N3rd Street Gamers is adding Overwatch to its National Championship Series of esports, beginning on March 23 in a deal with Blizzard to run sanctioned Overwatch tournaments throughout the year. Prize pools for tournaments in the Overwatch National Championship Series will reach as high as $50,000 for amateur competitors. “We are eager to work with N3rd Street Gamers to bring more tournaments to the amateur Overwatch community in 2019 and continue building local engagement around Overwatch competition,” said Jon Spector, Overwatch League Director of Franchises and Competition. Players will be able to participate in amateur esports tournaments in multiple cities around the country, including Philadelphia, Denver, Boston, Arlington, and Washington, D.C. The NCS Grand Finals will occur in October 2019 at Localhost Arena in Denver.

“We’re excited to be able to serve the market with in-person, local area network showcase opportunities that attract college scholarships and professional recruitment,” John Fazio, founder and CEO of N3rd Street Gamers, said of the increased visibility the series will bring to collegiate players.

“Supporting the T3 scene has always been a top priority for the Fusion,” said Philadelphia Fusion President Tucker Roberts. “Overwatch League is the first major global city-based esports league, and we are committed to growing the Philadelphia community. Ever since our Hometown Heroes event, we’ve seen tremendous turnout for amateur competitions in our market.”