SMITE: World Championship comes to Atlanta January 9-11, 2015

Hi­-Rez Studios, a leader in global eSports and makers of SMITE, the popular mythology-themed third-person action game for the PC, today announced that the SMITE World Championship (SWC) will be held January 9-11, 2015, at Atlanta’s 2,750-seat Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

The starting prize pool for the three-day SMITE World Championship is $600,000. That prize amount should increase significantly prior to the event, based on community contributions and exclusive content sales which will be announced by Hi-Rez in the near future, the developer said.

“As SMITE continues to grow, it is quickly becoming a leader in professional competitive gaming,” said Todd Harris, Chief Operating Officer of Hi-Rez Studios. “With teams from North America, Asia, Europe and South America, this will be a truly global championship. We can’t wait to host the world’s best here in our hometown of Atlanta for this landmark event.”

The SMITE World Championship will feature the top two teams each from North America, Europe and China, joined by the top team from Brazil, and the top team from Spanish-speaking South America.

“Competitive gaming and eSports are growing exponentially in Georgia,” said Asante Bradford, Georgia Department of Economic Development project manager. “We are very excited to partner with Hi-Rez Studios for this event to help showcase the growing gaming community in the state.”

Hi-Rez also announced the dates and venues for upcoming live eSports events to be held in North American and Europe, on the path to the World Championship.

In Europe:

A $50,000 LAN Event will be held Saturday, July 26, 2014, at the ESL Studio in Cologne, Germany, featuring the top four teams to emerge from the 10-week EU SWC On-line Qualifying Series.

The SMITE European Championship will be held Saturday and Sunday, November 15 to 16, 2014, at the ESL Studio in Cologne, Germany. This event will feature the top six teams from Europe, with the final two teams continuing on to the World Championship.

In North America:

A $50,000 LAN Event will be held Saturday, August 9, 2014, at the Kessel D. Stelling Ballroom in Atlanta, within the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Complex, featuring the top four teams from the 10-week NA SWC On-line Qualifying Series.

The SMITE North American Championship will be held Saturday and Sunday, November 22 to 23, 2014, at Kessel D. Stelling Ballroom in Atlanta, within the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Complex. This event will feature the top six teams from North America, with the final two teams continuing on to the World Championship.

Qualifying dates and venues for the Latin American and Chinese tracks will be announced at a later date.

Further information on SMITE eSports can be found at esports.smitegame.com.