Mercedes-EQ and SK Gaming launch Project Avarosa.

Mercedes-Benz has been a partner of the Esports organization SK Gaming since 2019, and numerous joint projects have already been successfully implemented. Mercedes-EQ and SK Gaming want to follow up on this with Project Avarosa and make a contribution to more equal opportunities in Esports. Project Avarosa involves a scouting process and the subsequent promotion of a League of Legends team consisting of female and non-binary gamers. The goal is to enable the gamers to pursue a professional career and to offer them a safe environment with the best training opportunities along their way.

The requirements for becoming a team member are a minimum age of 16 (parental consent provided) and a performance level defined by an in-game metric – the ranking system. Applications are welcome from gamers ranked Platinum II and up. Residence must be in Europe, preferably in Germany, Austria or Switzerland. Furthermore, the applicant must be willing to travel and participate in offline activities such as boot camps or workshops.

eJuniorCup instead of JuniorCup

Innovative ideas in challenging times: While the 2022 edition of the annual Mercedes-Benz JuniorCup had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus, the SK Gaming eJuniorCup - powered by Mercedes-Benz stood in its stead and became a complete success. The short history of the eJuniorCup began in 2021 when committed trainees acted decisively and internally competed in a so-called soccer gaming community tournament – as a short-term replacement and long-term extension of the traditional U19 indoor soccer tournament which had been held annually since 1991 up until the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mercedes-EQ and SK Gaming launch Project Avarosa.

Mercedes-Benz has been a partner of the Esports organization SK Gaming since 2019, and numerous joint projects have already been successfully implemented. Mercedes-EQ and SK Gaming want to follow up on this with Project Avarosa and make a contribution to more equal opportunities in Esports. Project Avarosa involves a scouting process and the subsequent promotion of a League of Legends team consisting of female and non-binary gamers. The goal is to enable the gamers to pursue a professional career and to offer them a safe environment with the best training opportunities along their way.

The requirements for becoming a team member are a minimum age of 16 (parental consent provided) and a performance level defined by an in-game metric – the ranking system. Applications are welcome from gamers ranked Platinum II and up. Residence must be in Europe, preferably in Germany, Austria or Switzerland. Furthermore, the applicant must be willing to travel and participate in offline activities such as boot camps or workshops.

Time for a new tradition

Together with the Esports organisation SK Gaming, Mercedes-Benz launched plans for the first official eJuniorCup in 2022. "eFootball has been one of our mainstays for years. The concept of the eJuniorCup convinced us straight away: a community tournament for professionals, influencers, the eFootball community and, of course, Mercedes-Benz trainees," is how SK Gaming CEO Alex Müller explains the idea. Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, responsible for Sales, adds: “Professionals and trainees in one tournament - that would be unthinkable in traditional soccer. For me, the eJuniorCup is a fantastic proof that eSports knows no boundaries."

Mercedes-EQ and SK Gaming launch Project Avarosa.

Mercedes-Benz has been a partner of the Esports organization SK Gaming since 2019, and numerous joint projects have already been successfully implemented. Mercedes-EQ and SK Gaming want to follow up on this with Project Avarosa and make a contribution to more equal opportunities in Esports. Project Avarosa involves a scouting process and the subsequent promotion of a League of Legends team consisting of female and non-binary gamers. The goal is to enable the gamers to pursue a professional career and to offer them a safe environment with the best training opportunities along their way.

The requirements for becoming a team member are a minimum age of 16 (parental consent provided) and a performance level defined by an in-game metric – the ranking system. Applications are welcome from gamers ranked Platinum II and up. Residence must be in Europe, preferably in Germany, Austria or Switzerland. Furthermore, the applicant must be willing to travel and participate in offline activities such as boot camps or workshops.

Much enthusiasm and great response

Even in the run-up to the SK Gaming eJuniorCup - powered by Mercedes-Benz, the event met with great interest. The field of participants consisted of three groups and made it even clearer what this tournament premiere was all about: Mercedes-Benz trainees and dual university students from Mercedes-Benz Group AG and Daimler Truck Holding AG, professionals from the Esports scene and influencers, and the winners of the Open Qualifier. This mix of players met with a lot of enthusiasm. Over 500 participants registered for the four Open Qualifiers alone, and around 100 Mercedes-Benz trainees registered for the Trainee Cup.

Mercedes-EQ and SK Gaming launch Project Avarosa.

Mercedes-Benz has been a partner of the Esports organization SK Gaming since 2019, and numerous joint projects have already been successfully implemented. Mercedes-EQ and SK Gaming want to follow up on this with Project Avarosa and make a contribution to more equal opportunities in Esports. Project Avarosa involves a scouting process and the subsequent promotion of a League of Legends team consisting of female and non-binary gamers. The goal is to enable the gamers to pursue a professional career and to offer them a safe environment with the best training opportunities along their way.

The requirements for becoming a team member are a minimum age of 16 (parental consent provided) and a performance level defined by an in-game metric – the ranking system. Applications are welcome from gamers ranked Platinum II and up. Residence must be in Europe, preferably in Germany, Austria or Switzerland. Furthermore, the applicant must be willing to travel and participate in offline activities such as boot camps or workshops.

The final fires up the audience

20 finalists consisting of six influencers, two Esports pros, seven trainees, four Open Qualifiers and one SG Stern member demonstrated their skills in the final. Since no audience was allowed on site due to the coronavirus, a professional live show on the Twitch channel of influencer Tim Latka from SK Gaming brought the finals into the living rooms of the spectators. Mini-games in a Mercedes-Benz EQS as well as a reaction wall and a shot power meter provided the necessary fun factor between the matches. Mert Atasoy played particularly well and reached the final via the Open Qualifier. In the end, however, eFootball pro Furkan "Furky" Kayacik was too strong and secured the lion's share of the prize money.