UAlbany hosts esports invitational in new arena

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The University at Albany hosted nearly 100 competitive video gamers from 16 local high schools on Sunday for the Empire State Scholastic Esports Icebreaker Invitational. The event featured student teams competing in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Rocket League tournaments from inside UAlbany's new 4,000-square-foot esports arena.

The tournament was held at the school's new $3.3 million arena that opened in September. The invitational ran through the afternoon and ended with an awards ceremony. Organizers said it is the largest esports event for high schoolers in New York State. For 12th grader Brandon Castro-Dickson, who is on the Middletown High School esports team, getting to compete was surreal.

"I can definitely feel my heart beating, like towards the last stock, you know, everything is on the line," Castro-Dickson said. "I can just feel my heart pumping, and it's kind of a surreal feeling."

The arena is home to the UAlbany Esports team, which launched this semester and is among the largest competitive video gaming programs in the country. The Empire State Scholastic Esports Federation was founded by educators to teach and support scholastic esports in the state. Its competitive league includes teams from over a dozen K-12 schools.

The event director, John Macone, said the competition is not just about taking home prize, but rather getting to play with fellow classmates and video gamers in person, face to face.

"It means a lot from a community-building perspective," Macone said. "This is a unique hobby and passion that encourages in-person participation when possible, and it's usually online and remote. So when they have the opportunity to be in-person, it feels very special."