Stake Partners with Champion of Champions Tour for First Esports Venture

Stake has announced an exclusive partnership with the Champion of Champions Tour (CCT), marking the operator's first foray into esports. As the official betting partner for the English broadcast of this large-scale CS2 esports event, organised by GRID in cooperation with Eden Esports, Stake aims to engage esports fans through various content and activations throughout the competition.

This partnership represents Stake's debut in the competitive gaming space. Commenting on the collaboration, Stake’s Chief Marketing Officer, Akhil Sarin, said that the CCT offers the ideal opportunity to enter the esports market, which is a significant growth area for the company. Sarin also emphasized the multiple activations and planned content that will be rolled out during the event in partnership with GRID.

The second edition of the Champion of Champions Tour features a $1.5 million (£1.18 million) prize pool and will conclude with a major LAN final in early 2025. Turkish team Eternal Fire is the reigning champion, having defeated Team Liquid in the Global Finals in May 2024.

Mikael Westerling, Chief Sales Officer at GRID, praised Stake’s involvement, saying:

“Stake’s reputation for innovation and its support of traditional sports and entertainment makes them an ideal partner for the CCT. Together, we are excited to enhance the tournament experience for players, fans, and the wider esports community.”

The CCT is already in progress, featuring 36 online events across four regions. More than 60 teams have competed for points, but only the top five will qualify for the 2025 Global Final, where they will face additional invited teams.