DALLAS MORNING NEWS, “Guide Live” — The Dallas-Fort Worth area has had a rich history with the video game industry for decades, but the metroplex has spent a recent chunk of time positioning itself as one of the hottest spots for esports in the U.S. So it makes sense that Dallas has attracted one of the biggest names in esports events overseas: DreamHack.

DreamHack’s organizers call it the “world’s largest digital festival,” and the moniker fits. It’s not just a giant tournament, although you’ll find plenty of competition there for hit games like Street Fighter V, Madden, Rocket League, Brawl Stars and Halo. The event, which will take place at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center May 31-June 2, also sports live music, art, movie screenings, student showcases, game jams and more, not to mention panels, meetups and networking opportunities for the more business-minded folks. [MORE]

ESPN — DreamHack will host an all-women Showdown tournament this summer during DreamHack Valencia in Spain, the company announced Tuesday.

The eight-team, $100,000 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament will be held July 5-7, featuring two invited teams and six qualifiers, with two each from Europe, North America and Asia. [MORE]

ESPORTS INSIDER — DreamHack have announced a partnership with BFGoodrich, an American tire company. They are sponsoring the Dallas leg of the DreamHack Pro Circuit for Rocket League, becoming the official tire partner. The $100,000 (£76,700) tournament will begin on May 31st and will run through June 2nd. [MOPE]

DEXERTO — The Chipotle Challenger Series will feature the first ever battle royale tournaments hosted specifically for fans at DreamHack events. Attendees at both DreamHack Dallas and DreamHack Atlanta will get the chance to compete to be the last fans standing.

DreamHack Dallas’ tournament will feature PLAYERUNKNOWN’s Battlegrounds, while DreamHack Atlanta’s lead title is yet to be announced.

Teams of two can sign up to compete in heats taking place on Friday and Saturday. Winning teams will advance to the final round taking place Sunday where the Chipotle Challenger Series Winner will be awarded.

In addition to the tournament itself, participating players will also have the chance to meet up with members of the TSM Fortnite pro team.

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ESPORTS OBSERVER — Chipotle has signed on to sponsor three major esports events this year and launch its own branded competition property, the Chipotle Challenger Series.

In deals with both Dreamhack  and ESL , sister subsidiaries of the Swedish conglomerate MTG , the fast food brand will become the official partner of Dreamhack Masters Dallas from May 31-June 2; presenting partner of Dreamhack Open Atlanta Nov. 15-17 and Intel Extreme Masters: Chicago, dates to be determined.

The Chipotle Challenger Series will be on-site amateur esports tournaments open to all attendees of the Dallas and Atlanta events. Winners will receive a trophy, free Chipotle for a year and “one-of-a-kind” Chipotle swag. Chipotle will also sponsor the players’ lounges at all three events and the Rank S Combine beginning Friday at the MGM Grand Las Vegas.

Related Article: BLAST Pro Series Adds Burger King, GFUEL, Others As Miami Tournament Partners

Chipotle manager/experiential & partnerships Scott Robinson said the deals add new depth  to the brand’s role in esports. Chipotle has sponsored OpTic Gaming and TSM in the past. “The Chipotle Challenger Series allows us to support new gamers, amateur gamers and professional gamers with an exciting addition to the event landscape,” he said.

ESL senior VP/brand partnerships Paul Brewer, who handled the deal for both properties, said the challenger series “is the very fabric of esports with DreamHack and ESL, where everyone from professional to amateur gamers can be involved.”

REV/XP, the gaming/esports agency sister agency to Chicago-based rEvolution, handled the deal for Chipotle and will manage strategy, creative design and experiential production.

Cofounder and SVP Dan Ciccone said the program is structured to give Chipotle an audience in a variety of gaming interests and reward fans that “get directly involved” in events.

ESPORTS INSIDER — DreamHack Dallas takes place over May 31st to June 2nd, and now it has been announced that it will include a Madden NFL 19 tournament.

Open to anybody who attends the event, prizes worth a total of $25,000 (£19,120.25) are up for grabs.

Michael Van Driel, Chief Product Officer of DreamHack discussed the event: “Bringing DreamHack to Dallas for the first time is going to be epic — this is such a great city with a passion for sports at its core, including the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. Dallas is also known to be a strong breeding ground for tomorrow’s esports professionals, so it will be a tremendous experience to see what this community brings to the Madden NFL Tournament.”

This tournament is separate from the Madden NFL 19 Championship Series, the official competition for EA SPORTS’ title. Earlier in the year, ESI spoke with Matt Marco, Commissioner of EA about the title’s growth and future plans.

