In a groundbreaking initiative to support both the gaming and academic aspirations of students, Riot Games Philippines has partnered with Estudyante Esports to launch a nationwide VALORANT campus league. The tournament, organised by Dark League Studios, features a significant PHP 500,000 prize pool and an exceptional opportunity for student gamers in the form of an offer from Riot Games which states they will cover one full semester of tuition for the winning VALORANT team, adding even more value to the rewards.

The VALORANT Campus Tournament is expected to become the largest collegiate esports event in the country, featuring teams from prestigious universities like the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The tournament will feature fan-favourite titles such as VALORANT and League of Legends.

In addition to the PHP 250,000 cash prize for the champion team, the MVP of the Grand Finals will also receive a PHP 20,000 bonus. The tournament’s first runner-up will be awarded PHP 100,000, while both the winning and runner-up schools will receive financial support for their campus esports organisations, with PHP 80,000 and PHP 50,000 being allocated respectively for it.

The winning team members will also be honoured as EE-Scholar Agents, receiving a full-semester scholarship, which is aimed to add to the growing importance of esports as a viable career path and educational support. As Jason Roberto, Brand Manager for VALORANT at Riot Games Philippines, emphasised, this initiative seeks to dispel common stereotypes about gaming, showing that "kaka-VALORANT mo ‘yan" can be turned into meaningful rewards in real life.

This collaboration reflects the shared commitment of Riot Games and Estudyante Esports to fostering talent and providing opportunities for Filipino students, both in gaming and in their academic journeys. The aim is to nurture future esports talent in the Philippines, with Riot Games utilising their reputation of being one of the biggest names in global esports to prop up the efforts of Estudyante Esports in championing grassroots-level competitions. So, this tournament isn’t just about competition—it’s about empowering students to succeed on and off the battlefield.

The Estudyante Esports Campus Tournament will kick off with regional qualifiers starting in October 2024 for the National Capital Region (NCR), followed by Luzon in November, and Visayas and Mindanao in January 2025. The National Grand Finals will take place in February 2025, promising intense action and life-changing rewards for the top student teams across the country.

This collaboration has elevated and further elevate the status of esports in the Philippines, as Riot Games taking bold steps to support the development of student gamers while promoting the integration of gaming with education.

Rasha is a contributor at The Daily Esports.