Llandrillo Dragons presented with Valorant Welsh Cup

Coleg Llandrillo students were presented with the Valorant Welsh Cup trophy by ESports Wales chief John Jackson.

While at the Rhos-on-Sea campus, he also delivered workshops on career opportunities in competitive video gaming, and on branding in the industry.

Llandrillo Dragons’ Esports team won last year’s inaugural Welsh Cup in tactical hero shooter game Valorant.

Alfie Mitchell and Luke Openshaw, the captains of Llandrillo Dragons’ winning Valorant team, were presented with the trophy.

Alfie said: “We were very proud for the team. It’s the first time we’ve brought home a trophy so it was cool to be the team that did it.”

After receiving the trophy, the team and their course-mates on the Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media & Production took part in a workshop with John Jackson.

The Esports Wales CEO gave the students an insight into how their Esports skills could help in the competitive computer games industry and in other careers.

John said: “I’ve been talking to the students about getting involved in the esports industry, career opportunities, and how they can use their transferable skills from the esports course to move into traditional job profiles.

“The other workshop I’ve been doing is branding, including how they develop their personal brands, how they brand themselves online, and how events, businesses and clubs are branded.”

Learners found the workshop inspiring, with Luke saying: “He gave us a list of every career out there, with examples of people from Wales who have been successful, and how they started. It was very useful.”

Esports Wales is the national body for competitive video gaming, looking after all its disciplines from the grassroots up to the national teams.

The governing body runs various leagues, competitions and events, including the Welsh Cup, which was introduced last year.

John said: “The Welsh Cup is about getting Welsh colleges and schools playing against each other, to develop that common interest and to develop the scene in Wales.

“The competition helps people develop their skill set as they look to move into higher education and keep that momentum going from what they’re doing here at college. It can also help them progress into the national teams so they can hopefully showcase Wales around the world.”

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