Are you an esports enthusiast? Based in Gauteng or Western Cape? Keen to be crowned “SA’s best gamer?” Then you’re in luck. The Shift Gaming Experience is once again making the rounds across the two province’s malls, in search of someone to hand that crown to. The Shift Gaming Experience is an initiative brought to you by Hyprop and MTN, dubbing itself “one of the largest national gaming tournaments.”
“To date, the tournament has been a roaring success, with thousands of gamers, supporters and spectators visiting these shopping centres to be part of the experience. Our aim is to create spaces and connect people and what better way than with e-sports – one of the fastest growing sports both locally and globally, says Hyprop’s Riegardt Marais.
Shifting to first
Hoping to secure your slot in the semi-finals? That, uh, won’t be possible. The tournament has been in full swing since April, already securing 16 semi-finalists. Fret not, for there is still time to prove your skills, though truthfully not much. With only three qualifying stages left, the tournament will eventually culminate in a grand finale come 27 August. What are you doing? Get practising!
Oh. Yeah. We haven’t told you what to practise, have we? If you’re looking to score the big bucks, then you’ll want to take part in the tournament’s headliner – FIFA 23 – with the next in-centre event taking place at Clearwater Mall this weekend, 14-16 July. You can check out the full schedule here.
If you can’t make it to the malls in question, the Shift Gaming Experience is hosting a number of online qualifiers for aspiring FIFA 23 players in conjunction with the in-centre events. Be warned: there’s only one more online qualifier taking place, on 23 July. Go on, get signed up.
Read More: Meet South Africa’s first-ever eSports scholarship winners
As for those big bucks we mentioned, the ‘best’ FIFA player in the country (or more accurately, in Gauteng and Western Cape) will walk away with R20,000 in their pocket. Even though no one will remember them, second and third place won’t be leaving empty-handed, receiving R10,000 and R5,000 respectively.
FIFA isn’t all that’s on offer though. “Adding to the vibe have been the side-competitions ranging from F1 and Fortnite to fighting games and Minecraft, with F1 emerging as a favourite.” That’ll involve setting the fastest lap in F1 2022, though what you’ll actually competing for (besides pride) is as much a mystery to us as it is to you.
If you’re not ready for the commitment in FIFA (or you’re a bad driver), there are a few on-the-day tournaments happening at each of the tournament’s in-centre events. These will test players’ skills in Tekken 7, Street Fighter 6 or Brawlhalla. You won’t be walking away with R20,000, but there are worthy prizes in the form of mall gift cards to be won.