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Eternal Fire Beats Falcons to Qualify for Blast Bounty S1 Finals

XANTARES shines for Eternal Fire to beat Flacons in humiliating fashion with a 2-0 scoreline securing their spot in the Blast Bounty LAN. This loss makes an unexpected outcome for NiKo’s debut tournament in Falcon colors as they await their first CS2 LAN of 2025.

VETO

  • Eternal Fire removed Ancient
  • Falcons removed Anubis
  • Eternal Fire picked Inferno
  • Falcons picked Nuke
  • Eternal Fire removed Train
  • Falcons removed Mirage
  • Dust2 was left over

Map 1: Inferno; Picked: EF; Winner: EF

Upon losing the pistol round, Eternal Fire bounced back with a force buy conversion. After the win, they put together a string of 8 rounds to get an insurmountable lead despite the Falcons winning a few rounds by the end of the first half. Falcons opened up the second half with a pistol round win but a similar script from the second half saw them lose to another force buy which Eternal Fire took full advantage of to get ahead of and reach map point quickly. Falcons managed to win one of the rounds before the end of the map as Eternal Fire won the map 13-6.

Map 2: Nuke; Picked: Falcons; Winner: EF

Despite losing the pistol round, the Falcons got back on the board and had a well-planned T side to take Eternal Fire apart in the first half. Falcons managed to get a read on most occasions and it took individual brilliance from Wicadia and XANTARES to post 5 rounds on the CT side. Falcons managed to get an insurmountable lead but to their surprise, a series of fumbles saw Eternal Fire level the scoreline to push the game to overtime. Overtime saw a prolonged fight as both teams traded rounds and finally, EF managed to outlast Falcons to win the game 19:17.

A disappointing exit for the Falcons following two unconvincing matches while a solid opening for Eternal Fire will put them in the LAN main event to open up 2025 for the Turkish side.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Banned in the U.S.

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On January 18, 2025, the United States government banned the popular mobile game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB). This action is part of a broader move against applications owned by ByteDance, the Chinese company that also owns TikTok.

Moonton, the developer of MLBB, released an official statement regarding the ban. They informed players in the U.S. that the game is currently unavailable due to circumstances beyond their control. Moonton expressed deep appreciation for the vibrant player community and mentioned they are actively exploring possibilities to bring the game back in the future. In the meantime, U.S. players can manage their accounts and download game data through the official MLBB website.

The ban on MLBB is linked to the U.S. government’s concerns over national security. ByteDance, the parent company of Moonton, has faced scrutiny due to its ownership of TikTok. The U.S. government has officially banned TikTok in the country, leading to its removal from app stores on January 19, 2025. As a result, other ByteDance-related applications, including MLBB, have also been removed from U.S. app stores.

This situation has affected other games under the ByteDance umbrella as well. For instance, Marvel Snap, developed by Nuverse—a subsidiary of ByteDance—has also become unavailable to American users. Players attempting to access these games are met with messages indicating their unavailability in the U.S.

The ban has significant implications for the gaming community and the esports industry. MLBB has a substantial user base, especially in Southeast Asia, and has been a key driver in the mobile competitive gaming market. According to Esports Charts, MLBB was one of the most-viewed esports games in 2024, with a peak concurrent viewer count of over five million during the M5 World Championship in 2023.

While North America is not the most populous region for MLBB players, the ban still impacts a significant number of users. Players who have invested time and money into the game now find themselves unable to access their accounts or continue playing. This sudden unavailability has led to frustration among the gaming community, particularly among those who have made in-game purchases. Some users have considered using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to bypass the restrictions, but this is not an ideal solution for many.

This is not the first time MLBB has faced a ban in a major market. In June 2020, the game was banned in India along with 58 other Chinese apps due to security concerns raised by the Indian government. Such actions highlight the geopolitical challenges that can affect the availability of digital applications across different regions.

In response to the ban, Moonton has assured players that they are exploring possibilities to bring MLBB back to the U.S. market. They have encouraged players to stay connected through their official website for updates and to manage their accounts during this period. The company has a history of engaging with its community and organizing major esports tournaments, and they aim to continue these efforts once the situation is resolved.

