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National body Esports Wales has concluded the finals of the Welsh Cup for Schools and Colleges, showcasing student talent from across the country.
Competing in EAFC, Rocket League, and Valorant, schools and colleges battled online to determine who truly reigns supreme in Welsh collegiate esports.
The EAFC finals saw Cardiff and Vale College (CAVC) go head-to-head with GCS (Gower College Swansea). In a thrilling match, EyEzNoZe from CAVC demonstrated extraordinary skill, securing victory for the second consecutive year, Esports Wales said, bringing a back-to-back victory for Cardiff.
In the Rocket League finals, GCS faced off against Cwm Rhymni in a best-of-nine showdown. The GCS Owls showcased their teamwork and skill, achieving an impressive 5–1 victory to claim the title, with great performances from Emyr, Bxtr and Ryxxee.
The Valorant finals also featured GCS, against the formidable Tydfil Tytans. In a nail-biting match, GCS edged out their opponents with two close games: 13–9 and 13–10. With KianC and Livid leading the scoreboard, the Owls proved unstoppable, earning their place as champions and triple crown winners.
Dan Davies, GCS’s esports lecturer, said: “We are delighted to win the trophy. The Tydfil Tytans gave us tremendous games, but credit to our players—they were fantastic today.
“The tournament has highlighted the growing prominence of esports and Valorant in education, and we are immensely grateful to Esports Wales for putting on this competition.”
Esports Wales said that the Welsh Cup ‘is a testament to the rising prominence of esports in Wales, offering students a platform to showcase their skills, build teamwork, and explore career pathways in gaming and the digital industry’.
Esports Wales CEO John Jackson added: “This year’s Welsh Cup has been an extraordinary celebration of the talent and passion in Welsh esports. These young competitors are the future of the industry, and we’re proud to provide opportunities for their growth.”
In related news, last month Esports Wales launched the Agored Cymru Award in Esports Leadership course.
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.
