Gfinity scores deal to run first e-sports Premier League

4th Oct 2018 14:01

(Sharecast News) - E-sports events organiser Gfinity has struck a deal with the English Premier League, cheering investors who pushed the stock well into the black.Gfinity - which runs tournaments where players of computer games compete against each - has been appointed operator of the inaugural ePremier League competition.Under the deal, financial terms of which were not released, Gfinity said it would develop and execute the online qualification as well as hosting 20 competitions, where gamers will play EA Sports' FIFA 19 and represent the 20 Premier League clubs. It is the first time the Premier League has been involved in an official e-sports tournament.The final round will be hosted at the company's Gfinity Arena in Fulham, west London, in March 2019.Shares in the Aim-listed group jumped on the news, and were ahead 21% at 12.68p at 2pm.Garry Cook, Gfinity's executuive chairman and the former chief executive of Manchester City Football Club, called the deal "hugely exciting".