With 2016 coming to a close with iSeries in the next week, it seems apparent that many people, event organisers and investors would like to get ahead of the curve with big announcements. Step up Ben Bagg, former CEO of CAZ eSports, who has recently been doing the rounds with his latest pet project, UK Gaming Tours. We recently sat down with Ben in a rather in depth interview with him going over CAZ eSports, and his latest project. He mentioned some minor details around UK Gaming Tours, however today, he has launched his new website and revealed further information around the event itself.
The event will be a league which will feature more than double any of the other leagues out there in the UK, with 16 teams that will take part and participate over a long 8 week season. With that, there will be offline finals held in Milton Keynes, commentated by various faces of the UK Scene, and will boast £10,000 prize pool for Counter-Strike. Ben has also since added, that only Season 1 will be CS:GO, and after that he will look into other esport titles out there in the UK.
Taken from the Website:
UK Gaming Tours will be hosting 3 seasons of UK only Counter Strike Esports. Each season will host 16 teams competing against one another twice over 8 weeks. Each match will be a Bo2 with the same point system as mainstream football. Each team will be competing for a place at our Playoff/final for a chance to win a share of £10,000!
Our Season 1 finals will be hosted in the centre of Milton Keynes shopping centre where our top 4 teams will be facing off in front of a live audience. By taking Esports to a mainstream location we hope to attract new entrants to the Esports space and help it resonate with the general consumer. .
Alongside our Offline finals we will be hosting a gaming exhibition for fans of all ages to try new technology and play new video games. We also intend to educate people on becoming a professional player and other career paths for the esports enthusiast. Our ethos is not just to sell gaming to the public but educate our audience on the benefits of a healthy gaming lifestyle.
TL/DRUKGT are hosting 3 seasons of UK CSGO.
The Season will end with an offline final at a shopping centre
Season 1 will have a £10,000 Prize Purse.More to be announced over the next couple of weeks!
The Schedule is as follows (also from the website):
QUALIFICATION
We will be hosting 5 qualification rounds allowing 32 teams each night a chance to qualify for Season 1. Each qualification event will offer the top two teams a spot in our season and we hope to see some grassroots talents coming out of the wood work to compete against the house hold names!
Qualification 1: January 6th
Qualification 2: January 7th
Qualification 3: January 8th
Qualification 4: January 9th
Qualification 4: January 10thSEASON 1
Our First season will run between the 17th January and the 16th February offering 5 weeks of competitive action. Each week will run a three-day schedule where we will broad cast two matches per night. Our broadcast nights will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays every week, with a weekly wrap up show on the Friday.
Season 1: 17th January to 16th February
FINALS
Our LAN finals will be hosted in the centre of Milton Keynes shopping centre at the Middleton hall venue starting on the 11th march and ending on the 12th. We are extremely excited to be able to offer our players and fans alike the chance to have an Esports event straight in front of the mainstream consumer.
Saturday 11th March – Sunday 12th March
Of course, more information including schedule will be announced in due time, but rumour has it, it will host qualifiers in January time. UKCSGO.com will endeavour to find out more information from Ben and the crew behind UKGT, however it looks to be a really exciting time for CS:GO in the UK, with a third league joining both UK Premiership (ESL) & UK Masters (Multiplay) for 2017.
