BLAST Expands to Mongolia, Riot Explores Prediction Markets in Major CS2 and Esports Business Moves

The esports industry witnessed significant business developments in early September, with tournament organizers, game publishers, and teams securing partnerships that could reshape competitive landscapes. From BLAST's expansion into Mongolia to Riot Games' potential prediction market deals, these moves highlight the growing financial infrastructure surrounding competitive gaming.

BLAST Announces Major Mongolian Tournament

BLAST revealed a partnership with the Mongolian Esports Association (MESA) on September 8, 2026, marking the organizer's latest Asian market expansion. The deal includes plans for a Tier 1 Counter-Strike tournament in Ulaanbaatar during May 2027, featuring 16 elite teams competing for a $1.25 million prize pool. This move follows Mongolia's rising CS2 prominence after The MongolZ's success at the 2025 Esports World Cup and BLAST's Austin Major.

The agreement continues BLAST's Asian expansion strategy after its 2025 Singapore Tourism Board collaboration. Mongolian viewership has surged dramatically, with thousands attending local watch parties as the country's players reach international stages.

Riot Games Considers Prediction Market Sponsorships

Riot Games is reportedly evaluating partnerships with prediction market operators Polymarket and Kalshi, according to a September 10 Bloomberg report. The VALORANT and League of Legends developer confirmed it's assessing potential collaborations with a focus on competitive integrity, team value, and fan experience alignment.

"We're evaluating with a focus on safeguarding competitive integrity, potential value for teams, impact on the fan experience, and alignment with broader ecosystem goals," said Joe Hixson, Riot Games' Communications Lead. This exploration follows Riot's June 2025 decision to permit betting sponsorships in its esports ecosystems.

Polymarket already serves as BLAST's official prediction partner, demonstrating the model's esports viability. Kalshi offers similar markets across multiple competitive titles. Neither company confirmed ongoing negotiations with Riot.

PGL Extends 1xBet Partnership Through 2029

Tournament organizer PGL announced a four-year extension of its exclusive deal with bookmaker 1xBet, securing the partnership through 2029. The agreement maintains 1xBet as the sole betting sponsor for PGL's Dota 2 and Counter-Strike broadcasts, with branding across all digital platforms and live fan activations.

"Building a sustainable tournament ecosystem is important to us," a PGL representative stated. "Together with 1xBet, we'll be able to develop new formats, reach wider audiences, and work on projects designed not just for one season, but for years to come."

The extension reflects esports betting's growing role in tournament financing, following industry-wide trends toward regulated gambling partnerships as revenue streams.

Twisted Minds Partners With Shikenso for Sponsorship Analytics

Saudi Arabian organization Twisted Minds secured a September 9 deal with esports data platform Shikenso to optimize sponsorship performance tracking. The partnership provides granular analytics on brand exposure across Twisted Minds' rosters and social channels, including video content visibility metrics.

Shikenso's tools will help identify high-performing sponsorships and growth opportunities, joining the platform's existing partnerships with Team Falcons, GamerLegion, and ESL FACEIT Group. The deal represents esports organizations' increasing reliance on data-driven sponsorship strategies.

Riot and Coinbase Launch Record-Breaking VALORANT Tournament

Riot Games partnered with cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase and top VALORANT creators for the One Shot Tournament, offering esports' largest community event prize pool under Riot's banner. The September 11 announcement revealed a grand prize of one Bitcoin (approximately $57,536) for the 1v1 competition open to amateurs, pros, and content creators.

Former VCT champion Tyson "TenZ" Ngo will both compete and broadcast the event through his channels. Coinbase continues its Riot partnership after serving as the exclusive crypto partner for international VALORANT and League tournaments.

What These Deals Mean for Esports

This flurry of September business activity underscores esports' accelerating financial maturation. BLAST's Mongolian expansion demonstrates tournament organizers' strategic targeting of emerging markets with growing fanbases, while Riot's potential prediction market deals could establish new sponsorship categories industry-wide.

The PGL-1xBet extension and Twisted Minds' analytics investment reflect organizations prioritizing sustainable, data-backed revenue models. Meanwhile, Riot's Coinbase collaboration shows publishers successfully blending competitive gaming with cryptocurrency ecosystems. Collectively, these moves signal esports' continued evolution from passion project to sophisticated commercial enterprise.