Viktor Vladov Unanimously Elected CyberEuroleague President – Trailblazer On and Off the Court

article credits to scripd, basketnews

written by Jannick Hüttenberger, images provided by Nico Klauser

Sasha Vezenkov, former Euroleague MVP and Olympiacos superstar, has joined "the show" multiple times

Viktor Vladov Cyber Euroleague President – A New Era of Esports Leadership

Viktor Vladov – a former professional basketball player turned esports innovator – has been unanimously elected as the President of the Cyber Euroleague, the premier online NBA 2K league in Europe. In a remarkable 100% vote of confidence by all league members and participants, Vladov now leads the virtual league that mirrors the real EuroLeague with elite teams and gamers. This milestone caps a career in which Vladov has excelled both on the hardwood and in digital arenas, making him uniquely suited to bridge traditional sports with esports. The appointment not only recognizes his visionary contributions to basketball gaming, but also cements his status as a respected leader in the community. In this article, we delve into Vladov’s diverse achievements – from his international playing days and club management to pioneering virtual basketball projects – and how they paved the way for his new role as Cyber Euroleague President.

From Pro Courts to Global Tours: Vladov’s Basketball Journey

Viktor Vladov’s story began in Sofia, Bulgaria (born 1991), but his basketball career took him across Europe and beyond. Standing at 2.03 m (6’8”) as a power forward/center, Vladov spent much of his playing career in Germany’s 2. Bundesliga (the second-tier professional league). There, he featured for several clubs and became known for his high basketball IQ and gritty style. His career highlights include helping BG Leitershofen/Stadtbergen reach the German second-division playoffs and earning a spot on the Kirchheim Knights roster in ProA (Germany’s second division). During his youth, Vladov even played for the junior teams of Telekom Baskets Bonn, one of Germany’s top clubs basketnews.com – an early sign of his talent.

What truly sets Vladov apart is the breadth of his experience. He had a stint with the Washington Generals – the touring team that faces the Harlem Globetrotters – which saw him playing exhibition games. This unique chapter gave him a taste of globetrotting basketball entertainment. Vladov also spent time in Croatian managed team KK Komušina, and competed in other European leagues, reflecting a journeyman career that exposed him to varied levels of competition.

Despite not reaching the NBA or Euroleague levels, Vladov was regarded as one of the notable Bulgarian players abroad, blending European fundamentals with international flair. His playing style was not about flashy dunks but doing the “dirty work” – setting brick-wall screens, fighting for rebounds, and making the hustle plays that don’t always show up on stat sheets cybereuroleague.com. As he entered his 30s, he began contemplating the “final steps” of his on-court career, looking to leverage his rich experience in new ways cybereuroleague.com.

Reviving a Historic Club: Lokomotiv Plovdiv Reborn

In 2022, 2.5 years after he came back to Bulgaria and after 20 years spent in Germany, he was on a mission beyond just playing – setting out to resurrect the men’s basketball team of BC Lokomotiv Plovdiv, a club that had been defunct for nearly 60 years. Lokomotiv Plovdiv, a storied sports club, had not fielded a men’s basketball team in the national league since 1964. With tremendous passion, Vladov became the “playing president” of the new Lokomotiv Plovdiv basketball club, essentially acting as both an on-court leader and the club’s president plovdiv24.bg.

Starting almost from scratch – reportedly on a shoestring budget (as low as €3,500 for the season) – Vladov gathered young local talents and a few experienced players to form a team that would compete in Bulgaria’s second division (BBL “A” Group, South region) in the 2022-23 season plovdiv24.bg plovdiv24.bg. “Our project is created to give a chance to young talents… we hope in 2-3 years to become one of the leading teams in Bulgarian basketball. The main goal of Lokomotiv is to return to the elite of Bulgaria for the first time since 1964,” Vladov stated in an interview plovdiv24.bg. This bold vision underscored his commitment to restoring the club’s former glory despite the limited resources.

