Last Saturday, the Marigot Sports Hall was buzzing with excitement for the second edition of the SXM E-Sport Festival, organized by the ANIS association (Digital and Social Innovation Association). The event brought together 62 participants. compared to 110 during its first edition in 2022divided into two categories: young people (from 12 years old) and adults.
The competitors were able to compete on three flagship games "FC 26", football simulation game, "Tekken 8", famous one-on-one fighting game, and "Super Smash Bros", a fighting game featuring iconic Nintendo characters. It was this game that attracted the most participants. Matches were broadcast on a giant screenwhile the players enjoyed a meal prepared by the association's volunteers.
Conceived as a true festival, the event was not limited to video gamesThroughout the day, visitors were able to try their hand at... boxing in the ring, has a basketball tournament 3 against 3 or discover an adapted sports workshop, the bicycle desk. These activities of the Health and Sports Village were organized and financed by the CTOS SBSM in partnership with the Superstar Boxing Club of Sandy Ground, Phoenicks basketball and Saint Martin Health. A capoeira demonstration offered by the Soualiga Capoeira association, experiences of virtual reality with Orange and the presence of local artists completed the program“Esports competitions are often focused solely on the players. We wanted to blend esports, traditional sports, and urban culture to offer what we would have liked to have when we were younger,” explains Jerry Desbonnes, founder of ANIS. He also points out that this competition remains for amateursdue to the lack of a local federation allowing players to officially represent Saint-Martin at the national or international level.
The winners nevertheless had plenty to motivate themselves. Regarding rewards : a Samsung smartphone worth approximately €700 for the main tournament, as well as €200 for the winners of the other two games, thanks to the support of the sponsors.
Among the guests was David Lagrin, who plays under the pseudonym “Akita” and is the Guadeloupe Tekken 8 Champion. With over 10.000 hours of practice, he is ranked 6th out of 8 in the game and is among the best players in the Caribbean. Having come all the way from Guadeloupe for the event, he unsurprisingly won the adult category of Tekken 8. “It’s a great event. We’d love to have one every month, even though we know it’s complicated to organize,” he said. Beyond the competition, the association emphasized that esports is also a way to re-engage young people by showing them that it’s possible to work in a field they’re passionate about. _DR
THE TOURNAMENT PODIUM
Youth category results:
Tekken 8
1er Nai
2e YDS
3e Rekwan Thomas
FC 26
1er Zenon
2e Jonathan
3e Lohmar
Super Smash Bros
1er Yannick
2e Richardson Julano
3e YDS
Results in the adult category:
Tekken 8
1er David Lagrain
2e Josias Jay
3e Yann Thomas
FC 26
1er Joseph Natson
2e Akim Emil
3e : Caiy
Super Smash Bros
1er Tariq Gumbs Rodent
2e : Toto
3e Laurence
