Elsinore High School Battling In Esports Tournament

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — The Riverside County Office of Education is hosting a free-to-attend esports expo this weekend, and the main event will be the final tournament of the Riverside County Esports Fall/WinterSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate Crew Battle in which Elsinore High School qualified for.

Started online in October, the tournament has featured challenges between local high schools. Esports, short for electronic sports, is a form of competition using video games. This weekend's semifinal and final match-ups represent the top five teams that qualified to compete: Beaumont High School, Cathedral City High School, Centennial High School, and a bonus play-in match between Canyon Springs High School and Elsinore High School. Each school has a five-member crew.

The winning team will take home a $3,000 scholarship for their school’s scholarship fund. Second place is $1,500, and third place will receive $500.

The tournament is part of the Riverside County Esports Community Expo. The expo is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Riverside County Office of Education Conference Center (4280 Brockton Avenue in Riverside).

Beyond the tournament, the expo will feature student showcases, including a "Minecraft Storybook" in which second-graders present their Minecraft-inspired original stories and virtual worlds. Student esports clubs will also be on hand to offer their perspectives on the impact and value of participating in an esports program.

There will also be an arcade featuring a display of current and upcoming video games being played within the scholastic esports world.

Riverside County Office of Education officials will also unveil details of a partnership with the United States Academic Esports League. The league's mission is to "help students use their passion for video games to take advantage of opportunities. Opportunities for internships, scholarships, and high-paying career pathways," according to the USAEL.

As a result of the partnership, USAEL will serve as the official gaming and communication platform for the RCOE Esports League.

Multiple higher education-based esports programs will also be on hand at the expo to share information about college pathways and career opportunities.

For more information on the Riverside County Esports League, visit www.rcoe.us/esports.