KICK TV’s Latest Soccer Tournament Mirrors Real-Life Playoffs

Kick TV is out to prove that digital sporting events can be just as exciting as real ones. For its latest tournament, it has paired fans of MLS playoff teams with YouTube gamers for ‘Unlock the Cup‘, a challenge running alongside the actual MLS Cup Playoffs.

This is far from Kick TV’s first FIFA video game tournament. In January, it hosted a free-for-all among the best soccer gamers on YouTube, with all of the fanfare, crowds, and commentary of an actual sports tournament. This time, Kick TV has woven in another realistic element by making the on-field playoff results factor into the online tournament. There’s still a degree of uncanny valley realism to the whole ordeal, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a cool idea.

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Unlock the Cup’s schedule mirrors that of the MLS Cup Playoffs, so it will conclude with a live stream timed to coincide with the MLS Cup Final. The winning fans will receive prizes and the winning gamers will receive bragging rights, so there’s a lot on the line.

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Published by
Sam Gutelle

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