An independent editorial newsroom covering competitive gaming
esportsx is an editorial publication. We cover competitive gaming the way a quality newspaper covers a beat — with consistent reporting, named sources, and a clear position on what is and is not editorial.
What the desk publishes
The five surfaces the desk runs, in plain language.
News
The desk's news stream covers patch watches, roster moves, broadcast reads, post-match analysis and scrim reports. The desk does not publish rumours, leaks, or unattributed sources. Every story is dated, every correction is logged.
Long-form reference
The desk's guides section is a long-form reference layer for the reader who watches the broadcast and wants to understand it more deeply. How to read a bracket, how to read a map pool, how to read a patch.
Match centre
The desk's match centre is the live and upcoming fixture list, with the desk's read on every series. Map vetoes, head-to-head records, post-match analysis. The match centre updates within a minute of the broadcast feed.
Team and player pages
The desk's team and player pages are reference pages for the people and the organisations. Roster, captain, region, map pool, head-to-head record and current form. Updated within a day of any confirmed move.
Editorial review
The desk publishes one editorial review per quarter, of the tournament's first-party app. The review is hands-on, scored on a five-point scale, and the desk does not accept payment for the review.
Reader-facing policy
The desk's responsible play policy, privacy policy, terms of use, and corrections log are all on the website, in plain language, and on the record. The desk is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
What the desk does not do
The list is short, and the desk is clear about it.
No sportsbook, no betting, no picks
The desk does not run a sportsbook, take bets, or sell picks. The desk does not publish a "who to bet on" column. The desk does not accept payment for coverage of any team, tournament, or organiser.
No sponsored content
The desk does not run sponsored content from teams, tournament organisers, or any third party. The desk's affiliate route is the only commercial relationship, and it is labelled on every page.
No hospitality from organisers
The desk does not accept hospitality from tournament organisers, teams, or any other party the desk covers. Travel and accommodation for the desk's writers is paid for by the desk's editorial budget.
No reader data sale
The desk does not sell reader data and does not include third-party advertising SDKs on the website. The desk is funded by reader subscriptions and the affiliate route for the tournament app.
An independent editorial newsroom.
Get started with the desk
A reader account is free. Follow teams, save bookmarks, and opt into quiet push notifications.
Editorial coverage of competitive gaming for readers 18 and over. esportsx is an independent newsroom. We do not operate a sportsbook, take bets or sell picks. For help with problem gambling see responsible play resources.
The desk's editorial standards
Six short paragraphs. The whole standards document in one place.
1 · Sourcing
Every story cites the source at the top — the broadcast feed, the regional organiser, a public scrim report that has been verified against on-air footage, or the desk's own VOD work. The desk does not rely on leaks, anonymous sourcing, or third-party data brokers.
2 · Corrections
Corrections are added as a dated note at the bottom of the article and the original wording is preserved. The desk does not silently edit published stories. The desk's corrections log is on the about page.
3 · Independence
The desk does not accept payment for coverage, does not run sponsored content from teams, and does not take hospitality from tournament organisers. Editorial coverage only.
4 · Reader input
Reader corrections are welcome. Write to the desk via the contact page with a link to the article and the specific paragraph. The desk responds within two business days.
5 · Language
The desk writes in plain language. The desk does not use jargon for the sake of jargon. The desk does not use SEO terminology in published copy. The desk does not describe the website's internal organisation in published copy.
6 · Funding
The desk is funded by reader subscriptions and by the affiliate route for the tournament's first-party app. The desk does not sell reader data. The desk does not include third-party advertising SDKs. The desk does not embed social tracking pixels.
The desk's funding, in plain language
How the desk pays for its coverage.
Reader subscriptions
The desk's reader subscription unlocks the long-form guide archive and the desk's editorial newsletter. The subscription does not unlock any of the desk's news or match coverage. The subscription is the desk's largest single source of revenue.
Affiliate route
The desk's affiliate route is the "PLAY NOW" button on every page. The button takes the reader to a first-party route for the tournament's first-party app. The desk is paid a flat fee for the click, not a percentage of any wager.
No third-party advertising
The desk does not run any third-party advertising. The desk does not include any third-party advertising SDKs. The desk does not embed any third-party social widgets. The desk's revenue is reader subscriptions plus the affiliate route.
No sponsored content
The desk does not run sponsored content from teams, tournament organisers, or any third party. The desk's affiliate route is the only commercial relationship the desk has with the tournament ecosystem, and it is labelled on every page.
The desk's writers
A short note on the people who write for the desk.
The desk's writers are competitive gaming journalists, former competitive players, and tactical analysts. The desk does not publish anonymous bylines. Every article is written by a named member of the desk's editorial team. The desk's writers are paid a flat salary and do not receive performance bonuses tied to clicks, signups, or any other commercial metric.
The desk's writers disclose any potential conflict of interest — a writer who previously played for a covered team, a writer who has a personal relationship with a covered player, a writer who has a financial interest in a covered tournament. The disclosure is published at the bottom of any article written by the disclosing writer.