Nine countries to compete as Gamr X E-sports tourney holds in Lagos

The fourth edition of the Gamr X Africa E-sports is set to take place in Lagos on August 8. 

The competition will be held at the Landmark Event Centre by noon.

Damilola Pedro, co-founder and head of partnerships at Gamr, said gamers from nine African countries will compete at the tournament.

The participating countries include Kenya, Ghana, Mozambique, Senegal, Cameroon, the Benin Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, South Africa and Nigeria.

Pedro said the gamers will be competing to be champions in six different game titles, including Street Fighter, EA FC 25, Fortnite, Mortal Kombat, PUBG and Call of Duty Mobile.

She added that the winners of the six titles will share a cash prize of N15 million.

“This year and for other editions to come, there are certain things that we are trying to make different. To ensure that inclusion cuts across what we do and ensures that the specially abled are included in what we do,” Pedro said.

“We are also driving a lot of female inclusion. There is a social belief that only men play games. But fortunately, we are lucky to be part of the generation where women do what men do and do it well.

“Also, we plan to take Gamr X from country to country as something that started from Nigeria and has become a global phenomenon.”

Pedro then encouraged parents to stop condemning their ward’s love for video games as a waste of time, but “indeed a professional venture”.

On his part, Lekan Fatodu, director-general of the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), said Gamr X is “an opportunity” for the government to “tap into the huge market of E-sports”.

He added that LSSC will be aiding the event with logistics, monitoring and evaluation, and talent promotion.

“Our [Lagos government] fixation is not traditional sports like football, boxing and table tennis,” he said.

“We know that it is important for us to open new space and new opportunities for people with sporting interests that are not familiar to us.”

Interested attendees can get their tickets here.