As of: November 26, 2023 12:34 p.m
Schleswig-Holstein was the first to found a state association in June 2021. The country’s best e-athletes have now met in Kiel. The national title was at stake in four games. Mads Schwerdt and his team were also there.
Mads Schwerdt has already spent more than 6,000 hours playing the Rocket League video game. The 19-year-old from Flensburg has been playing for seven years. He wants to win the title with his team “Bim Bam Mi Balon” at the state championships in the Kiel MAX. In mid-October they beat other teams from Schleswig-Holstein in a qualifying tournament that was only held online and reached the final.
115 players from all over Schleswig-Holstein
Mads Schwerdt plays “Rocket League” at the state finals
For the first time he and his two teammates Felix Naumann and Jonas Wesseloh are playing on the so-called stage, i.e. in front of an audience. Around 200 spectators attended his finale in the night theater. Many people also watch the live broadcast at home via a live stream on the Internet.
“Rocket League is all about good communication within the team,” says Mads Schwerdt. The defending champions sit opposite on the stage. The “A Frog” team. The aim of the game: Each player drives a car over a square with two gates. Whoever scores more goals in a round that lasts five minutes wins it. The mode is “Best of Seven”. Mads and his team struggled at the start and quickly found themselves 0-2 laps behind. But they don’t give up.
“E-sports are becoming more and more popular and the state championships are also getting bigger.”
Daniekla Stahl, E-Sport Association Schleswig-Holstein
The first national championships of the e-sports association took place a year ago in the summer. At that time there were three titles: the football simulation “FIFA 22”, “League of Legends” and the car ball game “Rocket League”. This year the title will also be used in the popular game “Super Smash Bros.” carried out. “E-sports are becoming more popular and the state championships are also getting bigger,” says Daniela Stahl from the Schleswig-Holstein E-Sports Association.
The aim of the association: to promote e-sports in the country and to create similar structures for popular sports. “We would like to organize e-sports in the country in such a way that in the future there will also be district leagues or state leagues in which the players organize themselves into clubs and play for their champions, just like in other sports,” says Daniela Stahl .
Schleswig-Holstein is a national leader
The casters “MachtFISCH” and “DavideKant” comment on the Rocket League finals.
Schleswig-Holstein is taking a pioneering role nationwide when it comes to e-sports and was the first to found a state association in June 2021. North Rhine-Westphalia followed later. And Bavaria also wants to follow the example. In recent years, Schleswig-Holstein has invested around 1.5 million euros in promoting e-sports in Schleswig-Holstein. In addition to Kiel, this has enabled four other regional state centers in Heide (Dithmarschen district), Husum (Nordfriesland district), Mölln (Duchy of Lauenburg district) and Flensburg are created. Sustainable e-sports structures should be created.
The money was also used to support the now second national championships. Stefan Herder is also among the spectators in the Kiel MAX. He is the father of one of the most famous German Rocket League players: Lino “LiFox” Herde from Hamburg. “I find it really exciting. I drive my other son to the pitch for football at the weekend, I accompany Lino in e-sports, he has my full support.” Stefan Herde was also there at the University World Championships in Dallas in the USA and cheered on the 23-year-old.
International prize money in the millions
The game “Rocket League” is one of the most popular e-sports games. The world’s best players earn good money. In August the World Championships took place in Düsseldorf for the first time in Germany. The best teams competed in front of thousands of spectators for a total of $2.1 million in prize money. At the state championships in Kiel the framework is significantly smaller. This is all about fame and honor; there is no prize money here.
“Bim Bam Mi Balon” received the Rocket League Finals winner’s medal
Mads Schwerdt and his teammates are still motivated to win the title, even after being 2-0 down. They are now playing more aggressively, changing tactics and relying on more possession of the ball. Thanks to a few mistakes from the opposition, they came close and prevailed in the end. They achieved their goal of winning their first national championship title. “I’m overjoyed, that was really strong of us,” said Mads Schwerdt.
Colin Völter again national champion in e-football
Last year’s winner Colin Völter came out on top in e-football. He plays in the Holstein Kiel e-sports team in the virtual Bundesliga. The team currently ranks in midfield. New at the state championships are the decisions in the fighting game “Smash”. Marc Friedland prevails here. The e-sports game “League of Legends” requires five players. The Holstein team “Hayvans” secures the national championship title.
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2023-11-26 17:06:44
#Esports #state #championships #Kiel #Gambling #title
