Suntory Beverage & Food Limited, which owns the Lucozade energy drink, is set to host the final tournament of its first online gaming championship for Africa titled ‘Lucozade Final 11 League’ hosted exclusively in Kenya, for Kenyans on September 4, 2021.
The tournament will be the culmination of the league that commenced in July, with the league recording 600 participants from across Kenya and 107 of them under the age of 18.
Contestants battled it out over 3 rounds of intense play meant to test their resourcefulness and mental determination through the famous Fortnight Battle Royal game.
The top 11 players are those competing in the high-stakes grand finale.
“As Lucozade, we champion positive mental and physical power, to give contestants the essential ‘Energy To Get Through It’. Throughout the league, we have witnessed just how impressive our Kenyan gamers truly are – especially the younger players,” said Wanjiru Njenga, Head of Marketing at Suntory Beverage & Food.
Lucozade Final 11 League. PHOTO/COURTESY
She added, “The skillset and ingenuity shown have been impressive. Through gaming, it is our hope as Lucozade, that participants will learn to think on the spot and put their savviness to use in the real world. We want to create an opportunity for gamers to create a viable career and hopefully see a Kenyan at an international gaming competition.”
The intense rounds saw a mix of avid pros and novices clash in the league.
Those leading the pack included the Under18’s gamer Vlotix (Jonathan Ayieko) aged 17, a recent high school graduate who skillfully beat his opponents through the knockout rounds.
Ayieko got stiff competition from impressive 9-year-old gamer ttvitsmickey (Michael Gitau), who almost had him at one stage.
Ttvitsmickey was, however, unable to continue onto the Final 11 due to technical issues on his end leaving Vlotix to maintain his position from Round 1 of the knockout. Will he win the tournament on September 4?
Kenyan entertainment firm Movie Jabber, industry experts in the gaming, film and pop-culture field, is overseeing the Lucozade Final 11 League execution and fair play system.
“We had a great turnout from the registration and the players throughout the tournament. Choosing Fortnite was great to ensure everyone in the country would have an opportunity to take part in it! Every game has a passionate fanbase, and this has been no different. The gamers regularly tried to push back against the rules, to try to mould it into their image, making it easier to win, but once you stand your ground as the game admin, they buckle and fall in line. There is a potential increase for more gaming competitions in the country,” said Jotham Micah, Business Development Manager, Movie Jabber.
Finalists will battle it out over 3 rounds at a live in-person event on September 4 and will compete for a Playstation 5 console prize valued at more than Sh87,720 and other prizes.
The runner-up will get a Playstation VR kit valued at more than Sh54,825, with the final event and game to be live-streamed for fans across Kenya on the official Lucozade YouTube channel.
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