ENC – Esports Nations Cup Awards Official Australian Partner to Events Engine, Coaches Announced
Announcement posted by Events Engine 30 Apr 2026
Announcing the Esports Nations Cup National Partner, Team Manager, and Team Coaches for Australia - to compete in global event this November.
The Esports Foundation (EF) recently awarded National Team Partner status to organizations and individuals across more than 100 nations and territories for the Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC).
As part of the global nation-based esports competition the ENC will work with local stakeholders closest to the sport to strengthen connections and support long-term national development. In this process, Events Engine has been selected as National Team Partner for Australia.
Alongside the selection of Events Engine, the National Team Manager for Australia role has been announced, as Events Engine co director, Hayden Shiels. Working together as National Partner and National Manager, the players and coaches who will make up the Australian squad will be the best available to represent Australia and show the world our gaming skills.
Watch: Hayden's Team Manager Announcement
"As a team with deep engagement to esports events and communities, we are pleased to be providing Australian players with the opportunity to compete on the global stage" said Daniel Chlebowczyk, Managing Director at Events Engine. "Our proven track record in providing actively engaging esports events, with a team who care deeply about Australian esports, built on our own professional player, coach, and event organiser backgrounds, we are confident in our ability to best represent Aussie players. Thanks to player requests and endorsements we take on this responsibility for the community."
ENC has announced that National Team Partners will lead team formation, mobilize local communities and establish the structures needed to enable participation and the growth of esports.
"The Esports Nations Cup is built on a simple idea: players should have a trusted pathway to represent their country, and fans should have a national team they can truly rally behind" said Hans Jagnow, Director, National Team Relations, The Esports Foundation. "From the start, our focus has been on the quality of the partnerships and structures behind that journey, matched with the scale to make a global event. The response from our partners around the world gives us real confidence that ENC is not just a new competition, but an innovative new model for national esports - the beginning of a new chapter in esports"
Recognizing that esports has developed differently in many nations, the ENC adopts a partnership-led approach rather than relying on a single model, marking a first in global sport and esports alike. By working with recognized local stakeholders, whether institutions, Clubs, or community-led organizations, this model is designed to unlock the full creative and competitive potential of each nation.
Australia's National Coaches
The team is proud to announce the lineup of fantastic coaches, each with their own incredible skills and history in Australian and international esports. In many cases, the Australian coaches are successfully working with teams on the global stage, and will be coming home to help drive the national squad to victory.
PUBG : Xtreme2 aka Russell Walters
Russell "Xtreme" Walters is an Australian Coach who is currently working for Team Liquid.
League Of Legends: Spawn aka Jake Tiberi Jake "Spawn" Tiberi is an Australian Coach, Caster and Manager who is currently working for Team Liquid as a Coach. He is the former leader commentator for the Oceanic Pro League.
Valorant: Chris Tebbit aka Elmapuddy
Chris "Elmapuddy" Tebbit is an Australian Coach who last worked for Fnatic as a Coach. He is a former Counter-Strike: Global Offensive coach known for his time on ORDER, Cloud9 and Gen.G Esports.
Rainbow 6: Nathaniel Williams aka Naate
Nathaniel "naate" Williams (born July 6, 2001) is an Australian Rainbow Six Siege player who is currently playing as a Support for Chiefs Esports Club.
Rocket League: Lachlan Parker aka LBP
Lachlan "LBP" Parker is an Australian Rocket League coach and sport and exercise scientist.
Dota2: Kim Yeob aka QO
Kim "QO" Yeob (born September 22, 1993) is an inactive Korean/Australian Analyst and Coach who last worked for top global team organisation, T1.
PUBG Mobile: Daniel Shou aka Kronicx
Daniel ""Kronicx"" Shou is a talented Australian FPS player, best known for achieving qualification out of Australia and living and playing in professional leagues in Paladins in the USA, now coaching a new generation.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Kaylio
Experienced across Australia and South East Asia in developing esports squads in the highly competitive mobile gaming space, Kalio takes pride in driving positive team spirit
Honor Of Kings: Matt Smith aka Sharks
Matt "Sharks" Smith is an Australian Coach who last worked for Valhalla Valkyries.
Upcoming ENC Dates and Information
The ENC will launch in Riyadh in November 2026 before moving to a rotating city model. The biennial ENC aims to provide a stable structure for players and long-term investment in national team programs.
Additional information about the Esports Nations Cup will be released in the coming weeks. To stay up to date, visit esportsnationscup.com, and follow ENC on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and follow the Esports World Cup Foundation on LinkedIn.
About Events Engine
Events Engine is the essential cog in your gaming, esports and pop culture strategy. A leading agency in gaming and esports, offering PR, marketing, influencer campaigns, event management, and equipment hire services. The Australian based team have lived the gaming life from childhood, becoming professional esports players, coaches, broadcasters and community leaders.
Our mission is to showcase how gaming can make a meaningful difference to people, telling stories that go beyond just specs and features. From decades of experience as gamers and organisers, authentic and engaging experiences is what we do.
www.eventsengine.com.au