Melbourne, Australia – ESL, the world’s largest esports company, and TEG Live are today celebrating the conclusion of the 2019 Melbourne Esports Open™, presented by JB Hi-Fi, which saw more than 17,000 esports and gaming fans take part in the biggest festival of esports in Australia.

The two-day event held over the weekend of August 31 - September 1, expanded in its second year, with activities spanning across Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne Arena and Grand Slam Oval.

Pro Competitions

In the League of Legends OPL Finals (Saturday 31 August, Rod Laver Arena), Mammoth took home the win vs. fan favourites Chiefs in a 3-0 upset. Mammoth will soon head to Berlin, Germany to represent Oceania in the play-in stage of the 2019 League of Legends World Championship.

On Sunday 1 September, Australia’s top Overwatch teams, Mindfreak G and ORDER, took to the Rod Laver Arena stage for the Overwatch Contenders Australia 2019 Season 2 Finals, where ORDER showed dominance in a 4-0 victory and claimed their share of the season prize pool totalling $100,000 USD.

Meanwhile, in Margaret Court Arena, FNATIC took home the Rainbow 6 ‘Six Masters’ title, toppling ORGLESS in an intense 2-1 victory. FNATIC will take home $20,000 AUD, the lion’s share of the $50,000 AUD total prize pool.

Open Video Game Tournaments

Attendees had the chance to compete in any of 15 open video game competitions over the course of the weekend, with titles including Minecraft, Halo and Rocket League. Fans of all ages were given the chance to compete on the Fortnite Stage in Margaret Court Arena, which featured a prize pool of $20,000 AUD across open and charity tournaments thanks to a contribution from Epic Games.

Family Activities

The JB Hi-Fi Game On Zone in Melbourne Arena hosted some of the latest in gaming, with attendees given the chance to try out unreleased games including Borderlands 3, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint and Marvel’s Iron Man VR. On Grand Slam Oval, attendees had the chance to test their skills against Australia’s largest inflatable obstacle course - The Monster.

Following the success of the weekend’s event, Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula said: "Melbourne Park has come to life over the weekend, with thousands of digital gaming fans converging for the live esports action. Digital game development is a growing opportunity for our creative sector, and we're proud to support this fast-growing industry that is bringing so many enthusiasts together.”

TEG Live Managing Director Tim McGregor said the record crowds across the weekend reinforced the rapid growth of esports in Australia: “TEG Live is extremely proud to be the leading promoter of esports in Australia and delivering world-class events such as the Melbourne Esports Open in partnership with ESL. Esports is not just the future but it’s the now, with not only record crowds attending this weekend’s event but huge numbers streaming the games across the world. With the support of the Victoria Government and presenting partner JB Hi-Fi, we look forward to an even bigger Melbourne Esports Open in 2020.”

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For more information, contact: Rebecca Wallisch - PPR

Rebecca.Wallisch@ppr.com.au

M +61 450 965 154

Alex Blaikie - PR | ESL Australia press.aus@eslgaming.com

M +61 401 947 878

Follow the Melbourne Esports Open on social media:

https://www.facebook.com/MelbEsportsOpen/ https://www.instagram.com/melbesportsopen/ https://twitter.com/MelbEsportsOpen

#MEO2019

ABOUT ESL:

ESL, a part of the international digital entertainment group MTG, is the world's largest esports company, leading the industry across the most popular video games with numerous online and offline competitions. It operates high profile, branded international and national leagues and tournaments such as the Intel® Extreme Masters, ESL One, ESL National Championships and other top tier stadium-size events, as well as grassroots amateur cups, leagues and matchmaking systems. ESL covers a broad field of services in gaming technology, event management, advertising and television production, fully catering to the needs of the esports ecosystem. With offices in North America, Germany, Russia, France, Poland, Spain, China, and partners in many other countries, it has a truly global footprint (www.eslgaming.com).

ABOUT TEG LIVE:

TEG Live is wholly owned by TEG, Asia Pacific’s leading ticketing, live entertainment and data analytics company. TEG Live is a dynamic and diverse promoter of live content in music, sport, family entertainment, esports and exhibitions. TEG Live connects millions of fans every year with unique live experiences and adds value to events with hospitality and sponsorship services. For more information, visit: http://www.teglive.com.au

ABOUT VISIT VICTORIA:

Visit Victoria is the State of Victoria’s primary tourism, business and major events company, leading the sector in creating, curating and communicating Victoria’s inspiring experiences to maximise visitation. Established in July 2016, Visit Victoria brings the best of Tourism Victoria, Victorian Major Events Company and Melbourne Convention Bureau under one brand that capitalises on commercial opportunities in an increasingly competitive and dynamic global tourism market. The team operates in a collaborative and agile environment that informs, connects and partners with industry and the Victorian State Government to amplify Victoria's profile.

ABOUT JB HI-FI:

JB Hi-Fi is Australia’s Largest Home Entertainment Retailer. Famous for low prices, the biggest brands and genuine personal service from our experienced specialist staff. JB Hi-Fi has a huge range of products across Consumer Electronics, Home Appliances, DVD and Blu-Ray, Music, Console and PC gaming.

ABOUT FAIRFAX EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT:

Fairfax Events & Entertainment produces a portfolio of major events with an expanding calendar of culture, entertainment, food, sporting, business and family events attracting millions of participants each year. Fairfax Events & Entertainment partners with key stakeholders including advertisers, sponsors, charities, community groups, participants, sporting and government bodies. Some examples of the Fairfax Events are The Sun Herald City2Surf, Good Food Month, Night Noodle Markets, The Essential Baby & Toddler Show and American Express Open Air Cinemas.