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The highly-anticipated sixth season of the PKO Bank Polski Ekstraklasa Games is here, coinciding with the launch of FC 24, EA’s latest football game.
This season promises a new competition format, more tournaments, and heightened excitement for both esports players and fans.
For the third consecutive year, PKO Bank Polski is the proud Title Partner of the tournament. Sony PlayStation serves as the technical partner for the Open phase, and the entire competition is organized under a license from EA SPORTS, the game publisher.
What is PKO Bank Polski Ekstraklasa Games?
The PKO Bank Polski Ekstraklasa Games, the official esports Polish Championship in EA SPORTS FC 24 and part of the global EA SPORTS FC PRO ecosystem, reflects the evolving landscape of sports and gaming.
This year’s edition, the largest national competition to date, features two distinct phases: the Open phase, catering to amateurs aspiring for professional esports, and the Pro phase, designed for Poland’s elite players.
Dzisiejsze warunki atmosferyczne na dworze nie są nam straszne 🌨️😅
Wielkimi krokami zbliżamy się do finału 🎮 Partnerem wydarzenia jest @iiyamaCo 🔝#Ekstraklasa | #FC24 | #EkstraklasaGames pic.twitter.com/mi9knfxC8A
— PKO Bank Polski Ekstraklasa Games (@PKOBPESAGames) December 2, 2023
The event’s structure and growing popularity are indicative of a broader trend where, just as some sites, such as Polish Unibet TV, allow you to bet on football, others allow you to bet on e-sport, highlighting the parallel growth of traditional sports betting and the emerging e-sports betting market.
DRAFT Qualifications
A significant new feature this season is the DRAFT qualifying tournaments. Aimed at introducing fresh talent into the PRO competition, these tournaments offer six DRAFT slots, decided through three online qualifying rounds.
Additionally, twelve spots are reserved for the top performers from the previous PRO regular season. Post-qualification, clubs will select players to represent them in the PRO competition.
Ekstraklasa Games OPEN
The OPEN phase continues from last season, offering eight qualifying tournaments conducted both offline and online. These tournaments will determine the eight finalists for the OPEN Finals.
The journey kicks off in Poznań with two qualifying rounds, and further details about the schedule and locations will be announced on our social media platforms and PKO BP Ekstraklasa Discord channel.
Zabrze, Białystok, Wrocław i Warszawa 🗺 To właśnie w tych miastach odbędą się następne turnieje kwalifikacyjne Open 🏆
Oprócz tego czeka nas jeszcze jeden turniej online 🎮#Ekstraklasa | #FC24 | #EkstraklasaGames pic.twitter.com/jLS2ELGH0x
— PKO Bank Polski Ekstraklasa Games (@PKOBPESAGames) November 1, 2023
1st League Tournaments
In a new addition, clubs from the 1st League will participate in dedicated tournaments, enabling players representing Ekstraklasa clubs to compete online. The top two players will automatically progress to the Grand Finals, while those ranked 3rd to 5th will enter the Play-offs.
PRO Competitions
The PRO league abandons the traditional league system for eight gripping online tournaments. Players will earn points across these events, battling for a spot in the Grand Finals or the Play-offs.
This format change promises more intense competition and a fight for top positions up to the last tournament. Notably, cash prizes of PLN 500 and PLN 125 are awarded for the first and second place in each PRO tournament, respectively.
Key Dates and Prize Information
The PRO competition begins on February 6, with weekly online broadcasts scheduled for Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The OPEN Finals, Play-offs, and Grand Finals will feature the season’s top contenders.
The Play-offs are set for April 13-14, 2024, and the Grand Finals, where the new Polish Champion will be crowned, are on April 27-28, 2024. The tournament boasts a total prize pool of PLN 45,000 ( (€10.ooo), with the season’s best player qualifying for the FC PRO World Championship and, along with the runner-up, participating in the eChampions League group stage.
