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As far as Boise State Esports’ varsity lineup goes, fighting games are a relatively new addition to the games Boise State Esports supports. Fighting games were first introduced to the program through Smash Bros. a few years ago. From there, Boise State Esports has gradually expanded its fighting game lineup, with forays into Street Fighter […]
As far as Boise State Esports’ varsity lineup goes, fighting games are a relatively new addition to the games Boise State Esports supports. Fighting games were first introduced to the program through Smash Bros. a few years ago. From there, Boise State Esports has gradually expanded its fighting game lineup, with forays into Street Fighter 6, and Guilty Gear Strive. It’s among these latter games where you’ll find student Sebastian Leeper, also known by his gamertag “Yata”, picking up victories left and right for Boise State.
Leeper first got involved with Boise State Esports playing Guilty Gear Strive in the Collegiate Fighting Games Conference (CFGC). In an interview, Leeper described Guilty Gear Strive as one of his favorite games.
“It’s the game I have the most time in by far for a reason,” said Leeper. “It’s a mix of the playerbases, community, and mechanics of the game. The mechanics are faster, stronger, and deeper in my opinion…overall giving me much more satisfaction than, for example, Street Fighter gives.”
With fighting games being mostly single player, a lot of responsibility rested solely with Leeper to perform well. Despite all of the singular pressure, Leeper excelled in competition, winning two back to back CFGC championships in Guilty Gear Strive for Boise State.
At the beginning of the Fall 2024 semester, Boise State Esports held tournaments in College Football 25 and Street Fighter 6. Both of these games were new additions to Boise State’s varsity lineup. Top performing players in these tournaments were offered places on the varsity team as well as scholarships. With a strong second place showing in Street Fighter 6, Leeper further expanded his footprint in the esports program. Soon, Leeper was competing in Super Smash Bros, Street Fighter 6, and Guilty Gear for Boise State.
In addition to his newly expanded role within Boise State Esports, Leeper also found professional success partnering with BadMoon, an apparel company founded by and catered to fighting game players.
“I got into BadMoon mostly by entering a lot of online tournaments,” said Leeper. “They are an apparel company built by other fighting game players that wanted to see me (and a couple others) go to major events. Therefore, I show off their brand and they fly me to events.”
Both Boise State and Badmoon gave Leeper the resources to travel across the country to various fighting game competitions, where he found even more competitive success. Some of his most notable achievements include winning the Spring 2024 CECC West Regionals and finishing top 32 in Guilty Gear Strive at Evo 2024. In addition to these new achievements, Leeper has continued winning championships in the CFGC, winning again in Guilty Gear for a total of 3 championships.
Leeper has shown himself to be just as driven in his academic pursuits. Leeper enrolled in Boise State with an associate’s degree earned in high school and immediately started pursuing a Bachelor’s in Computer Science in the College of Engineering. He is currently in his last semester of study, and is getting close to earning his degree in just five semesters!
“I like looking/sorting through/understanding data, which is a lot of CS. And the degree can lead me towards that type of profession,” said Leeper. “Boise State’s CS program is pretty fine. Most professors are great and they give a lot of resources to learn both in lecture and out.”
Once graduated, Leeper looks to continue his competitive career thanks to his partnership with BadMoon. While many people in his position might feel anxious about their competitive future, Leeper looks to continue his journey with the same mindset that has earned him much success up to this point, have fun above all else.
“The most fundamental aspect to ‘performing well’ is just to understand what you enjoy about the games in the first place,” said Leeper. “I feel like plenty of people take away that aspect in pursuit of simply winning for the sake of winning, which means they are more sour to results where they lose. Having fun while competing, then checking the VOD’s to see what could’ve been played better and labbing it out is the main/only way I have improved, to be honest.”
Written by Jacob Palmer
Congratulations to the LAHS Secret City Esports team who placed second in the Class 4A Team State Championship. Photo Courtesy LAPS Splatoon competitors N. Stringfellow, Virgil Szinger, Miles Iverson (Captain), Zane Kretz, Kaden Colson, Alice Thieme, Maira Finn and Quinbee Sinta (not pictured) placed 1st. Photo Courtesy LAPS Mario Kart team members CJ Smith, Joe […]
Congratulations to the LAHS Secret City Esports team who placed second in the Class 4A Team State Championship. Photo Courtesy LAPS
Splatoon competitors N. Stringfellow, Virgil Szinger, Miles Iverson (Captain), Zane Kretz, Kaden Colson, Alice Thieme, Maira Finn and Quinbee Sinta (not pictured) placed 1st. Photo Courtesy LAPS
Mario Kart team members CJ Smith, Joe Dale, Fortis Brown, Penny Doebling (Captain), Miles Iverson, Philip Smith, Jay Doebling and Sirena Quezada earned a first-place spot at the state competition. Photo Courtesy LAPS
LAPS NEWS RELEASE
Congratulations to the Los Alamos High School Secret City Esports team that took 2nd place overall in the Class 4A Team State Championship. The Rocket League, Splatoon and Mario Kart teams took first place, while Heathstone garnered a second-place finish. Street Fighter and Smash Bros both placed fourth.
