By Sagar V. Mankar Grete Lajal and Mariam Musa have emerged as the champions of the Sky Broadband Women’s Esports Finals.
Lajal triumphed in the Racers Eseries – a professional racing simulator tournament, while Musa claimed victory in the Football Eseries – a knockout EA Sports FC 25 tournament – beating other competitors from the UK.
Both winners not only secured a share of the £50,000 prize fund but also earned professional contracts.
This tournament is notable for being the first women’s esports event to award professional contracts alongside cash prizes.
Following her win in the Racers Eseries, Lajal expressed her excitement, saying,
“I am so happy, and also surprised! I definitely didn’t know what I was getting myself into! I would have never thought I could participate in a race like this if it wasn’t for this event. I’m so excited about finding a new hobby where I can constantly improve at the Sky Guild Gaming Centre. Today went really well, but I know there’s so much more to come.”
On the other hand, Football Eseries winner Musa (Twitch username ‘Futheda’) shared her joy, saying,
“It feels crazy to be the Football Eseries champion, it doesn’t feel real. It was amazing to have that many women come out and showcase their talent at Sky. I’m looking forward to the support that Guild Esports and Gaming can offer. Hopefully, I can work with their coaches, compete in more tournaments, and show more representation as a person of colour as it’s really hard to enter the space.”
Promoting Diversity and Inclusion
The Sky Broadband Women’s Esports Finals were organized by Sky Broadband in partnership with Guild Esports and Gaming. This initiative was part of a broader mission to promote diversity and inclusion in gaming. Research indicates that only 5% of professional gamers are women, showcasing the need for more inclusive opportunities within the esports community.
Football star David Beckham is the ambassador of this initiative.
Event Highlights
The event took place at Sky’s headquarters in London and was live-streamed on both Sky Sports and Guild Esports’ YouTube channel.
Both winners received professional contracts which included connections with other professional gamers and sponsors, as well as support from experts, mentors, and coaches to help them continue their professional gaming careers for the next 2 years.
Amber Pine, MD, Sky Connectivity, commented on this event:
“At Sky Broadband, we’re incredibly proud to have partnered with Guild Esports and Gaming on this groundbreaking initiative, together we are changing the game and proving that esports is a space for everyone.”
[Source: ginx.tv]