Talon announces 1xBet as its Dota 2 main partner
Talon announced on 4 April 2023 that 1xBet would become the main partner of its Dota 2 team. The announcement carried a Philippines dateline. According to Talon, that date marked the announcement itself rather than a proven signing day.
What Talon announced about the 1xBet partnership
Talon said the deal aimed to develop esports in Asia and support fan engagement. The organisation described the partnership as a shared Asian and global development project. The release did not establish any later result or current contract status.
Two people commented in the announcement. Sean Zhang spoke as CEO of Talon, and Alex Sommers spoke as a 1xBet spokesperson. Talon also said its Dota 2 team would join 1xBet's global roster of leading Dota 2 teams.
Background on the Talon Dota 2 team
The dated background in the announcement described a fast rise for the roster. Talon's Dota 2 team began in November 2021. It started in the DPC SEA Division 2 Open Qualifiers and went on to qualify for TI11 and two Majors. The team had recently finished third at the Lima Major.
Talon also said the team had become the most watched Dota 2 team in Southeast Asia. Those details came from the organisation's own account of the team's record before the partnership.
How 1xBet was described in the Talon announcement
The announcement described 1xBet as one of the world's largest betting companies. It also set out a corporate profile. According to that profile, 1xBet had more than 14 years of experience and offices in Europe, Asia and Latin America. It employed over 5,000 professionals, the release said.
The same profile said 1xBet offered the largest number of markets in pre-match and live odds. It described a portfolio of online slots, live casino and table games. The company accepted more than 250 payment solutions and offered customer support around the clock in 30 languages, according to the release.
About Talon as described by the organisation
Talon described itself as a leading esports, culture and lifestyle platform in Asia. It said it was established in 2017 and headquartered in Hong Kong. Regional offices were listed in Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines and South Korea.
The organisation said it operated seven professional esports teams in five markets and held more than 30 tournament wins. It also said it ran its own creative studio for esports marketing, content creation and activities for Talon and its partners.
What the announcement did not settle
The release framed the agreement as a shared project. It did not state a contract length, a value or any performance target. It also did not say how the partnership would work in practice beyond the stated aims.
No subsequent result from the partnership was reported in the announcement. Current contract status is likewise not established by the release. The announcement is a dated record of what Talon said on 4 April 2023.
Key dates in the announcement
| Date | What the announcement tied to it |
|---|---|
| November 2021 | Talon's Dota 2 team began |
| 4 April 2023 | Talon announced 1xBet as main partner of the Dota 2 team |
| Before 4 April 2023 | Talon's Dota 2 team finished third at the Lima Major |
People named in the announcement
- Sean Zhang, CEO of Talon, commented on the partnership.
- Alex Sommers, 1xBet spokesperson, commented on the partnership.
Points the release left open
- Contract length was not stated.
- Contract value was not stated.
- No performance target was given.
- No subsequent result was reported.
- Current contract status is not established.
The announcement can be read on the Talon Esports partnership announcement.