Excitement levels will reach fever pitch as a shopping centre hosts an on-screen football tournament with gaming goodies and perhaps a new career up for grabs.

JD Sports is hosting its first instore eSports competition at Bluewater Shopping Centre in Dartford today.

The fashion retailer has just launched its own JDX FIFA team and is on the look out for players to fill its ranks.

eSports tournaments have grown from basement affairs to national televised competitions.

Professional FIFA20 gamers are now employed by all the teams in the Premier League to play on their behalf.

Following events held in London and Manchester this summer, the electronic sports phenomenon is now coming to Kent.

The store has been kitted out with a purpose-built pod where players can battle it out to be crowned the best.

Participants will be asked to download the JD app to register, with the chance to win a gaming bundle worth more than £1000.

It will include a Sony PlayStation 4 Pro, Sony PlayStation controller, FIFA 20, 12 Month EA access and JD Sports gift card.

Players’ scores will be monitored and stored to seed the best entries.

Those with the highest marks could then be invited to join the official JDX team.

All participants will win a goodie bag with the chance to be entered into the prize draw.

Stephen White, group marketing director at JD commented, ''Following the success of our first esports event in the summer we are focused on connecting even closer with our consumers through gaming.

"Instore activation’s are the perfect way to engage with the JD customer and to find the potential esports stars of the future.''

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