Society Spotlight - Esports Society

Since its founding in November 2018, the University of Portsmouth Esports Society has been a force to be reckoned with in the world of student esports. The society is dedicated to competing in national student leagues for some of the most popular games, such as Counter-Strike: 2, League of Legends, Rocket League, Valorant and Marvel Rivals. Outside of competitive play, the society also focuses on building a community by planning in-person socials ranging from Wings Wednesday trips to Movie Nights/Cinema Trips and Pub Golf.

What is it like to be a member of the Esports Society?

The heart of communication within the society is their dedicated Discord server.

Once you join, you can select roles based on your gaming interests, giving you access to game specific channels. 

The game specific channels are a way for game reps to communicate with society members about sign ups for upcoming events (including NSE/NUEL and charity tournaments) and occasionally trial games for team selection. Your past rank and performance during these trial games will be taken into consideration to form teams, with the Portsmouth Paladins standing as the ultimate team representing the society for each game. 

Why is the Portsmouth Esports Society so special? 

Since 2018, the society’s teams have shown immense perseverance and the rewards have been hard earned and well deserved. 

In 2022, after competing against more than 100 universities at the British University Esports Championship (BUEC), the Portsmouth Esports team came in 3rd for the Esports University of the Year title. The Portsmouth Paladins took first place in Overwatch, Rocket League and Super Smash Bros, a monumental achievement for the society! The success didn’t stop there as the Portsmouth Paladins once again claimed the Overwatch trophy, only this time at the Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports Summer Tournament. 

All of this hard work and dedication has been recognised, and in 2022, the society was awarded Student Group Event of the Year by the UPSU! 

Shabaan Ali, MEng Civil Engineering Graduate and previous President and co-founder of the University’s Esports society, said: “This is one of, if not, the biggest achievement the Esports society has ever had. This year has been our greatest yet and there are no signs of us slowing down. It’s fantastic to see all the hard work of the committee over the past few years is paying off and hopefully we can be in contention for the top spot next year. I want to thank the committee, the Students Union, and also our sponsors Reign Pc Gaming and IFoEC, who have helped us throughout and not forgetting the fans!

HISTORY MADE!

Just the other day, the University of Portsmouth Esports Society smashed records by landing their first ever 2nd place finish in the National Student Esports! 🏆🎮 Let's hear it for the team making waves on the national stage!

Beyond competition: The Esports Society’s Commitment to Community and Charity 

The University of Portsmouth Esports Society also focuses on fostering connections and giving back. One standout event is Varsity, where the Esports Society faces off against its counterparts from different universities. This year Portsmouth faced off with Southampton, ending in a 4-4 draw after 8 intense matchups. Portsmouth claimed its victories in Marvel Rivals, League of Legends, Splatoon and Valorant, proving their skill and determination across a variety of games. 

In addition to Varsity, the society plays an active role in charitable initiatives. One of their most notable efforts takes place at Nerdvana, where multiple societies come together to set up activities, raising money for a great cause. During this year’s Nerdvana, the Esports Society’s President joined the Nerdvana’s organiser council, playing an active role in advertising and making executive decisions for the event. During the event, 3 PCs were set up at the Students’ Union Building to run a series of 1v1 matches.

The story behind the Esports Society’s formation

The Esports Society has come a long way since its creation and its origin story is rooted in a passion for gaming and a drive to build something from the ground. According to Shabaan Ali, co-founder of Esports Society:

“When I first joined the University in 2018, I knew about university esports through a friend at the University of Liverpool who played in NUEL (now UNIVERSITY Esports UK & Ireland). During my gap year before I started university, I played Overwatch with him, helping to stream, coach and shoutcast some of his games. Coming to Portsmouth, I expected to find a similar society that competed in leagues like NUEL and the NSE (National Student Esports). But when I attended Freshers’ Fayre, the Gaming Society didn’t know about any Esports scene within the university. 

I sought out like minded individuals, particularly for CS:GO, to play with and join up to represent University of Portsmouth. I began networking with people in the Gaming Society and people from my course. That’s when I met Kewin, followed by Yusuf, Jordan and Kismet. Together, we formed a small group of five to represent the university in competitive CS:GO tournaments.

After a month of playing together, we wanted more people to play with and play against before playing in the tourneys. So, we decided to create an official society. I created a PowerPoint presentation and pitched our idea to the Presidents of groups and societies. With their vote of confidence, the Esports Society was officially inaugurated in November 2018.

So, what do you think? Whether you’re passionate about competitive gaming or just simply enjoy being part of a gaming community, the University of Portsmouth Esports Society offers a space for students to connect, compete, and make lasting memories!

Esports Society UPSU

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