LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – The world of Esports is continuing to grow at an exponential rate.
Clayton Boeker, the president of the Texas Tech Esports club, says Esports is something that just about anyone can get into.
“It’s super accessible to people and I really want to see that expansion,” Boeker said. “No matter what discipline you’re doing and no matter what you got going on in life, Esports has that area for you.”
You’ll have an opportunity Saturday to see what that growth looks like on a special stage.
At 10:30 a.m., the Battle for 806 will start with an hour-long Esports panel. Texas Tech president Lawrence Schovanec will kick-off the main event at noon, where you’ll see competitions in Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Valorant.
Dylan Winn, alumni advisor for Tech’s Esports club, says this will be a great showcase of talent.
“Both Rocket League teams are ranked within the top 25,” Winn said. “LCU’s Smash Bros. team is ranked within the top five so they’re one of the best in the nation, and then both of the Valorant teams are very good, very skilled. The last time they played it was neck-and-neck the entire time with LCU getting the victory.”
You can watch the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Rocket League competitions in person at Tech’s media and communications building, while LCU will be live streaming its Valorant competitions on campus.
John Forde is a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate player for LCU and says this battle between universities will be an exciting one to take part in.
“It’s going to be a lot more fun to compete with them in a much more serious level,” Forde said. “We never get to fight them in a specified league or a one-on-one battle for something on the line like a trophy.”
The event is also in support of Extra Life, with donations encouraged Saturday in support of the Children’s Miracle Network. The Esports world is opening the door for not only competition, but good collaborations as well.
“I was a born in a miracle network hospital, I was born two months premature,” Winn said. “Personally, I wanted to give back to the association and the doctors that helped bring me into this world and helped me enjoy Esports. I want to spread joy through Esports.”
If you would like to donate before the event, you can do so here.
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