For the second year running now, esports players have been given the opportunity to take centre stage at Centennial Schools to compete against each other to take home three scholarships in a hard-fought esports tournament.
Overall, R1.5 million worth of scholarships have been awarded, and according to Shaun Fuchs, the founder and CEO of Centennial Schools, the idea behind this sports tournament was to highlight the value of the skills taught through gaming and to take advantage of the unique opportunity that success in the esports industry can present for students.
Research has shown that children who play video games are better at navigating complex problem-solving. It boosts their strategic thinking capabilities, fosters teamwork and leadership skills. – Shaun Fuchs
This year, the tournament saw over 200 entries, with the top 25 participating and seeing students flex their hard-earned skills in games like Overcooked 2 and Minecraft.
Nkuli Gamede, Principal of Centennial Schools, was blown away by the success of this year’s competition:
It was a fantastic result and a testament to the growth of our school and the interest of students wanting to be part of a school that focuses on esports.
We incorporate esports and gamification into our lessons, and the fact that we have the good problem of a massive waiting list for next year’s competition means that our students are interested in being part of this environment. – Nkuli Gamede
This year’s three winners were Jamie Twidale, who took home an R300 000 scholarship; Kyra Harris, in second place, with R200 000; and Zacree Wessels, in third place, with R150 000.
Kyra has made history, and we are exceptionally proud to be part of it. There is a general misconception that young girls don’t necessarily get involved in esports, which is not the case. This is a positive trend for the future. – Nkuli Gamede
Centennial Schools has the largest esports arena in Africa and incorporates gaming into the school curriculum. Not only is it a fun way of learning, but it also teaches valuable skills that last beyond the classroom.
I played my heart out for this, and I did really well in most of the games. I was a bit surprised I won because I did not prepare too much. Schoolwork took up most of my time. This was an amazing tournament. – Jamie Twidale
Kyra Harris said:
The competition was stressful but also a lot of fun. I am very, very happy. I practised a lot more this year, and I was less stressed this time around.
Third-placed Zacree Wessels put in the hard hours practising at home:
It was a lot of fun, and I am very proud of myself. I trained hard to achieve my goals.
If you want to find out more about Centennial Schools, you can follow the link here.
