Photo courtesy: Sky group
A groundbreaking initiative aimed at promoting women in esports has been announced in the UK, marking a first of its kind in the nation. women’s
This initiative seeks to improve diversity and inclusion within the gaming industry by providing a dedicated platform for talented female gamers to showcase their skills through a series of tournaments set to kick off in April.
Notably, this will be the first women’s esports tournament that offers both professional contracts and cash prizes to winners. This effort comes in response to research showing that only 5% of esports professionals are women, despite women representing 47% of all gamers in the UK.
The initiative is being launched through a collaboration between Sky Broadband and Guild Esports, co-owned by football legend David Beckham. Both organizations share a commitment to fostering a more inclusive esports landscape. The initiative comprises two main tournaments: the Racers Eseries, focusing on SIM racing, and the Soccer Eseries, an esports football tournament.
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The culmination of these events will be the Women’s Esports Finals, which promises to be a landmark occasion. With a total prize pool of £50,000, all competitors in the finals will receive cash prizes, while the two top gamers from the Racers Eseries and Soccer Eseries will each be awarded a professional contract, alongside 18 months of complimentary Sky Broadband service.
The Racers Eseries will take place from April 26 to May 19, both in-person and online, where ten gamers will advance to the Women’s Esports Finals. The dates for the Soccer Eseries are yet to be announced, but the top four gamers from this tournament will also earn their spot in the finals.
The Women’s Esports Finals will be hosted live and streamed from Sky headquarters, with the specific date yet to be determined. Winners of the coveted esports professional contracts will benefit from bootcamp training, access to premium facilities, and guidance from experts, including nutritionists, to help them excel in their careers.
Individuals interested in participating in the tournaments can find more information and sign up at https://www.sky.com/broadband/gaming. Entrants must be UK residents aged 18 or older. Sky Broadband, the official partner of Guild Esports, is facilitating this initiative with its high-speed internet, further supporting the company’s mission to create a more equitable gaming environment.
Amber Pine, Managing Director of Sky Connectivity, expressed the company’s dedication to empowering the gaming community, emphasizing the importance of equal opportunities for female gamers. She noted the significance of this initiative in helping women transition to professional gaming levels, complete with contracts and prizes.
Despite the increasing popularity of esports and substantial prize funds, research by Bryter has highlighted that over half of women believe there is a notable absence of female gamers in esports, with 56% feeling that the gaming community could do more to encourage female participation. However, the study also revealed that 36% of women gamers would contemplate entering an esports tournament.
Ruby Allenby, a professional Fortnite player and the first graduate of Guild’s Academy, voiced her enthusiasm for the initiative, stating that it’s about time to spotlight talented female gamers. She expressed her eagerness to watch the event and support the competitors in their pursuit of recognition.
Jasmine Skee, CEO of Guild Esports, echoed these sentiments, stating that, with women constituting 47% of the UK gaming demographic, there is a strong need for creating opportunities for them to exhibit their talents at high levels of competition. She looks forward to seeing participants from across the country engage in this unique opportunity.
The launch of this pioneering women’s esports initiative aligns with broader efforts by Sky Broadband to foster inclusiveness within the industry. Last year, Sky partnered with Guild Esports and the charity Cybersmile to launch the #NoRoomForAbuse campaign, addressing the harassment women encounter in online gaming.
The campaign revealed that nearly half of UK women gaming have experienced abuse, with a staggering 80% of the messages being of a sexual nature.