PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN’S ESPORTS STARS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FIRST PSG ESPORTS CHALLENGE IN SINGAPORE

Lucas « DaXe » Cuillerier and Johan « ManiiKa » Simon, two players from PSG esports’ FIFA team, will accompany the Paris Saint-Germain men’s football team during the Club’s 2018 Asia summer tour from July 25th to August 4th.

On the 29th July at Clarke Quay in Singapore, they will measure themselves against the best players from Asia such as the Singaporean team, Team Flash - consisting of national representatives Amraan « Amraan » Gani and Joseph « Zarate » Yeo, as well as the regional champions from the recently concluded Asian Football Gaming Championships and the winners from the Paris Saint-Germain Community Tournament.

Alongside the International Champions Cup (ICC), the organisation of this brand-new event, the PSG esports Challenge 2018, demonstrates the dynamism of the esports movement and the Parisian club’s pioneering approach towards this sector. This is the first Paris Saint-Germain esports activation dedicated to fans in Singapore.

In November 2016, the President of Paris Saint-Germain Nasser Al-Khelaifi officially launched the esports section of Paris Saint-Germain, introducing its first FIFA players and a League of Legends team competing in the European championship. A year and a half later, the Parisians have won five trophies on FIFA, two on Rocket League and are, since a few months ago, represented at the highest level on DOTA 2 by PSG-LGD team based in Shanghai in China, who have already won two trophies.

Fabien Allègre, Director of Merchandising and Diversification at Paris Saint-Germain, declared: “In 2011, our President affirmed the club’s ambition to become one of the biggest sports franchises in the world. To achieve this, Paris Saint-Germain is innovating. With esports, we are diversifying the Paris Saint-Germain brand in order to reach a new audience and notably young people in Asia with whom these new heroes resonate.”

Sebastien Wasels, Managing Director of the Asia-Pacific region at Paris Saint-Germain, added: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to bring our champions to Singapore during the club’s summer tour. The PSG esports Challenge 2018 is a new step in the development of Paris Saint-Germain and of PSG esports in Asia. For this first edition, we have the pleasure of collaborating with the Singaporean team, Team Flash. A first which will be extended on the long term. Esports is an integral part of the club’s international development strategy and we hope to leverage the popularity of the sport in this region and engage with the wider esports community.”

Paris Saint-Germain’s men’s team will be on its summer tour from the 25th July to the 4th August 2018. The team will be in Singapore from the 25th July to the 1st August where it will participate in the International Champions Cup (ICC) against Arsenal (28th July) and Atletico (30th July) before making its way to Shenzhen, China to compete in the Champions Trophy against AS Monaco (4th August). Throughout the tour, Paris Saint-Germain will organise events and digital activations to engage its supporters and to develop the brand in Asia.

2018 is an essential year in the development of the club in Asia. After the opening of the Club’s Asia-Pacific office last April, the Club has launched several breakthrough initiatives, ranging from ground-breaking Desports partnerships, an innovative PSG Park in Shanghai to a large-scale grassroots & elite development programme for Chinese school children in Shandong province, as well as significant investments in esports. The Club will also benefit from the signature of the French Football League LFP for CCTV to broadcast Ligue 1 games in China starting from next season. Everything is now in place for Paris Saint-Germain to break through in Asia in the coming years.