Perhaps one of the most important pros of this partnership will be the monitoring GRID will provide. As they curate data, they will ensure that sporting integrity is maintained throughout the event.

Ahead of the tournament, Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) concluded investigations over Spectator Bugs that were used by participants to gain an unfair advantage in 2020. Figuring out the defaulters was made possible through data collected, which is one of the benefits of this partnership.

Chief Product Officer at GRID Charlie Hanley-Nickolls spoke about the partnership, recounting his first experience with PGL, and praised them for their consistency over the years.

“The first esports event I ever attended as a fan was PGL Bucharest back in 2017, and the consistency and quality of what Silviu and his team put out is always first class. The fact that we can contribute to this incredible fan’s experience as the official data partner of PGL for the third year is a real privilege.”

GRID and PGL first got into partnership in 2019 and have since then continued to collaborate. Other sponsors for the 2022 event include betting site GG.bet, Secretlab, and Bitget.

PGL CEO Silviu Stroie also expressed excitement over the renewed partnership, pointing out the importance of data in the esports scene.

“We’re excited to continue our partnership with GRID for the PGL Antwerp Major.”

“Data has become a vital part of the esports ecosystem. The role data plays in broadcast, integrity, and revenue is crucial to the continued growth and stability of the scene.”

GRID has continually secured new partnerships in the esports industry while maintaining former partnerships as it expands its footprint. Earlier this month, they announced the launch of the Champion of Champions Tour, a global tournament circuit.

The event is scheduled to commence in June and will run through to January 2024. The 1.5-year tournament will cut across several regions with an overall prize pool of $3.4 million.

Action in the Antwerp Major has already commenced, with two teams sealing their spots in the Legends Stage. So far, six more teams are needed to bring the number of participants in the Legends Stage to 16.

Team Vitality and G2 Esports are the first two teams to advance from the Challengers Stage. They had a perfect run in the first three rounds of the tournament, with Vitality being the more dominant team.

While two teams have secured berths in the Legends Stage, two others have been eliminated from the Major. Renegades and 9z Team both lost their first three games in the competition. As a result, their chances of advancing to the next round, hence their elimination. They will not be participating in the 4th and 5th rounds of the Challengers Stage.

The winner of the Antwerp Major will walk away with $500,000 of the $1 million prize pool, and direct seeding to the 2022 BLAST Premier World Final. Recall that FaZe Clan has already sealed their spot in the World Final following their stellar display in the ESL Pro League Season 15.

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