 2 South America Series 6 against Bad News Chickens.

Imperial’s current roster now consists of:

  • Vinicius “VINI” Figueiredo  
  • Lucas “decenty” Bacelar  
  • Kaiky “noway” Santos  
  • Santino “try” Rigal  
  • Richard “chayJESUS” Seidy  
  • Rafael “zakk” Fernandes (coach)

IShowSpeed Named Ambassador of Peru for an Hour, Stuns Crowd with Backflip

0

YouTube sensation IShowSpeed received the Ambassador of Peru award in front of a massive crowd of 20,000 fans. The popular streamer, known for his energetic personality, celebrated the honor with his signature backflip, electrifying the audience.

IShowSpeed’s South American Tour Gains Momentum

IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., has been on an international tour since early 2024. His global adventures have taken him to South Korea, Indonesia, and now South America, where he continues to attract massive crowds both online and in person.

His South American tour, which began on January 12, 2025, includes stops in Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Uruguay, Peru, Guatemala, Panama, and Paraguay. His visit to Peru started on January 27, and his arrival has created a frenzy among fans.

Hundreds of excited supporters chased his vehicle through the streets, eager to catch a glimpse of their favorite streamer.

Peru Honors IShowSpeed as Ambassador for One Hour

During his stay in Peru, IShowSpeed received a special Ambassador of Peru award, presented by Mayor Rafael Bernardo López. The award was symbolic, lasting for just one hour, but it was enough to make a lasting impact on both Speed and his fans.

Standing on a balcony several floors high, the streamer addressed the crowd with gratitude.

“Peru, I will forever never ever forget this moment of being a mayor. It means a lot to me!” – IShowSpeed

The Iconic Backflip That Stole the Show

To mark the occasion, IShowSpeed performed his signature backflip in front of the crowd. Perched high above, he fearlessly flipped backward, landing successfully while thousands of fans erupted in cheers.

His fearless antics have become a trademark of his live appearances, making him one of the most entertaining and unpredictable streamers in the world.

What’s Next for IShowSpeed?

While his time in Peru is short, Speed’s South American tour continues. His ability to draw massive audiences proves that his popularity is only growing.

From hilarious pranks to daring stunts, IShowSpeed continues to push the limits of live-streaming entertainment. Fans worldwide are eagerly waiting to see where his next adventure takes him.

MIBR Outshines Astralis in IEM Katowice Play-in

MIBR has stunned beating an in-form Astralis 2-0 in IEM Katowice despite coming in as the second favorite as predicted by analysts. Insane has kept his hot hand from 2024 as MIBR has evolved into a force to be reckoned with.

VETO

  • Astralis removed Anubis
  • MIBR removed Dust2
  • Astralis picked Mirage
  • MIBR picked Ancient
  • Astralis removed Nuke
  • MIBR removed Inferno
  • Train was left over

Map 1: Mirage; Pick: Astralis; Winner: MIBR

Despite a strong start, Astralis failed to keep their momentum up for long on the defence with MIBR coming in with solid rounds that broke the momentum of the Danish side. stavn proved to be a lethal assent for the Danes on the defence but that form wasn’t enough to get it to the next half. MIBR in their defence put up a sublime show which made sure their two-round lead did not last for long. Astralis managed to trade rounds on their offense, pushing the game to OT. In overtime, Astralis dropped the ball as MIBR managed to clean-sweep in a dominant fashion winning the map 16-12.

Map 2: Ancient; Pick: MIBR; Winner: MIBR

Starting on the T side, MIBR managed to kick their map pick off with a pistol round win and it wasn’t until the fourth round that Astralis got on the board. Astralis managed to pull in a few rounds but MIBR edged out a two-round lead in the first half. Astralis started off the T side on a high note but MIBR caught hold of the game later in the half and managed to push the game over the line. insane with 22 kills dominated the Danes, becoming too much for them to handle as MIBR secured their first win of the event.

