WESA, the World Esports Association, was founded today, in a bid to further professionalize the world of electronic sports.
Based on similar sports associations such as the NBA, WESA will operate in much the same way as those organizations, creating predictable schedules for players, organizers, broadcasters and fans alike, and bring all stakeholders together at the discussion table for the first time ever.
Eight teams in total have gathered together and contributed to the formation of WESA, including Fnatic, Natus Vincere, EnVyUs, Virtus.Pro, G2 Esports, Faze, mousesports and Ninjas in Pyjamas. Ninjas in Pyjamas’ Christopher “GeT_RiGhT” Alesund is excited about where WESA will take the esports industry:
“It’s an incredibly exciting time to be a part of the esports industry, and its rapid growth in just a few years has made it very clear: there’s growing and more pressing need to structurize it, both on the tournament organizer’s side as well as on the players’ side. WESA will offer us a platform to do just that – organize our work and careers, build a network of safety, and offer a solution to business and legal disputes.”
WESA, being an organization that intends to promote and support the role of players in building leagues, will be the first institution to have an operative player council, which will advocate on professional gamers’ behalf in issues such as league policies, rulesets, player transfers and more, giving players important insights into the balances of decision making within the league and the forming and adjusting of rules which directly impact player careers.
The ESL Pro League for Counter Strike: Global Offensive will be the first professional esports competition played under WESA regulations.
Overseeing the player council and WESA representatives will be Pietro Fringuelli, the first interim commissioner of WESA. Fringuelli, who has a wealth of experience in the sports industry, stated that he is honored to be join the association:
“I’m incredibly honored and excited to join the World Esports Association today, and am looking forward to bringing my years of experience from traditional sports into the world of electronic sports. The formation of WESA, and the growth of the Association in the coming years, will be the critical performance indicators for the entire esports industry – and a real game changer for its every stakeholder.”
