Students to take part in launch of eSports Championship

Callywith College is one of only eight Colleges in the UK, alongside Truro and Penwith College, to be invited to take part in the launch of an eSports Championship organised by the British eSports Association; the not-for-profit organisation set up to promote and support grassroots eSports.

eSports; where competitors battle it out against each other in a range of online computer games, is one of the world’s fastest growing sports with some stars earning annual six-figure sums.

The new Championship is specifically for school and college students and begins with a pilot in February, with a view to the programme rolling out nationally in September. Callywith Computer Science, IT and Games, Animation and VFX Skills Diploma students will be competing in this fast-growing sport in games such as League of Legends, Overwatch and Project Cars 2.

The British eSports Association wants to educate parents, teachers, children, the media, and government that eSports is a positive activity with intrinsic benefits when played in moderation. It develops teamwork, communication and leadership skills, improves confidence, decision making and reaction times, and can boost reading comprehension skills, cyber skills and improve dexterity and concentration. The competition has been set up around the British eSports three main aims to Promote, Inspire and Improve.

Callywith Games, Animation and VFX Skills student and Overwatch Team Captain Louis said: “I think eSports gives gamers a sense of teamwork and competition and teaches students how to communicate well, because without communication there’s no way you’re going to win.”

Callywith Computing, IT and Games Lecturer Paul Jordan added: "The eSports league has brought together students from across the computing courses at Callywith, they have worked on teamwork, strategy and effective communication. There is a real sense of team spirit and comradery within the group.”