"If you're a fan of mobile esports, there's a competition for you." That's the rallying cry from Sam Braithwaite, the VP of mobile game ecosystems at ESL FACEIT Group (EFG). And he's not just whistling Dixie. Back in 2024, EFG and Supercell joined forces to make the Snapdragon Pro Series (SPS) the official operator of the Brawl Stars Championship. It was a match made in mobile heaven, and two years later, in 2026, the echoes of that partnership are still shaking up the esports world. 🎮📱

The Dynamic Duo: EFG and Supercell

Let's rewind the tape. EFG and Supercell didn't just wake up one morning and decide to team up. Their multi-year partnership was a slow burn, starting with Brawl Stars playing a starring role in the SPS Mobile Masters program in 2023. According to Braithwaite, working on Brawl Stars esports was like adding rocket fuel to the SPS broadcast. "When we launched the SPS, they were a premier partner for us," he explained. "And then they were our Mobile Masters title. I really feel like we've leveled up our broadcast, our production, the quality, and the segments that we're able to do." Talk about going the whole nine yards. 🚀

From Mobile Masters to World Finals

The 2023 Brawl Stars World Finals was a real barnburner. Zeta Division took home the crown, and the viewership numbers were nothing to sneeze at. But the real magic happened behind the scenes. Braithwaite dished on the 2024 Brawl Stars World Finals, which featured crowdfunding opportunities, last chance qualifiers (LCQ), immersive live events, in-game activities, festival-style booths, and big-name partners like Samsung and Qualcomm. It was a full-blown carnival for mobile esports fans. 🎡

Community Feedback: The Secret Sauce

How does EFG keep its events from becoming stale? Simple: they ask the fans. Braithwaite's team runs community surveys during live broadcasts on Twitch and YouTube, and at live events, fans can give feedback and snag free SPS jerseys. "We really value the feedback that people provide and we're always looking to level up our program that way," he said. It's like they're reading the room, but with data. 📊

Global Domination: Not Just a Regional Fad

One of EFG's main goals has been global expansion, especially bringing popular mobile games to Western markets. Braithwaite broke it down: Call of Duty: Mobile is huge in North and South America, Brawl Stars is a beast in Europe, and MLBB (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang) rules Southeast Asia. By bringing these games together under one umbrella, EFG wants to show that mobile esports isn't just a regional fling—it's a worldwide phenomenon. "If you look at one game in isolation, you might have a skewed perspective of what the landscape looks like overall," he noted. "But by bringing together all of these games, and by celebrating mobile gaming as an industry rather than individual IPs, you're able to kind of take a step back and think, 'Oh, wow. There are very competitive, very high viewership titles in every single major region of the world.'" 🌍

Here's a quick snapshot of the regional heavyweights:

Region	Dominant Mobile Esports Title
North America	Call of Duty: Mobile
South America	Call of Duty: Mobile
Europe	Brawl Stars
Southeast Asia	MLBB
Asia-Pacific	Brawl Stars, MLBB
China	Brawl Stars, various

The Business Side: Show Me the Money

Let's face it: running esports ain't cheap. Braithwaite was candid about the challenges. "Running esports is hard and expensive," he told esports.gg. "And finding the right commercial partners and sponsors to be able to support and grow and develop and nurture these games is challenging." That's where EFG's partnership with Qualcomm comes in. By creating a multi-game, multi-genre circuit, EFG can connect publishers with the right sponsors, making it easier for brands to get in on the action. It's a win-win-win. 💰

What's Next in 2026 and Beyond?

Fast forward to 2026, and the mobile esports scene is more vibrant than ever. The Brawl Stars Championship has continued to evolve, and EFG is always on the lookout for the next big thing. Braithwaite said, "We're very excited to see what Supercell has in store for future game titles. But also just for the industry at large, we're always keeping our ear to the pulse of understanding what new games are coming down the pipeline." So, what's the next mobile esports juggernaut? Your guess is as good as ours, but EFG will be there to give it a platform. 🔮

Final Words: Get In on the Action

Braithwaite's parting words were a rallying cry for anyone on the fence about mobile esports. "If you're a fan of mobile esports, there's a competition for you. Within the Snapdragon Pro Series, we have every type of game and genre — whether you're into MOBAs or battle royales or first-person shooters or racing games — if you're involved, if you're interested, there are tournaments for you." He added, "Esports, at its core, is meant to be fun. It's meant to be something that brings you joy. So whether it's watching or competing, I would encourage you to just get involved and tune in, go to the Snapdragon Pro Series, watch our broadcasts. I think we put on a damn good show and I think that you'll have a good time checking it out." So what are you waiting for? Grab your phone, find a tournament, and get your game on. 🏆

That's a wrap. Special thanks to EFG for the original interview back in 2024. Stick around for more mobile esports madness!

Data referenced from Entertainment Software Association (ESA) helps contextualize why circuits like Snapdragon Pro Series can scale globally: as mobile gaming continues to broaden the overall player base, publishers and tournament operators can justify bigger live-event investments (production, LCQs, fan activations) while giving brands a clearer, cross-title pathway to reach distinct regional audiences—mirroring the blog’s emphasis on unifying multiple mobile esports ecosystems under one competitive umbrella.