The team was recently ranked the number three program in the United States by USA Today. This is the second year in a row the team made the top 25. Last year, they came in third overall at the state finals.
Esports became a New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) sanctioned activity in 2019.
That year, teams from Los Alamos placed 2nd at the state competition. In 2021, they were named 4A state champions.
“Our students did an amazing job at the state competition,” said LAHS teacher and Esports
sponsor Libbi Lovejoy. “Everyone contributed to the success of our program.”
Tony Sims is the head coach for Secret City Esports. Additional coaching staff members are Blake Hovde, Splatoon; Jacob McRoberts, Street Fighter 6; Colin Kruse and Magenta Bronson,
Smash Bros.; Krispy Pantanilla and Mike Dolejsi, Mario Kart; and Donald Poston, League of
Legends. Sims and McRoberts coach Rocket League. Sims also coaches Madden and Hearthstone.
Rocket League competitors Eric Mecham, Max Cannon, Henry Stidham (Captain), Darius Patton, and Freddy Broyles sport first place medals.
Representing the Hearthstone team are Jacob Castro, Ruben Diaz-Jimenez, Luke Patterson (Captain), Neal Sanders and Ralston Hoffer. They finished in second place. Photo Courtesy LAPS
Street Fighter team members Trent Ogas, Jacob Castro (Captain), Ruben Diaz-Jimenez, Lucas Price and Tony Mishler also garnered a fourth-place finish. Photo Courtesy LAPS
The Ector County ISD Esports team is pictured with school board member Wayne Woodall and Superintendent Keeley Boyer. (Courtesy Photo) Ector County ISD is in the early stages of building an Esports program. The team of Joel Ramos, Kole Rivas, Austin Ramsey with Coach Paul Sanchez participated in the Big […]
Ector County ISD is in the early stages of building an Esports program.
The team of Joel Ramos, Kole Rivas, Austin Ramsey with Coach Paul Sanchez participated in the Big Country Battle Tournament in Abilene this spring, and won all seven (7) of its matches (that’s 21 games) and qualified for the Texas Scholastic Esports Federation Undisputed State Championships, which was held this past weekend.
WC’s Esports Club on the rise – Wilmington News Journal Home News WC’s Esports Club on the rise × […]
Gaming in Illinois isn’t just one thing. It’s a mix of old-school arcades, fast-growing esports, and new online platforms that keep evolving. Whether you’re into console gaming, curious about how gambling fits into the picture, or just want to understand how gaming connects people, there’s a lot happening. This article breaks down what makes gaming […]
Gaming in Illinois isn’t just one thing. It’s a mix of old-school arcades, fast-growing esports, and new online platforms that keep evolving. Whether you’re into console gaming, curious about how gambling fits into the picture, or just want to understand how gaming connects people, there’s a lot happening.
This article breaks down what makes gaming culture in Illinois unique, from its history to the latest trends, and why it matters today.
Illinois has long had a relationship with gaming that goes beyond just entertainment. Back in the early 1990s, the state made a bold move by introducing riverboat casinos.
Over time, that foundation expanded. The Video Gaming Act of 2009 made it legal for bars and restaurants in Illinois to have gaming machines. This brought together casual hangouts and the chance to play games for money.
These changes helped grow the state’s economy. They also made gaming a more common and accepted part of daily life. Today, thousands of places across Illinois have video gaming machines. These machines help bring in money for communities and have changed how some neighborhoods spend their nights.
Alongside traditional gaming, Illinois has also made room for newer trends like esports. Colleges in central and southern parts of the state now support student gaming teams with scholarships and special spaces to play. For many students, gaming is no longer just a fun activity, it’s becoming a real path to jobs in tech, media, and other fields.
As more gaming moved online, Illinois kept up with the trend. Instead of using regular online casinos, which face legal limits, many people turned to sweepstakes casinos. These websites offer games that feel like what you’d find in a real casino, but with a legal twist.
They use two kinds of coins. Gold Coins let you play just for fun, while Sweeps Coins can be used to win real cash. This setup follows the rules and still gives players a chance to win something. In Illinois, sweepstakes casinos have quickly become popular because they’re easy to join and don’t require much risk.
Anyone interested in exploring how sweepstakes casino games work or finding trusted platforms can start right here.The guide breaks down the coin system in a clear way, shows why people enjoy these games, and offers simple tips for trying them out without any pressure.
