The ePremier League's defending champion says the competition is calling on EA SPORTS FIFA players in the UK to register for this year's competition as it is the ideal platform to prove themselves.
"You should sign up to ePremier League because anything can happen," says Shaun "Shellzz" Springette, who claimed his first esports trophy with Manchester City when winning the 2020/21 title.
"I was a young kid once playing FIFA every day after school. I never thought I was good enough until I qualified for my first tournament and now I've been able to do this as a career."
Online qualifying is already under way to reach the 2021/22 finals, but it is not too late for people wishing to take part.
The ePremier League is BACK 🤩
— Premier League (@premierleague) November 2, 2021
Want to represent your club? Registration is open now 🙌
Open to residents in the UK 🇬🇧
The competition is still open to UK residents aged 16 and over and, with the winning players set to take home a share of the £100,000 prize pool, FIFA players can register at e.premierleague.com?
"The ePremier League is a great opportunity to show the UK players their talents and, you never know, they could be signed to their favourite club and representing them as well," says Shellzz.
Representing Man City on PS4, Shellzz beat the Xbox champion Leeds United's Olle "Ollelito" Arbin on penalties after the contest ended 6-6 following extra-time.
"When I won I didn't realise it was over because I had never got to that part of being the champion and being the winner," says Shellzz.
"I was like, 'Oh my gosh, what do I do now?' So many things were going through my head that I was just so excited and just so happy. It was a crazy feeling."
Shellzz, who has collaborated with Phil Foden, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Sergio Aguero while representing City, acknowledges he will face tough competition from some of the world's best FIFA players in his bid to retain the ePL title.
"Everyone knows Fnatic Tekkz, XL Tom and XL Gorilla are fantastic players, worldwide players," he says. "I'm looking forward to playing them, they're good friends of mine as well.
"There's a lot of good competition out there this year. It's going to be tough, but hopefully I can get the results I need."
The competition will be played on next-generation consoles, PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S, with players able to sign up at e.premierleague.com.
Date | Stage |
16 Nov 2021-19 Jan 2022 | Online qualification |
---|---|
Feb-March 2022 | Club Playoffs |
26-27 Mar 2022 | Grand Finals |