Equal Esports Bootcamp 2025: Five days of training, empowerment, and the first Equal Esports Award
From November 16 to 20, 2025, the Telekom Forum in Bonn became a hub for empowerment, talent development, and professional esports training: The five-day Equal Esports Bootcamp brought together promising players from all over Europe to train intensively, work on their mental strength, and learn from each other. Together with Deutsche Telekom, the esports player foundation, and SK Gaming, a unique space was created that focused on performance, diversity, and cohesion.
Evi “Blossi” Sutter receives the first Equal Esports Award
A special highlight: On November 20, the Equal Esports Award was presented for the first time. This award honors players who shape esports not only through their athletic achievements, but also through their attitude, team spirit, and continuous development.
The first winner: Evi “Blossi” Sutter, Valorant pro and role model for many young talents. She was named “Most Consistent Player of the Year” for her exceptional game intelligence, composure under pressure, and consistently strong performance throughout the season.
In her acceptance speech, Blossis emphasized how much this recognition means to her: “I am thrilled to receive this award. It means a lot to me to see that not only performance, but also the journey behind it is being recognized. I hope that this will encourage even more young female and non-binary players to take their place in competitive esports.”
For the esports player foundation, Blossi's success is an example of the potential of continuous support. Alexander Frisch, sporting director of VALORANT promotion, describes her as a player with “exceptional consistency and game intelligence” – qualities that are rare at this level. Her development shows how much is possible when talent and professional support come together.
The award is also an important signal from a communication perspective, since it highlights how women and non-binary talents enrich esports both athletically and personally. The joint realization of the award shows how seriously all partners are pursuing the goal of sustainably strengthening diversity in esports.
Intensive program: training, workshops, and sports sessions
The boot camp offered a comprehensive, interdisciplinary training experience. The talents could look forward to:
- Gameplay coaching in Valorant and League of Legends
- Workshops on social media, performance, team communication, and personal development
- Mental health sessions led by sports psychologist Thorsten Loch
- Daily sports sessions to strengthen physical fitness as an integral part of professional esports
A particular highlight was the joint training session with Telekom Baskets Bonn. Topics such as focus, team dynamics, and communication were taught from the perspective of a professional basketball team – valuable inspiration for the esports talents. Additional insights from traditional sports were provided by guests such as Laura Donhauser (1. FC Koeln pro player) and Jonathan Bähre (Telekom Baskets Bonn pro player).
The workshops on mental strength made a particularly strong impression. The talents worked on resilience, healthy routines, and strategies for pressure situations – essential for everyday tournament life in competitive esports.
Insights for Telekom employees
At the same time, numerous Deutsche Telekom employees took part in insight days. They were able to experience training methods live, learn about coaching structures, and understand how professional esports is promoted within the Equal Esports Initiative. For many, this was their first authentic insight into an environment in which Telekom has been taking responsibility for years.
Antje Hundhausen, initiator of the Equal Esports Initiative and Vice President of Brand Experience at Telekom, sums up the special atmosphere:
“During these five days, the Telekom Forum became a place where you could feel change happening. Our talents didn't just train here – they surpassed themselves, gained courage, inspired each other, and showed what is possible when diversity is lived as a matter of course. That's exactly what Equal Esports stands for.”
A boot camp with a lasting impact
The Equal Esports Boot Camp 2025 has once again demonstrated the importance of holistic support in esports – and how empowerment, professionalism, and diversity together create an environment in which talent can flourish. The introduction of the Equal Esports Award, as a further milestone, sent a strong signal for inclusive, performance-oriented, and courageous esports.