eSports
Online qualifiers for the 2020/21 ePremier League season kicks off
A new year is here which means the ePremier League is ready to kick-off, with online qualifiers for this season’s competition begins. The registration period for this year’s competition is still open and players can register at e.premierleague.com now.
The EA SPORTS™ FIFA 21 Global Series competition presents UK-based players with the unique chance of winning the ePremier League title for their favorite club. The competition is open to UK residents aged 16 and over and will once again take place on PlayStation®4 and Xbox One. The winner will take home the trophy and a share of the £40,000 prize pot, and there will also be seats on offer for top-ranking players at the EA SPORTS™ FIFA 21 Global Series (FGS) European Playoffs.
Key dates:
- 4 – 31 January: Online qualifiers
- 15 February – 3 March: Club playoffs
- March/April 2021: ePremier League Finals
Gamers can play between the hours of 5 pm and 11 pm on weekdays, and between 8 am and 11 pm on weekends with there being no limit on the number of games they can play during Online Qualification. For more information, there’s a ‘how to play guide’ available at https://e.premierleague.com/how-to-play
2019/20 ePl champion Thomas ‘Hashtag Tom ‘Leese’ said: “Representing a big Premier League club is a crazy feeling for all the players involved. A lot of the players obviously represent the club they support from when they were a kid, and being involved in a football club is pretty surreal for a lot of the FIFA players… My message to anyone thinking of signing up for ePremier League is to definitely get involved. It’s a great tournament, you get a lot of good practice by playing a lot of good players and you get the chance to represent the Premier League club you choose – you can’t really ask for much more.”
2019/20 runner-up Marc ‘Marleyyy’ Marley commented: “I’ve been playing competitively for two years now and it was around the start of ePremier League that I took that step. For the majority of people you’re not going to get a better chance to represent a Premier League club than through this tournament. It’s the best thing for UK FIFA players, nobody can dispute that. It’s always great to be involved in big tournaments and to represent a Premier League club is even better.”
Jamie ‘Jamboo’ Rigden reached the Xbox semi-finals in 2019/20, losing after extra time to reigning champion and world No1 Tekkz. Speaking on the competition, Jamie said: “Take your time with it and enjoy the ride. Don’t overcomplicate it and stress yourself out because, at the end of the day, it is just FIFA. Just pick your favourite team and try and have fun with it…. One of my main tips for improving at FIFA is trying to practice against better opponents. Even if you play in ePL and take a few beatings, it’s a valuable learning experience. It’s not every day you get to play against pros and higher-level players, so take it as a learning curve. Don’t get down if you lose – just take what the higher-level players are doing and add it into your game.”
eSports
ANICHESS PARTNERS WITH ESPORTS LEADER TEAM SECRET AHEAD OF PVP LAUNCH
Anichess, a subsidiary of Animoca Brands and the progressive chess-based online strategy game developed in partnership with Chess.com and five-time World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, today announced a partnership with global esports brand Team Secret to further connect competitive gaming and Web3. John Yao, CEO of Team Secret, will join Anichess as an advisor.
Anichess is an innovative chess-based Web3 game developed in a collaboration between Animoca Brands and Chess.com, the renowned global online chess platform. Anichess provides a novel tactical twist on the classic game of chess by implementing spells that open up new strategies and gameplay, and that require players to rethink the rules of traditional chess as they uncover the expansive lore within the world of the gameboard. Anichess recently raised a funding round of US$1.8 million, led by Sfermion and Amber Group with participation from Fenbushi Capital, Aspen Digital, SNZ Capital, and others (see announcement of 25 April 2024).
Team Secret is a global esports brand dedicated to bringing together the best gamers to compete worldwide, while also delivering entertaining experiences to its fans. It offers advertising and promotional sponsorship, talent and team development, business management, coaching, and other forms of support to both professional and aspiring players in the esports arena.
The partnership between Anichess and Team Secret aims to solidify chess’s esports status by combining a new platform to play and learn on for an engaged audience of up-and-coming online chess masters. Ahead of the player-versus-player (PvP) mode launch later in Q2 2024, Anichess will receive input from Team Secret on its game design as well as support in bringing the spellbinding game to a dedicated community of esports players.
“Esports has always been a core pillar of Anichess’ modernization of chess’ legacy,” said Brian Chan, head of Anichess. “Anichess’s engaging visuals, tools to improve and thrilling spells make it an amazing platform for all competitors, regardless of chess experience. We look forward to those willing to take on the challenge when PvP arrives in-game soon.”
“For how ancient the game of chess is, its esports scene is a fresh, rising star in terms of viewership, player base and tournaments,” said John Yao, CEO of Team Secret. “Anichess is a promising twist on chess, with even more of what makes the original great: compelling tactics, broad recognition and rewards for players willing to think outside the box and surprise opponents. I’m looking forward to guiding Anichess into the realm of esports and integrating the new chess platform into our dedicated community.”
eSports
Kambi and Abios Join ESIC as Anti-Corruption Supporters
The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has announced Kambi and Abios, its esports data subsidiary, as new ESIC Anti-Corruption Supporters. This partnership signals the alignment of Kambi’s longstanding commitment to corporate probity and sports integrity with ESIC’s ongoing battle against match-fixing and corruption in esports.
Kambi and Abios join a distinguished class of other Anti-Corruption Supporter stakeholders who have historically worked with ESIC to ensure that attacks against the competitive integrity of esports competition are appropriately reported and dealt with. Anti-Corruption Supporters assist ESIC in investigating suspicious betting activity, supporting ESIC’s broader mission to combat cheating and betting fraud in the esports industry. Kambi and Abios’ entrance into the Anti-Corruption Supporter class will see the entities actively work with ESIC to assist in ESIC’s mission to disrupt, prevent, investigate and prosecute all attempts to compromise competitive integrity in esport competition.
Abios’ Managing Director and Founder, Anton Janér, commented: “Our mission at Abios has always been to enable the sustainable growth of esports. As such, we’re incredibly excited to join ESIC in their mission to future-proof esports through combatting match-fixing and other integrity-related malpractices. Fair play is a crucial component in ensuring the viability of esports as a long-term community and investment and we hope to be able to support the industry together with ESIC going forward.”
Stephen Hanna, ESIC’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We are pleased to welcome Kambi and Abios as Anti-Corruption Supporters. Kambi and Abios are well trusted and recognised operators in their respective industries, and their entrance into the Anti-Corruption Supporter class of ESIC membership emphasises their shared commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity and fair play within the esports industry.”
eSports
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