As well as the Madden NFL 19 tournament, DreamHack Dallas will host CORSAIR DreamHack Masters Dallas – a $250,000 (£191,222.50) CS:GO event with the likes of FaZe Clan, Fnatic, Team Liquid, Ninjas in Pyjamas, and Team Vitality in attendance.

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TWIN GALAXIES — Among the many tournaments slated for DreamHack Dallas, it looks like EA Sports' Madden 19 will be a marquee event over the weekend.

DreamHack is a place to make gaming prowess known. Among the fighting game tournaments featuring pros like Justin Wong, PUBG tournaments featuring shroud and Dr DisRespect, Bring-Your-Own-Computer (BYOC) events and more, there’s plenty of opportunity to show you’re the best at any level of gaming. It would seem fans of EA’s virtual turf are about to get their chance at DreamHack too. Madden 19 is joining the DreamHack Dallas circuit in a tournament running through the weekend.

The Madden 19 tournament at DreamHack Dallas was announced on April 9, 2019 in a press release and on the DreamHack website. For the entire weekend of the DreamHack Dallas festival, May 31 to June 2, registered players will engage in a contest to see who handles the virtual pigskin best. A prize pool of $25,000 will be up for grabs for anyone that can rise through the brackets and come out on top. Registration has opened for the tournament today. A DreamHack Dallas ticket is required to participate.

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PATCH — One of Atlanta's most distinguished residents is marking her 97th birthday on Thursday, while the city itself continues its effort to demolish her Peoplestown community of more than 50 years through eminent domain. Mattie Jackson has been an informal advisor to Atlanta mayors, city council members and others for decades. During her storied life, Jackson was part was part of a delegation that met with President Lyndon B. Johnson's cabinet about policies to protect the poor, which informed Johnson's signature legislation waging war on poverty in the U.S.

Jackson was also the community action leader for Equal Opportunity Atlanta from 1964 to 1988, and served on the Fulton Atlanta Community Action Authority for more than 30 years. In 1968, Jackson was awarded the Atlanta Journal Woman of the Year Cup for her efforts organizing and empowering southeast Atlanta communities. And she was a board member of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games in 1996, and was instrumental in securing a community benefits agreement when the Olympic Stadium was constructed. Jackson even ran with the Olympic torch that same year while in her 70s.

Now, Jackson's home is at the center of a massive urban renewal effort undertaken by the city. Over the past six years, the city's use of eminent domain has allowed it to take ownership of more than 20 houses on Jackson's block, all of which it has demolished. Plans are to build a park and retention pond to address water runoff issues, but Jackson is one of a handful of homeowners who has refused to sell.

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GEORGIA ENTERTAINMENT NEWS — Creative Collective Capital Corp. (C3) will present its first Sound and Screen Finance Convention from Friday, May 3 through Sunday, May 5, 2019. The event, a first in the Southeast, will be a gathering of creative and strategic influencers and financiers who move the needle in the film, TV, music and digital entertainment (esports, video gaming, virtual reality, etc.) arenas.  [MORE]

ATLANTA MUSIC GRAPEVINE — John Driskell Hopkins is an artist who likes to wear many hats. While he certainly has a fondness for millinery, he also applies his talents to a wide scope of interests. “Hop” is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and founding member of multi-Grammy Award-winning Zac Brown Band. You will also find him behind the board as an engineer and producer in his own studio, Brighter Shade Studios, leading the John Driskell Hopkins Band, and serving as a leader in the Atlanta chapter of National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. (MORE)

WXIA 11-ALIVE, “THE A-SCENE” — Students from two DeKalb schools were the big winners at the first “DeKalb Student Film Festival” on Feb. 21, bringing home awards in the ““Best of Show” and “Audience Choice” categories. The DeKalb School of the Arts was named the “Overall Winner” for their film, “Locked Out.”

The Academy Awards are Sunday, but these local students were the focus of paparazzi on the red carpet. The DeKalb Entertainment Commission (DEC) partnered with the DeKalb County School District for this first-ever film festival highlighting student productions.

OZ MAGAZINE — Dekalb Entertainment Commission has partnered with Dekalb County School District to create the first annual Dekalb Student Film Festival. The event will allow local students to showcase their film productions, competing in three difficulty levels. Students can win an award for Best of Show,” “Audience Choice” for their difficulty level, and there will be one “Overall Winner.”

Fourteen high schools as well as one middle school within the DCSD will submit work from their schools AV and Film programs. The event is free of charge and the public is encouraged to come and support local youth. The event takes place at the Dekalb County School District Office on Thursday February 21st. The red carpet ceremony will include fun and excitement starting at 5:30pm, followed by the festival from 6 to 8 in the evening.