The world's best Xbox One players are preparing to meet in Hamburg to do battle in the FIFA 19 Global Series Playoffs. For the 64 players participating in this tournament, this is the last chance to earn Global Series Ranking Points, which determine whether they qualify to the upcoming FIFA eWorld Cup.
The tournament begins July 5 with the Swiss Round. The Round of 32 and round of 16 follows the next day. Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals are scheduled for July 7.
So just how important is this tournament for the players? As mentioned, it offers points that determine the global rankings. The point allocation for the FIFA 19 Global Series Playoffs are:
- 1st: 1800
- 2nd: 1080
- 3rd-4th: 720
- 5th-8th: 540
- 9th-16th: 350
- 17th-32nd: 275
- 33rd-64th: 200
As with any esports tournaments, its not all about points. There is also a cash prize. The winning breakdown is:
- 1st - $75,000
- 2nd - $35,000
- 3rd-4th - $20,000
- 5th-8th - $10,000
- 9th-16th - $3,500
- 17th-32nd - $1,000
- 33th-64th - $500
So who are the players to watch out for in this tournament? According to a post by EA, there is F2Tekkz from team F2. Currenty ranked number one in the world, this Englishman has so far won seven titles this year. He is considered the favorite to win and we'll see if he gets to add more trophies to his collection. The second ranked player, Msdossary of Rogue, is another favorite. He is currently the reigning FIFA eWorldCup champion and has a rivalry brweing with F2Tekkz.
MegaBit of Werder esports, ranked in fourth place, is another consideration and just won the Virtual Bundesliga 2019 last May. With this tournament being held in his home country, fans are hoping he puts a strong enough showing to get the win. SK Gaming's DullenMIKE, who is currently in ninth place in the rankings, may have only qualified to four live events this year, but he caught the attention of a lot of people after winning the FUT Champions Cup in January. It's not just about players with teams, as free agent DrNightWatch is another player to watch. DrNightWatch joins this tournament with a lot of confidence, especially after he eliminated F2Tekkz in last month's eChampions League.
The tournament is to be hosted by Jimmy Conrad working with Spencer “Spencer FC” Owen. During the matches, the action is going to be called by Richard Buckley, Dan Gaskin, Mark Hatcher, and Brandon Smith. Rounding out the broadcast team are Alan Avila, Mike LaBelle, Rachel Stringer, and Kyle Walker.
