Milligan hosts first esports challenge
On February 21 and 22, the Milligan College esports team held the Milligan Esports Challenge, a tournament where players and teams could compete to win prize money for their respective game. With over $2000 up for grabs from all the games, the tournament featured Rocket League 1v1 and 3v3, Super Smash Brothers 1v1 and 2v2 and League of Legends. The event saw over 100 viewers and participants and had viewership of about 500 through the team’s Twitch account. The team partnered with both Visit Johnson City and Sharp Business Systems of Tennessee who helped put on the event.
MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (March 9, 2020) – On February 21 and 22, the Milligan College esports team held the Milligan Esports Challenge, a tournament where players and teams could compete to win prize money for their respective game. With over $2000 up for grabs from all the games, the tournament featured Rocket League 1v1 and 3v3, Super Smash Brothers 1v1 and 2v2 and League of Legends. The event saw over 100 viewers and participants and had viewership of about 500 through the team's Twitch account. The team partnered with both Visit Johnson City and Sharp Business Systems of Tennessee who helped put on the event.
Milligan had teams competing in Rocket League and League of Legends. Milligan's Rocket League team found success as they reached the grand finals, and finished second overall in the tournament. "The competition was great for rocket league, and seeing them come out and take second was awesome, especially for being our first live tournament," said Head Coach Micah Ridley. "I wasn't sure how they would respond being on the stage, I thought they did a great job being in the new environment, and this experience is one they will remember."
The Buffs' League of Legends team took home third place in the competition. "This was a new experience for our League players, getting to play in front of people on a stage," Ridley said. "It was exciting being able to give students the experience they can't get somewhere else. Playing the game is one thing, but when you put a live audience in front of them, it takes it to a whole new level, hearing their friends, family and fellow students cheer them on when something happens. That was an exciting experience, and that experience will be huge when we go to other tournaments and participate."
The Milligan esports program will be hosting a similar tournament in the fall of 2020.