We love football as much as our clients, arguably more!  Whilst hosting amazing corporate football events are postponed the Business Fives community can still connect with each other through shared passions.

With this in mind, the first Business Esports FIFA tournament is launching online.

This tournament will be free to participate in and individual or team entries are now open to current clients, admirers or anyone in the wider business community.

Whilst working in isolation we believe teamwork will be crucial.  As social distancing measures are enforced companies are considering the impact this will have on the mental wellbeing of their employees.  At this time it’s important for businesses to continue to encourage employees to be mentally stimulated.

The first Business Esports FIFA tournament will be hosting online to offer a retreat from the stresses of the external pressures we are all feeling in these uncertain times.

With charity a huge driver behind Business Fives having raised over £170,000 and counting entrants will be encouraged to make an optional donation to their local NHS Foundation Trusts or the charity of their choosing with the winners of the tournament receiving a donation to their chosen charity and bragging rights of course.

Format

Business Esports will initially host an online FIFA tournament open to anyone with Xbox or Playstation consoles initially on FIFA 20.  The league format will run much the same as our actual live Business Fives event formats and full rules can be found on our website here.

Entries are now open for colleagues of between 1 and 4 players to form a team and enter under their company name.  Individuals or pairs will be paired up to play with others in similar positions.

Teams of 4 play in an initial round-robin group stage to gauge skill levels before being split into tiered ‘Champions League’ or ‘Europa League’ groups.  The tournament latterly progresses on to the knockout stages where eventually winners of both sections will be crowned.

The matches will see company teams of 4 players playing individual fixtures against the opposing four players in 12 minute FIFA games. The outcome of a single match is determined by the aggregate score of the eight individual fixtures.

Games will be played during the evenings to minimise disruption to normal working hours and kick off times will be staggered to suit daily schedules.

Business Fives, Managing Director John McClarey said “The way in which we communicate and interact with our colleagues, clients and potential business partners is evolving and now is a time for solidarity.

Beyond meeting new connections at our events companies have used them as an opportunity to bond with colleagues, finding common ground and using the competitive environment to get to know the strengths and weaknesses of their co-workers.  At their core, the events have fostered a collaborative environment where companies can have conversations with fellow professionals and we are excited to continue this through Business Esports”.

All companies taking part will have their presence branded and additional marketing exposure will be available through sponsorship packages associated with Business Esports events.

Once companies have registered they will then receive joining instructions in advance of the tournament and be invited to our chat forums.  It is envisaged that industry-specific chat forums and online tournaments will be set up eventually to allow professionals to connect with other peers via their industry sector.

Initially, counterparts throughout the UK will all play together in one section.  The longer-term plans for Business Esports will include the addition of other popular games subject to demand from users.