Not only did Vladov talk about ambitious goals – he delivered. Under his guidance, Lokomotiv Plovdiv quickly proved competitive in the second tier. The club’s fan community lauded Vladov’s efforts, crediting him as the driving force behind the revival. In an official statement by Lokomotiv’s fan club, they announced the rebirth of the team “after nearly 60 years of absence,” explicitly “thanks to Viktor Vladov”, whom they called “the locomotive that will pull the club forward” plovdiv24.bg. Vladov’s lifelong support of Lokomotiv (he admitted he had been a Lokomotiv fan since childhood plovdiv24.bg) helped him rally the club’s passionate supporters around the project.

While the journey was not without challenges – including internal management changes that saw Vladov step away from the presidency later in 2022 – the foundation he laid was strong. In fact, within a few short years, Lokomotiv Plovdiv achieved what he set out to do: by 2025 the team earned promotion to the National Basketball League (NBL), marking its debut in Bulgaria’s top-tier league balkan-basket.com. It was the first time in decades that a Lokomotiv Plovdiv squad competed among the nation’s elite, a testament to the base Vladov built. The revival of Lokomotiv is a shining example of Vladov’s determination, leadership, and ability to turn a dream into reality – even with minimal funding and against the odds.

Pioneering Virtual Basketball and Esports Innovations

Beyond his contributions on traditional courts, Viktor Vladov has been a true pioneer in virtual basketball and esports, leveraging his dual expertise in sports and gaming. His transition from player to innovator began during the late 2010s and especially took off amid the COVID-19 pandemic, when interest in competitive gaming surged. Vladov recognized an opportunity to bring the world of professional basketball into the digital realm, and he led or contributed to several groundbreaking projects:

• EuroLeague in NBA 2K – Bringing Europe’s Elite to PlayStation: Perhaps Vladov’s most famous initiative is establishing a fan-made EuroLeague on NBA 2K. Frustrated that top European clubs were not represented in the NBA 2K video game, Vladov took matters into his own hands. He created all 18 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague teams in NBA 2K (initially on NBA 2K22 and later updated for 2K23), designing the players with meticulous detail – from attributes and tendencies to their appearances and accessories basketnews.com, scribd.com. He even utilized official EuroLeague advanced stats and his insider knowledge to fine-tune player ratings (for example, replicating each player’s shooting hot/cold zones, signature moves, tattoos, and more) scribd.com. The result was a remarkably realistic roster pack that allowed gamers with a PlayStation 5 to download and play as EuroLeague teams. “The EuroLeague on NBA 2K was established by Viktor Vladov,” noted BasketNews, highlighting that Vladov had prior official projects with 2K in Europe and therefore had the know-how to make the rosters authentic scribd.com. He provided two ways to experience it: users could download individual team rosters for quick games, or download a full “2K Share Scenario” that included all teams, coaches, and a league setup for a complete EuroLeague season simulation scribd.com. The gameplay itself was adjusted via custom sliders to mimic the physical, tactical style of European basketball scribd.com. This labor of love effectively made the EuroLeague playable for fans around the world and was widely praised in the community. It also spawned an online league where players across Europe compete as EuroLeague teams for prizes scribd.com. Even real EuroLeague stars like Sasha Vezenkov (Olympiacos forward) and Jaleen Smith (ALBA Berlin guard) joined the action in these virtual leagues, adding legitimacy to the project scribd.com. Vladov’s EuroLeague mod initiative, started in 2021, has continued each year, expanding to include some EuroCup teams as well (he added 11 EuroCup teams and even a Bulgarian club as special partners) basketnews.com, basketnews.com. It’s no exaggeration to say he single-handedly filled a void for European basketball fans in NBA 2K. With Viktor Vladov as Cyber Euroleague President this can only grow even bigger.

