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HERO ESPORTS Asian Champions League Launches with Nine Titles, With Multiple Titles Offering Direct Entry to the Esports World Cup

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SHANGHAI, March 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The HERO ESPORTS Asian Champions League (ACL), Asia’s premier multi-title esports tournament, hosted by leading esports company Hero Esports, officially launched on Wednesday in Shanghai, unveiling all nine game titles for its inaugural edition this year. Winners of multiple tournament titles will officially qualify for the upcoming Esports World Cup (EWC) to be held in Riyadh this summer.

 

The full lineup of ACL includes:

Counter-Strike 2 (CS2)Dota 2Honor of KingsStreet Fighter 6The Legend Cup of League of LegendsTeamfight TacticsVALORANT Champions TourDelta ForceCrossfire

This diverse lineup features some of the world’s most popular games, covering four major genres: MOBA, FPS, strategy, and fighting. This broad selection guarantees an engaging viewing experience for esports fans of all gaming preferences.

Multiple titles featured by the ACL will grant direct entry to the EWC, the world’s largest esports festival. Securing direct entry into the EWC is a major incentive for all teams competing in the ACL.

The EWC is hosted by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the esports and gaming industry. As a premier annual sporting event, the EWC features a unique cross-game format that pits the world’s top esports clubs against one another for the largest prize pool in esports history. The inaugural EWC in 2024 featured 1,500 elite players and 200 clubs from 100 countries. They competed in 22 tournaments across 21 games for a $60 million prize pool. The eight-week competition and festival drew 500 million views online and saw 2.6 million people attend. Returning to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the summer of 2025, the EWC will bring gaming and esports communities together again to crown the next Esports World Cup Club Champion.

The ACL Grand Finals will be held from May 16 to May 18 across multiple venues in Shanghai, with a daily attendance expected to exceed 10,000 spectators. Additionally, the offline ACL Grand Finals will collaborate with the globally renowned gaming festival DreamHack, uniting top esports players, cutting-edge gaming technology, exclusive merchandise, and thousands of passionate fans. This partnership promises an unforgettable esports spectacle for enthusiasts across Asia.

With a total prize pool of up to $2 million and thousands of participants, the ACL not only bridges the gap for multi-title international esports events in Asia but also delivers a thrilling gaming spectacle for local audiences.

Competition of the ACL Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) Tournament has already kicked off across 32 Asian cities. More than 1,000 teams from across the region have signed up, making it one of the largest CS2 tournaments in the world.

Jonny Wang, CEO of the Asian Champions League, stated, “With these nine game titles, we are confident that we’ll create a comprehensive esports event that satisfies the vast majority of esports fans. It is our aspiration that the ACL will set a new standard for excellence in Asian esports.”

Danny Tang, Co-Founder and CEO of Hero Esports, said: “Hero Esports created the HERO ESPORTS Asian Champions League to bridge the gap between international tournaments and regional leagues, providing a clearer pathway for talented teams to compete on the global stage. The ACL’s continued collaboration with the Esports World Cup is an example of this vision becoming a reality, and it also represents Hero Esports’ commitment to shaping and empowering esports globally.”

About Hero Esports

Founded in 2016, Hero Esports is the biggest esports company in Asia, producing more than 7,000 matches every year that captivate an online fan base of over 800 million. With a global presence encompassing 12 office locations and eight top-tier esports arenas, Hero Esports offers a comprehensive suite of esports services, including tournament organization, marketing solutions, community development, and more. As a private company, Hero Esports counts Savvy Games Group and Tencent, among others, as investors, with Kuaishou and Huya as strategic partners.

Headquartered in Shanghai and employing more than 1,100 employees, Hero Esports is a fully integrated operator of esports tournaments and creator of esports content with global reach. The company has helped produce many prestigious tournaments including the Olympic Esports Week, the Esports World Cup as well as the esports series featured at both the Jakarta Asian Games 2018 and the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023. Hero Esports also worked with the world’s top-tier game publishers such as Tencent and Krafton in organizing popular esports leagues such as the Honor of Kings’ King Pro League (KPL) series and PUBG’s Global Championship (PGC) series, among many others. In 2024, Hero Esports launched Esports Asian Champions League (ACL), Asia’s premier international, multi-title esports tournament. Hero Esports is a member of the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC).

ACL website: https://esportsacl.com/home

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SOURCE Hero Esports

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Tradier Brokerage Data Breach Investigation: Edelson Lechtzin LLP Probes Class Action Claims After a Vendor Attack Exposes Social Security Numbers

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National class action law firm offers free, confidential case evaluations to Tradier Brokerage customers and others whose personal information may have been exposed.

NEWTOWN, Pa., Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a national class action law firm, is investigating data privacy claims arising from a data breach affecting Tradier Brokerage Inc., a Charlotte, North Carolina-based online broker-dealer. Anyone who received a breach notice or believes their information may have been exposed can request a free case evaluation.

