Winners crowned of the UK’s first-of-its-kind women’s only esports initiative

Published: November 11, 2024 — Grete Lajal and Mariam Musa have been crowned winners of the UK’s first-of-its-kind women’s only esports initiative.

• The initiative, which featured three phases and a prize pot of £50,000, as well as the chance to win professional contracts, came to a thrilling conclusion with the Women’s Esports Finals this weekend

• The ground-breaking tournament was created by Sky Broadband in partnership with Guild Esports and Gaming whose ambassador is David Beckham

• The Women’s Esports initiative aimed to promote diversity and inclusion in the gaming world following research revealing a mere 5% of pro gamers are women

The winners of the first-of-its-kind women’s only esports initiative have been crowned.

Grete Lajal and Mariam Musa both from London came out on top, as the three-phase tournament brought to life by Sky Broadband in partnership with Guild Esports and Gaming came to an end this weekend.

The winners of the Women’s Esports Finals have secured themselves professional contracts, a portion of the £50,000 prize fund, which is shared between all finalists, and free Sky Broadband for 24 months. The tournament marks a significant milestone in the journey towards a more inclusive esports industry.

The first-of-its-kind women’s only esports initiative was launched in April by Sky Broadband, in partnership with Guild Esports and Gaming, and their ambassador, David Beckham. The initiative was designed to provide a platform for talented women gamers to showcase their skills, following research that revealed out of all esports pros only 5% (1) are women, despite 47% (2) of UK gamers being women.

In the run up to the Women’s Esports Finals, competitors from across the UK have gone head-to-head in Racers Eseries (a sim racing-based competition) and Football Eseries (EA SPORTS FC™ 25) tournaments. It is the first women’s esports tournament to award professional contracts as well as cash prizes, a share of which was given to all finalists.

The coveted esports pro contracts will see Grete and Mariam receive access to top-class facilities and opportunities to connect with other professionals and sponsors as they develop their skills. The winners will also receive support from experts including the setting of KPIs to guide their progress, coaching and mentorship to help develop their competitive play.

The finalists battled it out at Sky’s headquarters with the event live streamed on Sky Sports and Guild Esports’ YouTube channels hosted by renowned esports presenter Frankie Ward.

She led the charge with Rachel Stringer who helped break down the action alongside Alia Harvey, and Anita Abayomi who stepped into the football commentator’s seat. Presenter Iain Chambers was also joined by Nina-Jade Paul and commentator George Morgan for the Racers Eseries.

Nine of the best women drivers in the UK competed on fan favourite tracks where Grete Lajal topped the podium in the sim racing-based competition. Grete, the Racers Eseries winner said:

“I am so happy, and also surprised! I definitely didn’t know what I was getting myself into! I would have never thought I could participate in a race like this if it wasn’t for this event. I’m so excited about finding a new hobby where I can constantly improve at the Sky Guild Gaming Centre. Today went really well, but I know there’s so much more to come.”

Fellow Racers Eseries competitor Clara Bucciacchio won a Guild Esports and Gaming academy contract following an impressive set of races. The contract will give her access to support and training to raise her game to the professional level.

After a hard-fought regular season, the Football Eseries saw six players go head-to head in four rounds of EA SPORTS FC™ 25 followed by an all-or-nothing final. Mariam was top of the league in her performance during the Football Eseries winning the final match 5-2. Mariam Musa the Football Eseries winner said:

“It feels crazy to be the Football Eseries champion, it doesn’t feel real. It was amazing to have that many women come out and showcase their talent at Sky. I’m looking forward to the support that Guild Esports and Gaming can offer. Hopefully I can work with their coaches, compete in more tournaments and show more representation as a person of colour as it’s really hard to enter the space.”

Sky Broadband is the official partner of Guild Esports and Gaming, supporting the esports company in their shared mission to make the industry inclusive and equal for all.

Amber Pine, MD, Sky Connectivity, said:

“Huge congratulations to Grete Lajal and Mariam Musa on becoming the first ever champions of our Women’s Esports Finals. At Sky Broadband, we’re incredibly proud to have partnered with Guild Esports and Gaming on this groundbreaking initiative, together we are changing the game and proving that esports is a space for everyone.”

Luke Jokes, VP, Commercial, Esports, and Gaming from Guild Esports and Gaming, said: “We are excited to welcome Grete Lajal and Mariam Musa to Guild Esports and Gaming. This tournament was about showcasing the immense talent within the women’s gaming community, and these two players have undoubtedly proven themselves to be the best. This is just the beginning of their journey as professional esports athletes, and we are excited to support them every step of the way as they compete at the highest level.”

Monica Dinsmore, Senior Director of Esports & Ventures Brand, EA Sports, said:

“The passion and skill these women bring to the virtual pitch is inspiring. Having been in the space for more than a decade, it’s rewarding to see organizations like Sky Broadband and Guild Esports and Gaming continue their commitment to creating opportunities for women esports competitors, and we’re proud that EA SPORTS FC is a part of the Women’s Esports Finals.”

As of June 2023, approximately 47 percent of gaming audiences in the United Kingdom (UK) were women, with the other 53 percent being male. In 2022, there were approximately 39.9 million gamers in the United Kingdom.