The broader implications of this ban extend to other ByteDance-owned applications and services. The U.S. government’s actions reflect ongoing concerns about data security and the influence of foreign-owned applications within the country. As the situation develops, users of other ByteDance-related apps may also face restrictions, leading to a reevaluation of the digital landscape for many consumers.

The ban on Mobile Legends: Bang Bang in the United States marks a significant moment for the gaming community and highlights the intersection of technology, entertainment, and international relations. Players and developers alike will be closely monitoring the situation, hoping for a resolution that allows for the return of their beloved games while addressing the concerns raised by governing authorities.

PaiN Stuns FaZe Clan in Blast Bounty Stage 2

paiN Gaming has stunned FaZe Clan to make it to the next stage of the Blast Bounty despite the latter team adding EliGE to their ranks making this one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.

Veto

  • paiN removed Ancient
  • FaZe removed Train
  • paiN picked Dust2
  • FaZe picked Inferno
  • paiN removed Anubis
  • FaZe removed Nuke
  • Mirage was left over

Map 1: Dust 2; Picked: paiN; Winner: paiN

A solid start to the map by FaZe Clan was quickly met by a tricky paiN gaming who took full advantage of FaZe who are still adapting to their new playstyle after adding EliGE. Both teams traded rounds in the first half with no one team able to get ahead of the other before FaZe won the final two rounds to get a narrow edge. The second half saw FaZe win the pistol but quickly fall to a force buy which paiN used to build a massive lead that became too much for FaZe to overcome as paiN closed the map with a 13-10 scoreline. dav1deus stood out as the best player for paiN who played an instrumental role, especially on the CT side, dropping 21 frags and a 1.54 rating.

Map 2: Inferno; Picked: FaZe; Winner: paiN

Starting on the T side, paiN managed to contain FaZe to a great extent but a well-drilled T side saw them edge out a narrow lead before going to the first half paiN managed to expose the cracks in the FaZe defense as despite getting a lead on T side, FaZe fell apart on the defense. paiN ran a fast yet methodical T side led by dav1deus and biguzera managed to pick FaZe apart causing one of the biggest of the tournament. paiN eventually won the game with a 13-11 scoreline.

FaZe Clan will now need a win if they are to make it to the LAN event while paiN finds themselves in the LAN after taking down one of the biggest names in Counter-Strike.

How to Get Gemstones in Fisch Roblox?

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The Ancient Isles update in Fisch has brought in an era of exciting new possibilities, particularly with the introduction of Craftable Rods. These powerful tools boast impressive passive abilities, but crafting them demands a significant investment of resources, including the elusive Gemstones.

Obtaining Gemstones in Fisch requires a bit of luck and a dash of exploration. Let’s find out how to obtain these in Fisch Roblox.

How to Get Gemstones in Fisch Roblox?

Gemstones are exclusively found at the Meteor crash site on the Ancient Isles. Keep a watchful eye on your screen – a timely message will alert you when a Meteor strikes the island, announcing “A Meteor has struck the Ancient Isles.”

Once notified, swiftly spawn a boat from the nearest shipwright and set sail east of Moosewood to reach the Ancient Isles. The Meteor will always impact at the coordinates 5700, 165, 625. If you’re having difficulty locating the crash site, a Fisch GPS can be a valuable navigational aid.

You’ll easily recognize the impact zone by the distinctive black crater with several vein-like orange lines radiating from its center. Ascend to the crater’s central area and press the ‘E’ key to claim your Gemstone reward.

Alternatively, you can expedite the process by utilizing the Meteor Totem located at the Roslit Bay Volcano (coordinates: –1866, 165, 402). This powerful artifact, however, comes at a hefty price of 75,000 cash. If your coffers are running low, consider redeeming the latest Fisch codes for a free cash infusion.

It’s crucial to remember that the Meteor’s presence on the Ancient Isles is fleeting, lasting only five minutes before vanishing. During this brief window, spawning another Meteor is impossible. Moreover, exercise caution and avoid standing directly beneath the impact site, as a direct hit will inevitably result in your demise. However, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, a unique title such as “Natural Selection” or “Extinct” awaits those who dare to test fate.

