Switzerland-based telecommunications company Swisscom has entered a partnership with tournament organiser ESL to launch its very own esports league, the Swisscom Hero League.
The league will run include online matches on a weekly basis in League of Legends, Clash Royale, and Hearthstone. All three titles will be involved in a live grand finals in early 2019.
Michel Siegenthaler, Head of Offers and Marketing at Swisscom said: “Esports is a global trend, so it’s time for this sport to become a major Swiss league. With the Swisscom Hero League, we want to offer a professional platform for esports and also make it accessible to the general public.”
Swisscom is also looking to expand the coverage it provides to gaming and esports through its television package, including the broadcast of notable matches from the competition in 2019. It’s reportedly set to add eSportsTV, ES1, and GINX Esports TV to its package starting October 16th.
Torsten Haux, VP Global Media Rights & eSportsTV at ESL added: “It goes without saying that we would like to support the increasingly popular gaming scene in Switzerland to the best of our ability.
“Our concept From Zero to Hero offers the casual player the possibility to turn his hobby into his profession. The best Swiss eSportsman is probably still sitting on the sofa, and we want to give this person the opportunity to compete internationally with top gamers. With the Swisscom Hero League powered by ESL, we are laying the corner stone for professional gaming in Switzerland.”
ESL’s amateur tournament series Go4 will act as qualifying events for the league, with the top competitors advancing. This qualification method will be used for all three titles.
Esports Insider says: It’s good to see Switzerland get its own league for a variety of titles. League of Legends is obviously a powerhouse, Clash Royale is an emerging mobile esport with a newly-launched league of its own, and Hearthstone is incredibly popular within the TCG community. ESL being involved almost guarantees quality, which is a promising start.