News
Chipotle's Challenger Series going virtual
March 26, 2020
Chipotle Mexican Grill has launched the 2020 Chipotle Challenger Series featuring online qualifying and finale competitions throughout 2020. To promote the series, Chipotle has added an official team partnership with 100 Thieves' Matt "Nadeshot" Haag, and Brooke "BrookeAB" Bond, as well as TSM's Myth and fan-favorite streamers Jack "CouRage" Dunlop and JERICHO.
Twitch and YouTube will broadcast the finale on April 25.
"Bringing the Chipotle Challenger Series online provides the perfect platform to directly engage new and loyal esports fans," said Chris Brandt, Chipotle CMO said in a company press release. "We are excited to connect up-and-coming talent in the space with their gaming heroes for a real competition with huge prizes."
The Chipotle Challenger Series first launched last year at DreamHack in Dallas but will be virtual this year with an online tournament that gives fans across the U.S. the opportunity to join the competition and prove their skills in some of the world's most-popular games. The official game for the first series will be announced April 6 when the registration portal opens. Finale champions will win $25,000 cash and $25,000 to donate to COVID-19 relief efforts, as well as an exclusive card that grants winners a year of free Chipotle.
How it works
Each CCS competition will consist of three qualifiers, with the first occurring April 16, and a live-broadcasted Finale. The finale competition is April 25 and features the top performing teams from the qualifier. These teams will have the opportunity to go head-to-head against fan favorites in esports as well as Chipotle-fan gamers in sports, music and entertainment like professional basketball players Marcus Smart, Josh Hart, DeMarcus Cousins, Meyers Leonard, Mikal Bridges and Romeo Langford, DJ Steve Aoki, actors Finn Michael Wolfhard and Jerry Ferrara, L.A. Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson, DJ-Gamer CRAY, USA Hockey's Hilary Knight, elite basketball prospects James Wiseman and R.J. Hampton, and U.S. Soccer's Allie Long Chipotle will unveil more celebrity participants during the lead up to the competition.
Through the Challenger Series and Chipotle Together, a string of virtual hangouts that feature celebrity appearances, exclusive content and free giveaways, Chipotle is looking to bring more joy to its fans and bridge important digital connections during this time of uncertainty, according to the release.
