[the_ad id=”31605″]DOHA, QATAR: Vodafone and ESL, the world’s largest esports company, have launched the Vodafone 5G ESL Mobile Open – a mobile gaming tournament with the first Grand Final in competitive international eSports to be played live over a 5G network.

The Vodafone 5G ESL Mobile Open is open to players from 17 countries where Vodafone is present that includes Qatar. The competition features the popular online mobile game: arcade racer Asphalt 9: Legends.

Online qualifiers for Asphalt 9: Legends will take place in a series of eight separate week-long cups scheduled from 10 June to 1 September 2019. Qualification will be based on ‘fastest time wins’, with four qualifying cup events open for players using either iOS or Android devices.

The best players from each weekly cup will qualify to participate in the Grand Final at Milan Games Week on 28 September 2019.

Asphalt 9: Legends online qualifying dates
10 – 16 June 2019 — Cup 1 – iOS
24 – 30 June 2019 — Cup 2 – Android
8 – 14 July 2019 — Cup 3 – iOS
22 – 28 July 2019 — Cup 4 – Android
29 July – 4 Aug 2019 — Cup 5 – iOS
5 – 11 August 2019 — Cup 6 – Android
12 – 18 August 2019 — Cup 7 – iOS
26 Aug – 1 Sept 2019 — Cup 8 – Android

The Grand Finals will be contested live only on Vodafone’s 5G network, providing a major showcase of Vodafone’s high-speed, real-time 5G network for gaming.

There is a total prize fund of €165,000 for all placing Vodafone 5G ESL Mobile One live finalists, including a top prize of €14,000 for the winning Asphalt 9: Legends player.

Vodafone Qatar’s Chief Operating Officer Diego Camberos said, “The Vodafone 5G ESL Mobile Open is the perfect opportunity to show millions of gaming fans the potential of Vodafone’s real-time 5G network with low latency and
ultra-high speeds enabling players to reach new levels of gaming performance on mobile devices anywhere.

“Interest and participation in esports is growing exponentially and Qatar is no exception with 1.5 million gamers.
Vodafone Qatar’s 5G network is rapidly being deployed so we’re excited for Qatar’s gamers to start enjoying the
5G experience.”

Players can sign up for online qualifiers via the official website which will also provide more information about the
tournament, leader boards, highlights and commentator clips, videos and on-the-ground coverage and schedules.

The Company has also marked several 5G milestones- recently Vodafone Qatar became the first in the region to make highly anticipated 5G smartphones available to its customers.

In April this year, it made 5G technology
commercially available to its customers with the launch of – Vodafone GigaHome- the latest innovation in home internet solutions. Vodafone Qatar was also the first to make a live local and international 5G calls using a 5G handset in the region.

Since switching on its 5G network in August last year and receiving the spectrum license to operate 5G commercially, Vodafone Qatar has already deployed 5G in dozens of locations across the country including Al Waab, Abu Hamour, Al Azizya, Al Mamoura, Al Rayyan, Katara Cultural Village, Salwa Road, Souq Waqif and Umm Salal Muhammed.