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GamerFest returns to Dublin in October

There’s exciting news on the horizon for Ireland’s estimated 700,000 gamers. That’s because the weekend of October 22nd and 23rd 2022 sees the return of the country’s major event for players and fans alike – GamerFest.

Over the two days it’s expected that 5,000 of them will flock to Dublin’s RDS to play, watch and even meet some of the world’s biggest Twitch and YouTube stars.

First held in 2017, over the years GamerFest has grown in size and reputation while also being a community-led event. So organisers promise that there will be more than ever this year of what gamers actually want to see and do.

There are a number of new partnerships for this year’s event – the biggest of which is the sponsorship of Lucozade. The fact that it has attracted such a major brand to support it gives some indication of what an important event it’s become in the gaming calendar.

Stars who’ll be there

Its increasingly high profile has also been driven by the number of leading content creators who attend and this year’s line-up promises to be an especially stellar one. The names confirmed so far include Antitinkerbell, Jamie Jay Car, The Gara Show, Audrey and the event hosts All Cast Irish Gamerswith many more set to be announced in the run up to the weekend.

All the esports action

 

Since the last live GamerFest, the world of esports has continued to grow at an astonishing rate. Not only has the number of players and followers increased exponentially, the money involved in it has too.

Now a variety of Irish bookmakers have started to include esports tournaments in the number of options that they have for fans. So, we can expect to see betting markets developing on many of the main esports challenges that will be taking place at GamerFest.

These are going to take place on the main stage and mark the event’s first ever official link-up with games developer Ubisoft. One of the showpiece tournaments is set to be the €3,000 Rainbow Six Siege Open. This will be open to teams of gamers with ambitions to compete in the Rainbow Six Siege UK Ireland Nationals.

Success at this event will lead to qualification for the prestigious Premier League and the chance to turn professional as a gamer.

Say hello to Hado

 

Another much-anticipated arrival at the event will be Ireland’s first ever HADO Championship. This represents the very latest advance in augmented and virtual reality gaming.

It takes places on a real life court and involves players trading blows using virtual energy balls with only virtual shields and their own cunning strategies to protect them. It’s been described as a kind of dodgeball for the digital age and promises to be as much fun to watch as it is to play.

Best of all, the winning team in the championship will also qualify to represent Ireland in the European championships to be held in France later in the year.

Plenty of other action too

 

It doesn’t end there. Among the other esports to enjoy will be the grand final of a FIFA championship following the completion of earlier rounds online. There will also be a fastest lap challenge for fans of Sim Racing, with bragging rights for the winners.

Even more exciting is the fact that there will be a tie-up with Rocket League Ireland for an inaugural tournament. With heats being played over the weekend, the grand final will take place on the main stage on Sunday October 23rd. First prize will be €600 for the winning team and the competition is expected to attract a large number of entries.

For fans of Riot Games’ Valorant there will also be a weekend-long competition that is expected to be just as fiercely contested.

The organisers have also announced that a new partnership has been drawn up with Legion Collegiate Esports. This is the country’s esports series reserved exclusively for tertiary-level students from Ireland.

It means that many of the brightest stars and prospects for the future will get the chance to prove their mettle across all of the games being played at GamerFest. So it could be the chance to get a first glimpse at a megastar or two in the making.

Cosplay fans get ready

 

Another very popular element that has been very popular ever since the very first GamerFest has been the attendance of cosplay fans.

The organisers are very much hoping that this is going to be the best year ever for attendees to turn up as their favourite characters from gaming, movie and comic worlds. As an extra incentive there’s the chance to win a prize courtesy of Guild of Nerds in the 2022 GamerFest Dublin Cosplay Festival.

So dust down your galactic stormtrooper uniform or discover your inner spider-sense and you could be one of the lucky winners in this too.

Plenty more stuff to see and buy

 

As if all this wasn’t enough, there’s going to be a wealth of other activities and attractions to enjoy. With displays and exhibitions that showcase the latest in gaming tech, you’ll even have the chance to take some home with you from the event’s marketplace.

Tickets for GamerFest at Dublin are on sale now with special deals for families and a great value weekender pass too. So if you want to be part of what promises to be the country’s gamer event of the year, snap yours up today.

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