Student-led gaming tournament set to land at University of Northampton this week

Students at the University of Northampton are teaming up to host their first annual Gameblast Tournament on campus in a bid to skyrocket fundraising support for Oxford-based charity, SpecialEffect.

Taking place across two days this week (20-21 February from 10.30am-7pm), close to 30 students from across the University of Northampton’s Esports and Games courses will be taking over the first floor of the Creative Hub at Waterside Campus to hit play on a range of games – including Wii Sports, Mario Kart, League of Legends, Rocket League, Valorant and Marvel Rivals – to bring gaming enthusiasts together in aid of a charity close to their hearts.

As well as being screened on televisions across campus, the event will also be broadcasted live across Twitch to allow staff, students and members of the public to get involved and support them with smashing their fundraising target of £1,000. They will also be hosting a charity bake sale and raffle to level-up their fundraising efforts.

SpecialEffect is a charity that focuses on providing people with life changing disabilities the opportunity to experience technology with no limitations, levelling the playing field. With the help of Occupational Therapists, bespoke hardware and software is made to suit individual needs.

Leading the project is first-year student Anya Tydeman, who said: “As a massive gamer myself who is really passionate about getting involved with charity work, it was an easy decision for me to volunteer as the Student Project Lead for the Gameblast Tournament.

“I’ve been loving all of the opportunities I’ve had so far in my first year of study, and I hope this event will be the first in a long line of charity events we run here in the coming months and years!”

The University’s Lecturer in Esports, Ellis Celia added: “I’ve personally been fundraising for this charity for eight years and was thrilled to supervise the students holding their own fundraising event on campus.

”Many of the students involved – including our Project Lead, Anya – are in their first-year of study here at Northampton, and it’s great to see them already getting stuck in and taking ownership with running events for charity.

“Both the Esports and Games industries are very collaborative and community-based, so it’s enriching as an academic and fellow gaming enthusiast to see these students – our next generation of Designers, Programmers, Artists and industry professionals – already heading in such a positive direction.”

Donations can be made to the team’s fundraising total via JustGiving. Their donation target is set at £1,000, which could provide either 40 eye-gaze kits or 67 adapted one-handed gaming controllers.

Find out more about studying Esports, Games Art, Games Design and Games Programming at the University of Northampton.