Hundreds play for a chance to win $2,000 at Esports Tournament

ANTHONY, Texas (KVIA) - Gamers from across the country packed the Anthony High School gym this weekend for a competitive E-Sports Tournament and the chance to take home $2,000.

“We have here a tournament, a huge tournament…Super Smash bros ultimate, Super Smash Bros Melee, and Guilty Gear Strive,” said Samuel Arzola, tournament organizer.

Over 200 people played a few games during the tournament, like Pokeman, but the main attraction was Super Smash Brothers.

Some of the top national players made the trip just to compete. Juan Pablo Osorio Locada came all the way from Puebla, Mexico.

“It’s really fun for me because I get to play so many different styles, I just got in a really hard match, so I’m really happy, its challenging, and I love how committed it is to just the players," said Osorio Locada, who is ranked 45th in Esports tournaments.

The player's background or city or origin does not matter, the game and tournaments are all about skill.

“I haven’t been treated too much differently from everyone else, but I am transgender, so people don’t necessarily know that I am a woman, and that helps me a bit, but I think overall, skill talks,” said tournament player Dahlia Atkinson.

Organizers say players in Esports are a very tight knit community, almost like family and meet on a weekly basis to play games together.