Centennial Schools hosted the first e-sports scholarship in South Africa.
Thirty young gamers battled it out for the biggest e-sports prize at Africa’s largest e-sports arena, the Centennial Schools’ Sunninghill campus.
Fourways Academy Grade 6 learner Thomas Williams became the first recipient of the e-sports scholarship at Centennial Schools valued at R300 000 and prizes from gaming brands Cooler Master and Asus. “I have been practising hard for weeks, and I gave my best during the competition even though it was very stressful, trying to remember all the practice moves,” said 12-year-old Thomas.
“The competition was challenging, but I enjoyed every minute. I am super excited [about the scholarship]. I cannot wait for my parents to sign it and get started.”
Centennial’s very own Grade 8 learner, Jordan Harris, walked away with a R200 000-valued scholarship as a runner-up. Christian Brothers College Grade 8 learner Caleb Olusa came third with R150 000 worth of scholarship.
Nkuli Gumede, principal of Centennial Schools, emphasised the level of competition they witnessed and how bright the future looks for the local gaming scene. “This is the first time a competition like this has been held in South Africa and it certainly was a tough competition.
“We were pleasantly surprised at the calibre and variety of gamers who entered the competition, and these gamers have set the benchmark for what we can expect on the local gaming scene in the future. E-sports is an inclusive sport compared to many others, with boys and girls able to play on the same teams and participants coming from various social groups and demographics.”
The scholarships are in partnership with Brusa Sports, which assists aspiring young athletes to access scholarships in the USA.
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