29 September 2021
SEMPER FORTIS ESPORTS PLC
("Semper Fortis Esports" or the "Company")
Semper Fortis recruits new roster to compete in FIFA
Semper Fortis Esports PLC (AQSE: SEMP), the esports company focused on establishing esports teams, forming brand and technology partnerships, and providing business to business advisory services, is pleased to announce it has signed a new competitive roster to compete in FIFA, a hugely popular football simulation video game published by Electronic Arts (EA).
The new team, playing under the SMPR brand, comprises Mitchell Hayward 'Mitch' (GB) and Jaskarn Singh Kang 'Jas' (GB). The players have both signed one season contracts with an option to renew for a further year. They will receive an annual salary and performance incentives.
The new hires take the total number of active players on SMPR roster to 6 and opens the brand up to a new competitive esport and audience type across a digital presence. The players come with a distinguished digital footprint and proven track record.
Mitch is ePremier League PS4 Vice Champion and two times Sheffield United ePremier League Representative. Mitch comes with a digital footprint of circa 12,000 across social media channels.
Jas is a previous representative for Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion in the ePremier League. Jas comes with a digital footprint of almost 9,000 across social media channels.
They will kick off their careers under the SMPR banner by competing in The EA SPORTS FIFA 21 Global Series where the top FIFA players in the world prove themselves. In 2021, a total of $400,000 in prize money will be distributed at the FIFA 21 Global Series playoffs.
There are multiple other tournaments that the team will also be able to qualify for including eChampions League 2021 and FIFA eWorld Cup 2021, although these are yet to be officially announced for the upcoming 2021/2022 season.
Interest in competitive FIFA continues to grow. According to EA, the title's 2019 eWorld Cup Grand Final viewership increased by 60% compared to the previous year to 47 million views, setting a record for the title. At nearly $2.9 million in prize money distributed for 2019, FIFA is the largest sports simulation esport, and 11th largest esport overall. In its annual report, EA confirmed that it made $1.6 billion (£1.1bn) from game sales from April 2020 to March 2021. In 2020, for the first time in its history (according to financial statements), the governing body of FIFA has made more from gaming than football.
Kevin Soltani, CEO of Semper Fortis Esports, commented: "Our entry into FIFA esports is a significant strategic step. Professional FIFA esports has been fast growing. The game has always had a loyal following and huge player base, and from a competitive standpoint, it has been able to generate large audiences both on PC and console.
"As the season begins and we head towards the World Cup 2022, Semper will be playing a more active role in the FIFA esports community, with full gaming participation and activations of our own and with the participation of one of our Ambassadors Dominic Calvert-Lewin."
For more information, please contact:
| Semper Fortis Esports plc |
via Square1 Consulting |
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Kevin Soltani, Chief Executive Officer Jassem Osseiran, Chief Operating Officer Max Deeley, Finance Director |
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| Hybridan LLP - AQSE Corporate Adviser and Broker |
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| Claire Noyce, Managing Partner, Corporate Finance Niall Pearson, Head of Corporate Broking & Sales |
+44 203 764 2341 +44 203 764 2343 |
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| Square1 Consulting |
+44 207 929 5599 |
| David Bick
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+44 7831 381201 |
About Semper Fortis Esports plc
Semper Fortis Esports PLC is a multi-operational Esports organisation converging high growth team infrastructures, gaming technology solutions and corporate business advisory services. Best known for its competitive esports team SMPR, Semper Fortis leverages its position in competitive electronic sports to produce disruptive game-based solutions and interactive experiences fusing physical and digital.
Semper Fortis translates in Latin to "Always Strong", channelling its expertise in sports, media and entertainment to strengthen, innovate and add value to the Esports ecosystem in the United Kingdom.
About FIFA
FIFA is a soccer (football) simulation franchised and published by EA Sports, a subsidiary of Electronic Arts. With a new version released each year, FIFA is the 6th best-selling franchise in the history of gaming, having sold a reported 325 million copies as of 2021.
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