First eChampions League Final set for Madrid ahead of main event
The first ever eChampions League final – a joint venture by UEFA and EA Sports – takes place in Madrid on Friday, with the winner to receive the trophy just before the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday evening.
Eight of the best EA SPORTS FIFA 19 players from across the planet will compete in the eChampions League final in Madrid. The competition, which is being held in conjunction with EA SPORTS, will see the participants playing exclusively on PlayStation, with the winner having the chance to raise the eChampions League Trophy aloft at the Estadio Metropolitano ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final on 1 June.
The competitors and their coaches will participate in an eChampions League draft and will go head to head to pick their teams, containing footballers who were involved in this season’s UEFA Champions League group stage.
The eight finalists will then play quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final in a bid to win the inaugural eChampions League. Aside from receiving their prize minutes before the start of the UEFA Champions League final between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC at the Estadio Metropolitano, the winner will also walk away a $100,000 share of the $280,000 prize pot, as well as a VIP ticket to the final.
Ruud Gullit knows what it means to lift the UEFA Champions League trophy, having done so with AC Milan on two occasions. The Dutchman, who is an eSports enthusiast and will attend the finals in Madrid, is delighted that players will now also have the chance to test their talents on the biggest stage and go through the same emotions as their football-playing counterparts.
“The UEFA Champions League is a special competition in the footballing calendar for players and fans alike,” said Gullit. “I’m really excited to be attending the finals of this first edition of the e-Champions League and to be able to witness at first hand some of the world’s best gamers going head to head in a Champions League environment.
Following an exciting group stage in Manchester, where 64 players competed for the chance to advance to the final, the successful eight eChampions League Final participants represent countries around the world are: DrNightWatch (Bulgaria); AlanAvi (USA); coL Joksan (USA); TG Zezinho (Brazil); Rafsou (France); NYC_Chris (USA); Marcuzo (Denmark) and xLevVinken (Netherlands).
All the action from the eChampions League finals on 31 May can be watched on the EA SPORTS Twitch and the EA SPORTS YouTube Channel.