Tencent Games and PUBG Corp. have appointed Chinese technology company Vivo as the title sponsor of the PUBG Mobile Club Open.
Vivo will provide the smartphones used in the competition, which is a big step for the company when it comes to mobile gaming.
Split into two splits – Spring and Fall – the PUBG Mobile Open sees both professional and semi-professional players from 10 regions compete for a total prize pool of $2 million (£1.51 million).
Vincent Wang, General Manager of Global Publishing Department at Tencent Games discussed the deal in a statement: “We are excited to partner with Vivo, as they have a strong reputation in being innovative and putting the consumer’s needs first. As an innovative brand ourselves, this partnership highlights our dedication to bring the best experience possible to our players and fans around the world.
“This partnership is just the beginning, we want to continue building a strong portfolio of partnerships with industry-leading companies, such as Vivo, to provide the best mobile gaming experience possible.”
The Spring Split of the event is currently in its online qualification stage, running from March 22nd-31st. Regional groups and semifinals will take place afterwards, lasting until May 19th with players competing online. The following regional finals will have a mix of online and offline gameplay, leading to the offline Global Finals in July.
The PUBG Mobile Club Open is separate from PUBG Corp.’s official esports season, which launched at the top of 2019. Including six regional pro leagues and three additional regional pro circuits, the annual season is divided into three splits that all culminate with the Global Championship in November.
Esports Insider says: This event is a huge opportunity for mobile gamers, considering it’s not closed off just to those who play on a professional basis. Should the tournament be run without any major issues, this is a big deal for Vivo if it’s looking to be at the forefront of mobile esports.