Fisch offers a diverse array of five Gemstones, each with varying drop rates. Some, like the elusive Moonstone and Lapis Lazuli, are exceedingly rare, requiring you to investigate numerous Meteor impacts before securing a single specimen.

Here’s a breakdown of the Gemstones you can acquire at the Meteor crash site:

  • Amethyst: 41.1% drop rate (roughly 2.4 Meteors per Amethyst)
  • Ruby: 27.4% drop rate (roughly 3.7 Meteors per Ruby)
  • Opal: 13.7% drop rate (roughly 7.3 Meteors per Opal)
  • Lapis Lazuli: 4.1% drop rate (roughly 24.3 Meteors per Lapis Lazuli)
  • Moonstone: 1.4% drop rate (roughly 73 Meteors per Moonstone)

All Gemstones found in Fisch play a vital role in crafting a variety of powerful rods within the Ancient Archives.

  • Amethyst: Precision Rod and Resourceful Rod
  • Ruby: Wisdom Rod and Riptide Rod
  • Opal: Seasons Rod and Voyager Rod
  • Lapis Lazuli: The Lost Rod
  • Moonstone: Celestial Rod

ESL Reveals Stage 1 Matches for IEM Katowice 2025 CS2 Tournament

As we stand less than two weeks away from the highly anticipated IEM Katowice 2025, the brackets for Stage 1 of the Counter-Strike 2 event have officially been revealed by ESL.

For the uninitiated, IEM Katowice 2025, which is scheduled to kick off on January 29th, will see sixteen of the finest CS2 teams from throughout the world competing for a lion’s share of the $1 million USD prize pool.

A recent X (formerly Twitter) post confirmed the matchups for Stage 1 of the tournament. The top eight teams from Stage 1 will make their way to the main event, where they will have to take on eight invited teams.

IEM Katowice 2025 CS2 Stage 1 Matches

Here are the Stage 1 matches for the IEM Katowice 2025 CS2 event, as confirmed by ESL:

  • Liquid vs HEROIC
  • Complexity vs Eternal Fire
  • 3DMAX vs FlyQuest
  • Astralis vs MIBR
  • paiN vs  Virtus.Pro
  • SAW vs  GamerLegion
  • Wildcard vs  BIG
  • Imperial vs FURIA

Stage 2 of the event is set to commence from February 1, 2025. Here are the groups for Stage 2:

Group A

  • FaZe
  • G2
  • Vitality
  • Falcons

Group B

  • The MongolZ
  • MOUZ
  • NAVI
  • Spirit

How To Fix Low Quality Voice Chat in Valorant: Audio Settings Guide

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Having a low-quality voice chat when playing Valorant can ruin your gameplay experience in multiple ways. Not only will it make it harder for you to communicate with your teammates, but you’ll also have a tougher time coordinating executes and retakes, which will undoubtedly put you at a disadvantage.

Fortunately, resolving issues with low-quality voice chat in Valorant is often easier than you might think. In fact, a few adjustments to your in-game audio settings and some quick troubleshooting steps are usually enough to drastically improve the clarity of your communication and improve your overall gameplay experience.

In this article, we will take a look at everything you need to know on how to fix low-quality voice chat in Valorant.

How To Fix Low-Quality Voice Chat in Valorant

If you’re facing bad voice chat quality in Valorant, then it’s highly likely that your audio settings are at fault. You need to make sure that your input device is the same as the microphone that you’re currently using, which will fix the voice chat quality in most cases.

Here’s how you can fix your low-quality voice chat in Valorant:

  • Launch Valorant.
  • Go to ‘Settings’ by clicking on the cog at the top-right corner.
  • Under ‘Audio’, go to the ‘Voice Chat’ tab.
  • Change the ‘Input Device’ to the microphone you intend to use for voice chat.

Once you have your input device configured correctly, your voice chat quality in Valorant should be fixed. 

You can test your voice quality without queuing into a game by enabling ‘Loopback Test’ from the Audio settings (you can find it under ‘Input Device’). Once you have it enabled, try speaking and see how you sound to others. You can then play around with your microphone volume and sensitivity till you find the sweet spot.

In case this doesn’t fix the issue, chances are there’s an issue with your hardware. You should try troubleshooting your microphone from the windows settings and make sure it’s working properly before relaunching Valorant.

