The Roland-Garros eSeries by BNP Paribas, an annual tournament for Tennis World Tour on PlayStation 4, will return for its third edition this year.
Presented by the Roland-Garros (French Open) tennis tournament, bank BNP Paribas, the French Tennis Federation, and gaming peripheral maker NACON, the event will also welcome Team Vitality as a partner for the 2020 edition.
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Stephane Morel, Deputy CEO of the French Tennis Federation’s Marketing and Business Development Department, commented in a release: “Following the two previous editions of the Roland-Garros eSeries by BNP Paribas, we are looking to go even further in bringing sport and esports together by calling on prestigious high-profile partners such as Team Vitality. We see this new approach as essential in reaching out to gamer communities and bringing different generations of sports and esports enthusiasts together through the love they share for tennis.”
As part of the collaboration, notable Team Vitality players and staff will “[lend] their support to amateur gamers,” according to a release. Team Vitality’s Laurie “Lyloun” Lagier, Maxime “Robi” Dambrine, Kevin “Brawks” George, and Karim “Airwaks” Benghalia will participate, along with owner and chairman Fabien “Neo” Devide.
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Qualifying events will take place at upcoming tennis tournaments the Masters 1000 Indian Wells, Masters 1000 Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, and the Open Parc Auvergne Rhone-Alpes through May. Ultimately, the grand finals will take place at the French Open at Roland-Garros on June 6th, with the winner earning a trophy and tickets to the French Open men’s singles final.
Vincent-Baptiste Closon, Global Head of Sponsorship for BNP Paribas, added: “This, the third edition of the Roland-Garros eSeries by BNP Paribas, organized in collaboration with the French Tennis Federation, provides us with another opportunity to restate our commitment to innovation in sport in all its forms. Thanks to Team Vitality, we can offer exciting new experiences to tennis and gaming fans.”
Esports Insider says: Bringing in Team Vitality to help promote this event is a smart move, especially given its status as a leading French esports organisation. We’ll see whether Vitality can point some of its sizable fan base towards the competition, which already benefits from its association with the iconic French Open.