eSPORTS CHAMPION WALKS AWAY WITH Sh500,000 AT TUSKER NEXTERS TALENT SEARCH FINALE FETE
Tusker Nexters, the talent platform by Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL)’s flagship beer brand came to an exciting conclusion on the eSports front, with Makuer Matur taking the crown of eSports champion, and walking away with a cool Sh500,000 cheque. Second-placed Leone Ndarwa was awarded Sh350,000, while third and fourth placed Luony Teat and Eric Ngige took home Sh150,000 and Sh100,000 respectively.
The Tusker Nexters journey has been ongoing for the last 5 months since it kicked off in March 2022 upon the launch of an anniversary campaign to mark Tusker’s 100th year of existence. The eSports talents from across Kenya battled it out at the audition stage of the tournament for the chance to stake their claim on the title of Tusker Nexters eSports talents. Some finalists, such as Eric Ngige, even chose to attend multiple auditions in different regions to increase their chances of proceeding to the finals.
The challenging preliminary audition experience culminated in the Nexters gathering in Nairobi, where they went through an intense schedule of practising and honing their skills in preparation for the July 21 fete.
The competition format for the eSports finals was a knockout contest. Each regional finalist went against the other and the winner proceeded to the next stage of the tournament. Competition favourite Leone Ndarwa, a Nairobi region finalist, won all his match-ups on the way to the final, where he was pipped at the post by tournament winner Makuer Matur, one of the Coast regional finalists and eventual winner of the tournament.
Said Tusker Senior Brand Manager, Catherine Twesigye, commenting on the event: “We have said repeatedly that Kenya has long been an incubator for some of the most exciting talents on this side of the continent. Tusker, on the other hand, has always held the hands of talented Kenyan artists and pioneers, and supported them to be the best versions of themselves. The Tusker Nexters platform is no different. As we continue to celebrate 100 years of existence this year, we have done it with these young talents in music and in eSports. These guys have talent and then some. Resilience as well, to be able to withstand the journey thus far, which has been long and hard for them. Tonight, we have met the out-and-out finalists eSports. I am really proud of all of them, and what we have been able to achieve thus far.”
Attention now turns to the Tusker Nexters music finale which see three finalists chosen to win cash prizes as well as a music recording deal.
