The start-up company PlayVS announced today that it has partnered with Riot Games to bring League of Legends tournaments to five states in the U.S.
PlayVS, which aims to establish competitive esports in states across the country, is beginning its beta season next month, using League as a trial run. Students in Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island will have the opportunity to sign up for tournaments that lead all the way up to state championships.
High schools can submit any number of teams they want, which will be separated into conferences similar to those used in traditional high school sports. Teams play to become conference champions, then move on to state playoffs.
Players can use the PlayVS portal to sign up, check statistics and standings, receive match schedules, and even play the game. All matches are played from each student’s school through the portal, except the state championship tournament, which will be held in front of a live audience.
PlayVS is a start-up company partnered with the National Federation of State High School Associations, which is the organization that oversees sports in most high schools in the U.S. Backed by names like the San Francisco 49ers and Twitch co-founder Kevin Lin, PlayVS gives colleges easier access to students seeking esports scholarships.
To participate, schools must pay $64 per player per season. The inaugural season will begin in February 2019.
