Intel World Open brings esports to 2020 Summer Olympics

Intel has announced the Intel World Open, an esports tournament that will take place on the lead up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.

The tournament will feature Japan-based title Street Fighter V and Rocket League, with a total prize pool of $500,000 (£405,175) on the line.

Intel, alongside ESL, hosted IEM PyeongChang around the time of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in South Korea. The Intel World Open appears to be taking things to an unprecedented level, however.

Kit McConnell, Sports Director at IOC commented: “We are excited Intel is bringing the Intel World Open esports tournament to Japan in the lead up to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.  As we explore the engagement between esports and the Olympic Movement we are looking forward to learning from this event and continuing to engage with the passionate esports community from around the world.”

The tournament will begin with open qualifiers in early 2020, with a live qualifying event in Katowice, Poland following in June. The World Open itself will take place in Tokyo on July 22nd-24th leading up to the Olympics Games.

Esports Insider says: If the IEM event hosted around the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics was a test run, then this feels like the first real attempt at intertwining esports and the Olympics. It’s a great opportunity for the players – in which everyone has a chance to qualify thanks to the open format – and for esports as a whole to be put in the spotlight.

ESI London 2019 – Find out more