WaterLAN Esport Tournament showcases inclusivity and growth in Waterloo Region: organizers [Video]

The Waterloo Region is stepping into the e-sports spotlight this weekend with the WaterLAN E-sports Tournament, a provincial collegiate invitational hosted by the University of Waterloo and Conestoga College.

“It’s a special event where all the teams come across and we get to play in real life next to each other,” said esports athlete, Eric Jun. “So it’s very nice; it’s a new experience for sure.”

With over 120 athletes competing across two popular games, the event is a testament to the explosive growth of esports in the area—and it’s making inclusivity a priority.

An esports team competing in a League of Legends tournament at the University of Waterloo, Jan. 12, 2025. (Sidra Jafri/CTV News)“So, a lot of people see esports, and I think video games, as a personal skill. But if you look at the pros…they’re play requires manual time, precision and in many ways it’s kind of …