The Melbourne Esports Open will take place on the 1st-2nd of September.
Most Aussies are getting prepped for the footy finals in September… but not the esports community. This September is set to be the biggest month of esports in Melbourne ever with the Melbourne Esports Open! TEG Live and ESL Australia have teamed up to bring the best esports in the world to Melbourne. Here’s the run down on what’s happening for two epic days.
The venue
Melbourne is known for its prestigious sporting venues. Over time, the city has hosted the 1956 Olympics, A-League soccer matches, the annual Australian Open, and local football (Aussie rules) and rugby games. In September, those traditional sporting venues will be turning over to play host to esports. Melbourne Park will be transformed for two days into every player’s dream. Equipped with expo halls and live tournaments. Featuring local heroes and international players. It’s a playground for the young and the old alike.
Grand Finals and competitive play
Everyone is excited to see some of the biggest international esports come to Melbourne. The Melbourne Esports Open will feature two main events — The Overwatch Contenders AU Finals and the League of Legends OPL Finals. Australians often miss out on the international fun, and it’s a costly experience to travel to some of these live competitions. Having the talent and the competitions come to us is something most Aussies have only imagined.
The Overwatch Contenders Grand Final will take place on the Saturday. The top 12 teams across Australia and New Zealand have been battling it out across a number of weeks. The season 2 finals will hit the main stage at the Melbourne Esports Open. The top two teams will be competing for the title and a share in a $AU67,000 prize pool.
The League of Legends Oceania Grand Final will be held on the Sunday. The top two teams will duke it out live on stage. The winner will go on to participate in the League of Legends World Championship. Worlds, as it’s known, are set to take place in South Korea. The exact date and location is yet to be announced.
If League or Overwatch isn’t your thing, then maybe you want to play your way to some prize money of your own.
Open tournaments and new games
Melbourne Esports Open has a range of open tournaments for fans to compete in. There’s Street Fighter V, Pokémon, Super Smash Bros., Forza Motorsport 7, Minecraft, and plenty more. So grab your controllers and start practicing. There’s even a feature match of the brand new Soul Calibur VI. Red Bull will be in attendance with their mobile arena, where you can challenge some of the top Clash Royal players, win a trip to Germany, or just hang out and watch the best high school teams in Victoria. The High School Eleague will feature on the main stage before the OPL Grand Finals.
Plus, JB Hi-Fi has a gaming zone set up in the Expo Hall. They’ll be showing off some of the latest games and upcoming titles. JB has jumped on board the prize train, offering a VIP experience with flights and accommodation to the Melbourne Esports Open. The competition has ended and we’re waiting to see who the lucky winners are.
Melbourne Esports Open to push for gaming hub
This is all exciting stuff for the esports and gaming communities. But what’s everyone else saying about it? The Victorian government sees the Open as a way to break into one of the fastest growing industries in the world. The Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren believes it’s a popular industry, and one they must be in:
The Melbourne Esports Open is a massive scalp for Victoria, tapping into one of the world’s most popular sectors of the sports and entertainment industry. We’re turning Melbourne Park into every gamers dream[:] giant screens, the best talent and latest technology.
It’s fantastic to see the Victorian government getting behind esports and recognising its legitimacy. Hopefully this opens the world of esports to the mainstream audience. We’re sure to see great success come from this event, and hopefully we’ll see plenty more esports coming to Melbourne, and Australia. For more on esports in Melbourne, check out the Australia Esports Federation’s CS:GO tournament and announcements.
Stay tuned for more updates and information on the Melbourne Esports Open. You can also check out the website to purchase tickets, enter competitions, and plan your experience.
Trending
