FIFA Player from Exeter May Inspire Local eSports Community

Electronic sports or eSports are gaining more and more recognition in the entertainment industry, being a profitable business and even a reputable career move. For those reasons, investing money and focusing some effort in this field might be considered the sign of future. If anyone fancies a local example, the recent success of an Exeter FIFA player should be sufficient.

While there might not be much news around the sports section, the potential of eSports is not lost on our city. There are many people, especially students, interested in this sort of activity who are forming various associations at the University of Exeter. Many of whom have even competed in National University eSports League (NUEL) events, and last year, some of them finished in top positions in the League of Legends National Championship.

Additionally, the local esports community will receive a confidence boost, thanks to what a youngster from Exeter has accomplished earlier this year. In fact, in late January, Donovan (‘DhTekKz’) Hunt won the prestigious FUT Champions Cup in Barcelona. His triumph has been received with a substantial amount of shock, with some even saying it’s the biggest win in FIFA electronic sports history.

In the final two-leg clash, the winner bested Gonzalo Nicolas Villalba, nicknamed ‘nicolas99fc,’ by achieving an aggregate score of nine to three. For his trouble, the talented player took home $22,000 (USD). The amount will not make him an instant industry’s hall of fame member, nor will put him in the company of The Champions of eSports right away, but it is a start and quite an achievement on all counts. Perhaps, we are looking at the beginning of an interesting career in this discipline. Even at this moment, he can be considered a top contender among FIFA Ultimate Team players.

Another big chance of the same magnitude for Donovan, and maybe for many more who would like to follow suit, is the next FUT Champions Cup, which is scheduled for April, as the FIFA 18 Global Series continues. Qualifications for that event have already begun. Perhaps this story could be an extra incentive and inspiration for many aspiring players who dream of making a name for themselves in the business of electronic sports.

Photo by Erica Österberg, CC BY 2.0