{"id":148423,"date":"2021-09-21T16:00:54","date_gmt":"2021-09-22T02:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=148423"},"modified":"2021-09-21T13:52:31","modified_gmt":"2021-09-21T23:52:31","slug":"overwatch-league-playoffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2021\/09\/21\/overwatch-league-playoffs\/","title":{"rendered":"糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa hosts Overwatch League playoffs providing more student opportunities"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa students train with Overwatch League employees.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After being the first ever higher education institution in the country to host Overwatch League<\/a> (OWL<\/abbr>) competitions, the University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at M\u0101noa<\/a> is now being tapped as a host site for the league\u2019s 2021 playoffs and Grand Finals, September 21–25.<\/p>\n

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OWL<\/abbr> is the world\u2019s first franchised esports league with 20 city-based teams across North America, Europe and Asia. Its 2021 postseason events will present an even greater learning opportunity for 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s esports students. Five teams from the league\u2019s west region will arrive on campus before play begins. The champion of the double-elimination tournament takes home $1.5 million.<\/p>\n

“Because of the summer internship that the students completed, I am confident that the same group of students are capable of pulling this off, but this time, on a larger scale,” said Nyle Sky Kauweloa<\/strong>, a communication and information sciences<\/a> PhD<\/abbr> student, head of the 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Esports Task Force in the College of Social Sciences<\/a> and instructor. “The students will be assigned to different qualifying teams to help with player support and relations, allowing them even closer access and interactions with the professional esports organizations.”<\/p>\n

Summer tournaments<\/h2>\n

糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa hosted four OWL<\/abbr> tournaments earlier this year. During each tournament, two teams from North America competed from the campus, while two others based in Asia played remotely. These tournaments heavily involved 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa esports students assisting with tournament operations, giving them valuable hands-on experience in one of the fastest growing industries in the world (global esports revenue is expected to reach $1.08 billion in 2021, up 14.5% from 2020<\/a>).<\/p>\n

In addition, participating students were also eligible to earn internship credits through a course taught by Kauweloa.<\/p>\n

“For our students, they continue to impress me with their dedication to doing the work to make the OWL operations on campus a success,” Kauweloa said. “This would have been a very different experience were it not for the students. They have shadowed, watched, networked and learned from industry veterans, many of whom the interns now call friends.”<\/p>\n

Kauweloa added, “This partnership with OWL<\/abbr> to host the playoffs and grand finals brings more exposure to the university’s commitment to esports. What I hope this spurs is a serious discussion about investing more into the infrastructure of our 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> esports program. With the University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at M\u0101noa having been visible throughout the year in hosting, and really sustaining the league, the next question I would have is how can we support esports on our campus in a way that allows for greater space for students to participate.”<\/p>\n

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