Campbell ‘airbrn’ Knowles and Noah ‘Noahja_’ Abrey will represent the Wellington Phoenix in this month’s E-League competition.

Airbrn will be familiar to the club’s Esports fans. The 23-year-old from Tauranga has represented the Phoenix for the past two years and finished third in the XBOX competition in 2020. This year Airbrn will be taking part in the E-League as a PlayStation competitor. 

He is also a current member of the FIFAe national team.

“It’s an honour to have been chosen to take part in this year’s E-League and represent the Phoenix,” Knowles said.

“It’s my third season representing a club that I’ve grown up supporting since the beginning, and I’m looking forward to the season ahead!”

Noahja_, 17, was selected by the Phoenix after being one of just four players to go unbeaten at the inaugural Path to E-League tournament, which finished in early April.

The Cantabrian burst on to the scene last year by winning FIFA 21 at the UTSNZ Tertiary Esport League.

“For me it means a lot to be in the 2022 E-League, especially as this is my first year as a pro player,” Abrey said.

“And to be representing the Phoenix, a club I’ve been a huge fan of since I was a kid is a whole other thing.”  

They are two of 24 players vying a place in the EA Sports FIFA 22 Global Series Playoffs and $10,000 of prize money, with the winner to take home $4,000.

The runner-up will also qualify for the EA Sports FIFA 22 Global Series Playoffs and a $2,000 cheque, while the third to eighth place getters will share the remaining $4,000.

Airbrn is in group C and Noahja_ has been drawn in group D. The group stages are being held on May 7 and 14.

The E-League 2022 Finals will start on May 25 followed by the Semi-Finals and Grand Final on May 28. All E-League matchdays, including the Finals, will be broadcast live on Twitch.