This archive report was first published on 2 December 2019.
On December 2, 2019, the Technical University of Kenya hosted the Nairobi BLAZE E-Sports regional finals, where two Kenyans from South B proved to be the best in video gaming.
Dennis Amatta and Jean Jelimo were crowned the champions of the FIFA 19 and Tekken 7 tournaments, respectively. Dennis Amatta beat Hezekiel Karanja in a closely contested FIFA 19 tournament, while Jean Jelimo emerged victorious in the female-only Tekken category.
The Nairobi edition of the tournament attracted over 300 young gamers from Kiambu, Machakos, and Kajiado Counties, with a KES 200,000 prize pool up for grabs. The top three gamers in both game categories took home KES 50,000, 30,000, and 20,000 respectively.
Since its launch in August 2019, the BLAZE E-Sports tournament has seen over 900 gamers participate, with more than KES 500,000 won at the 8 grassroots knockouts and 4 regional finals held across the country.
Seventeen female gamers competed at the Nairobi edition, the highest ever turnout at a BLAZE E-Sports tournament, which aims to empower youth aged between 18 and 26 who are looking at gaming as a career choice.
Empowering Youth through E-Sports ¶
The BLAZE E-Sports circuit seeks to raise awareness about E-sports and its potential to improve the sports scene in Kenya. The tournament is expected to promote E-sports as a legitimate sport, similar to those in developed countries.
