The University of North Dakota hosted hundreds of student gamers from around the state Feb. 27-28 during the annual Fenworks North Dakota Esports State Tournament, an event that showcased competitive video gaming, teamwork, and school pride at the UND Memorial Union.
The two-day competition brought together teams from high schools and middle schools across North Dakota to compete in a variety of titles and gaming formats in ballrooms throughout the Memorial Union and in the UND varsity esports labs. Students battled through matchups in Fortnite, League of Legends, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Mario Kart 8, Minecraft, and chess.
Organized by Fenworks, an education and competition platform that runs esports leagues throughout the region, the annual state championship gave student competitors the chance to test their skills, build strategy, and engage in spirited play against peers from around North Dakota.
Opening ceremonies began Friday morning with team check-ins and introductions before the first round of competition. Athletes and coaches filled the Memorial Union ballrooms as preliminary matches unfolded over the course of the day. Saturday’s schedule included the remainder of bracket play and the championship finals for each title.
All award ceremonies took place immediately following the final match for each game, recognizing top performers and state champions in every bracket. Beyond the traditional esports formats, a physical chess tournament was also featured, bringing attention to classic strategy competition and its growing popularity in gaming circles.
Fans and families were on hand throughout the weekend to cheer on competitors. Students and adults alike could purchase event admission, though UND students and staff were admitted free with a valid university ID. “It was cool seeing the Union full of young students competing,” a student watching the games said. “I thought it was cool that it was on our campus.”
The Champions for the games are: West Fargo United James for Chess, Harvey HHS Team 2 for Fortnite, West Fargo United T1 for League of Legends, Fargo Public School Kart Sour Patch Yoshi’s for Mario Kart 8, Dunseith for Marvel Rivals, West Fargo United Varsity Minecraft for Minecraft Bed Wars, Rocket League Grand Forks Central for Rocket League, Minot W Fake for Unified Rocket League, Grand Forks Central for SSBU, and Harvey Hornets Valorant for Valorant. The All-Around Champion has not been released by the Fenworks Association at this time.
In addition to the competition, UND provided access to its dedicated esports labs, giving teams additional space for practice and play and allowing spectators a closer look at college-level esports facilities. The tournament’s presence on UND’s campus highlights the growing profile of esports in scholastic competition, from smaller school league play to statewide championships. Students competed not only for titles, but also to represent their schools and communities in one of the fastest-growing arenas of student competition.
As the state’s top young gamers return home and look toward future seasons, organizers and participants alike said the shared experience of competition and skill displayed throughout the two days will continue to fuel interest in esports across North Dakota.
Rachel Held is a Dakota Student General Reporter. She can be reached at [email protected].
