NHL‘s first foray into esports is set to kick off on March 24th, with the NHL Gaming World Championship qualifiers starting for the first of four consecutive weekends.
Both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One players will have the opportunity to face off against each other to see who’s the best on NHL 18.
The top eight players from each region that advance from the qualifiers will compete live in studios in May, leading up to the main championship at the Esports Arena Las Vegas on June 19th. The winner will be looking to take home the lion share of the $100,000 (£72,150) prize pool. Not only that, they’ll receive a trophy and an invite to the 2018 NHL Awards.
As with most esports tournaments, Twitch will be the home of the livestream for these competitions – though the NHL is making the most of each tournament by having it broadcast on national television. The European event will be played on Viasat on May 6th, Sportsnet will broadcast the Canadian event on May 11th, and NBCSN will show the American event on May 20th. Players can register now on FaceIt, who is helping the NHL with the Championship.
This revelation has come soon after the announcement of the NBA 2K League draft, where the season begins in May – which is also when the regional tournaments take place on the lead up to the NHL Gaming World Championship.
Esports Insider says: Another huge authority in traditional sports joining the ever-growing industry of esports can only be a positive. Add in the fact that the Championship will be televised, and it sounds like a must-watch for both fans of Hockey and gaming.