What Happened

On August 28, 2026, a cyberattack targeted Etna Software Corporation, a third-party vendor that provides the order management system and pre-trade controls Tradier uses to operate its brokerage business. Tradier became aware of the incident on September 3, 2026. Tradier has said that its own internal network was not compromised and remained secure throughout the incident, and that the breach was limited to systems and data held by Etna.

Tradier began notifying affected customers by email and disclosed the incident to the California Attorney General. According to regulatory filings, the incident has affected 9,404 Texas residents and 1,580 Massachusetts residents so far. Tradier has said it is reviewing its third-party relationships and its data minimization program.

What Information Was Exposed

According to Tradier Brokerage, the personal information that may have been accessed includes:

Full namesAddressesPhone numbersSocial Security numbersGovernment-issued tax identification numbers

Because Social Security numbers and tax identification numbers are among the most sensitive categories of personal information, the exposure creates a heightened risk of identity theft and financial fraud for affected individuals.

Who May Be Affected

The investigation focuses on Tradier Brokerage customers whose personal information was held in the Etna systems used to operate Tradier’s brokerage business. Tradier has arranged with Cyberscout, a TransUnion company, to provide affected individuals up to two years of complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection; eligible individuals must enroll within 90 days of receiving their notification letter.

Your Legal Options

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a potential class action on behalf of individuals whose data may have been compromised. A successful case could recover compensation for losses such as lost time, out-of-pocket costs, and loss of privacy, and could press Tradier Brokerage to strengthen its data protection. The firm evaluates claims at no cost.

Recommended Steps to Protect Yourself

Watch for the notice from Tradier Brokerage and keep the enclosed code for the free credit monitoring being offered, enrolling within 90 days.

Place a free fraud alert or credit freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, and obtain your free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com.Review your account statements for anything you do not recognize, and report suspected identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov.

Contact Us for a Free Case Evaluation

Speak confidentially with a data privacy attorney: Marc Edelson, Esq., Edelson Lechtzin LLP, 411 S. State Street, Suite N-300, Newtown, PA 18940; Phone: 844-696-7492; Email: medelson@edelson-law.com; or click HERE to request a free consultation.

About Edelson Lechtzin LLP

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. Beyond data breach litigation, the firm handles class and collective actions involving securities and investment fraud, antitrust violations, ERISA benefit plans, wage theft, and consumer fraud.

Media and Partnership Inquiries: Use the contact information above regarding interviews, co-counsel opportunities, and referral partnerships.

Legal Notice: This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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SOURCE Edelson Lechtzin LLP

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Glance Releases Practical Guide for AI-to-Human Customer Service

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New guide shows CX leaders how to close the AI-to-human handoff gap, as 76% of consumers say they get frustrated by repeating themselves when switching channels

WAKEFIELD, Mass., Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Glance, the leader in enterprise cobrowse and guided customer experience, today released The Human Edge in AI Customer Service, a new guide making the human-in-the-loop case for visual engagement in an AI-first support stack. The guide gives leaders in customer experience, customer support and digital product a practical framework for deciding where AI should handle the work, where human experts should step in, and how to connect the two without forcing customers to start over.

Industry leaders expect AI to touch virtually every customer interaction. Yet the moment a customer needs a person remains one of the weakest points in the journey. According to the Glance 2026 Customer Experience Trends Report, 44% of consumers say they almost always have to repeat themselves when switching channels, while only 7% say they rarely or never do. Survey respondents described being stuck in an “endless loop” with AI when they needed a human.

“AI is now the front door to customer service, and that’s a good thing for the normal routine things that we consumers need done,” said Adam Atwood, CMO at Glance. “But the interactions that matter most—a mortgage application stalled on one confusing question, applying for a small business loan, or Medicare enrollment—still need a human expert. The question isn’t AI or people. It’s whether the handoff between them preserves context that helps the customer achieve their goal. This guide shows CX leaders how to design for continuity instead of escalation.”

The guide covers:

Why AI elevates the human role rather than replacing it. As automation absorbs routine requests, the conversations reaching live agents grow more complex, making expert judgment more valuable.The broken handoff problem. A side-by-side look at weak versus strong AI handoffs, and why transferring context matters more than transferring the conversation.Measuring resolution, not deflection. Outcome-based questions CX leaders are using to evaluate AI: first-contact resolution, customer effort, and whether the AI-to-human transition felt seamless.

The guide also features customer snapshots from medium to large enterprises in Financial Services, SaaS and Healthcare.

Availability

The Human Edge in AI Customer Service is available now as a free download.

About Glance

Glance helps enterprises earn, keep, and grow customers at high-touch moments through instant cobrowse and screen share collaboration sessions in mobile apps, portals, and websites.

The world’s most recognizable brands trust Glance as the critical visual layer for customer interactions, ultimately building loyalty, increasing revenue, and boosting customer lifetime value.

Learn more at www.glance.cx.

Media Contact

Adam Atwood
CMO, Glance Networks

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SOURCE Glance Networks, Inc

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SMTC Recognized with Frost & Sullivan’s 2026 North America Company of the Year Recognition for Mid-tier Electronic Manufacturing Services

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SMTC is redefining the value of a mid-sized EMS partner by combining responsive customer engagement, Tier 1 capabilities, and a resilient North American operating network.