• Digital All-Star Day in Germany: Vladov also made waves in official esports events. In 2020 and 2021, the German Basketball Bundesliga (easyCredit BBL) tapped him to help create a “Digital All-Star Day” when the real All-Star game was cancelled due to COVID. The concept was innovative: a virtual All-Star tournament in NBA 2K featuring teams drafted by real BBL legends (like Rickey Paulding, Per Günther, Alex King) and played by esports pros, with the whole event broadcast live. Vladov designed all the teams and players for the event – essentially crafting virtual All-Star squads from scratch – and did so well that the first digital All-Star Day drew over 250,000 live viewers on Twitch, and over 1 million viewers in the week after via on-demand replays basketnews.com. The interactive stream included guest appearances by real players via video, blending reality and gaming. The success was so great that the BBL repeated the event twice, and Vladov remained the key figure in designing the rosters each time basketnews.com. The management of the BBL were thoroughly impressed. “Mr. Vladov does a great job of creating these events. We also follow Virtual (Cyber) EuroLeague… the virtual look-a-likes of the real-life players in-game and graphics are more than just incredible,” praised the PR management of BBL in an interview basketnews.com. They noted that they had known Vladov since his youth days in Bonn’s academy and were now in close contact with him “almost every day” to develop more virtual events together long-term basketnews.com. Such recognition from a top-tier league underscores Vladov’s reputation as a leading expert in basketball eSports.

• Bulgarian BFB e-Basketball League: Vladov’s home country, although being double citizen and "half-blood" Bulgarian, also benefited from his expertise. In spring 2020, during the first pandemic lockdown, the Bulgarian Basketball Federation (BFB) organized its inaugural official e-basketball championship – and they turned to Vladov as the designer. Viktor Vladov was the roster and graphics designer for the BFB’s e-Basket League (an NBA 2K20 tournament), responsible for virtually recreating the clubs and players. He designed over 40 teams, complete with authentic logos, uniforms, player avatars, and even the arenas, to mirror the Bulgarian basketball league structure bntnews.bg. This massive undertaking made it possible for the federation to run a credible national e-basketball championship entirely online. The event spanned April and May 2020 and was considered a pioneering effort globally – few (if any) countries at that time had a nationwide e-basketball league with their federation’s backing. Thanks to Vladov’s work, Bulgarian basketball fans could see their local teams (like Levski, Rilski, Balkan, etc.) duke it out on the virtual court. The project’s success demonstrated Vladov’s ability to blend sports knowledge with digital creation, and it further cemented his relationship with the Bulgarian Basketball Federation for future projects basketnews.com. No one less, then Bulgaria´s best basketball player of all time, Sasha Vezenkov participated in the Final.

• Pioneering eFootball with BFU: Vladov’s talents aren’t confined to basketball. In late 2020, he collaborated with the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) and sponsor Winbet to launch the first-ever Bulgarian eFootball League. This was a PES 2021 (Pro Evolution Soccer) tournament branded as the Winbet e-Football League, and it was officially supported by the BFU and Sportal media Group, source: xbet.bg. Vladov played the main role on the technical side: just as he did for basketball, he integrated all the real Bulgarian professional football clubs into the PES video game xbet.bg. They added the clubs from the First and Second Leagues (and even some popular Third League teams) to the game, with accurate rosters, player likenesses, official kits, and club crests xbet.bg. Essentially, Bulgarian fans could pick their favorite local soccer team – be it CSKA Sofia, Levski, Ludogorets, or smaller clubs – and compete in a fully online championship. The league ran from October to December 2020 and featured a mix of pro gamers, sports personalities, and amateur fans xbet.bg. It was another groundbreaking project (one of the first dozen national virtual football leagues in the world), and it showed Vladov’s versatility in esports. The BFU’s decision to work with him was likely influenced by his successful track record in e-basketball. By creating realistic in-game representations of Bulgarian athletes and teams, Vladov enabled traditional sports federations to maintain fan engagement virtually when real matches were halted. The Bulgarian Basketball Federation and Football Union both benefitted from his expertise basketnews.com.

