EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) announced today that select fans will compete at the first-ever official UNO Championship Series Vegas Invitational Tournament powered by Mobil 1 in Las Vegas, NV on November 11. Viewers from around the world can watch live on the UNO TikTok channel starting at 6:00 pm PST as the finalists compete for a grand prize of $50,000* and the honor of being crowned the first official UNO World Champion.
Earlier this summer, nearly 2 million fans participated in the UNO Mobile Tournament and battled it out in over 28MM matches to win in-app and other prizes. Select participants of the UNO Mobile Tournament, 10 players from the UNO 50th Anniversary Instant Win Sweepstakes, and a few special UNO fans have been invited to play in the UNO Championship Series Vegas Invitational Tournament. It all comes to a head on November 11, as players compete in high-stakes UNO elimination games for the chance to win a coveted seat at the table for the Finale game.
“The 50th anniversary of UNO has been nothing short of wild. We’ve introduced new products, cultivated new partnerships, and created new experiences to bring together fans from all over the world, and crowning the first official UNO World Champion on 11/11 is a perfect culmination,” said Ray Adler, Global Head of Mattel Games. “Seeing thousands of our passionate fans come together from across the globe over their love of UNO is a testament to the power of this simple and universal game that transcends languages and cultures.”
Finalists will draw their first cards at the HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas, located inside The Luxor Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV starting 6:00 pm PST and running through 8:00 pm PST on November 11, 2021. Hosted by UNO fanatic and professional gamer and streamer Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, the tournament will be stacked with sure-to-be-wild fun including:
- On-stream appearances from some of the biggest UNO fans, including Grand-Slam champion Olympic Gold medalist and entrepreneur Venus Williams and more.
- A star-studded, head-to-head exhibition UNO game featuring Ninja, former professional NASCAR driver and commentator Clint Bowyer, singer Ashlee Simpson Ross and more.
- The UNO Heritage Hall, featuring immersive displays of the rarest and most iconic UNO decks and products from the last 50 years.
- A winner-take-all grand finale game where eight players will compete over a final game of UNO to win the title of first-ever UNO World Champion and receive $50,000 - with the top three receiving trophies.
“The Mobil 1 team is thrilled to partner with Mattel for this unique consumer experience celebrating a half century of the iconic family card game, UNO,” said Bryce Huschka, North America consumer marketing manager for ExxonMobil. “Mobil 1, the world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand, strives to partner with other industry leaders to give fans one-of-a-kind experiences that can be valued and cherished for years to come.”
Produced by AE Studios, the content development, storytelling and production services division of esports entertainment company Allied Esports, the tournament and event broadcast will be livestreamed on the new UNO TikTok channel and featured on the app’s “Discover Page” starting at 7:00 pm PST. Fans all over the world can tune in as players drop their final cards and yell “UNO!” to win the coveted title of UNO World Champion.
This commemorative year has celebrated the last five decades of UNO with a long list of collaborations spanning the art and fashion world – making it easy for UNO fans everywhere to celebrate their love of the game in style.
For more information about the UNO Championship Series Vegas Invitational Tournament and to learn more about the UNO 50th anniversary celebrations, visit the UNO website and follow @UNO on Tik Tok, Instagram and Facebook, and @realUNOgame on Twitter for more updates.
*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Sponsor reserves the right to change tournament to a virtual event. Tournament is an invite-only event and only individuals who receive an invitation from sponsor will be permitted to participate. Additional details about the tournament will be provided at the time when invitations are distributed. Individuals invited to participate will be required to agree to a participation agreement and tournament official rules during registration or will be disqualified. Void where prohibited.
About Mattel
Mattel is a leading global toy company and owner of one of the strongest catalogs of children’s and family entertainment franchises in the world. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends®, UNO® and MEGA®, as well as other popular intellectual properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming, music and live events. We operate in 35 locations and our products are available in more than 150 countries in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering children to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential.
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