Valorant Cheating Spiked During 2024 Holidays: Report

0

Valorant experienced a surge in cheating activity during the 2024 holiday season and early 2025, raising concerns within the player community. Riot Games acknowledged the issue, with Phillip Koskinas, the head of anti-cheat, explaining that reduced staffing during the holiday break contributed to the increase. With fewer employees available to actively combat and patch against new cheating methods, malicious actors took advantage.

The problem was particularly pronounced in regions like Brazil, where a staggering 10% of ranked matches were plagued by cheaters. Koskinas confirmed the community’s suspicions in a post on X (formerly Twitter), acknowledging the heightened level of cheating during the holiday period. In some regions like Brazil, the “pixelbot” or “colourbot” cheat was particularly widespread.

This relatively simple exploit works by analyzing screen frames, identifying enemy outlines, and automatically aiming at them. Koskinas also highlighted issues in the Asia Pacific region, where some Chinese cheaters used VPNs to circumvent identity verification and play on servers outside their region.  

Fortunately, Riot Games has since addressed the problem. Koskinas stated that the situation is now under control, with the global percentage of ranked games containing cheaters dropping back down to around 1%. To prevent similar spikes in the future, Riot plans to implement “surprise” anti-cheat updates during holiday periods.  

Valorant Cheating Spiked During 2024 Holidays
Valorant Cheating Spiked During 2024 Holidays (Image Via: X)

The intensity of Riot’s response is evident in the numbers. From January 10th to 13th, their Vanguard anti-cheat system issued bans at a rate of nearly seven accounts per minute, marking the highest sustained ban rate they’ve ever recorded. Impressively, cheaters were being banned after an average of just six games, the quickest turnaround currently achievable.  

Beyond the anti-cheat efforts, Valorant has also seen recent content updates. Patch 10.00, released in early January, introduced Tejo, a new Initiator agent hailing from Colombia. The update also shuffled the Competitive and Deathmatch map pools, adding Fracture and Lotus while removing Ascent and Sunset.

ESL Announces IEM Katowice Stage 2 Will Be Played on the New Patch

0

ESL has revealed a split-patch format for the upcoming IEM Katowice tournament. The initial stage of the competition will utilize the current game version, while the latter stage will shift to the newly released patch.

This patch transition also impacts other ESL events. Both the ESL Challenger League and the IEM Dallas qualifiers will be contested on the updated version.

Key adjustments within this new patch include a price decrease for the M4A4, bringing it in line with the M4A1-S at $2900. The FAMAS also received some love, improved accuracy, and a price reduction of $1950. Finally, the update targets the run-and-gun meta, reducing crouching accuracy for the MP9, MP5, and MP7 submachine guns.

While the recent update officially added Train to the active duty map pool, this change has had a minimal impact on IEM Katowice. ESL had already integrated Train into their map rotation prior to its official inclusion, and the map will feature in both stages of the tournament, regardless of the patch version.

CS2 Premier Season 2 Begins: M4A4 & FAMAS Price Cuts, Train Added To Map Pool, Full Patch Notes

Just a day after the Counter-Strike 2 Premier mode went offline following the end of Season 1, Valve has officially launched Season 2 of CS2 Premier with a fresh gameplay update on January 28.

The new CS2 update brings with it a number of exciting changes to the competitive shooter, including price cuts for two of the most widely used CT-side guns, a change in the Active Duty map pool, and more.

Alongside the gameplay changes, commemorative medals have been awarded to players who participated in the first season of CS2 Premier, displaying their detailed season statistics.

CS2 Premier Season 2 Patch Notes

One of the biggest changes in the latest CS2 patch is undoubtedly the price drop for the M4A4 and FAMAS, with the former now priced at $2,900 and the latter reduced to $1,950.

Another notable change is the addition of Train to the active map rotation, replacing Vertigo in the Premier pool.

Other than that, the update also cuts the crouching accuracy for the MP9, MP5-SD, and MP7, while adjusting the scope dot on AUG/SG to be more useable at range.

