The ePremier League returns with a difference on Tuesday 7 February, as the players who will represent all 20 Premier League clubs this season take part in the inaugural ePremier League Invitational.
Before the serious action begins at the 2022/23 ePL Grand Finals on 25-26 March, the finalists will join celebrity captains Chunkz and Elz the Witch to face off in a series of entertaining EA SPORTS FIFA 23-based challenges.
Among the 10 tests awaiting the players are a Crossbar Challenge, a 2v2 captain-and-player Pro-Am match, and "Opposite Day", where players must select a goalkeeper to play up front and a forward to play in goal.
The team earning the most points over the course of the competition will emerge victorious.
Team captain Chunkz said: "I have followed the journey of the ePL for the last five years, so it’s mega to be involved in this new tournament.
"The skill that these guys have on the controller is insane, but they’ll be put to the test in different challenges that they won’t be used to. I’m backing my team though and know that they will bring home the ‘W’!”
The ePL Invitational is being broadcast on the Premier League YouTube channel and streamed on the EA SPORTS FIFA Twitch channel from 16:00 GMT on Tuesday 7 February.
Coverage will be fronted by presenter Rachel Stringer, with esports experts Brandon Smith and Richard Buckley commentating on the action.
Former ePremier League champion Tom Leese, who will be representing Spurs at the ePL Finals, said: "The ePL is one of the most established competitive FIFA tournaments in the world, giving players the chance to represent the club they love – so it’s brilliant that we have the chance to do so again in the ePL Invitational.
"During the weekend of the Grand Finals, our minds are focused solely on performance, but this event gives us the chance to showcase our skills in a fun way that I’m sure EA SPORTS FIFA 23 fans across the globe can relate to. I’ll still be giving my all to win – and I hope to make Spurs fans proud!"
"The ePL Invitational gives us the chance to showcase our skills in a fun way that I’m sure EA SPORTS FIFA 23 fans across the globe can relate to"
The ePL Invitational comes ahead of the ePremier League Grand Finals, which take place on 25 and 26 March at Here East in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Players will be competing for a prize pool of £100,000, with the four competitors from the top two clubs earning spots in the EA SPORTS FIFA 23 Global Series Playoffs and Play-Ins.
Premier League Chief Commercial Officer Will Brass said: “The ePremier League has gone from strength to strength since the tournament’s inception five years ago. We are always looking at new ways to grow the competition, so we are delighted to add this new event to the calendar.
"The ePL Invitational gives fans the opportunity to get to know our finalists by seeing them go head-to-head in a fun new format, the ideal environment for them to demonstrate their incredible skills.
"With two of the country’s rising entertainment stars leading the teams, I am sure that fans across the UK and beyond will enjoy the show. May the best captain win!”
