Esports organiser and production company Calyx has announced the return of Dune Cup Fall Edition, a Middle East Qualifier for the BLAST Premier Fall Showdown.
Calyx has also revealed Warsaw-based interactive media start-up StreamCards and Dubai-based theme and adventure park IMG Worlds of Adventure as main sponsors of the qualifying events.
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The Dune Cup Fall Edition will take place from August 26th-28th calling all Counter-Strike teams to compete in the open qualifier. The Dune Cup will be the MENA counterpart of the BLAST Premier expanded Qualifier Series allowing teams to progress to the BLAST Premier Fall Showdown on October 12th-17th.
Andrew Haworth, Commissioner for BLAST Premier said: “We are delighted to welcome back the Dune Cup for the Fall Season after Calyx’s successful hosting of the Spring Qualifier back in March.
“The MENA region is a hugely exciting region with a promising future and ever-growing talented pool of players – it’s important for BLAST Premier and Counter-Strike to continue to offer teams in this region the opportunity to perform on a global stage so the scene can continue to prosper in the coming years.”
The Fall Showdown will feature a $162,500 (~£117,194) prize pool. Though the winners of the qualifying events will also score a $25,000 (~£18,029) participation fee to invest in the growth of their team and organisation.
As part of the Dune Cup Fall Edition, four teams will receive direct invites and will be joined by two winners from each of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Levant & North Africa Open Qualifiers. The finalist team will have the chance to represent the Middle East at the Fall Showdown.
Ishan Saksena, CEO of Hockwood Games commented: “Calyx is our first step in this region to show to the world that the Middle East and North Africa is a powerhouse of talents and can be on par with internationally acclaimed esports athletes. One such initiative for us to display this is the Calyx Dune Cup Fall Edition.
“The previous iteration had NASR Esports step up to the global stage in BLAST Premier Spring Showdown to face behemoths like Gambit Esports and Astralis. This edition will also focus on local and regional talent and assist them in reaching the big league. Through various partnerships, more focus can also be brought upon brands and their role in esports and in turn contributing to a new source of economic growth via esports.”
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According to a release, StreamCards will deliver interactive gamification solutions while IMG Worlds of Adventure focuses on connecting the esports and gaming community of the region with the ‘world of indoor themed entertainment’.
Daniel Sieradzan, CEO of StreamCards added: “Our partnership with Calyx is an exciting next step toward the fully interactive experience of watching esports live-streams. Both StreamCards and Calyx’s mission is to revolutionize the esports landscape.
“We do it by providing a technology never seen before in esports broadcast, and in the case of Calyx, it is a wonderful journey of bringing esports to the MENA region. We are thrilled to partner with such a like-minded company and build together the future of interactive media.”
Esports Insider says: After Riot Games, we see another big name in the esports scene, BLAST Premier, taking advantage of the MENA region potential. Trailblazers Hockwood Games and Calyx continue distinguishing themselves in the field and region and recruiting valuable sponsors to help their mission.