RB Leipzig crowned VBL champions!

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The 2021/22 season reach its climax on Sunday as the Leipzig team including Umut "RBLZ_Umut" Gültekin, Anders "RBLZ_Vejrgang" Vejrgang and Richard "RBLZ_Gaucho10" Hormes, who all participated on the final weekend, as well as Lena "RBLZ_Lena" Güldenpfennig and Ben "RBLZ_Kette" Kettenbeil, overcame St. Pauli at the Strassenkicker Base in Cologne.

Twenty-six Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 teams began the 2021/22 season of the eSports competition, organised by the DFL and ESL Gaming. After the league phase and play-offs, eight teams took part in the final weekend on Saturday and Sunday.

FC Hansa Rostock and FC Ingolstadt 04 both progressed from Group A to reach the semi-finals, while Leipzig and St. Pauli advanced from Group B.

Leipzig took on Rostock in the first semi-final, which proved to be an extremely tight, nerve-wracking tie that the eventual champions won thanks to two draws and one victory over the three games. The second semi-final was equally exciting and was only decided by a Golden Goal in an additional two-vs-two match.

In the final, Anders Vejrgang impressed with a 7-0 win in his individual pairing. Leipzig secured another victory in the second individual match and a draw in the doubles to beat St. Pauli to the coveted title.

"Congratulations to RB Leipzig on winning the German Club Championship in eFootball," said Jörg Höflich, Head of Virtual Bundesliga of the DFL. "The final weekend brought a successful conclusion to an exciting season of the VBL Club Championship, whose appeal was heightened by all the participating clubs as well as numerous partners, first and foremost ESL Gaming and bevestor. We would like to express our sincere thanks for this and are now looking forward to the next decisions in the single player competition."

Watch: Recap all Sunday's action below

ESL Gaming also expressed their delight at the success of the final. "It was a great experience for the players and emotions were running high throughout the weekend," said Christian Knoth, Product Manager of the Virtual Bundesliga. "We can clearly see here how essential such on-site events are for all participants and the competition, and therefore the hope is high that our current plan for the Grand Final of the individual players with fans on site can also take place as planned."

Final:
Leipzig 7-1 St. Pauli

Semi-finals:
Hansa Rostock 2-5 Leipzig
St. Pauli 7-4 Ingolstadt

Group stage:
Köln 4-4 Heidenheim
Hansa Rostock 3-6 Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt 2-5 Heidenheim
Hansa Rostock 5-2 Köln
Heidenheim 0-9 Hansa Rostock
Ingolstadt 7-1 Köln

St. Pauli 3-6 Werder Bremen
Hamburger SV 5-2 Leipzig
Leipzig 2-5 St. Pauli
Hamburg 4-4 Werder Bremen
Hamburg 1-7 St. Pauli
Werder Bremen 2-5 Leipzig

Watch: How Saturday's play-off action unfolded 

For the first time in the history of the VBL Club Championship, a prize pool totalling €65,000 will be distributed among all teams according to their division stage standing and the result of the final. In addition to their share of the DFL's pot, the winner of the German Club Championship will receive up to €18,000 in prize money.

As was the case in previous years, the players also qualified for further competitions to determine the title of German Champion in eFootball for individual players via the VBL Club Championship. Two team members from each of the clubs that finished in places five to 10 in both divisions will take part in the VBL Open by bevestor play-offs.

These will be held on 7 and 8 May and will enable the clubs to enter the VBL Grand Final. In addition, two team members from each of the first four clubs in both divisions will move directly into the VBL Grand Final, which will be played as an on-site tournament on 4 and 5 June in the Cologne event location "XPOST".

Head to the Virtual Bundesliga's Twitter and Instagram channels for more!