eSports
Hyprop partners with MTN to host South Africa’s largest national gaming tournament
![](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/gamingstuff-scaled.jpg)
R50k in prize money, eight qualifiers nationwide, culminating in one epic gaming showdown…this is the MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience 2024!
Get ready for another exhilarating display of gaming prowess, MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience is back. Now in its second year, it is the largest national mall-based gaming tournament ever held in the country. This groundbreaking event will feature a series of eight qualifier events held at Hyprop Malls across the nation over the next four months, culminating in an epic National Final taking place at Canal Walk in Cape Town this September.
Christie Stanbridge, Hyprop’s Brand and Campaigns Marketing Manager, remarked, “The goal of our national gaming tournament is to create a vehicle for making esports accessible to everyone, breaking down barriers and removing the stigma that gaming is only for a certain age group. We aim to ensure that people from all walks of life can come together to play games and participate in the thrilling world of esports.”
Jason Probert, General Manager: Digital Services at MTN South Africa, expressed his excitement about the partnership with Hyprop on this landmark tournament: “We are thrilled to partner with Hyprop to bring this tournament to life. This event is a testament to the growing gaming culture in South Africa, and we are proud to support an initiative that not only showcases incredible talent but also brings communities together through the power of gaming. MTN is committed to driving digital innovation and creating unique experiences for gamers across the country.”
What can gamers of all ages and skill levels look forward to?
The second MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience follows its immense popularity among gamers and its suitability for all ages due to the selection of EA FC 24™ as the title to be played throughout the main events. The tournament promises to be a thrilling competition and will offer a gaming experience that appeals to a wide age group, ensuring there is something for everyone, from casual players to seasoned pros with additional competitions and activations taking place at each mall event.
Get ready for the ultimate showdown! Join our electrifying online and in-centre heats and prove you’ve got what it takes to make it to the National Final. Battled out on the ACGL platform, the online heat is your ticket to glory and a coveted spot in the top four to earn a place in the Mall Finals.
Players can sign up at the various Hyprop Malls to participate in one of the seven heats held from Friday to Sunday. The top four players from each heat will move on to the Mall Final, joining the four online qualifiers.
There are a select number of mall heats dedicated to scholars this year to ensure that our esport schools are represented. Be sure to check out the respective mall website for all the details.
Somerset Mall Online Qualifier | 9-Jun |
Somerset Mall Event | 14 to 16 Jun |
Rosebank Mall Online Qualifier | 16-Jun |
Rosebank Mall Event | 21 to 23 Jun |
The Glen Online Qualifier | 23-Jun |
The Glen Event | 28 to 30 Jun |
Clearwater Mall Online Qualifier | 7-Jul |
Clearwater Mall WM Event | 12 to 14 Jul |
Woodlands Boulevard Online Qualifier | 14-Jul |
Woodlands Boulevard Event | 19 to 21 Jul |
Table Bay Mall Online Qualifier | 4-Aug |
Table Bay Mall Event | 9 to 11 Aug |
Capegate Online Qualifier | 18-Aug |
Capegate Event | 23 to 25 Aug |
Canal Walk Online Qualifier | 8-Sep |
Canal Walk Event | 11 to 15 Sep |
The events at the participating Hyprop Malls will include a variety of competitions and engaging activities, featuring not only the main MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience efootball tournament, but also a range of smaller competitions and activations. Participants and spectators alike can enjoy a dynamic gaming environment.
National Final in Cape Town:
The grand finale will take place at Canal Walk, featuring all the excitement of the Mall Events plus additional high-stakes competitions. The eight finalists from each mall will compete for the ultimate title and a share of the R50,000 prize pool:
- 1st Place: R25,000
- 2nd Place: R15,000
- 3rd Place: R7,500
- 4th Place: R2,500
Additional Competitions and Activations
Win with MTN and Battle+: MTN will host a Beat Saber competition with Xbox Series S consoles as prizes.
Beat Saber is a VR rhythm game where you slash the beats of adrenaline-pumping music as they fly towards you, surrounded by a futuristic world.