Through these projects, Viktor Vladov built a reputation as an esports trailblazer. He combined deep sports knowledge with digital skills – a rare combination – to create immersive experiences. Whether it was designing a EuroLeague mod downloaded by gamers worldwide or organizing high-profile virtual tournaments, Vladov consistently delivered quality and authenticity. His YouTube channel and Discord communities have attracted thousands of followers, and he has forged partnerships with key platforms and sponsors along the way. Notably, the EsportsBattle platform and sports data company BETER have partnered with Vladov’s initiatives to provide infrastructure and streaming for tournaments, and Next Level (NexLvl) – a subsidiary of DraftKings – has been involved in partnership for Cyber Euroleague events, indicating the commercial growth of these competitions. Vladov’s ability to secure long-term deals with such partners speaks to the credibility he’s brought to virtual sports. The projects he started in the early 2020s have essentially laid the groundwork for a structured online competitive scene for basketball (and other sports) in Europe, merging the worlds of real sports franchises and video gaming.

Leading the Cyber Euroleague into a New Era

Given his achievements, it’s little surprise that in 2025 the community of the Cyber Euroleague turned to Viktor Vladov as their first official leader of the business and product. The Cyber Euroleague is the highest-level online league for NBA 2K in Europe – effectively an eSports EuroLeague – featuring top players (gamers) each representing famous European clubs. In the 2025-26 season, the league boasts 20 iconic clubs, mirroring the real EuroLeague (and including also EuroCup contenders and a small BCL as third tier), and is contested by some of the best NBA 2K players from across the continent cybereuroleague.com. Matches are streamed live on platforms like YouTube and Twitch, sometimes even featured by sportal.rs and sportal.bg or even basketnews.com, and the league has grown a dedicated following.

Unanimously election by the board

Vladov was elected as Cyber Euroleague President with a unanimous vote in the league’s assembly – a strong mandate that reflects the immense respect he has earned among peers and participants.

As President, Vladov is expected to oversee everything from competition structure and rules to sponsorships and expansion of the league’s reach. It’s a role that combines his organizational skills, technical know-how, and understanding of both real and virtual basketball.

Importantly, Vladov isn’t just an executive; he’s also a high-level participant in the esports arena. In the Cyber Euroleague’s competitive scene, he has proven his chops as a gamer as well. He previously represented FC Barcelona in the Virtual EuroLeague 1v1 competitions cybereuroleague.com, and now he is representing Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Cyber Euroleague’s 2K26 season. Competing under his PlayStation Network alias “EuroLeagueBasket” Vladov has held his own against other top players, even reaching playoff stages in past tournaments. This dual role – league executive and player – is unusual, but it exemplifies his all-around involvement and passion. It also gives him a direct perspective on the player experience, which can inform his decisions as President.

Under Vladov’s leadership, the Cyber Euroleague is already seeing growth. He has leveraged his network to secure long-term partnerships that strengthen the league’s professional footing. Notably, a recent Cyber Euroleague NBA2K26 Tournament in Sofia was powered by ESportsBattle – a leading esports platform – which provided a €700 prize pool and attracted wide participation cybereuroleague.com. The league’s collaboration with BETER.co (an esports data and content provider) suggests that official data feeds and betting opportunities might be integrated, creating new revenue streams and fan engagement options. Furthermore, NexLvl (First Next Level), a company under DraftKings (a major fantasy sports and betting firm), has come on board, potentially to enhance production and reach larger audiences (for example, Cyber Euroleague games have been branded as “NexLvl Cyber Euroleague” in some live broadcasts youtube.com). These partnerships with industry players indicate a robust, sustainable model – something Vladov is keen to establish for the league’s future.

As President, Vladov’s vision for Cyber Euroleague is to elevate it from a community-driven competition to a professionally-run esports league on par with other major esports circuits. This means standardized rules, regular seasons and playoffs, official team representation (many esports players in the league are now officially tied to real clubs, in the virtual space), and possibly attracting more sponsors. With his experience working with national federations and top-tier sponsors, Vladov is uniquely positioned to navigate these developments. The unanimous vote he received speaks to the confidence the community has in his leadership and understanding of the game.

