Gaming
ICC to deliver official fantasy cricket game for upcoming ICC Champions Trophy
MUMBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the launch of an official Fantasy League game for the ICC Champions Trophy 2013.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2013 is being played across England and Wales from 6 – 23 June.
The game will give fans from around the globe the opportunity to pick their own ‘dream’ team from the eight Champions Trophy squads and pit their wits against fellow entrants, known as managers.
Selection begins with the balance of the side – you can choose to either favour more batsmen, more all-rounders or more bowlers – the would-be-manager then has to select their playing XI and allocate a captain who scores double points.
Teams can contain up to three players from one international side for the group stages (extending to six for the semi-finals and final), and furthermore only three from inside the top ten of the Reliance ICC ODI Rankings in batting, bowling or all-rounder position.
Team changes are unlimited until the start of the tournament and a manager can make up to 10 team changes during the Group Stages, reacting to injuries, form and fixture schedules.
Changes are also unlimited between the end of the Group Stages and the first semi-final and up to two further changes can then be made between the second semi-final and the final.
Captain changes are unlimited and can therefore be changed prior to every single match.
ICC GM commercial Campbell Jamieson said, “An aspect of the ICC’s global strategy is to create a better level of fan engagement, and the Fantasy League game is just one of the ways we plan to do this for this event and moving forward.
“I’m sure every cricket fan in the world has mulled over who he or she would select in their ideal team, if they had that opportunity – and now they have the chance.”
Fantasy League head of business development Luke Boyle commented, “We are delighted to be able to offer this exclusive game for the biggest International cricket tournament of the year. We hope fans get involved with choosing their ideal team and it all adds to the overall excitement of the tournament this summer in England and Wales.”
Gaming
Nodwin Gaming partners with Runestone for esports data and integrity solutions
South Asian esports leader joins forces with Czech tech firm to enhance tournament operations.
MUMBAI: Nodwin Gaming has just levelled up its game by bringing in a specialist to keep the scoreboard honest and the fans fully engaged. The leading South Asian esports and gaming company has announced a strategic partnership with Runestone, a Prague-headquartered esports technology firm specialising in real-time data and engagement solutions for tournament organisers and publishers.
The collaboration aims to strengthen competitive integrity, improve operational oversight, and deliver more interactive viewing experiences across Nodwin’s properties. It will initially focus on the Nodwin Clutch Series for Counter-Strike 2, a Tier 2 tournament that provides emerging teams with consistent competitive opportunities and helps build the talent pipeline.
The latest edition of the series recently concluded with Big defeating ECSTATIC 2–1 in the grand final of the $50,000 online event.
Nodwin Gaming chief business officer at MENA and global head of data monetization Teemu Koski said, “Integrity and transparency are fundamental to sustainable esports ecosystems, especially in Tier 2 competition where the next generation of talent emerges. Runestone’s expertise complements our experience in building scalable esports IPs.”
Runestone head of partnerships Michael Schwartz added, “Nodwin Gaming has built one of the most dynamic esports ecosystems across emerging markets. We’re thrilled to collaborate on supporting tournaments with greater transparency, deeper fan interaction, and scalable tools.”
Both companies are exploring opportunities to extend the partnership across additional titles, including mobile-first competitive ecosystems, and to develop new products for publishers, tournament operators, and event promoters.
In the rapidly growing world of esports, where fair play and fan excitement are equally crucial, Nodwin Gaming and Runestone are teaming up to ensure every match is not only competitive but also transparent and engaging. This alliance could well become a game-changer for Tier 2 tournaments across South Asia and beyond.
