The energy was electric as nearly 550 learners from Curro schools across South Africa came together this week for the National Esports Local Area Network (LAN) Competition at Curro Aurora in Randburg.
The four-day event saw the best school teams compete in some of the world’s most popular games, including Minecraft, Overwatch 2, Apex Legends, Brawlhalla, Rocket League, and Valorant.

Project manager for Curro esports, Magdeline de Kock, said the competition brings learners, who usually play online, together in person. “We want to give that child, who is always online, a chance to come to an in-person event, see other teams, feel the excitement, and shake their opponents’ hands.”

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Unlike traditional online leagues, LAN events bring players together in one venue. Learners bring their own devices and connect on a shared network built on-site. “We built the venue from scratch – tables, power cables, network lines, and everything needed. We depend on schools like Curro Aurora to host.”

The national LAN is the highlight of the year. Top school teams from different provinces qualified through regional and online competitions. Some of the strong contenders included Durbanville’s Rocket League team, VS Gaming, and Western Cape LAN champions, as well as powerhouse squads from Paul Roos, Waterfall, and Wes Mertz.

The tournament also featured live shoutcasters, similar to sports commentators, who broadcast the matches in real time. The finals were streamed live on Twitch and YouTube, allowing parents and supporters to follow the action.

In the Minecraft player versus player high school division, Paul Roos Gymnasium claimed top honours, followed by Curro Durbanville Primary School and Curro Waterfall. In the primary school category, Curro Waterfall came out on top, with Astromex Esports Team in second and Curro Vanderbijlpark in third.

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The Rocket League division saw fierce battles on the virtual pitch. In the high school division, Curro Durbanville took the win, Hoërskool Oos-Moot finished second, and another Curro Durbanville squad rounded out the top three. The primary school division saw Curro Midrand Sagewood claim first place, followed by Steyn City School and Curro Serengeti.

The Valorant open division showcased incredible teamwork and precision, with Curro Krugersdorp securing first place, Curro Aurora taking second, and Curro Serengeti finishing third.

The Minecraft Build Battles competition showcased learners’ creativity and teamwork. In the high school category, Curro Wilgeheuwel emerged victorious, followed by Curro Waterfall and Curro Krugersdorp. In the primary school category, Curro Bankenveld secured first place, with Curro Waterfall teams taking both second and third.

While esports is growing rapidly worldwide, De Kock said many parents are still getting used to seeing gaming as a legitimate sport. “We are still struggling a bit with that. It’s also hard to find venues big enough to host these kinds of events.”

Winners received trophies, gold, silver, and bronze pins, as well as prizes sponsored by Acer for Education and Nitro. However, De Kock believes the real victory lies in the skills learners develop through esports. “Teamwork, communication, strategy, all those skills you find in traditional sport are also here. We also provide a space for learners who can’t, or don’t want to, take part in physical sports to shine.”

Curro esports is also expanding its reach to make the sport more inclusive. Mobile games, such as Brawlhalla and Minecraft Education, have been added, so that more learners can participate. De Kock said the long-term goal is to give every learner, regardless of their background, an opportunity to compete. “We want to include as many learners as possible, give them exposure to esports and help grow the sport in South Africa.”

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