NODWIN Gaming and Runestone Partner to Strengthen Tournament Integrity and Data-Driven Engagement Across Global Esports Competitions

NODWIN Gaming, a leader in South Asia’s esports and gaming ecosystem, has announced a strategic partnership with Runestone, a Prague-headquartered esports technology company that provides real-time data and engagement solutions for tournament organizers and publishers.

As esports competitions grow in scale and reach, tournament organizers are increasingly adopting tools that support fair competition while making broadcasts more engaging for audiences. Real-time data and integrity monitoring have become essential components of modern esports operations.

Tier 2 tournaments have also become an important part of the competitive ecosystem, giving emerging teams consistent opportunities to compete while strengthening the overall talent pipeline across major titles. Through properties such as the NODWIN Clutch Series, NODWIN Gaming has been building structured competitive platforms for teams operating just below the top tier of global Counter-Strike competition.

The latest edition of the series recently concluded with BIG claiming victory in NODWIN Clutch Series 5 after defeating ECSTATIC 2–1 in the $50,000 online tournament’s grand final, further reinforcing the tournament’s position as a competitive proving ground within the global Tier 2 Counter-Strike 2 circuit.

The partnership will also introduce new operational and engagement capabilities across NODWIN Gaming’s IPs, giving tournament organizers better oversight of competitions while enabling more interactive viewing experiences for audiences.

Looking ahead, both companies are exploring opportunities to expand the collaboration across additional esports titles, including mobile-first competitive ecosystems. The partnership also opens the door to developing new products and engagement tools for publishers, tournament operators and event promoters as esports continues to expand into new markets and regions.

Speaking on the partnership Teemu Koski, Chief Business Officer at NODWIN Gaming MENA and Global Head of Data Monetization, said, “We’re excited to partner with Runestone as we continue expanding our competitive gaming portfolio across high-growth regions and titles. Integrity and transparency are fundamental to sustainable esports ecosystems, especially in Tier 2 competition where the next generation of talent emerges. Runestone’s expertise in real-time data and integrity infrastructure complements our experience in building scalable esports IPs and competitive ecosystems. Together, we’re able to strengthen tournament operations while unlocking richer engagement experiences for fans. Starting with the NODWIN Clutch Series for CS2, we see strong potential to expand this collaboration across new IPs, new regions, and new competitive formats.”

Michael Schwartz, Head of Partnerships at Runestone, said, “NODWIN Gaming has built one of the most dynamic esports ecosystems across emerging markets, and we’re thrilled to collaborate with a partner that shares our focus on building sustainable competitive ecosystems. By combining NODWIN’s experience in operating global esports IPs with Runestone’s integrity and engagement infrastructure, we can support tournaments with greater transparency, deeper fan interaction, and scalable operational tools. Supporting the NODWIN Clutch Series is an exciting starting point, and we’re looking forward to expanding into new titles, formats, and regions together.”

The partnership reflects a broader industry shift toward technology-enabled tournament ecosystems that combine competitive integrity, real-time data, and fan engagement to create more sustainable esports business models.

About Runestone

Runestone is a data and engagement infrastructure that transforms live esports into interactive, data-driven experiences. Using real-time in-game information sourced directly from tournament organizers and publishers, Runestone delivers fast, accurate overlays and analytics that elevate broadcasts, deepen fan engagement, and unlock meaningful operational insights. Committed to transparency and competitive integrity, Runestone also monitors matches for suspicious activity to protect fair play and strengthen trust across the esports ecosystem.

About NODWIN Gaming

NODWIN Gaming, a leader in new-age youth entertainment, gaming, and esports, holds a significant position in the global gaming and esports industry in emerging markets. Since its inception in 2014 by Akshat Rathee and Gautam Virk, NODWIN has established a global presence in regions such as Taiwan, South Asia, Singapore, the Middle East, Central Asia. The company’s business centres around building and monetising global youth access through pop culture, gaming, esports, live events and content through IPs such as Leagues, Tournaments, Reality shows. It engages with Artists, Content creators, professional esports athletes, teams.

Notable investors include Founders investment vehicle Good Game Investments, Nazara Technologies (BSE: NAZARA), KRAFTON Inc, Sony Group Corporation and JetSynthesys.

A key focus for NODWIN Gaming is the expertise in the global south and the timeshare of mindshare of the global youth on mobiles. NODWIN has established a dominant position worldwide in this space. By catering to the youth demographic, NODWIN is expanding its Total Addressable Market (TAM) by becoming increasingly relevant in the rapidly evolving digital entertainment landscape. Their diverse range of intellectual properties that engages the youth spans esports, gaming, pop culture, music, and comedy. This strategic expansion and cultivation of new intellectual properties are crucial to NODWIN’s aim of maintaining a significant role in the global youth media, gaming and esports Arenas.