Beat Saber will be played on Battle+, MTN’s esport platform, where you can watch exclusive videos and play tournaments or compete in challenges to earn rewards. Battle+ is available on play.mtn for all MTN subscribers.
Computer Mania Pop-Up Shops: Computer Mania, a premium retailer at our malls, will host pop-up shops where you can purchase all the products on display. Shop the latest gaming gear available at great prices, exclusively available during the Shift Gaming event.
PC Gaming Zone: Compete for prizes and bragging rights in popular competitive games like Fortnite™, Rocket League, Minecraft, Flight Simulator, and Cities: Skylines II. Defeat your foes in style utilising the latest gaming tech with PCBuilder’s performance-optimised prebuilt gaming PCs. Whether you’re a first-time gamer, scholar, everyday gaming enthusiast, streamer, or professional gamer – every PCBuilder gaming PC is engineered to deliver the perfect balance of stunning visuals, lightning-fast speeds, and unrivalled gaming performance. Or build the gaming PC of your dreams with the PCBuilder custom build tool.
Keyboard Rebuild Race: Redragon has launched even more gaming keyboards in 2024! How do we celebrate much-needed gaming keyboard diversity? Join us for our hugely popular Redragon Keyboard Rebuild Race to test just how quick your fingers are. We’ll be giving away a brand new Redragon gaming keyboard daily – but only the fastest time wins!
The Toyota Gaming Engine SuperSprint (GT 7): Fastest daily lap wins a R1,000 Gift Card. An additional R5,000 Gift Card will be awarded overall to players that sign up to The Toyota Gaming Engine at MTN Shift Gaming Experiences.
Fighting Cup: Daily one-day cups for popular fighting games like Brawlhalla, Tekken, and Street Fighter 6. Prizes include R1,000 Mall Gift Cards for winners and R500 Mall Gift Cards for runners-up.
Additionally, the online and LAN Call of Duty Tournament is back, with a R60,000 prize pool to be won. The final takes place at Canal Walk in September.
Join us in celebrating the spirit of gaming across South Africa. Whether you’re a hardcore gamer or just looking for some fun, the MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience has something for everyone.
eSports
BLAST Premier Spring Final 2024 analytical insights from GG.BET & Esports Charts
![](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ggbet.jpg)
The esports analytics service Esports Charts, in collaboration with betting brand GG.BET, widely known for its promotion of esports, has published extensive game and betting data for BLAST Premier: Spring Final 2024. The stats reveal how the players and teams performed, and provide insights into who viewers bet on the most.
The final stage of the BLAST Premier Spring Final 2024 Counter-Strike 2 tournament took place from 12 to 16 June. Over 18,000 spectators gathered at the OVO Arena Wembley in London for the tournament playoffs. It was the first time the UK had hosted a Counter-Strike event on such a scale for six years.
Esports Charts analyzed the event and published a series of reports with reviews of the teams’ and individual players’ greatest achievements in the tournament. Before it started, the analytics service published a retrospective review of the viewership of BLAST Premier Spring tournaments over previous years, statistics on the popularity of different team members among Twitch stream audiences, and exclusive data on which teams GG.BET users bet on to win in the tournament.
After the tournament ended, Esports Charts shared its results. The collection of infographics included data on teams’ performances, such as the most spectacular comebacks and wins in rounds with the lowest budget for purchases. They also show betting statistics, such as which teams’ wins produced the most winnings. The final set of information shows how players performed and contains exclusive betting data on individual performances like total deaths and total kills.
GG.BET press office:
“The publication of insights into major CS2 tournaments is becoming a tradition. In March of this year, we shared insights into the first CS2 Major in history. Specialists from both GG.BET and Esports Charts dive deep into the tournaments, analyze a huge quantity of data, and therefore have the chance to monitor exciting esports community trends. We’ll also continue to share the insights we find in the future.
