Gfinity Plc (LON:GFIN) has confirmed the timeline for its high profile new eSports tournament, the Gfinity Elite Series, which takes place this summer.
The Elite Series league will be made up of eight professional eSports teams, though through the ‘challenger series’ and ‘Elite series draft’ amateur gamers can qualify to play for the leading teams.
"I am delighted to release the details for the inaugural Elite Series,” said Neville Upton, Gfinity chief executive.
“It is going to be a dynamic new esports league format featuring some of the world's most prestigious teams and most popular gaming titles."
Today, Gfinity confirmed that the Gfinity Challenger Series, which allows any gamer to score qualification ranking points, is underway and is scheduled to close on June 4.
On June 16, the Elite Series Draft will take place. At that point the top 48 ranking qualifiers from the Challenger Series will compete to earn a placed alongside the professionals in the Elite Series.
The company also noted that it will host ‘Player Days’ at the Gfinity Arena, in London, on June 26 and June 27, where professional eSports gamers and newly drafted amateurs will meet ahead of the Elite Series competition.
The Elite Series itself kicks off on Friday July 7 and it will run for nine consecutive weekends.
Competition starts with the Street Fighter V game, followed by shooter Counter-Strike: Global Offensive on the Saturday and Rocket League on the first Sunday. There will be separate league rankings for each of the game titles.
At the same time, there will be a Franchise Tournament alongside the three leagues, with each team accruing winnings paid for each match win.
Gfinity highlighted that the Elite Series will broadcast the Elite Series live, via the Gfinity online platform and the competition can be replayed from on demand.
Funding success and top level appointments
The launch of the Gfinity Elite Series follows the eSports group’s oversubscribed share placing, which raised £6.25mln, in which it issued 31.25mln new shares at 20p.
Gfinity then made six leadership appointments including a new chief strategy officer, chief marketing officer and chief operating officer.
Bryan Healy, formerly head of commerce at UFC, the mixed martial arts promotor, has been hired as Gfinity’s chief strategy officer.
Gfinity’s new chief marketing officer Justin Mier adds significant relevant industry experience gained from previous senior marketing roles at Microsoft Xbox, Electronics Arts and Ubisoft.
Tarum Rose joins as chief operating officer, following a previous role leading operations and service delivery at a leading consumer electronics e-tailer.
Amanda Lawson, Gfinity’s new global head of production, also joins the company after a prior role at the UFC. She was previously head of production operations for ITV Sport where she worked on the coverage of several leading sports franchises such as UEFA Champions League, Indian Premier League 20/20 cricket tournament as well as boxing and motorsport.
Tom Halls, the new head of strategic development, has previously worked for leading consumer brands such as Electronic Arts and Coca-Cola as well as major sports leagues and governing bodies, including Formula E motor racing.
Jeff Early, head of product operation, is noted as being a highly experienced TV operations producer specialising in live broadcasts, particularly around major live sporting events including UFC, the FIFA World Cup, Six Nations Championship, Winter Olympics and the Super Bowl.