Maui College Sparks Excitement with Innovative Esports Tournament Combining Gaming and Education!

The University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, emerged victorious in the esports tournament held from Dec. 13-18 by the University of Hawaii Maui College. Brendan Crisologo/UH Maui College

The squad from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, clinched the inaugural annual academic esports contest at University of Hawaiʻi Maui College in December.

Six teams globally contended in the tournament as players from Korea, the United Kingdom, Australia, Norway, Germany, Austria, and UH Maui College competed on Maui from Dec. 13-18 in renowned games like Valorant, League of Legends, and Rocket League.

“We felt privileged to host the first international esports tournament of its sort here in Maui,” UH Maui College Chancellor Lui Hokoana expressed. “And we were thrilled to welcome all the teams from across the globe and commend them for their exceptional performance. We eagerly anticipate hosting them again in the future.”

The esports tournament incorporated an educational aspect that distinguished it.

Along with the popular games, participants needed to excel in three intellectual challenges — a programming and problem-solving contest assessing technical abilities, a business innovation competition fostering entrepreneurial mindset, and an academic debate forum focused on global gaming culture and sustainability.

According to UH Maui College, this marks the first occasion a tournament has unified esports games with educational and transferable competencies to showcase the potential that esports in education can realize globally.

Officials from the college assert that esports serve as a universal language that unites individuals and can significantly contribute to education and recreation.

“UNSW is profoundly appreciative to UH Maui College for the cordial reception and generous hospitality during the inaugural Academic Esports World Tournament,” stated Claire Annesley, dean of the faculty of arts, design, and architecture at the University of New South Wales.

The team from Horschule Mittweida in Saxony, Germany, secured the second position and was awarded the Aloha Spirit Award.