By following the aforementioned steps, you should be able to fix your low-quality voice chat in Valorant.

Valve Changes Guidelines to Give Equal Regional Representation

The latest representation rules introduced by Valve have been focused on giving every region better representation given the rise in the number of professional players on top sides worldwide.

Valve has revised the invitation procedure and modified its Rulebook for teams with the same number of representatives across several regions. Moving forward, the team’s region will be decided with the region from which players in the side hail. For example, a side with 3 more players from the EU will be bound to compete from EU qualifiers.

What makes the rules challenging is that pulling in players from the EU might be detrimental for teams given it is way harder to qualify from the EU given the stark number of top teams from the region while attempting to qualify from Oceania and Asia may be somewhat easier.

We are yet to see how teams react or how this will affect the lesser-known teams from making it to the big events. Giving lesser-known regions better representation has given us top players who were held back by the lack of opportunities and we are hoping this change will build upon that.

How To Complete Every Fortnite Chapter 6 Weekly Quests

Fortnite’s chapter 6 has a brand new way of leveling up your battle pass and one of the significant cards up your sleeve will be the “weekly quests”. Each week consecutively introduces a fresh set of challenges, ranging anywhere from straightforward to the most unique objectives that would require you to explore certain locations on the map. 

Don’t worry because as usual, we’ve got you covered on how to conquer those weekly quests – so that you don’t have to watch excruciatingly long YouTube videos with a million ads to understand what’s going on. 

Kicking things off, what can you expect in Weekly Quests?

Well, the difficulty levels of the weekly quests vary on a wide spectrum. Some would be effortlessly completed while you are playing Fortnite, while some would require a strategy and a plan to even be approached. 

Conquer the weekly quests for this week

Let’s take a look at all the current weekly quests and how you can complete them efficiently.

  • Catch an Air Sprite and a Water Sprite in a Single Match: This straightforward quest requires you to collect two types of sprites. Target locations where you can exchange sprites for boons – since these areas often house both varieties. Utilize the in-game scanner to pinpoint their exact locations.
  • Eliminate Players with Epic or Better Assault Rifles: Yet another simple quest, but with a touch of luck involved. You will have to eliminate 5 players using an assault rifle with a rarity of purple or higher and while some element of “luck” is involved in acquiring those weapons, prioritizing locations with higher-tier loot chests or venturing towards mythic weapon locations can increase your odds. Fingers crossed!
  • Land at Named Locations in Different Matches: This quest is quite literally the easiest. Simply choose a named location on the map as your landing spot in three separate matches. Don’t tilt us is all we’ll say! 😉
  • Purchase Items or Services from Characters or Vending Machines: Head to a vending machine, typically found in gas stations, or locate NPC (non-playable) characters to purchase any item or service from them. To expedite completion, you can opt for the cheapest option available, such as a basic healing item. Stop looking for a soda like you do in real life though 😠
  • Damage Opponents While in a Vehicle: This challenge requires you to deal a total of 1000 damage while driving a vehicle. This could take multiple attempts based on our understanding of our audience, and well how much they suck at aiming. (We’re not lying since the clicks on our guide here say a lot)

A quick tip, however, would be to focus on gradually accumulating damage by hitting enemies whenever you encounter them during gameplay. Avoid relentlessly pursuing players solely to inflict damage, as this can lead to frustrating experiences.

Also speaking of wreaking havoc on cars, keep an eye on this latest development with Godzilla in Fortnite – notorious for wrecking people’s property, often without their consent.

FORTNITE WEEK 5 QUESTS

  • Gain 200 Shields with Chug Splash
  • Search 3 Chests at Magic Mosses
  • Travel Distance in Vehicles
  • Collect 10 items from Eliminating Demons
  • Damage Opponents While Aiming Down Sights – 500-

WEEK 4 – FORTNITE CHAPTER 6 WEEKLY QUESTS

  • Hit an Opponent with Typhoon Blade While on a Motorcycle
  • Travel 500 Distance Through the Air in a Vehicle
  • Damage Opponents Within 30 Seconds of Gliding – 250
  • Damage Opponents in Fortnite Shogun’s Arena – 300
  • Reload Weapons Within 30 Seconds After Damaging an Opponent

