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Students, Staff and Graduates come together to help BSU host its first ever Esports tournament
Monday, 23 February, 2026Bath Spa University was proud to host its first ever Esports tournament this weekend, showcasing the power of community through gaming.
The event, organised by BSU Film, Television and Digital Production Graduate Keya Usman and hosted in the Student’s Union, brought together local Super Smash Bros. competitors with students from a range of courses to compete in the tournament.
Overseen by Creative Computing Technical Demonstrator Joolz Thornton, the event sought to introduce students to the world of esports, as well as showcasing some of the best Super Smash Bros. Players that Somerset has to offer.
Reflecting on the event, Keya said:
“The goal of the event was to create a safe, engaging space that showcased some of the region’s best talent, while also being accessible to newcomers who just wanted to give it a go. It was important to me that everyone felt welcome.
As a recent graduate and former Vice President of the Gaming Society at BSU, I was able to connect the local gaming scene with a great venue at the Students’ Union. It felt like the perfect opportunity to bring people together.
The most rewarding part for me was hearing people say ‘thank you’ with a smile at the end of the event. That’s all the motivation I need to keep building on this. We’ll definitely be back, bigger and better next time!”
Esports has been on the rise over the past decade, with these specialised and competitive events often pitting the world’s best gamers against one another. Competitive titles such as Fortnite, League of Legends and FIFA have dominated the Esports sphere over that time, with more casual gamers turning competitive to pit their skills against the rest of the world.
A sign of the changing times and shift in competitive sporting landscape, Esports is undoubtedly popular amongst the student community at BSU, with this most recent event showcasing the appetite amongst staff, graduates and current students.
Not only does Esports embrace the competitive side of gaming but it also builds community, something the industry has been doing for years. Bringing people together to bond over narrative, characters or just general friendly competition, the community-building power of gaming is often overlooked, and its impact is particularly vital amongst BSU students.
Reflecting on this, Keya added:
“Gaming communities are often labelled as introverted or antisocial, but the events I attended were welcoming, diverse and full of energy.”
That very essence was rife at BSU’s debut tournament, with staff member and Creative Music Technology graduate Joolz Thornton adding:
“There are so many benefits to hosting events like this! To name just a few: We're supporting the esports module, the gaming society, and showing the local community - and beyond - that BSU is a fun, and inclusive place to be.”
Looking to press start on your own journey in the gaming world? BSU has a number of Creative Computing courses that will see you embark on your own adventure.