COTTESPORTS 2024
A Thrilling Debut in the World of Prep School Esports
In an innovative and pioneering move, Cottesmore School, renowned for its accolades as ‘Prep School of the Year’ by Tatler School Awards 2020-2021 and ‘Boarding School of the Year’ by TES Awards 2019, has successfully hosted ‘COTTESPORTS 2024: The World’s First Open-invitation Prep Schools Esports Tournament’. Nestled on the border of Surrey and Sussex, Cottesmore School has once again proven its commitment to excellence by venturing into the dynamic realm of esports.
The atmosphere at the School was electric as the inaugural COTTESPORTS 2024 tournament kicked off. This groundbreaking event brought together some of the most talented prep school gamers for an intense day of competition. With two arenas buzzing with action, the day promised excitement and high-stakes gaming.
An Electrifying Day of Competition
The all-day tournament kicked off at 9:30 AM across two meticulously prepared arenas. The school library was transformed into an intense Minecraft ‘Capture the Flag’ battleground, while the main hall morphed into an electrifying Rocket League arena. DAIGON Esports, with the expert collaboration of Elliot Mack and David Higginson, orchestrated the matches and gameplay, earning high praise for their seamless execution.
Minecraft ‘Capture the Flag’ Highlights
The Minecraft ‘Capture the Flag’ matches began with a thrilling face-off between Holmewood House and Cranleigh 1. In a tightly contested game, Holmewood House managed to secure a narrow 1-0 victory, setting the tone for the rest of the day. Simultaneously, Cottesmore Griffins(1) showcased their prowess with a commanding 5-1 win over Aldro, delighting the home crowd and asserting their dominance early on. As the tournament progressed into Round 2, Willington edged out Beachborough in a nail-biting match, winning by a single point. However, it was Minerva Academy’s astonishing 13-0 victory over Cranleigh 2 that left everyone in awe, marking the most impressive performance of the round.
Round 3 saw Yately Manor securing a solid 3-0 win over Brockhurst and Marlston, while Cottesmore Griffins(2) continued the hosts’ winning streak with a decisive 5-0 victory against Pennthorpe. The competition intensified in Round 5 when Minerva Academy, fresh off their earlier triumph, was held to a 1-1 draw by a resilient Beachborough team. Meanwhile, Willington secured a narrow 1-0 win over Cranleigh 2, keeping their hopes alive.
The final group games were no less dramatic. Cottesmore Griffins(1) defeated Holmewood, Beachborough triumphed over Cranleigh 2, and Cottesmore Griffins(2) overpowered Brockhurst and Marlston. In other matches, Yately Manor faced a setback, losing to Cottesmore Griffins(2), Cranleigh and Aldro played to a thrilling 2-2 draw, and Willington clinched a thrilling 4-3 victory over Minerva Academy.
After a series of hard-fought quarter and semi-finals, Cottesmore Griffins(1) and Holmewood emerged as the top contenders, ready to face off in the grand final.
Rocket League Thrills
While the Minecraft matches captivated one half of the school, the main hall was abuzz with the fast-paced action of Rocket League. The most talked-about result from the group stages was Holmewood’s stunning 11-0 demolition of the hosts, Cottesmore.
The group stage results were as follows:
• Brockhurst & Marlston 3, Cottesmore Griffins(2) 0
• Willington 1, MVA 7
• Yateley Manor 3, Pennthorpe 6
• Beachborough 7, Cranleigh 1
• Cranleigh 3, Aldro 1
• Brockhurst & Marlston 0, Pennthorpe 3
• Beachborough 0, Minerva 9
• Holmewood 6, Aldro 0
• Yateley Manor 1, Cottesmore Griffins 8
• Willington 2, Cranleigh 4
• Cranleigh 2, Cottesmore Griffins 3
• Brockhurst & Marlston 5, Yately 2
• Beachborough 1, Willington 4
• Aldro 4, Cottesmore Griffins 2
• Pennthorpe 0, Cottesmore Griffins 7
• MVA 12, Cranleigh 0
• Holmewood 5, Cranleigh 1
In the quarter-finals, Cottesmore Griffins(2) beat Willington 5-2, Cranleigh dominated Pennthorpe 8-1, Holmewood overcame Beachborough 5-2, and MVA fell to Aldro 5-1. The semi-finals saw Holmewood putting on an impressive display to beat Aldro, while Cranleigh knocked out the hosts, Cottesmore Griffins(2), setting the stage for a grand final between Cranleigh and Holmewood.
Grand Finals and Award Ceremony
As the day reached its climax, spectators gathered in the main hall for the grand finals. The grand finals represented the culmination of an exhilarating day and the main hall was packed with eager spectators. The Rocket League final saw Cranleigh face off against Holmewood in a high-octane showdown. Ntesports generously provided fantastic prizes, including a trophy and an F1 Silverstone Displate for the Most Valuable Player, (Isaac from Holmewood House Prep School, who displayed exceptional skill and outstanding gameplay throughout the tournament). The winning team, Holmewood, also received Corsair gaming headsets courtesy of the countries leading Higher Education institute for esports – The College of Esports, while the runners-up, Cranleigh Prep School, were awarded funky T-shirts from education esports solution specialist Yoyotech.
A Day to Remember
The final event of the day was the Minecraft ‘Capture the Flag’ grand final. Holmewood House, having shown remarkable consistency throughout the tournament, faced off against the host team, Cottesmore. In a gripping contest, Holmewood emerged victorious, completing a clean sweep of the tournament. Fraser Esports Ltd provided fantastic prizes for the Minecraft champions, cementing Holmewood’s status as the day’s ultimate winners.
Looking Ahead: Exciting Future Events
The success of COTTESPORTS 2024 has set the stage for even more groundbreaking events. Cottesmore Headmaster Tom Rogerson proudly announced the next exciting chapter: COTTESPORTS ONLINE 2024 – GOING GLOBAL! In collaboration with DAIGON Esports, this event aims to be the world’s first online prep schools esports tournament, starting in October 2024.
Provisional Dates for COTTESPORTS ONLINE 2024:
• Round 1: Tuesday, 1st October 2024
• Round 2: Tuesday, 8th October 2024
• Round 3: Tuesday, 15th October 2024
• Grand Final: Tuesday, 12th November 2024
Moreover, Cottesmore is set to host COTTESPORTS GIRLS 2025, the world’s first online prep schools esports tournament exclusively for girls, aiming to inspire and empower the next generation of skilled problem solvers
Join the Esports Revolution
Cottesmore School invites all interested prep schools to participate in these historic events. Let’s make global esports history together and continue to foster a vibrant, inclusive, and competitive esports community.
For more information and to register your teams, please contact Tom. Let’s game on and make every moment count in the exciting world of esports!
Ntesports Managing Director Nik Turner stated “Cottesmore School has not only set a new benchmark in the realm of prep school education but has also opened a new chapter in esports history. Here’s to many more thrilling tournaments and inspiring achievements in the future!”
BELOW: The moment Holmewood completed their clean sweep!!