Without further ado, let’s check out the detailed patch notes for the CS2 Premier Season 2 update, as confirmed by the devs:

[ PREMIER ]

  • Premier Season Two is here, and Premier matchmaking has resumed
  • Every player who earned a CS Rating during Season One will receive a commemorative Premier Season One Medal which includes detailed Season Statistics
  • Every player will have their CS Rating recalibrated based on their Season One performance, and will need to re-establish their CS Rating by winning 10 matches
  • Train has been added to the Active Duty map pool
  • Vertigo has been removed from the Active Duty map pool

[ GAMEPLAY ]

  • M4A4 price reduced to $2,900
  • FAMAS accuracy improved and price reduced to $1,950
  • Reduced crouching accuracy for the MP9, MP5-SD, and MP7
  • Adjusted scope dot on AUG/SG to be more useable at range

[ UI ]

  • Added a new radar dynamic zoom option that will grow or shrink the radar to include your team mates, bomb and other detected elements
  • Adjusted grenade order in spectator UI to match weapon selection order
  • Increased brightness of carried C4 in UI

[ MAPS ]
Train

  • Removed a boost angle from Long Dog to Bombsite A
  • Fixed lighting artifacts on double-sided materials

[ MISC ]

  • Added fallback logic to allow playing incomplete demo files, either copied from an ongoing live match or recovered after a game server crash
  • Fixed an exploit where users could use secondary fire on R8 Revolver and then sell it back
  • Counter-strafe summaries are now available in game server log data distributed via log address in addition to console logs

The second season of CS2 Premier is already underway, and fans have until the end of the Austin Major to grind for their dream rank. At the end of Season 2, eligible players will receive their own Premier Season Two Medals, with the color corresponding to their highest CS Rating achieved during the season.

Snapdragon MLBB Pro Series S6 APAC Challenge Finals: Dates, Teams, Venue, and Format

0

The MLBB Pro Series S6 APAC Challenge Finals is set to become one of the most exciting events in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang esports scene. Scheduled to take place from February 10 to 16, 2025, the tournament will be hosted at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre in Malaysia. This premier event promises intense competition as 12 elite teams battle for their share of the $150,000 prize pool and five coveted spots in the Snapdragon Mobile Masters 2025.

MLBB Pro Series S6 APAC Complete Overview

The MLBB Pro Series S6 APAC Finals is divided into two main phases to ensure fair and competitive gameplay:

Group Stage: February 10-12, 2025

  • 12 teams split into two groups of six.
  • Each group will play a round-robin format, where every team competes against others in their group.
  • The top three teams from each group will progress to the Playoffs, while the others face elimination.

Playoffs: February 14-16, 2025

  • Six teams will compete in a hybrid elimination bracket.
  • This phase will determine the final rankings and the ultimate champion.

Participating Teams in MLBB Pro Series S6 APAC

The Season 6 APAC Challenge Finals features an exciting mix of qualified teams and invited teams:

Qualified Teams:

  1. Bigetron Alpha
  2. ONIC Philippines
  3. EVOS Holy
  4. RRQ Hoshi
  5. Aurora Gaming
  6. Team Liquid ID

Invited Teams:

  1. NIP Flash
  2. See You Soon
  3. Selangor Red Giants
  4. Falcon Esports
  5. Falcons AP.Bren
  6. ONIC

Prize Pool Breakdown

The $150,000 prize pool will be distributed as follows:

  • 1st Place: $65,000
  • 2nd Place: $32,000
  • 3rd Place: $17,000
  • 4th Place: $10,000
  • 5th-6th Place: $5,500 each
  • 7th-8th Place: $3,700 each
  • 9th-10th Place: $2,000 each
  • 11th-12th Place: $1,800 each

Fans can follow the action live via official MLBB Pro Series S6 APAC streaming platforms. Stay tuned for updates on match schedules, highlights, and team performances.


Stay ahead in the world of esports with the TalkEsport app! Download now to get instant access to the latest news, live points tables, comprehensive esports calendars, and live streams of your favorite tournaments. Don’t miss out—get the app today.