A Hitchin Esports team were victorious in their first ever competitive match last week – the first to ever be held in the town.
Hitchin Hellhounds came out on top against Watford team the Seven Deadly Snakes when they faced off on Super Smash Bros Ultimate on Thursday at Blueharts Hockey Club in Lucas Lane.
The team was set up by Steve Godwin, creator and director of Enemy of Boredom Esports Academy.
He explained more about the academy, saying: “The EOB Esports Academy is a place for young people to come and feel comfortable while learning together and learning from each other, using video gaming and Esports to build futures.
“It’s a place where ideas are shared, and individuals can explore their passions with the support of trainers and industry professionals.”
On top of the win, Steve believes the Hellhounds may have also set a record.
“This is definitely the first competitive Esport match in Hitchin,” he said.
“It might be the first one in North Herts. I have never heard of one anywhere else.”
Esports is a growing industry with huge prizes available. Last year, a tournament known as The International had a prize pot of $1.7 million.
Steve, who has big plans to grow Esports in North Herts, told the Comet: “We are going to be opening an Esports centre locally. I’ve not signed anything at the moment so I can’t say where exactly. It might be in the Hitchin or Letchworth area.
“We have also affiliated ourselves with Esports talent scouts so if any of our players shows promise they could go and be picked up by an Esports team.”
EOB Esports Academy is partnered with both the Prince’s Trust and Hitchin Cricket Ground Limited.
“We are pleased to have hosted the Prince’s Trust and the EOB Esports Academy over the last five weeks,” said Tony Sampson, director of Hitchin Town Cricket Ground Ltd.
“Hopefully they will be the first of many who wish to use our fantastic new facility, which whilst being the home of Hitchin Cricket Club and Blueharts Hockey Club, can serve the local community as a venue for many diverse events for years to come.”
Prince’s Trust executive Nick Plews added: “Since 2017 the Prince’s Trust and EOB Esports Academy have worked together to create eight bespoke ‘Get into Digital Skills’ programmes designed to help young people between 16 and 30 gain experience and knowledge in the Future Technologies sector, in view of starting their careers in this industry.
“So far, 75 per cent of young people completing the programmes have moved into employment, further education or training.”
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