Ireland Esports Collegiate Series has announced a return to Dogpatch Labs in Dublin for its 2024 Spring Finals Weekend on April 13th and 14th.
Presented by Monster Energy, the weekend builds upon the foundation of the previous semester’s 2023 Winter Final, which saw the first ever in-person Ireland Esports Collegiate Series take place. This saw SETU Esports win in Rocket League, Ulster Unicorns in CS2, QUB Esports in League of Legends and TUD Apes in Valorant.
Across the upcoming two days of competitive action, day one, scheduled for Saturday, will showcase battles across EA FC 24, Rocket League and League of Legends.
Day two, on the Sunday, will feature competitions in team shooters Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant.
The road to the finals has seen teams from TU Dublin, SETU, Queens University Belfast and Trinity College Dublin confirming their places for their respective finals.
The remaining playoff matches could see teams from the likes of University of Galway, University of Limerick, DCU and Maynooth University joining them if results go their way.
The results from this weekend will influence the Collegiate Challenge leaderboard. TU Dublin has all but secured first place with second place still up for grabs. The top two universities will battle it out in May to claim the title of top esports university on the island of Ireland. Any misstep in the Spring Finals could change the standings dramatically given the bonus points that are at stake.
Organisers said in a press release that the key highlights for the upcoming 2024 Spring Finals Weekend include:
- “Expanded Schedule: This semester, the event spans both Saturday and Sunday, offering attendees an extended opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of esports.
- Inclusive Experience: Inviting guests to join us on Saturday for an exclusive experience, while opening the doors to members and students on Sunday. Tickets are priced at a nominal rate of €10 each, ensuring accessibility for all esports enthusiasts.
- Live Streaming: Can’t make it to the venue? Fret not! The entirety of the event will be streamed live via Twitch, X, and YouTube on both days. Tune in to catch the electrifying matches and exhilarating moments from the comfort of your own home.
- Expert Hosting: emerging esports personalities Lisa “HeyLisa” Mattoso and Jonathan “Sandbag” Howell will be leading the charge as hosts, bringing their expertise and enthusiasm to elevate the viewing experience. Additionally, our talented Nativz Creator team will provide comprehensive coverage of each game title, ensuring no moment goes unnoticed.”
Last September, an Ireland Esports Collegiate Series rebrand was announced. It was formerly known as the Nativz Collegiate Esports Series, given the team behind it is Irish esports organisation Nativz Gaming.
Kurt Pittman, Founder & CEO of Nativz Gaming, added: “We are continuously building and are excited about the growing interest in Ireland Collegiate esports. The Spring Finals Weekend promises to be an unforgettable experience for both participants and spectators alike.
“It’s all thanks to our growing family of sponsors and the support of Dogpatch Labs that we’re able to provide opportunities like this for the Ireland student esports community.”
Tickets for the Sunday event are limited to 100 attendees for the day. For ticket purchases and further information, you can visit nativz.gg
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
