Last week we were excited to be a part of the launch of FIFA 18, one of EA Sports’ most popular eSports franchises and widely considered to be the best soccer game – period.
The event took place at the StubHub Center – home of the LA Galaxy – and one of several MLS venues showcased in this year's edition of FIFA. In addition to celebrating the game’s launch, we got to watch an exclusive invite-only gaming tournament, the FIFA 18 MLS Challenge!
Thirty-two gamers from around Southern California competed for the FIFA 18 MLS Challenge title in what was the very first eSports tournament in FIFA 18. Top players in group stages would advance to semi and final rounds which were streamed live on Twitch.
Legendary pro FIFA player Mike Labelle (aka Hashtag Mike), former MLS player Stephen Keel, and MLSsoccer.com's Susannah Collins, hosted the event on Twitch and even interviewed some of the LA Galaxy players who were on hand to see how the action unfolded.
In addition to winning the title, the winner of the tournament would also receive a pro gaming contract with the LA Galaxy, two tickets to an LA Galaxy match, two tickets to the MLS Cup, and a 55” TCL Roku TV (55P607) – the ultimate gaming TV.
During all stages of the tournament, gamers experienced rich, vibrant colors and fluid gameplay from TCL Roku TVs. Over forty of our Smart TVs were provided, helping gamers get immersed even further into the all-new FIFA 18.
As the tournament progressed, LA Galaxy players including forward Gyasi Zardes got a chance to play FIFA 18 for themselves. On the 55P607, Zardes could enjoy the game’s incredible realism and stunning graphics. It was also a surreal sight, as Zardes is also prominently featured in the game along with the StubHub Center.
The tournament provided incredible action, but the 32 players that started were quickly whittled down to two. The final featured an incredible matchup between John Garcia and Harold Mendoza, known to the gaming world as xbleU7 and iDonHarold, respectively.
At the end of the night it was xbleU7, the No. 7 ranked FIFA player in the world, who emerged as the winner of the coveted title. It was his second major win in two years after he claimed the Manchester City title for FIFA 17 just one year ago. He appreciated the low input lag offered by the TVs used in the tournament and was thrilled to be taking home a TCL TV of his own!
All the gamers got a chance to enjoy a unique experience, playing the latest edition of FIFA at one of MLS soccer’s most decorated clubs, the LA Galaxy. To catch some of the highlights from the FIFA MLS Challenge, be sure to check out the video above. And, don’t forget to check out FIFA 18 now for PlayStation and Xbox.
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