Launching the First Edition of the VALORANT Regional League on January 24, 2022
Cover image for the VRL East: Surge
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 16, 2021 — ESE Entertainment Inc. (TSXV: ESE) (OTCQB: ENTEF) (“ESE” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that its production company, Frenzy sp. z.o.o. (“Frenzy“), will organize and produce the first edition of the VALORANT Regional League (“VRL“) esports competition in Europe. Frenzy will be a key operator and work actively with Riot Games to create and develop the new VALORANT esports ecosystem.
After winning the bid, Frenzy will now organize and produce the competition for 20 European countries: Israel, Greece, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Moldova, Cyprus, and Romania.
Frenzy will be responsible for organizing the esports competitions in the league, administration and operations, producing broadcast feeds and handling social media channels in Polish and English on platforms indicated by Riot Games. To fulfill the contract’s requirements, Frenzy has established a brand-new studio in Warsaw, Poland. Frenzy will provide Polish commentary, while Greek, Czech, Hungarian and Romanian commentaries will be provided by partners selected by Frenzy.
In markets operated by Frenzy, the VRL will have the name “VRL East: Surge.” The League’s motto, “Different but United,” underlines the individual and unique nature of every country invited to the league. The visual identity will be highlighted by green and turquoise colors.
A infographic accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/54b5bc55-c7a8-40a4-abe8-f4eaaa9453e1
The winners of the first season of the VRL East: Surge will then compete at the global VALORANT Champions Tour Qualifiers. The second split winners will qualify to the VRL EMEA finals.
Qualifiers schedule:
6 qualifying tournaments: January 24th – 30th
Regular season schedule:
Week 1: Day1: February 16th, Day2: February 17th
Week 2: Day1: February 23rd, Day2: February 24th
Week 3: Day1: March 2nd, Day2: March 3rd
Week 4: Day1: March 9th, Day2: March 10th
Playoffs schedule:
1st Round: 2 x Best of 3 – March 16th
2nd Round: 2 x Best of 3 – March 17th
Loser bracket final: 1 x Best of 3 – March 19th
Grand Final: 2/2: 1x Best of 5 – March 20th
Marcin Kilar, Managing Director at Frenzy, said: “We are thrilled to announce that Riot Games has selected us as a strategic partner to roll-out VALORANT esports in Europe. VALORANT is an exciting video game with a rapidly growing user base, and we are committed to helping it surpass new heights in 2022. We have been preparing for a long time, and today we are proud to say that VRL East: Surge is one of the most important strategic opportunities for Frenzy and ESE in the coming years.”
Konrad Wasiela, CEO of ESE, said: “It is with great pleasure that we are able to announce the expansion of our relationship with Riot Games and the game VALORANT into 20 new countries. This is truly a testament to our world class team and their abilities. A rollout of this magnitude highlights our company’s ability to scale and execute on a global level.”
Grzegorz Szabla, Riot Games Senior Brand Manager CEE said: “We are very happy to work with ESE Entertainment on the VRL project. We are absolutely sure this cooperation will help to build a strong VALORANT esports scene in Eastern Europe.”
About Riot Games
Riot Games was founded in 2006 to develop, publish, and support the most player-focused games in the world. In 2009, Riot released its debut title, League of Legends, to worldwide acclaim. League of Legends has gone on to be the most-played PC game in the world and a key driver of the explosive growth of esports. | www.riotgames.com
About Frenzy
Frenzy, a subsidiary of ESE Entertainment Inc., is a media and production infrastructure company based in Poland, which is focused on the video game industry. The company creates and executes esports and gaming events, broadcasts, and media content. Frenzy also operates professional mobile, automated TV equipment, allowing it to produce reality shows from every part of the globe.
About ESE
ESE is a Europe based entertainment and technology company focused on gaming, particularly on esports. The Company provides a range of services to leading video game developers, publishers, and brands by providing technology, infrastructure, and fan engagement services internationally. ESE also operates its own ecommerce channels, esports teams, and gaming leagues. In addition to the Company’s organic growth opportunities, the Company is considering selective acquisitions that align with its objective of becoming a dominant global player in esports technology and infrastructure. | www.esegaming.com