Reporting From The British Esports Student Champs Grand Finals
I attended the final day of the British Esports Schools Championships, taking the opportunity to experience a live esports event, a first for me. The event was taking place at the Confetti Institute, a subdivision of Nottingham Trent University focused on creative subjects, including a specialist course in Esports Production.
The matches were held in their purpose-built Esports arena, Confetti X. Tucked away down the road from the rest of the event, the arena is packed with all the technology needed to amp up the excitement for an event and then broadcast it to the world. A very impressive achievement given the somewhat limited space that it occupies.
I had some time before the Overwatch finals, the matches I had come to see, so watched a few of the preceding events too. Caught the end of a decidedly one-sided Valorant Invitational final between NSCGTigers and CSGG. A game that I occasionally enjoy playing, but don’t understand at a high enough level to appreciate the detail of a competitive match.
After that in a change to the schedule, they played the delayed FIFA 22 XBOX finals.
It was fantastic to see two of the young players getting the chance to cast this match, alongside pro caster WaXeN was the winner of the PlayStation final for FIFA, Lunatic, offering up some insights from a champion alongside Rocket League champion Beno_29.
”So what made you decide to use Liverpool instead of PSG?”
“Cos they’re me team aren’t they, up the Reds!”
Match winner Ethan from Evo academy
Overwatch Match Report
Eventually, it was time for the main event (for my purposes at least). First up was the Division 2 Overwatch finals between Farnborough 6th Form’s Nightjars and AGSB Esports. From the difference in volume, it seemed as though most of the crowd was cheering for AGSB Esports. Although that may have had something to do with the loudest person in the room sitting right next to me! All in all the crowd was good-natured, and impressive plays from both sides were met with appreciation all around.
Map 1 - Busan
The opening map was Busan. Despite some back and forth the map still comfortably went the way of AGSB. Their disciplined and well-drilled engagements with a Winston Reaper dive composition helped to win out against the Sigma brawl style favoured by F6th Esports. A closer Meka Base round went all the way to 99:99, marked by some huge earthshatter plays from Ashwindu. In the end, AGSB held strong on the point and outlast F6th to claim the map win.
Map 2 - Hollywood
Both teams showcased their ability to switch compositions on the fly for map two. After being routed from Point A convincingly, AGSB switched from double shield to a Wrecking Ball and Pharah comp, making use of the high ground to set up their dive attempts. F6th sticking with a rush style were able to complete their attack. Thanks to a stellar Point A defence with a Sigma poke comp F6th were set up for success on this map, halting AGSB's attack midway through B. Toby's Roadhog was almost unkillable playing off on the flank, causing a major headache for AGSB.
Map 3 - Gibraltar
We didn't get to see all that much of Gibraltar this game, thanks to the Nightjars full holding AGSB. the difference makers were Absentinia outplaying Hyper on Tracer, and Hazza's anti-nades repeatedly opening fights by hitting multiple members of AGSB.
Map 4 - Temple of Anubis
AGSB take Anubis in a decisive fashion, bringing out the Winston dive they had so much success with on Busan. A cheesy map-specific adaptation, the Torbjörn turret placed on a high ledge proved to be the Nightjars’ undoing. They failed to react to it and its persistent damage wore down their health slowly but surely.
Map 5 - Oasis
The final score of 3:2, with the final map being won 2:1 with the final round going to 99:99 is as mathematically close as is possible for an Overwatch match. A sign of two teams giving it their all with only split-second decisions in fights being the difference-maker. Farnborough 6th Nightjars were the winner by a hair in the end.
Faced with a choice between staying to watch more amazing Overwatch, or catching a train home and sleeping in my own bed, I sadly had to go for the latter. The experience of being in a room full of people cheering really helped to amp up the excitement of the matches. It’s also much less frowned upon to whoop and yell there than sitting at home on your own, the way I’ve been used to watching esports.
I greatly enjoyed my short time at the championships, and it’s certainly whetted my appetite for future live esports matches.
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