CHICAGO(March 5, 2018) — The Chicago Fire Soccer Club on Monday introduced Chicago-based gamer Edhem Jukovic as the club’s inaugural eMLS competitor. Jukovic will represent the Fire in the EA Sports FIFA 18 gaming league, eMLS and in FIFA tournaments around the world.
Known by his gamer tag HekTic_JukeZ, the 24-year-old is a regular Top-100 global finisher in monthly FUT (FIFA Ultimate Team) Champions competition, peaking at No. 20 earlier this year. He will represent the Fire at this year’s eMLS Cup, to be contested from April 5-8 at the popular gaming festival PAX East at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.
“We are pleased to welcome JukeZ as our club’s first eMLS competitor,” said Nelson Rodríguez, president and general manager of the Chicago Fire. “Following a worldwide search, we were impressed by his skill and convinced his passion and values matched those of the club and our fans. That he grew up a fan of the Fire and is 'Homegrown' in Chicago makes this signing all the more exciting. We look forward to supporting JukeZ in his quest to bring a championship to our club and city.”
In addition to his competitive accomplishments, JukeZ also is well-regarded within the FIFA gaming community for his in-depth formation guides and for his attractive style of play. He has amassed a combined online follower base of more than 60,000 users across Twitter, YouTube and Twitch, with his YouTube channel earning nearly 1 million lifetime views. The Fire and JukeZ will collaborate on FIFA-related content throughout the 2018 season.
“I’m extremely excited to join the Chicago Fire and compete on behalf of the club in the inaugural eMLS Cup,” said JukeZ. “Attending Fire matches at Soldier Field was part of my earliest introduction to the game, so it will be a great privilege to wear the Fire badge in eMLS. I’m grateful to Nelson Rodríguez and (Fire COO) John Urban for this opportunity and I’ll do everything I can to bring glory to the club, Fire fans and Chicago.”
More on eMLS Cup
Players will be divided into the 10 clubs in the Eastern Conference and nine in the Western Conference. Competitors will select their squad of 11 starting players, seven bench players and five reserve players. Each team must have three MLS players on the field at all times, including two players from the club that they represent.
The preliminary rounds begin on Thursday and Friday, April 5 and 6 at the eMLS HQ, with knockout rounds on April 7 and the Conference Championships and eMLS Cup Final on April 8. Saturday and Sunday's matches will be held on the PAX Arena main stage and livestreamed through the conference's Twitch channel as well as via MLS, including MLSsoccer.com.
The eMLS Cup finalists will win berths in the EA SPORTS FIFA 18 Global Series Playoffs on the Road to the FIFA eWorld Cup. The top 32 competitors in the Global Series Playoffs will advance to the FIFA eWorld Cup in August, where the winner will be crowned the undisputed FIFA 18 World Champion.
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