‘You get some fun rivalries’: Esports tournament brings gamers to Myrtle Beach

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Boost at the Beach Esports Tournament is returning to the Grand Strand for a second year this weekend. The competition features 12 colleges and universities, double the number of participants from last year. The schools will play the video game Rocket League in a team format. Syracuse University and Shenandoah University are collaborating to host the competition at The Hangout at Broadway at the Beach. Coastal Carolina University does not have a team participating but is helping to organize the event.

A Unique Gathering of Gamers

Alyssa Duran, the Interim Esports Director at Shenandoah University, said the competition is about more than just playing Rocket League. “Every time we get together it’s kind of a check-in of ‘how have you been doing?’, ‘what’s going on?’, the students get to know each other, you get some fun rivalries going,” said Duran.

Jonathan Paris, the Executive Director of Sports Tourism with Visit Myrtle Beach, said events like this shine a unique, and virtual, light on the area. “Let’s face it, a lot of kids, a lot of young adults, they watch Twitch, they’re on YouTube watching gamers,” said Paris. “Now this is a way for us to hit kind of a different market through a different medium and that’s part of why we’re investing in the esports events.”

Bridging Communities Through Gaming

Sean Kelly, the Director of Production Outreach for the esports program at Syracuse University, said one of last year’s highlights was watching people learn about the esports world. “South Carolina was playing and there were a bunch of families that were turning, watching, talking to their kids about it,” said Kelly. “It was a really heartwarming look at it.”

Nicholas Mattawa, an Esports Subject Specialist for CCU said he wants people to know anyone can try Esports. “The E in Esports doesn’t stand for electronic, it stands for everyone, everyone can be involved,” said Matawa. “It doesn’t matter if you’re in a wheelchair, it doesn’t matter if you’re 6 foot 5, or if you’re 4 foot 3. There’s a home for you here and we want you to come out and take a look at it, take a little dip, put your toe in the water.”

Exciting Matches Ahead

The tournament will take place on Saturday and Sunday. The event will also feature a Smash Bros tournament for high schoolers from Horry County Schools.

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Author: STAFF HERE MYRTLE BEACH

The HERE Myrtle Beach Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Myrtle Beach community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Myrtle Beach Our team includes lifelong Myrtle Beach residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent developments along the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry, and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Coastal Carolina University programs). Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.