CCCG Esports team refine their Valorant skills and compete at Insomnia the Gaming Festival

The CONEL Cyphers had the chance to gain more competitive experience at a large gaming event at Birmingham’s NEC.

A team of five competitive gamers from Capital City College Group’s (CCCG) Valorant Esports team, also known as the CONEL Cyphers, attended a gaming festival over the Easter weekend. The festival was the latest hosted by Insomnia the Gaming Festival (also known as iSeries 72 or i72) and took place from 28 March to 1 April.

The four-day event, which was held at the NEC in Birmingham, is one of the largest local area network (LAN) events in the country, with thousands of gaming enthusiasts travelling to attend the festival and participate in Esports tournaments.

The non-stop gaming experience gave participants the opportunity to play the latest video games as well as retro classics. Gamers gathered to attend panel discussions, meet industry players and compete in a range of tournaments. There was also the opportunity to take in live performances, and cosplay competitions, and explore the latest gaming gear in the festival marketplace.

The CONEL Cyphers team was made up of five players: Daniel Ra, Cyrus Sullivan, Ermir Frashn, Waeel Mansoor and Tony Bamvuama. Three of the team’s members, Daniel, Cyrus, and Ermir, are students on the Esports Level 3 Diploma, a course which covers multiple areas across the Esports industry. Waeel is currently studying Level 3 Engineering and Tony is a student on the Games Animation and VFX Skills course.

The team participated in the i72 Valorant tournament and demonstrated their skills in a series of exciting matches on 28 March. They took on semi-professional players from the best teams in the UK and showcased their abilities with impressive performance. After winning three matches, they narrowly missed out on the playoffs – but the experience has helped them prepare for the upcoming National Championships, where they will defend their title.

Ermir Frashn, an Esports Level 3 Diploma student, said: “i72 was a unique and thrilling experience. We got to play against many great teams and compete at a higher standard than we usually do. For me, i72 is unforgettable and the memories I made there I will treasure.”

Finlay Stewart, Lecturer in Computing, said: “The learners did an amazing job at iSeries. Competing against the best teams in the country is no easy task. They not only impressed me but many of the other teams and fans at the event. It was a good experience which we can now use going into the National Finals in July”.

If you’re interested in the world of gaming, take a look at our Computing and IT Courses or join the CCCG Esports Academy alongside your studies.

Share!