There's still time to register if you want to beat our reigning eLion Fnatic Tekkz

Monday 24 Feb 2020

Donovan 'Fnatic Tekkz' Hunt is one of our reigning eLions - have you got what it takes to beat him?

There's still time to register if you would like to take on our eLions this year and represent England playing FIFA at the eNations Cup.

Last year, we took England on the first steps into the word of esports, by hosting a competition in search of the country's first ever eLions.

In the PS4 category, 'Hashtag' Tom Leese was a surprise winner but it was Donovan 'Fnatic Tekkz' Hutchinson who came into the tournament with a reputation as one of the best gamers in the world and delivered on the big stage.

Do you want to play for @England at the eNations? You’re gonna have to beat me and @HashtagTom_ first!

So if you do wanna be part of the #eLions make sure to sign up here: https://t.co/ky8zHn3NXM pic.twitter.com/iyNv1LITkc
— Fnatic Tekkz (@Tekkz) February 11, 2020

But the time has almost arrived to see if there are any worthy challengers out there for our eLions. This year’s ‘Beat the eLions’ online tournament will run on Xbox and PlayStation, with the first of two qualifiers between 2-3 March and the final qualifier running two days later between 4-5 March.

And FIFA fans based in England and aged 16 and above can now register their interest to take part^* until Wednesday 26 March.

So what has a year in the life of an eLion been like? We caught up with Tekkz ahead of the competition to find out...

The last year as an eLion has been great and it was really exciting to represent my country in the eNations Cup.

I also had the chance to film a YouTube video with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Raheem Sterling. Not only was it great coverage for me but was also interesting to see how successful a FIFA video on England’s football channel was.

I need to defend my eLions title this year so I can represent my country again and hopefully lift the trophy this time. We did well last year, but unfortunately fell short in the quarter-final, so it would be good to have another chance.

What direction to do you see esports going in the future and how does it differ from traditional sports?

I think esports will continue to grow, especially with more football clubs getting involved now. Being a professional gamer takes an incredible amount of time and dedication to learn, practise and master your trade - just like any other sport.

I suppose the main difference between esports and traditional sports is that we play more of a mental game than a physical one but the best part about it is that you get to practise from your bedroom!

Without giving away your secrets, what makes a good FIFA player?

To be a good FIFA player you need to have natural ability and a good understanding of football.

You need to be able to think and react quickly and not panic which leads to silly mistakes. It also helps to practise as much as you can and always have confidence in yourself.

^{^*Terms, conditions and entrance criteria apply}

By Tom Dean