Analytics service Esports Charts is famous for its extensive analysis of esports streams. GG.BET is an international betting brand with a wealth of expertise in esports. Thanks to their joint collaboration, both companies have been able to provide information that the esports community wouldn’t normally consider.
eSports
adidas Levels Up Esports World Cup with Exclusive Gear
![adidas Levels Up Esports World Cup with Exclusive Gear](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Adidas_x_EWC_partner_announcement_16X9.png)
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) and adidas, the leading global sports brands, announced a groundbreaking partnership that bridges the worlds of athletics and digital competition. As the official merchandise sponsor of the Esports World Cup, adidas will provide esports athletes with exclusive gear, supporting their pursuit of victory.
As the Esports World Cup unfolds, adidas will provide all athletes with premium kits. The partnership also extends to the event staff, with EWC crew, ushers, and access control personnel sporting co-branded adidas apparel.
“The Esports World Cup is proud to partner with adidas, a brand that embodies the spirit of competition and innovation” said Mohammed Al Nimer, Sales Director, Esports World Cup Foundation. “This partnership allows adidas to connect with a passionate and dedicated fanbase, presenting a unique opportunity to engage with the rapidly growing esports community. We look forward to co-creating innovative experiences that excite fans and elevate the esports landscape.”
“Building on the success of our Gamers8 partnership, adidas is thrilled to join forces with the Esports World Cup, a global leader in esports and gaming,” said Bilal Fares, SVP & General Manager Middle East, North Africa, Ukraine, Central Asia, and The Caucasus, adidas. “Our return to Riyadh underscores our commitment to this dynamic community. This collaboration highlights adidas’ dedication to the Kingdom’s growing gaming scene and our ongoing exploration of sports and entertainment.”
Beginning July 3, the Esports World Cup will transform Riyadh into the epicenter of esports fandom and gaming culture. Located in Boulevard City, fans can watch their favorite athletes and clubs compete across 22 game championships for a share of more than $60 million in life-changing prize money — the largest prize pool in esports history. Across eight weeks, the Esports World Cup will also feature festival activities that include numerous gaming activations, community tournaments, pop culture celebrations, international experiences, and more.
eSports
Oddin.gg Secures Exclusive Esports Data & Integrity Partnership With YaLLa Esports
![Oddin.gg Secures Exclusive Esports Data & Integrity Partnership With YaLLa Esports](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Oddin.gg-With-YaLLa-Esports.jpg)
Following on several major partnerships in 2024, Oddin.gg solidifies its global presence in the official esports data landscape with a multi-year partnership with YaLLa Esports, a leading esports media company and tournament organizer based in the United Arab Emirates.
Established in 2016, YaLLa esports has emerged as a significant force in the Middle East esports scene. As a team of former gamers, they have deep insight into the hearts and minds of esports fans, therefore their success does not come up as a surprise. Their inaugural Compass event in Abu Dhabi, which recently concluded, was a resounding success.
We have every reason to believe that their upcoming editions starting this July will produce even better results, and that their CS2 events in the coming years are only going to further bolster their position as leaders in the region.
This deal represents another Oddin.gg’s step forward in integrating server data directly into the full suite of betting services, offering clear benefits to all stakeholders in the sector. The partnership is in line with Oddin.gg’s commitment to support the esports ecosystem by offering sustainable revenue streams.
Marek Suchar, Co-founder and Managing Director at Oddin.gg has the following to say about the partnership: “I’m thrilled to welcome YaLLa Esports to our growing list of partners. The achievements of Klaus and Teemu and their team in the region over the recent years are truly remarkable, and I’m honored that Oddin.gg can contribute to their continued success. I am sure that a collaboration of two companies with such great passion for esports will not only deliver new engaging products, but also be nothing short of a big boost to the esports industry in the region.”
“I’m personally thrilled about this long-term partnership as both Oddin and Compass are cutting-edge brands with innovation at their core, pushing the space forward by always looking for the next big thing when it comes to fan experiences,” said Klaus Kajetski, Founder of YaLLa Esports; sharing his perspective on the collaboration.
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