Conclusion

From reviving a historic basketball club on minimal budget to making EuroLeague stars playable in a video game, Viktor Vladov has proven to be a man of big ideas and the drive to execute them. His journey reflects a rare blend of athletic prowess, creative vision, and entrepreneurial spirit. Vladov has worn many hats – pro player, club president, event organizer, game developer, and now league President – and in each role, he has left a mark of excellence.

As the new and first President of Cyber Euroleague, Vladov stands at the forefront of a sports revolution where real-world basketball and digital competition intersect. He brings to the role a wealth of experience: a career spent understanding team dynamics and competition, and a track record of engaging the next generation of fans through technology. The unanimous vote is not just a personal triumph for Vladov, but also a statement that the Cyber Euroleague community values innovation, authenticity, and passion – qualities he has exemplified throughout his life.

Under Vladov’s guidance, the Cyber Euroleague is poised for exciting growth, offering gamers and sports fans an ever-more immersive experience. In a time when eSports are booming and traditional sports seek new audiences, leaders like Viktor Vladov are bridging the gap, ensuring that the love of the game – whether on a physical court or a digital console – continues to bring people together. His story is an inspiring example of how dedication and creativity can redefine what’s possible in sports. And as he takes on this new challenge, all eyes in both the basketball and gaming worlds will be on Vladov to see how far he can take the Cyber Euroleague – the league he now helms with unanimous support and a vision for greatness.

Sources:

• BasketNews – EuroLeague becomes available on NBA 2K23: “The EuroLeague on NBA 2K was established by Viktor Vladov, who creates rosters for events of the German easyCredit Basketball Bundesliga… such as Digital All-star Day 2021 and 2022 or the Bulgarian BFB e-Basket Championship on PlayStation 5.”scribd.com, scribd.com

• BasketNews – German BBL presents Digital All-Star Day: Vladov designed all virtual teams; the first event drew 250k live viewers (1M+ in a week). “The teams and players are designed completely by Viktor Vladov… The owners and PR of MagentaSport… and easyCredit BBL were all amazed by the job of creation and organization,” even recalling his youth playing days in Bonn basketnews.com, basketnews.com.

• BNT News (Bulgarian National TV) – Bulgarian is second in Germany in e-basketball: Reports Vladov took 2nd place in the 2021 BBL Digital All-Star tournament on NBA 2K21, losing in the finals to world #8 gamer Jannis “JLB” Neumann. It notes Vladov “was the designer of the rosters of the first Bulgarian electronic basketball championship (BFB e-Basket League)… He designed over 40 teams with their logos, kits, players and arenas.” bntnews.bg

• Plovdiv24.bg – Lokomotiv Plovdiv basketball revival: Announced in May 2022 that Viktor Vladov is the playing president of the resurrected Lokomotiv Plovdiv, aiming to return to the top league after nearly 60 years plovdiv24.bg, plovdiv24.bg. The Lokomotiv fan club stated: “Today’s basketball team is revived thanks to Viktor Vladov… After spending his entire career in Germany, Viktor will be the locomotive that pulls the club forward,” underlining his key role plovdiv24.bg.

• Balkan-Basket.com – 2025-26 NBL Season Preview: Confirms Lokomotiv Plovdiv made its debut in Bulgaria’s National Basketball League in 2024-25, one of two new teams in the top division balkan-basket.com.

• XBet news – WinBet e-Football League: Details the first Bulgarian virtual football championship (PES 2021) organized in cooperation with BFU and WinBet in late 2020. All First and Second League clubs (and popular third-tier teams) were added to the game with real players, kits, and logos xbet.bg, xbet.bg, allowing a nationwide e-football competition.

article credits to scripd, basketnews

written by Jannick Hüttenberger, images provided by Nico Klauser