March 26 – Man City Esports became the first club to lift the ePremier League trophy twice after Donovan ‘Tekkz’ Hunt and Matias Bonanno fought off Brighton in last weekend’s final.
Both players picked up £100,000 in prize money as the esports market continues to boom. The 2022/23 edition of the tournament commanded a £30,000 prize fund, which has since tripled as global interest and investment continues to rise in the sector.
The triumph means Tekkz and Matias Bonanno will represent Man City Esports in the eChampions League and the eWorld Championships later this year.
Already an established name in the eSports industry having won a host of tournaments before his 22nd birthday, Tekkz signed with Man City Esports in the summer despite previously playing under Liverpool, the team he supports.
Also signed in the summer, Bonanno took the English league by storm on his debut and became the first professional esports player to win three different leagues having already been crowned the eLibratadores and eLaLiga champion.
The format of the tournament involved a series of double-legged fixtures- one player would play the first match and his teammate would play the second, tallying an aggregate score.
The tournament, which was played using EA Sport’s FC24 game, saw the duo enter at the quarter finals stage, beating Tottenham Hotspur, Luton Town and Brighton on their way to lifting the ePremier League trophy.
The final versus Brighton was particularly intense, as the team relied on Bonanno to score in extra time of the second leg to seal the victory.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1732296504labto1732296504ofdlr1732296504owedi1732296504sni@g1732296504niwe.1732296504yrrah1732296504