Esports tournament kicks off in Las Vegas after SU students’ turbulent journey
SU esports team make first-ever championship in Vegas
Seven schools are competing in the Power Esports Conference Championship this weekend at HyperX Arena.
LAS VEGAS – A major storm that hit the Midwest Thursday added a wrinkle to Syracuse’s esports program’s cross-country trip for the first-ever Power Esports Conference tournament.
In Chicago, the esports team had to break into smaller groups when rescheduling their delayed flights in order to make it to Las Vegas before the tournament’s start.
After hours in the air and a bumpy landing, students like Bri Nechifor breathed a sigh of relief when they stepped into the HyperX Arena at the Luxor Hotel.
“Heck, we’re in Vegas,” the junior esports communication and management student said as the Orange arrived just in time for the tournament press conference.
After weeks of the regular season to determine the seedings, Syracuse University and six other schools in the PEC gather at the HyperX Arena this weekend. The teams will fight for championship titles in four different games: Valorant, Super Smash Bros., Overwatch and Rocket League. HyperX Arena, which hosts 787 people on the first floor, will show off college esports over the next two days.
The student-athletes are undoubtedly the main focus, but much effort goes behind this show as well. Though not without help from the faculty, students like Nechifor will do the broadcast, commentary, and production.
“This has never been done before at the level that we’ve been able to do,” said Joey Gawrysiak, the executive director of esports at Syracuse University. “And it’s because of the institutions that are involved and the staff and the students that are involved to make this thing happen.”
Nechifor usually is the one who plays many roles. “I do everything except play competitively,” she said. “I do production, I help film content, I help edit, I help run events, help in safety, just general people management. Whatever the program needs me for, I’m there, and they can just always rely on me.”
During this event, Nechifor will help with the broadcast production.
“I’m going to be making sure we get all those graphics correct if there is a fire to put out,” she said. “Which I’m sure there won’t be. We’ve been thinking and processing a lot behind this.”
While waiting for the press conference to begin, freshman Carson Kass sat next to Nechifor. Teaming up with students from other schools, Kass will cast three of the four games during the event. Saturday will be long for Kass; he predicts that he will commentate for nine to 12 hours straight.
In Kass’ hands were 10 pages of notes he prepared for the event. Among them were random facts about the city, the Luxor hotel, and each school’s records for each game.
“The city of Las Vegas reportedly consumes around 60,000 pounds of shellfish per day,” one note read.
Another note compared the structure outside the hotel to its famous predecessor.
“Sphinx in front is over 100 feet taller than the actual sphinx in Egypt…”
The press conference was unusually casual, compared to the ones in traditional sports. Seven esports program directors sat in a row facing the bar on the second level of the arena. They passed the one mic provided for each question. When Gawrysiak said Syracuse has the largest esports program in the country, a student from another school who was warming up on the first floor yelled, “Hello?”
KICK-OFF MATCHUPS
— Syracuse Esports (@Cuse_Esports) April 2, 2025
Saturday, April 5th
Rocket League vs. @EsportsNebraska
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate vs. @OhioStEsports
Valorant vs. @BoiseStEsports
Overwatch – bye round ?
GET HYPED‼️ pic.twitter.com/GopR8S0GaQ
With the preparation of the PEC Championship rolling towards perfection, the directors were excited about the event.
“We’ve been able to, for the first time in eight years, print a poster of who we’re going to play and actually bring fans in to watch,” said Chris Haskell, the director of the esports program at Boise State University. “Yes, eight years. That’s like 71 years in esports terms.”
And, for the first time ever, four teams will rise to the top to finish Year One of the PEC.
The PEC Championship games will be available through Syracuse esports’ Twitch channel starting Saturday at 2 p.m. EDT.