The FGS Masters Cups have opened: EA SPORTS is using the stage to showcase FIFA eSports’ self-selected team elite to the public
The FIFA community had reacted with a certain irritation to the presentation of the FGS Masters teams by EA SPORTS in December. 16 eSports organisations have been chosen by the developer and host of the FIFA Global Series (FGS) to spearhead FIFA eSports.
The main criticism at the time was the invitation of these FGS Masters teams to the cancelled TOTY Cup – and the equal distribution of the prize money of 500,000 US dollars. Since EA’s team elite did not have to qualify athletically, many fans felt it was unfair to include them in the pool without a fight.
Inaugural win for Excel Esports
Now the FGS Masters teams, who were also invited to the TOTS Cup in late April without immediate qualification, get to take to the virtual turf. As part of the FGS Masters Cups, which are held every Monday in March, the developer plans to present the teams to the public.
The editions always feature four teams in a single-elimination bracket, with semi-finals and finals played as a result. The first competition was won by Excel Esports with Tom ‘Tom’ Leese and Spencer ‘Gorilla’ Ealing, who followed up their opening victory against BLU United eFC with a 2-1 win over Fnatic in the final.
eNationals vs ‘NRaseck’
German participation comes in the form of NEO and DFB duo Dylan ‘DullenMIKE’ Neuhausen and Kai ‘Hensoo’ Hense, who will face Guild Esports next Monday – and Niklas ‘NRaseck’ Raseck. Strong performances in the FGS Masters Cups are also rewarded: 15,000 US dollars await the winners.
It is debatable whether this prize money would not be better spent elsewhere in the FGS. The biggest problem, however, is the lack of transparency in the composition of this privileged elite: the selection was made “on the basis of previous competition performances” – everyone can and must make up their own minds about this.
