eSports
2020/21 ePremier League season resumes with Club Playoffs
- ePremier League Playoffs kick off today with Chelsea, Manchester City and Newcastle United, and run until Wednesday 3 March
- Some of the world’s best FIFA pros will go up against amateur gamers to see who reaches the ePL Finals, with two Leeds United first-team players also taking part
- The ePL Finals will take place from 23-26 March, with players competing for the honour of ePL Champion, a prize pool of £40,000 and all-important seats in the EA SPORTS FIFA 21 Global Series European Playoffs
- Playoff results will be available on e.premierleague.com
The ePremier League 2020/21 Club Playoffs begin today, as EA SPORTS™ FIFA 21 players compete for the chance to make it to the live ePL Finals at the end of March.
Thousands of competitors took part in this season’s online qualification on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The winners from that stage will now represent their teams in the Club Playoffs to see if they have what it takes to reach the Finals and ultimately be crowned ePL champion 2020/21.
All 20 Premier League clubs will be hosting a Playoff between today and Wednesday 3 March, with a selection of the world’s best players going up against some relatively unknown contenders.
Last year’s winner Thomas ‘Hashtag Tom’ Leese will be defending his crown as he represents Tottenham Hotspur, while the inaugural champion Donovan ‘Fnatic Tekkz’ Hunt player is once again competing for Liverpool.
There will also be two Premier League stars taking part, as Patrick Bamford and Gjanni Alioski will be competing in the Leeds United Playoff on Tuesday 2 March.
Last season’s ePL runner-up Marc Marley turns out for Brighton & Hove Albion, with other recognisable names from the FIFA world going for glory including Jamie ‘Jamboo’ Rigden (Fulham), Spencer ‘Gorilla’ Ealing (Sheffield United), Diogo Mendes (Chelsea), Sean ‘Dragon’ Allen (Manchester United), Reece Rusher (Southampton), Kylem ‘FUTWIZ Lyricz’ Edwards (Crystal Palace) and Manchester City duo Ryan Pessoa and Shaun ‘Shellz’ Springette.
Following the conclusion of the Playoffs, the best players from all 20 clubs on both Xbox One and PS4 will take their place in the ePL Finals from 23-26 March. The Finals will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, BT Sport, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport online. They will also be shown on Premier League channels and http://twitch.tv/EASPORTSFIFA, as well as being made available to viewers around the world by international licensees. Over the last two seasons, the ePL Finals reached more than 22 million fans.
The group stages and quarter-finals on each console will take place on 23 and 24 March. The tournament reaches a climax on Friday 26 March, when the remaining players will take part in the console semi-finals, before the console finals and cross-console final. As well as being crowned 2020/21 ePremier League champion, the winner will take home £20,000.
The 2020/21 instalment of ePL was won by Watford’s Thomas ‘Hashtag Tom’ Leese after the inaugural ePL tournament was won by World No1 Xbox One player Donovan ‘Tekkz’ Hunt on behalf of Liverpool. You can see videos from the first two ePL seasons here.
During this season’s online qualifiers, all players were required to play in 90-rated Online Friendlies mode as their chosen Premier League club. Participants in the Club Playoffs and beyond will play on FIFA Ultimate Team™ (using Premier League players only).
ePremier League evolved during the 2019/20 season, with the introduction of the ePL Invitational tournament while football was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. This saw first-team players and other famous faces compete on behalf of all 20 Premier League clubs in an online EA SPORTS FIFA 20 tournament. Two instalments of the competition were broadcast across five continents as then-Wolverhampton Wanderers player Diogo Jota and Leicester City’s James Maddison were crowned champions.
ePremier League is operated by esports tournament organisers Gfinity. For more information visit e.premierleague.com.
Asia
Red Bull, Nissin Cup Noodles, and Kreo Join College Rivals Season 2 as Associate Sponsors
India’s premier college esports and gaming talent hunt, College Rivals, has secured three major Associate Sponsors for its highly anticipated Season 2. Nissin Cup Noodles, Red Bull, and Kreo have all come on board to support the Ampverse DMI-conducted event, each contributing their distinct energy and enthusiasm, as the official Energy Partner, Snacking Partner, and Kreative Partner, respectively.
College Rivals Season 2, featuring participation from over 2,00,000 students across various competitions, offers a prize pool of INR 50,00,000 and a prestigious professional gaming contract. Having kicked off in July 2024, the championship will continue in the following months before culminating with a Grand Finale scheduled for the first quarter of 2025.
“We’re thrilled to welcome top brands like Nissin Cup Noodles, Red Bull, and Kreo to College Rivals Season 2, which has grown exponentially this time around and is bigger and better than ever. These incredible partners will further enhance the student experience with immersive gaming, exciting activities, and creative engagements, adding new energy and thrill as we continue to inspire college-going students to engage with esports and gaming opportunities,” said Ashwin Haryani, Country Head, Ampverse DMI.
Red Bull, returning to College Rivals after a successful first season, brings extra excitement with their racing simulators and product samples in interactive zones, giving students a taste of the fast-paced energy of Esports. Nissin Cup Noodles, the event’s Snacking Partner, is bringing a flavorful twist to the action. With wet product sampling of their instant noodles, Nissin Cup Noodles seamlessly blends snack breaks with gaming.
Meanwhile, with their branded gaming peripherals, Kreative Partner Kreo is hosting interactive activities such as typing tests and giveaways, inviting students to engage with top-tier gaming gear at the country’s biggest collegiate gaming event.
