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WASILLA — Over 220 Alaskans participated in the 2021/2022 MTA Virtual Gaming Tournament
The esports tournament started in November 2021 and concluded in February 2022.
Retired Seahawks football player Luke Willson, and Logan Kimmell with Kimmell Gaming appeared virtually in this year’s tournament. NBA basketball player Gordon Hayward was the special guest during the previous event.
This season’s games included Fortnite, APEX Legends, Super Smash Bros, Rocket League and League of Legends. Winners from each game bracket rescued virtual gift cards, gaming and streaming equipment, and MTA merchandise.
MTA recently expanded the tournament into a league after several years of the tournament growing larger and larger according to MTS public relations manager Jessica Gilbert.
“They wanted more than just one day,” Gilbert said. “It was great. We learned a lot about the league structure.”
MTA’s original esports tournament was held at the Menard Center. MTA Pivoted to a virtual model in 2020. Gilbert said the virtual element has allowed more access to rural Alaskan communities and they plan to keep the model moving forward.
MTA raised over $33,000 through esports sponsorships. Gilbert said that 100 percent of the funds will go toward the MTA Foundation, which provides scholarships, donations, grants, and other tech assistance throughout Alaska. She said this was the largest amount they’ve raised so far.
“People around the community are learning more about the MTA Foundation because of the work of our esports tournament,” Gilbert said.
The MTA Esports League is open to players 16 and older. Gilbert said the new league format has doubled the overall reach of their gaming efforts, but more than anything, the event was about cultivating a strong, tech-forward community of passionate gamers.
To have a great gaming experience you need a great internet connection and we have that. This is an opportunity for us to do something bigger,” Gilbert said. “A lot of the same skills are being harnessed with esports as traditional sports such as team building, communication, critical thinking, and decision making.”
For more information about the MTA Esports League, visit mtasolutions.com/esports.
Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com
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