The World Esports Association (WESA) has today introduced the inaugural members of the organisation’s Players Council which includes Viktor Jendeby as Council Chairman.
The Players Council members include representatives for each of the teams represented by WESA, including Fnatic, Natus Vincere, EnVyUS, Virtus.Pro, G2 Esports, mousesports and Ninjas in Pyjamas. Each team elected their own team representative.
The players that will form the initial Players Council are as follows:
- Jérôme Sudries (G2 Esports)
- Chris J De Jong (Mousesports)
- Sergey Ishchuk (Natus Vincere)
- Adam Friberg (NiP)
- Wiktor Wojtas (Virtus.Pro)
- Nathan Schmitt (EnVyUS)
- Viktor Jendeby (Fnatic)
The intention is that these will advocate on behalf of all of the pro gamers in the association. It was Viktor Jendeby who was unanimously elected by the players as the WESA Players Council Chairman.
In this role, Jendeby will represent the Council and all of the organisation’s players on the Executive Board of the WESA. As such the aim is for the insight and opinion of the players to be heard, appreciated and taken note of in terms of important decisions for the board moving and esports as a whole.
Jendeby commented: “I was honored to be elected by my team to represent their interests within WESA, as well as my competitive peers to serve as the Chairman of the Players Council. I’m looking forward to work with Commissioner Hershman and the fellow Executive Board members to ensure all players in WESA get the representation they deserve.”
Following its induction and the naming of its executive board, and more specifically the inclusion of prominent ESL executives with no other leagues represented, there has been ample criticism from the esports community at large aimed at the organisation.
The problems lie in that many are rightly skeptical as to whether such a body can remain unbiased and ‘independent’ as is its remit. One of the founding teams FaZe Clan left after just two weeks following outcry from fans, journalists and esports personalities.
Part of the organisation’s statement at the time read as follows: “Today, we are confirming our departure from the Association. FaZe Clan is an organization built with true gamers and true gaming fans. We have a responsibility to voice our opinion and do what’s right for all our members, creators, players and most importantly, our fans; which really is our true voice.”
Whilst the issues with the governance of the WESA remain, the announcement of a Players Council is certainly a step in the right direction.
Ken Hershman, Executive Chairman and Commissioner of WESA said: “I am thrilled that the Players Council has been formed and that there are so many top players willing to take an active role in helping shape this burgeoning industry.
“I have maintained that transparency in everything that WESA is doing is critical to its success, and giving the players a seat at the table is an important step in fulfilling that promise. I am confident that under the leadership of Viktor, the players will now be able to actively contribute to helping esports continue to develop.”