Blizzard announce $270,000 Asia-Pacific Overwatch league

In order to commemorate the opening of their new eSports arena in Taiwan, Blizzard will be launching an Asia-Pacific Overwatch league this April.

Eight teams from across the region will compete over a thirteen week period with the top teams qualifying for a spot in the playoffs finals. All competitors will receive a piece of the $270,000 prize pool, though the bonuses are significantly higher for those that manage to reach the playoffs.

Teams that can be seen in the tournament include ahq Esports Club, Flash Wolves and Machi Esports from Taiwan. DeToNator GOLD and SunSister join from Japan, while FireBall, Hong Kong Attitude and Blank Esports represent Thailand, Hong Kong and Australia, respectively.

Before the league begins on April 8th, Blizzard will officially open the new arena on March 30th. Mike Morhaime, president and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment, will be on hand to open the doors and cut the metaphorical tape. Considering their popularity in the region the new arena could also play host to other Blizzard game tournaments in the future, including StarCraft II, Heroes of the Storm and Hearthstone.