“We’re absolutely fired up to be part of College Rivals Season 2! The energy is electric, with thousands of students from all over the country bringing their A-game. The fast-paced action, intense competition, and pure thrill of gaming make this event a perfect match for Nissin Cup Noodles which is the go-to snacking option for gamers” said Varun Oberoi – Vice President, Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Indo Nissin Foods.
Having expanded to 20+ cities and 58+ colleges, College Rivals Season 2 is engaging 11,00,000 students across India, providing the ideal stage to connect with brands that resonate with them. Nissin Cup Noodles satisfies with its instant snacks, Red Bull keeps the energy high with its action-packed drinks, and Kreo connects creative minds with top-tier gaming gear.
eSports
IESF and ITTI Open Applications for Scholarships in Esports Management
The International Esports Federation (IESF) and the International Institute of Technology and Innovation (ITTI) are thrilled to announce the launch of the IESF x ITTI Scholarships, an initiative designed to empower the next generation of Esports leaders. This scholarship program brings together the industry’s best resources to select young talent ready to make their mark in Esports management and gaming.
Four scholarships are available for promising students who will join ITTI’s Master’s in Esports Management and Gaming program. This scholarship opportunity opens on November 4, 2024, and closes on November 20, 2024. The project is also part of IESF and Busan City’s World Esports R&D Center Program, supporting education and development in the Esports industry.
Scholarship Allocation:
-
One student who is a Resident of Busan, aged 18 – 24.
-
Three international students, aged 18-24.
How to Apply:
Open to applicants aged 18 to 24, the program invites candidates to submit a completed application form and an introduction video addressing specific questions about their goals, interests, and vision for Esports. With support from NASEF, IESF’s educational partner, the selection committee will evaluate each applicant’s creativity, dedication to Esports, and unique ideas to shape the industry.
Applicants can access the Application Form and should complete both the form and video submission by the deadline.
The IESF x ITTI Scholarships offer a great path into Esports management, and recipients will gain access to ITTI’s advanced curriculum designed to equip students for impactful roles in Esports. We invite all eligible young enthusiasts to apply and join this exciting journey with us. Let’s help shape the future of Esports!
eSports
SOFTSWISS Sportsbook Doubles Esports Turnover in Q3 2024
1 November 2024 – Esports has experienced explosive growth in Q3 2024, doubling turnover compared to the previous quarter. The average bet on cybersports increased by 17.6% quarter-on-quarter. SOFTSWISS, a global tech expert with over 15 years of experience providing innovative iGaming solutions, shares the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook Q3 2024 report.
The top five sports by Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) remain consistent: Football, Tennis, Basketball, Table Tennis, and eFootball. For the second consecutive quarter, eFootball has outperformed Counter-Strike 2, indicating a shifting interest within the esports sector. Nevertheless, football continues to dominate, contributing nearly half of the total GGR.
The average live bet grew by 10% quarter-on-quarter, a positive development for operators as live bets hold 78.6% of turnover. The SOFTSWISS Sportsbook team is actively enhancing the live betting experience, aiming to capitalise on this trend and provide operators with even greater revenue opportunities.
The average bet grew by 9.7% quarter-on-quarter in Q3 2024, and the number of bets increased by 18.7%. GGR saw a modest growth of 1.5% quarter-on-quarter.
Despite the large number of projects launched for the UEFA Euro 2024, month-on-month statistics show that with the right promotional strategies, projects continue to operate successfully even after such massive events.
Alexander Kamenetskyi, Head of SOFTSWISS Sportsbook, adds: “Aligning a launch with a major sporting event can be a successful strategy, but football is not the only sport that can be leveraged in this way. The growth of cybersports presents new opportunities; for specialised projects targeting specific audiences, esports events can also serve as an effective starting point.
We continuously focus on product growth and development, enhancing features and user experience to drive further engagement and profitability for our partners.”
The SOFTSWISS Sportsbook is expanding its global presence. The product team is on track to secure certification in Brazil, conducted by an authorised testing laboratory. Furthermore, for the South African market, the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook has recently integrated a Horse Racing Module. This addition offers operators new business opportunities by covering over 2,400 international and local races monthly. The solution engages players with race cards, silks, and multiple bet types while providing operators unique skins and configurations to align with various brand identities.
The SOFTSWISS team is working on The iGaming Trends Report 2025, which offers a deep dive into key industry developments based on over 50,000 media headlines and insights from industry experts. Covering areas like regulation, marketing, technology, and business growth, this report provides a data-driven perspective on the trends shaping the upcoming year. The SOFTSWISS team shares the possibility of joining the waiting list.
All SOFTSWISS products will be showcased at the final major industry event, SiGMA Europe, at stand 2145.
-
Asia7 days ago
NODWIN Gaming partners with Japanese gaming company KONAMI for ‘eFootball Diwali Showdown’
-
Australia7 days ago
Australia’s BetStop Receives International Regulatory Award
-
Latest News7 days ago
BETBY WELCOMES MAGNUS CARLSEN AS GLOBAL BRAND AMBASSADOR
-
Asia6 days ago
Revenant Esports and Team XSpark Join Forces to Form Revenant XSpark, ScoutOP Revealed as Brand Ambassador
-
Compliance Updates7 days ago
KSA Imposes a Fine of €675,000 on NetX Betting Limited
-
Central Europe7 days ago
NOVOMATIC builds the Group’s largest photovoltaic system in Lower Austria
-
Latest News7 days ago
Videoslots Launches DBET in Sweden with International Tipset Pools
-
Gaming7 days ago
The mobile gaming market is growing and attracting new companies. GAMIVO is the latest example