UK-based esports tournament provider and entertainment company Gfinity has been selected by cricket broadcaster Willow TV to design and deliver The eCricket Challenge.
This competition, in partnership with Betway, is a TV series that will see some of the biggest names in world cricket competing against each other in the video game Cricket 19.
Gfinity has devised The eCricket Challenge format, where players compete remotely in five-over matches.
Cricket superstars from across three continents were connected for real-time live games. The pre-recorded shows, hosted from the Gfinity Esports Arena in Fulham, London, will premiere in the US and Canada, with new episodes every Sunday starting on April 19th 2020.
The eCricket Challenge features global superstars including Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad and Liam Plunkett representing England, Kieron Pollard, Jason Holder, and Andre Fletcher joining from West Indies and Glenn Maxwell playing for Australia.
Willow TV is owned by the Times Group.
John Clarke, Gfinity CEO, said: “The eCricket Challenge is another example of how traditional sport is adapting to the increasing demand for virtual gaming.
“Watching some of the world’s best cricketers relax and play against their peers has created some memorable broadcast moments that fans will love. These shows will bring people closer together and put smiles on faces at a challenging time.
“A key pillar of Gfinity’s strategy is to build communities for others and helping organisations reach their key audiences in a virtual world. We are delighted to be partnering with Willow TV and proud to be adding The eCricket Challenge in partnership with BetWay to the portfolio of virtual sports and entertainment products.”
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
