Students Shine at Games Fest Hastings

Students from East Sussex College’s Lewes campus showcased their Esports expertise at Games Fest Hastings, delivering an action-packed weekend at the White Rock Theatre.

Invited by the Guildhall Trust, the students took the lead in setting up and running an Esports tournament while also providing hands-on gaming experiences and demonstrations for festival attendees.

Festival-goers had the chance to play games, chat with the students about their experiences in Esports, and even take on the challenge of beating ESC’s Williams F1 Simulator champion - though no one quite managed to take the title.

Competitive energy was at an all-time high as local colleges went head-to-head in Overwatch 2, Valorant, and Rocket League. ESC put up a strong fight towards the end of the tournament, but ultimately just fell short.

Bexhill College and DV8 College also joined in on the action, embracing the true spirit of gaming - having fun. To heighten the excitement, the tournaments were shoutcasted (hosted and commentated live), giving spectators an immersive experience while helping them understand the fast-growing world of Esports.

Ian Golledge, Deputy Head of Curriculum for Creative & Digital at ESC Lewes, reflected on the success of the event: “The weekend was so successful that extra tickets for both days were needed. The White Rock team were impressed enough to invite the college back next year, and the students performed so well that Esports organisers are keen to involve them in future events across the south coast.”

Behind the scenes, students demonstrated a range of key skills—including technical expertise, logistical planning, and social engagement - to make the event a success. They even created a promotional video to introduce Esports and their course, which can be viewed below.

With their impressive performance at Games Fest Hastings, ESC Lewes’ Esports students are making a name for themselves in the community - proving that the future of competitive gaming is bright!