Chancellor King Celebrates First SUNY Esports Tournament
April 21, 2025
More Than 120 Student Players Participated in SUNY-Wide Tournament Featuring Seven Esport Competitions
Photos From the Tournament Are Available Here
Albany, NY – State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today celebrated the first SUNY Esports Tournament, and congratulated tournament winners. The inaugural SUNY Esports Tournament since the establishment of the SUNY Esports League took place at the University at Albany, and included more than 120 student players, competing in 34 different teams from 16 SUNY campuses. The student players competed in seven esports games including: Guilty Gear Strive, Marvel Rivals, Overwatch, Rocket League, Smash Ultimate, Street Fighter 6, and Valorant.
"Esports aren't simply fun, they are also an emerging industry that provides good jobs to competitors, casters, coaches, designers, and support staff," said Chancellor King. "SUNY is an innovative and world-class higher educational system, and that is why we have worked to prepare students for successful, and thrilling, careers in the gaming and esports industry. I congratulate all of the SUNY student competitors on being a part of this esports tournament."
The SUNY Esports League, which allows students to play highly competitive video games, includes more than 2,000 student players from 23 SUNY colleges and universities across New York State. These players compete against fellow SUNY students, as well as students from other colleges and universities thanks to SUNY Esports being a part of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). Additionally, SUNY helps student players grow within the esports industry, connect with coaches, and develop skills and networks that will empower them to thrive after graduation.
The SUNY Board Trustees added, "There is an entire industry surrounding esports, and it is great that SUNY has stepped up to offer students opportunities to follow their passions while also learning essential skills. Every student deserves to find a home and purpose at SUNY, and our prioritization of esports has opened doors and broadened horizons for thousands of our scholars. We will continue to invest in our students and in ensuring that SUNY provides a world-class, thrilling, and innovative education."
University at Albany President Havidán Rodríguez said, "We built a 4,000-square-foot gaming arena to meet the growing needs of UAlbany Esports, which is among the country's largest collegiate competitive video gaming programs. I was so thrilled to share this space for the first in-person SUNY Esports finals. Our state-of-the-art facility is allowing students to become even more engaged in the rapidly growing gaming industry."
To learn more about SUNY Esports opportunities, please visit: https://www.suny.edu/esports/.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.16 billion in fiscal year 2024, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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