The world of esports is set to make a monumental leap with the very first European Esports School Championship, a pioneering event that invites students across Europe to showcase their gaming skills in a competitive and inclusive environment. Organised under the EU-project “European Grassroots Esports,” the championship seeks to bridge the gap between commercialised esports and individualised gaming culture by embedding young gamers into value-based, socially structured environments. This initiative is co-funded by the European Union and coordinated by ISCA, along with partners H2O Esports Campus (Netherlands), Viken Sport Region (Norway), Hungarian Esports Federation (Hungary), DGI (Denmark), and play-eS-HanseSPIEL e.V. Hamburg (Germany).

The tournament will unfold in two stages:
1.    Online Group Qualification Phase: Scheduled from 15-28 July 2024.
2.    Final Event: To be held on-site during gamescom 2024 in Cologne, Germany, on 23-24 August 2024.

Schools and sports clubs from Denmark, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Norway are eligible to participate. Teams and individual players must register for the championship by sending an email to euchampionship@play-es.de by 12 July 2024, including the necessary details such as the discipline, team name, and contact information.

Detailed information on the registration process, tournament rules, and schedule can be found on the official championship website.

This championship aims to harness the educational potential of esports, promoting important values such as fair play, responsibility, and inclusion. By organising esports activities in schools, the initiative seeks to foster positive social behaviour and digital literacy among students.

For queries regarding the 1st European Grassroots Esports School Championship, contact:
•    Project Manager: J. Peter Lemcke
•    Phone: +49 172 7919725
•    Email: plemcke@web.de 
•    General Inquiries and Registration: euchampionship@play-es.de
•    Website: www.play-es.de/championship

These initiatives represent a significant step towards integrating esports into educational frameworks, providing structured, value-based opportunities for young gamers across Europe.