Gucci and FACEIT have partnered to create the Gucci Gaming Academy, a program designed to help top FACEIT Pro League players pursue professional careers, according to a press release. The academy will start with Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
The first four CS:GO players to take part in Gucci Gaming Academy have already been selected. They are Lukasz “mwlky” Pachucki, Mārtiņš “shadiyy” Gūtmani, Brajan “DGL” Lemecha and, the highest active member on FACEIT, Rokas “EspiranTo” Milasauskas. The candidates were selected based on their performance and interviews to assess personal values.
According to the press release, the players will get “individual in-game, psychological, and physical coaching, hardware, access to the vast Gucci and FACEIT esports networks and much more.” The ultimate goal is for players to get experience and develop the tools that will lead to them being scouted by an esports organization. The academy is positioned as a “next step” from FPL that emphasizes the development of soft skills.
Three ambassadors will also help mentor the Gucci Gaming Academy players. They are commentator James Bardolph, pro CS:GO legend Christopher “GeT_RiGhT” Alesund and trailblazer for women in esports Stephanie “missharvey” Harvey. Players will have monthly 1-on-1 mentorship sessions with the ambassadors.
“The Academy will offer a clear path to pro structure connecting the dots between the FACEIT Pro League, education and well-being,” Michele Attisani, co-founder and CBO of FACEIT, said in the release. “Players have rigorous training schedules, compete in high-pressure tournaments and immense pressure from fans, so it’s important that new talent entering the space are equipped with the right support structure at an early stage in their development.”
The following is a list of services provided through the Gucci Gaming Academy to the players taking part:
- Access through FACEIT to professional coaches who will provide training
- Sessions facilitated by psychologists who specialize in esports
- Digital training plans designed specifically for each player
- Hardware, gaming PCs, monitors and personalized Logitech G computer peripherals
- Access to the Gucci and FACEIT esports network for the players’ entire careers