FORTNITE WEEK 3 QUESTS

  • Collect a Sprite and Pick up a Boon in the Same Match
  • Eliminate Opponents with ire Oni Mask
  • Travel Distance in Nightshift Forrest
  • Hit Demons in a Vehicle
  • Gain Shield within 15 Seconds of Being Damaged by an Opponent

WEEK 2

  • Destroy Rocks with Melee Weapons
  • Collect Ammo While You have a Specialist Hired
  • Travel Distance While Swimming
  • Headshot Players Before the First Storm Circle Closes
  • Eliminate an Opponent with the Typhoon Blade in Different Matches

WEEK 1

  • Collect a Void Oni Mask in Different Matches
  • Give Weapons to an Earth Sprite
  • Eliminate Players with Headshots
  • Collect Epic or Better Weapons
  • Hit Opponents with a Melee Weapon

Also, stay updated on the latest Quests

The weekly quests are unlike your Fortnite sessions – consistent with changes, with progressive difficulty. Stay tuned to this space to be informed on the latest updates and the upcoming challenges and maximize your winnings through this season’s battle pass.

Until next time, keep watching this space only at Talkesport.

ESL Reveals Opening Matchups for IEM Katowice 2025

One of Counter Strike’s most prestigious tournaments, IEM Katowice, is on the horizon, and ESL has just announced the opening matches for one of the most awaited tournaments of the year.

Despite being the opening stage, some of the best teams in the world are taking on each other, giving us a plethora of exciting matches to keep our eyes on. While most of the top teams have been placed in the following stage for their high valve rankings, the likes of Liquid, Heroic, VP, Astralis, and Furia will be there to open up IEM Katowice.

Photo via HLTV.

From all the matches set to open IEM Katowice, Liquid vs Furia will be catching all the attention as the biggest two sides clash making it the most exciting one of all the fixtures

Astralis will be coming into the tournament with a rejuvenated dev1ce but with cadiaN on the wheel this time. VP would look to bounce back with a new IGL to lead them and Furia having shown glimpses of success in 2024 would be primed to take a few big names down.

When the qualified teams make it to the next stage, the big dawgs of Counter-Strike in G2, NAVI, FaZe, Vitality, and Spirit will be lying in wait, especially donk who will be there to defend his crown. IEM Katowice is all set to start on January 29th, 2024.

CS2 Asian Champions League Tournament: Format, Prize Pool & More

Hero Esports (formerly VSPO) has officially unveiled the format for the highly anticipated Counter-Strike 2 Asian Champions League Tournament, and CS2 fans throughout the world are excited to know more about what the event has in store for them.

The upcoming Asian Champions League 2025 will feature the top CS2 teams from the region who will be battling it out for a massive prize pool. Without further ado, let’s check out everything you need to know about the tournament.

CS2 Asian Champions League Tournament Format & Prize Pool Explained

As officially confirmed by the tournament organizers in an Instagram post, The Asian Champions League CS2 event will be split into four stages, starting with the Chinese Open Qualifiers on February 15th and coming to a conclusion on May 16th with the grand final.

Here’s the detailed schedule for the event as revealed so far:

  • Open Qualifiers (China): February 15th – April 13th
  • Closed Qualifiers (Asia): April 17th – 27th
  • Playoffs: May 6th – 11th
  • Asian Champions League Grand Final: May 16th

The Open Qualifiers of China will kick off with the ‘Rookie Stage’, which will continue till March 30th and will see teams playing in a mixed best-of-one (BO1) and best-of-three (BO3) single-elimination format.

The top eight regional winners will each receive $4,000 USD and compete in a double-elimination bracket for a shot at entering the ‘Rookie Advanced’ stage.

The top four teams from the Rookie Advanced stage will advance to the Closed Qualifiers. From there, the top four teams will move on to the Playoffs, where they will join the directly invited top four teams from the Asia VRS in a BO3 double-elimination bracket.

The grand final will see teams competing for a $300,000 total prize pool, with the winning team taking home $100,000. It is scheduled to take place on May 16th.

That’s all the information we have so far about the CS2 Asian Champions League tournament. We’ll keep you updated as the tournament organizers release more details in the coming days.