PUBG Mobile announced that it is launching a global esports ecosystem structure that aims to give players from different levels and different regions a shot at being part of the various tournaments coming in 2020. This should be exciting news to everyone, considering that the tournaments next year will offer a prize pool of $5 million.
Earlier this month, fans and community members worldwide saw the PUBG Mobile Club Open 2019 Fall Split Global Finals, which offered a grand prize of $180,000. The tournament managed to rake in more than 530 million total views along with 57 million watch hours, and this excludes China platforms. Compared to the viewership hours in 2018, this was an increase of more than 11 times, while 2019 watch hours were almost 15 times more than that in 2018.
The PUBG Mobile Club Open 2019 was divided into the Spring Split and Fall Split, and with a $2.5 million total prize pool, was one of the world’s largest mobile esports tournaments. What made this tournament a success was that it provided a path for aspiring semi-pro clubs to pave their way to become esports professionals. This represented the start of PUBG Mobile's esports ecosystem.
According to Tencent Games Director of PUBG Mobile Global Esports James Yang, the success of the tournament and the millions of concurrent viewers is proof of the strength of the community and the true potential and broad appeal for mobile esports. He went on to say that Tencent is happy "to bring players and over 50,000 teams together from different countries around the world, with 10 different regions represented."
For 2020, PUBG Mobile is adding Campus Championships for amateurs alongside the returning PUBG Mobile Club Open for semi-pro and pro players. In particular, the World League for professional players is set to start in May and October in 2020.
The competition starts with separate pro leagues in selected countries and regions including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as South Asia and the Americas. The pro leagues ultimately culminate in the World League, where top pro teams from around the world will represent their respective regions to compete in the World Championship for an even bigger prize pool.
PUBG Mobile is available to download for free on the App Store and Google Play.
