Get the popcorn in as there’s some real thrills in store!

Belgian Grand Prix

Formula 1 fans! Start your engines as everyone’s favourite high-octane motorsport hits our screens once again after taking a summer break. The next round of this season’s F1 action takes us to Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium for what promises to be a thoroughly entertaining race.

Of course, there’s one question that’s on everyone’s minds heading into this race: can anyone stop Max Verstappen? The reigning champion will be hoping to make it 3 chequered flags on the bounce here and is looking absolutely unstoppable right now. The Dutchman has a commanding 80 point lead over Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in the Driver’s Championship standings as the second half of the season gets underway.

In fact, so vast is the chasm between Verstappen and his nearest rival that even if Leclerc won every race from now until the end of the season, Verstappen could still claim the title if he finished behind him in 2nd in each of the remaining rounds.

Add to that, the fact that a combination of questionable reliability and poor strategic calls by his team have cost Leclerc dearly in the title race in recent races, with the exception of his win in the Austrian Grand Prix, and it’s difficult to see the Monacan overhauling Verstappen in the race to claim the driver’s crown, despite arguably having the faster car.

One thing’s for certain, LeClerc and the rest of the Prancing Horse camp will need to make sure that mistakes become a thing of the past if they are to challenge for top honours as the season draws to a close.

Beyond the Ferrari-Red Bull rivalry, another source of potential intrigue is how well Mercedes can do in the second half of the season. Whilst it would be a stretch to say they’ll be in the running for the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships at the business end of the season, they have started to put a few more points on the board as of late with Lewis Hamilton finishing 2nd in France and Hungary.

Can he go one better this time? Only time will tell.

ESL Pro League Season 16

It’s on like Donkey Kong in the world of CS:GO on August 31st as the latest ESL Pro League gets underway. With 24 esports big guns vying to claim a slice of the $835,000 prize pie over more than a month's worth of epic match-ups, this is one tournament that is bound to have us glued to our screens from the get-go.

One thing you can bet your bottom dollar on here is reigning champions FaZe Clan putting up one hell of a fight to ensure that they emerge victorious once again. Given their impressive form, which has seen them build on last year’s triumph at this event by taking home the bacon at PGL Major Antwerp 2022 and Intel Extreme Masters XVII - Cologne, it’s no surprise that they’re among the favourites heading into this tournament.

What’s more, the fact that they’ve beaten who are arguably their main threat NAVI in not one, but two major grand finals this year, will no doubt make FaZe Clan feel even more confident that they can secure victory here. However, much like their rivals, NAVI also know what it takes to win and will be eager to get revenge in spectacular style here (should they end up facing FaZe Clan in the latter stages of this tournament that is). 

As for the “best of the rest”, one team that could be worth keeping an eye on is Movistar Riders, after they followed up taking home the grand prize at ESL Challenger at DreamHack Valencia 2022 with a strong showing at IEM Cologne where they got to the semis, only to come unstuck against eventual winners, FaZe Clan.

No matter what happens, we’re going to be in for a whole world of fun here. So, make sure you don’t miss out!