GAMES 15 attracts the world’s best teams for USD$250,000 ESL ESEA Pro League Invitational Dubai

Dubai, United Arab Emirates 3 August 2015: GAMES 15, the premier and biggest gaming event in the Middle East, and ESL, the world’s largest eSports company, are set to host the most anticipated eSports tournament in the region, featuring top first person shooter (FPS) action in the form of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The ESL ESEA Pro League Invitational tournament will see six of the best professional teams from around the globe compete for US$250,000 in prize money as part of the GAMES 15 festival. Hosted in the Dubai International Marina Club from September 10th to 12th, GAMES 15 will be a celebration of all things gaming.

Known internationally as the most premier Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament series, the ESL ESEA Pro League will showcase its talented competitors in a pre-season invitational tournament prior to its kick-off of season two. The six world-class teams that will fight for quarter of a million dollars in prize money are Fnatic, Ninjas in Pyjamas, Natus Vincere, Virtus.Pro, Team ENVYUS and Cloud9. Patrik Sättermon, COO of Fnatic, the winners of ESL ESEA Pro League’s season one competition, said, “we are with excitement looking forward to the next season of ESL ESEA Pro League and we sincerely welcome Dubai as the host city of the kick-off event considering its historical significance for Fnatic and Counter-Strike.'

Guiding the viewing public through top eSports action will be an all-star commentary crew including the likes of Joe Miller, Lauren “Pansy” Scott and Leigh “Deman” Smith. “We’ve got some of the best on-air talent in the world, we’ve definitely got the best teams, and on top of that we’ve got an amazing city to host our competition. Dubai has hosted incredible Counter-Strike events in the past, and we are excited to go back and bring eSports to a stage unlike any other,” said Ulrich Schulze, Vice President of Pro Gaming at ESL.

CS:GO expands upon the team-based action gameplay that the Counterstrike franchise pioneered when it was launched 12 years ago. CS:GO features new maps, characters, and weapons and delivers updated versions of the classic CS content. In addition, it introduces new gameplay modes, matchmaking, leader boards, and more. Featured teams will have to fight through a quarter and semi-final before pitting their skills against another talented group in the grand final

Aside from the eSport Tournament, GAMES 15 will also feature two other pillars, the Expo and Festival. The Expo will focus on early access to the latest games and demos from publishers like Sony PlayStation, XBOX, and many leading games publishers, giving fans a chance to experience games well ahead of their release dates. Forums and workshops on the gaming business and education will also be conducted by the geniuses of the industry. Celebrity guests, fun activations, cosplay and a great F&B selection can also be expected at the Festival.

GAMES 15 celebrates the culture of gaming in the Middle East region and aims to solidify Dubai as one of the most relevant gaming hubs in the world. It caters to all gaming enthusiasts from an avid gamer, console/PC gamer, casual gamer, elite gamer, tabletop gamer or someone who just knows how to have a good time. The event is organized by the team behind Middle East Film and Comic Con (MEFCC), Extra Cake, and The Middle East Gaming Alliance; and supported by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) who are all thrilled to announce more confirmed activities and guests in the coming weeks.

“Dubai’s year-round calendar of events continues to grow in both its size as well as its diversity thanks to events such as GAMES 15,” said Hamad Mohammed Bin Mejren, Executive Director, Dubai Events and Conventions Bureau at Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. “As a young vibrant city, we continuously seek to reflect the very best of both local and international culture, entertainment and innovation through all Dubai events and GAMES 15 is no exception.”

Tickets on Sale Soon

Tickets will be on sale soon at Virgin Megastores in-store and online.