New Delhi, Jun 8 (UNI) With an aim to revolutionise Esports in India, the inaugural edition of Esports Premier League (ESPL) - country first-ever franchise-based Esports league, will kick off from June 16.
The tournament, which will be played over a period of two and a half months, will have initial two levels where close to hundred teams will compete in the group stage as the best eight teams will progress into third level and represent eight cities across the country including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Punjab, and Rajasthan in the grand finale.
ESPL, which will be conducted virtually during its inaugural edition owing to the Covid-19 situation, will comprise of more than 700 online matches with about 300 plus hours of streaming.
'This pandemic and the resultant lockdown have contributed to propelling the esports industry into mainstream entertainment. India Today’s Gaming and Esports platform will provide a thrilling experience to its users through a wide range of games, online tournaments, and an opportunity to win exciting prizes,' said Kalli Purie, Vice Chairperson of India Today Group, which has forayed into Esports and gaming, as part of the effort to push Esports to the mainstream through the ESPL.
The league will have a total prize-pool worth Rs 25 lakhs while the winner will get Rs 12 lakhs. It has teamed up with Garena to create an exclusive gaming platform for Free Fire - the most popular battle royale game currently played by gamers and gaming enthusiasts in India.
ESPL will enable players from across the country to showcase their skills on this mega national stage for the first time.
The tournament wants to tap into the growing landscape of Esports in the country to help the competitive gaming community. This segment has received a significant boost in the last year as an increasing number of users are spending time on smartphones for gaming.
ESPL has partnered smartphone maker Infinix Mobile as the title sponsor for its inaugural edition. It intends to be the largest platform to discover and nurture new gaming talent across India.
The league will be streamed on multiple platforms including OTT giant Disney+ Hotstar as well as the official YouTube and Facebook channels of India Today and Aaj Tak along with their websites.
UNI AVK SHK1914