Announcing the UK teams for the Gfinity Elite Series
Following the announcement of the complete set of Elite Series titles; CS:GO, Street Fighter V and Rocket League, we’re delighted to reveal the first batch of professional teams set to compete in the world-class eSports tournament, designed to establish the UK as a leader in global eSports.
The tournament aims to set a new standard for UK and international eSports competitions and kicks off on 26th May 2017, running for 10 weeks. Representing the best of UK-based talent, the first four teams are:
- exceL eSports - Established in 2014 by brothers Joel and Kieran, exceL has seen success in a number of titles, including Top 12 finishes in the Halo World Championships and Top 4 in the UK League of Legends Premiership.
Joel Holmes Darby, Managing Director, exceL eSports, commented: “We’re ecstatic to have been invited to take part in the Gfinity Elite Series. It will provide a platform from which we can nurture home-grown talent and help more young gamers realise their dream of becoming professional eSports players.”
- Reason Gaming – Formed over 10 years ago, Reason has a strong pedigree in the UK eSports scene, with multiple 1st and top 3 finishes across a range of titles, including League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), Hearthstone and Overwatch.
Adam Heath, Managing Director, Reason Gaming, said: “Being asked to take part in a new tournament as one of the founding teams is a great privilege and honour. It not only shows that the hard work both I and the staff have put in to Reason over the years, but also every player we have had represent us.”
- Prophecy– With a rich history in Europe’s Call Of Duty (CoD) scene, Prophecy entered eSports in 2011, proving themselves to be Europe’s most popular CoD team. They recently rebooted the organisation.
Oliver Sellors, CEO, Prophecy, said: “Prophecy as a brand has always had a very passionate and loyal following since the day it was first launched, I'm really looking forward to starting this new chapter and putting ourselves back on the international map as part of the Gfinity Elite Series. This will be our first time appearing in these competitive titles but as always we want to aim high and make a strong impact. I'm also excited to see some of the great amateur talent competing in Challenger Series and picking the best gamers to join our teams here at Prophecy. #ProphLife”
- Infused – More than a decade in eSports makes Infused one of the longest running organisations in the UK eSports scene and one of the most successful with 90+ top 3 finishes. Well known for their CS:GO and CoD teams, Infused have also achieved top place finishes in Halo, Gears of War and Rainbow Six tournaments.
Andrew Christoforou, Managing Director, Infused, added: “We’re really pleased to be involved in the Gfinity Elite Series - the introduction of the tournament will create increased exposure and stability for all the brands and players involved, allowing the UK's most talented players to participate on a level playing field while competing for substantial prize pools throughout the season.”
Gfinity Challenger Series
Each of the UK organisations will be entering teams for the three game titles of the Gfinity Elite Series: Rocket League, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Street Fighter V. The tournament will see the best UK talent test their skills on the world stage, marking an important milestone in the significance and growth of the UK eSports scene. The Elite Series will be played out live from 26th May to 30th July 2017 at the Gfinity Arena in London and will be available to viewers globally across multiple broadcast platforms.
Preceding the Gfinity Elite Series, amateur gamers can take part in the Gfinity Challenger Series, a dynamic new online competitive gaming tournament, where players and teams can showcase their skills and climb their way to the top of leaderboards. Gamers will play to earn ‘G-Points’ which could see them qualify for the Gfinity Elite Draft, and ultimately get selected to play on a professional team during the Gfinity Elite Series. In a move to further develop and grow the UK eSports scene, the tournament will then see professional teams pick two players for each game title to add to their existing roster (48 players in total). Registration is open now for the Gfinity Challenger Series at www.gfinityesports.com.
Neville Upton, CEO, Gfinity plc, said, “As a UK-based company, we’re really proud to announce that the first four teams competing in our inaugural Gfinity Elite Series have deep roots here in the UK, and a proud history and reputation for excellence in the UK and international eSports community. There is incredible eSports talent here in the UK, from team managers to players, and the Elite Series is our commitment to providing them with a world-class tournament that they can compete in year-after-year, helping to bring more exposure to the UK scene. This is shaping up to be a hugely exciting tournament that showcases, supports and invests in the future of UK players and teams. Watch this space for more exciting team announcements in the coming weeks.”
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