Esports Combine Going Virtual

Indiana Esports Development LLC says the inaugural Esports Combine in Indianapolis will now take place in a virtual format. Organizers say the event, scheduled for mid-October, aims to showcase the skills of thousands of esports players and will host more than 1,500 business people and media online.

Plans for the combine were first announced in May. The event was originally scheduled to take place in September at the Indiana Convention Center.

Indiana Esports Development is an organization formed by Franklin-based esports analytics company Harena Data and the Indiana Sports Corp.

“In order to ensure the safety of our skilled esports athletes, industry recruiters, businesspeople, and press, we’re moving the event online and making it even better,” said Bill Dever, chief strategy officer at Harena Data. “Using our in-house esports analytics platform GYO Score, we’ll be able to efficiently track and develop high-level insight for all participants to evaluate their talents, manage tournaments, track analytics, and create a cohesive event.”

The combine will feature numerous events, including more than six large tournaments, educational training sessions and roundtables, a Shark Tank-like pitch session, a college league showcase, and regional and national league play.

Indiana Esports Development says the combine “serves as a celebration of esports and its ever-increasing place in the academic world.”

The event will now take place October 16-18.