Playfly Sports owned CSL Esports have announced that PrizePicks, the largest independently owned daily fantasy sports (DFS) operator in North America will serve as their official DFS partner.
Details about the collaboration
The partnership will feature a CS:GO digital open tournament in the fall called “The PrizePicks AWPTOBER Classic” with a prize pool of $25,000.
Taking place in October, the PrizePicks AWPTOBER Classic will feature hundreds of collegiate esports teams from across North America. The final rounds of the tournament will be held during the last two weekends of October and will be broadcast on CSL Esports’ Twitch channel. Registration for the tournament will begin on September 22nd.
Uniquely suited to such an esports-based collaboration, PrizePicks differ from other DFS operators in that they allow fans to play against the number rather than each other and they boast the largest offering of esports titles in the industry – featuring League of Legends, CS:GO, Rocket League, Valorant and Call of Duty. They also have a standing partnership with Atlanta-based Ghost Gaming.
CSL Esports and PrizePicks will also collaborate with the*gameHERs, a women-led community dedicated to amplifying and centering the voices of women, femme-identifying gamers, and non-binary gamers who are comfortable in spaces that center on women. With PrizePicks sponsoring the Esports Top Team of the Year award at the 2021 gameHERs awards, this collaboration will enable the PrizePicks AWPTOBER Classic tournament to reach a wider and more diverse audience.
Commenting on the partnership
Rob Johnson, CEO of CSL Esports stated that they were excited to be partnering with PrizePicks, an organization with an exceptional track record in fantasy sports. The PrizePicks AWPTOBER Classic is a clear example showing PrizePicks’ commitment to supporting collegiate esports athletes and both CSL Esports and PrizePicks are focused on enhancing student and fan experiences everywhere. He feels very confident that the partnership will deliver a level of excitement never before seen in esports.
“Esports has gone from being a lifeline for fantasy sports in 2020 to a true line of business for us in 2021 and beyond. Collegiate esports is among the industry’s fastest-growing segments and this partnership will continue to foster that interest through the intersection of the esports and DFS audiences.”
Adam Wexler, PrizePicks CEO
Rebecca Longawa, collegiate strategist for the*gameHERs commented on the partnership by saying that their aim was to support the collegiate ecosystem through amplifying existing events and working with brands and organizations who believe in their mission to create safe and inclusive spaces for women who game.
She stated that partnering with CSL and PrizePicks for this event will not only encourage more women to tune in and participate, but will also give them peace of mind knowing every participant of the tournament will be following the*gamerHERs code of conduct.
CSL Esports have already made big strides to support collegiate esports by joining and supporting the NACE Starleague announced earlier this year. With the addition of PrizePicks’ acumen and the*gameHERs’ wider reach, this partnership looks promising to enhance both collegiate as well as female gaming experiences and opportunities.