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As original equipment manufacturers (OEM) place greater emphasis on supply chain resilience, regionalized production, and faster response to changing market conditions, the role of electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers is evolving. Frost & Sullivan recognizes SMTC with the 2026 North America Company of the Year Recognition in the Mid-tier Electronic Manufacturing Services industry for its strong performance across strategy effectiveness and strategy execution. SMTC’s ability to work directly with customer decision-makers from the outset enables faster action, collaborative problem-solving, and closer alignment throughout engagements. This customer-centric approach, combined with a strategically positioned North American operating network and broad end-to-end manufacturing capabilities, strengthens the company’s ability to respond to complex customer requirements while supporting speed, flexibility, and supply chain continuity.

“SMTC differentiates itself from competitors by combining the flexibility and responsiveness of a smaller EMS company with many of the capabilities typically associated with a larger Tier 1 company. A key part of this advantage comes from its ability to work directly with customer decision-makers from the outset, which supports faster action, more collaborative problem-solving, and closer alignment throughout the engagement,” said Sujan Sami, Senior Research Director, Frost & Sullivan.

SMTC’s strategy is built around providing customers with comprehensive manufacturing support while maintaining the agility needed to respond to changing market conditions. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company provides a abroad manufacturing footprint across North America and supports customers in aerospace/defense/security, medical and life sciences, advanced computing, robotics, and power and smart infrastructure. Its end-to-end capabilities encompass new product introduction (NPI), printed circuit board assembly, systems integration, testing, supply chain management, and other higher-value manufacturing services.

Innovation and operational flexibility remain central to SMTC’s approach. The company supports customers through complex production requirements, including factory transfers, operational transitions, and tariff-related supply chain decisions. Its ability to combine high-touch customer engagement with manufacturing depth allows customers to access the personalized support of a mid-sized provider without sacrificing the capabilities required for complex programs.

“We are honored to receive this award for the third year in a row. Our team members work tirelessly to exceed our customer’s expectations with excellence every minute of every day. It is through teamwork and collaboration, built on our purpose to enhance people’s lives and our world every day, that drives us to deliver in partnership with our customer needs”, said Mike Buseman, CEO at SMTC.

SMTC’s North American operating network further strengthens its competitive position. The company’s footprint includes manufacturing facilities, procurement and logistics centers, return merchandise authorization (RMA), refurbish and repair centers, design and engineering centers, wire cable and harnesses, and a metal fabrication center across key regions. This integrated model helps reduce handoffs, support smoother production transfers, and create greater continuity from product introduction through fulfillment and repair. SMTC can also shift production between sites, adjust capacity as demand changes, and help customers move manufacturing closer to key end markets.

Beyond manufacturing execution, SMTC creates customer value through value engineering, supply chain expertise, and disciplined production processes. Its capabilities are designed to reduce lead times and material costs, improve assembly efficiency, strengthen test coverage, and minimize scrap, rework, and field failures. Structured NPI processes, project simulations, stage gates, and Customer Focus Teams provide customers with greater visibility and support throughout the transition from concept to production.

The company’s approach also contributes to strong customer relationships. SMTC emphasizes transparent communication, responsiveness, and partnership throughout the manufacturing lifecycle, with many customer relationships extending for more than 20  years. This longevity demonstrates the value customers place on SMTC’s ability to provide dependable support, address challenges with urgency, and adapt alongside evolving production requirements.

Frost & Sullivan commends SMTC for establishing a differentiated position within the mid-tier electronic manufacturing services industry. By combining customer intimacy and responsiveness with Tier 1 capabilities, a resilient North American footprint, and comprehensive manufacturing expertise, the company is well positioned to help OEMs navigate increasingly complex supply chain and production environments.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents the Company of the Year Award to a company that demonstrates outstanding strategy development and implementation, resulting in measurable improvements in market share, customer satisfaction, and competitive positioning. The award recognizes forward-thinking organizations that are reshaping their industries through innovation and growth excellence.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Recognition

Frost & Sullivan’s Best Practices Recognitions honor companies across regional and global markets that exhibit exceptional achievement and consistent excellence in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer experience, and strategic product development. Each recognition is the result of a rigorous analytical process in which Frost & Sullivan industry experts benchmark performance through comprehensive interviews, deep-dive analysis, and extensive secondary research. The goal is to identify true best-in-class organizations that are driving transformative growth and setting new industry standards.
Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:
Ashley Shreve
E: ashley.weinkauf@frost.com

About SMTC

SMTC Corporation was founded in 1985. SMTC is a mid-size provider of end-to-end electronics manufacturing services (EMS) including PCBA production, systems integration and comprehensive testing services, enclosure fabrication, as well as product design, sustaining engineering and supply chain management services. SMTC has facilities and offices in the United States, Mexico, Asia and Canada. Services extend over the entire electronic product life cycle from the development and introduction of new products through to the growth, maturity and end-of-life phases.

Contact: Scott Smith
E. Scott.Smith@smtc.com

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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

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