Sweepstakes casinos have quickly become popular across Illinois, partly because they’re easy to access and don’t require much risk. They’ve also become part of a bigger shift, gaming here is no longer just about having fun.
It’s helping drive real change, from supporting local businesses to bringing in over $1.7 billion in state tax revenue in 2024. That money helps fund schools, public services, and infrastructure. And as the popularity of sweepstakes platforms shows, Illinois is finding new ways to balance entertainment, innovation, and smart regulation.
Gaming in Illinois isn’t just about screens and competition. There’s a growing love for retro games, bringing back the charm of simpler times.
At spots like Galloping Ghost Arcade in Brookfield, you’ll find over 800 classic arcade machines, a real treat for anyone who remembers gaming before everything went online. In Chicago, arcade bars mix old-school games with music, drinks, and a laid-back vibe.
These places offer more than just fun. They give people a chance to connect. Gaming in Illinois often feels more like something people enjoy together than just a solo activity.
You don’t have to be a hardcore gamer to enjoy the scene. Many people visit these spots just to relax, hang out with friends, or try something new. The mix of games, music, and social energy makes it easy for anyone to join in.
Gaming in Illinois has come a long way, from riverboat casinos and arcade machines to college esports teams and online sweepstakes platforms. It’s not just about play anymore. It’s about how gaming brings people together, supports the economy, and keeps growing with new technology.
The gaming scene in Illinois has something for everyone. And as it continues to grow, it’s clear that gaming isn’t just part of life here, it’s helping shape what’s next.
Home » Other Sports » Esports to make its mark at KIYG 2025 with BGMI, Street Fighter 6, Chess, eFootball Patna, May 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) For the first time in the history of the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG), esports will be stepping into the spotlight as a demonstration event. Currently taking place in Bihar from […]
Patna, May 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) For the first time in the history of the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG), esports will be stepping into the spotlight as a demonstration event. Currently taking place in Bihar from May 4 to 14, KIYG 2025 will host its esports competitions from May 6 to 7 at the Patliputra Sports Complex, featuring popular titles such as Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), Street Fighter 6, Chess, and eFootball on both mobile and console.
While BGMI remains the most popular esports title in India, Chess stands out as a particularly noteworthy addition to KIYG 2025. Once considered a purely traditional sport, Chess has increasingly found a home in the esports world, most recently as part of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, which boasts a prize pool of USD 1.5 million (Rs 12.6 crore) for the title.
NODWIN Gaming, a leader in South Asia’s esports and gaming ecosystem, has been one of the pioneers of this shift in India. In 2021, the company organised the Chess Super League, featuring national and international stars and also hosted Chess tournaments at DreamHack India 2024 across rapid and blitz formats.
Featuring titles that span mobile, console, and strategy-based formats like chess, the esports lineup at KIYG 2025 reflects a deliberate effort to cater to diverse gaming audiences.
“The inclusion of titles like BGMI, Street Fighter 6, Chess, and eFootball in the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 signals a big step forward for grassroots esports in India. It’s encouraging to see esports standing shoulder to shoulder with traditional sports, and the addition of Chess – bridging classical and digital strategy shows how in tune this initiative is with global trends,” said Akshat Rathee, co-founder and managing director of NODWIN Gaming.
Further underscoring the growing stature of Indian Chess in esports, S8UL, a global force in esports and gaming content, has signed Grandmasters Aravindh Chithambaram and Nihal Sarin to compete at the EWC 2025.
In addition to Chess, S8UL will also field players in Street Fighter 6, as well as EAFC25, Call of Duty Warzone, Tekken 8, and Apex Legends at the prestigious tournament.
Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL, believes that the inclusion of titles like Street Fighter 6, Chess, and eFootball console in KIYG 2025 reflects a thoughtful push to diversify beyond mobile gaming and build a more well-rounded competitive ecosystem.
Before its inclusion in KIYG 2025, the state of Bihar actively embraced the esports movement by organising the Bihar State Esports Open Championship and the Bihar Inter School and College Esports Championship over the past year. States like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Nagaland have also taken proactive steps to support and formalise grassroots esports programs.
With S8UL participating in Chess and Street Fighter at the EWC 2025, India has already been making waves on the international stage in eFootball, with Pavan Kampelli winning the bronze medal at the 2024 Asian Esports Games in Bangkok.
Esports will be an official medal sport at the 2026 Asian Games, and the first-ever Olympic Esports Games is scheduled to debut in 2027.
Source: IANS
Gopi Adusumilli is a Programmer. He is the editor of SocialNews.XYZ and President of AGK Fire Inc.
He enjoys designing websites, developing mobile applications and publishing news articles on current events from various authenticated news sources.
When it comes to writing he likes to write about current world politics and Indian Movies. His future plans include developing SocialNews.XYZ into a News website that has no bias or judgment towards any.
He can be reached at gopi@socialnews.xyz
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