Twitter will host its first-ever eSports stream this weekend in partnership with Turner’s recently established eSports organization eLeague, and fans can expect up-to-the-minute coverage of its Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament in Atlanta.
Event coverage begins Friday night, with eLeague’s Twitter profile @EL providing live-streamed footage, play-by-play commentary, and score updates throughout the weekend.
This weekend’s tournament marks the end of eLeague’s first season of Counter-Strike:Global Offensive competitive play, and top players have gathered at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta to determine an overall winner. Competitors have been locked in mouse-and-keyboard combat since eLeague’s seasonal play began in May, with subsequent playoff rounds culminating in this weekend’s winner-take-all event.
“Twitter is the native social platform for eSports, and this partnership provides our passionate fans with an additional opportunity to consume eLeague content as we reach the pinnacle of our first season,” said eLeague General Manager Christina Alejandre. “We’re excited for our first eLeague championship and look forward to offering these content experiences to our highly engaged fan base.”
Twitter CFO Anthony Noto adds: “ESports fans go to Twitter to see and talk about what is happening now in competitive gaming. Gamers are one of the largest and most engaged audiences on Twitter, and we are thrilled to partner with Turner and [WME] to bring them the live content from eLeague and Twitter commentary they are already looking for, all on one screen.”
ELeague will follow up on this weekend’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament with a a series of regional playoffs featuring Blizzard’s team-based first-person shooter Overwatch in August. Online rounds of eLeague’s Overwatch tournament are already underway, and a $300,000 prize pool is at stake for finalists.
Semifinal matches for eLeague’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament will begin at 5 p.m. ET on Friday, and a second round of semifinals will kick off at 10 p.m. Finalists will square off in a best-of-three series beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday.
