The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Everything you need to know about the upcoming Gfinity Elite Series

The Gfinity Elite Series' finals are almost here, so every match matters. (Image: Gfinity Australia)
28th May, 2018
0

The robust Australian sporting scene adds a new league to its number this weekend, with the launch of the Gfinity Elite Series esports competition. Here’s everything you need to know about what’s been dubbed the ‘Big Bash League of esports’.

What is it?

The Gfinity Elite Series is a seven-week, six-team esports competition – the first city-based esports competition in Australia. The competition pits six teams against one another in three different sports; CS:GO, Street Fighter V and Rocket League.

Separate fixtures and standings are maintained across the three titles, with individual champion teams set to be crowned at the conclusion of each sport’s tournament. The six teams will be competing for a share of a $225,000 prize pool – $70,000 of which will be awarded to the club that performs the strongest across all three games.

The clubs will play off against each other once across the first five weeks of the competition, before a two-week finals series takes place.

In addition to being the first city-based esports competition in Australia, the Elite Series was preceded by an amateur competition called the Challenger Series. Ordinary gamers had the opportunity to participate in the aforementioned three games, with a number then drafted onto the Elite Series rosters.

Who’s in it?

The Gfinity Elite Series features six teams, all based in Australian capital cities.

Advertisement

They are the; Brisbane Deceptors, Melbourne Avant, Melbourne Order, Perth Ground Zero, Sydney Chiefs and Sydney Roar.

The Chiefs, Avant, Order and Ground Zero are all offshoots of existing Australian esports franchises of the same names. The Deceptors and Roar are owned and operated by Gfinity.

Sadly, there’s no Adelaide team this time around, but South Australian esports fans should be made aware that Perth’s Rocket League roster is made up of loan players from the Adelaide Crows-owned Legacy Esports.

When is it?

The competition begins this Saturday, June 2, at 3:00pm (AEST), when the Brisbane Deceptors take on the Melbourne Order in CS:GO.

CS:GO matches will be played every Saturday, starting at 3pm (AEST) and concluding at roughly 8pm. Rocket League will be played on Sundays from 10am until 1pm, while Street Fighter V will be played on Sundays from 4pm until 7pm.

The regular season will run from June 2 until July 1, with the finals set to take place from July 7 to July 15.

Advertisement

If that’s not enough esports action for you, a second Elite Series season is scheduled to run at a later date this year.

You can view the full Gfinity Elite Series fixture here on The Roar.

Where is it?

All matches for the first Elite Series season will take place at a newly-built esports venue in Sydney’s Entertainment Quarter at Moore Park.

The new venue, a joint venture between Hoyts and Gfinity, is reportedly the first of several dedicated esports venues to be built in Australia.

While regular home and away play is in the pipeline, if you’re not in Sydney, you won’t be able to get to a game.

How do you watch it?

Advertisement

All matches across all three sports of the Gfinity Elite Series will be available to stream for free on Twitch.

The Roar will have embedded Twitch players across the esports section so you can catch all the action.

They look something like this;
Watch the Gfinity Elite Series LIVE on The Roar.

Note: Gfinity Australia is a joint venture with HT&E Events. The Roar is published by Conversant Media, which is owned by HT&E.

close