Renowned Swedish table tennis sensation Jan-Ove Waldner has made an exciting announcement regarding the upcoming Waldner Cup. In an unprecedented move, he revealed that this year’s edition of the Waldner Cup will incorporate a Dota 2 LAN event, aptly named the “Legends Cup,” which boasts an impressive prize pool of $100,000 (approximately £82,000).
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The Legends Cup will showcase some of the most esteemed names in Dota 2, including the illustrious Alliance, victors of The International in 2013, and the highly regarded Asian powerhouse LGD Gaming, known for consistently securing top-three finishes in multiple global tournaments. This esports extravaganza will unfold in the vibrant city of Stockholm, Sweden, and is set to receive support from two key entities: esports data authority GRID and the well-established Black Molly Entertainment production company.
Jan-Ove Waldner, a legendary figure in the realm of Swedish table tennis and the sole individual to capture an Olympic table tennis gold medal while representing a non-Asian nation, is the mastermind behind both the Waldner Cup and this pioneering esports addition. The Waldner Cup, a prestigious table tennis competition, traditionally pits Europe’s finest against their Asian counterparts.
The introduction of the esports event alongside the flagship table tennis competition promises to attract a fresh and diverse audience, serving as a catalyst for the increased popularity of table tennis. While the participation count for the tournament’s latter stages remains undisclosed, an online qualifier phase will be held to determine the additional teams. GRID, a leader in esports data infrastructure, will play a pivotal role in ensuring the event’s success, collaborating closely with the proficient production team at Black Molly Entertainment.
Jan-Ove Waldner expressed his enthusiasm for this groundbreaking endeavor, stating, “The Legends Cup is a distinctive opportunity for me to unite my fervor for traditional sports with the dynamic world of esports. I eagerly anticipate witnessing the incredible talents of Dota 2 players and engaging with fans in Stockholm.”
This news comes on the heels of GRID’s announcement of the victors of its Esports DataJam hackathon event and its recent partnership with the esports fantasy platform Spectatr by Fanclash, solidifying GRID’s influential presence in the esports ecosystem.
