logo
‘Fragadelphia': St. Clair College students help run premiere Esports tournament

‘Fragadelphia': St. Clair College students help run premiere Esports tournament

CTV News6 days ago
A high-level Esports tournament played out in Windsor with the help of students at St. Clair College.
The school hosted Fragadelphia 19, a tournament focused on 5v5 first-person shooter Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS-GO), at the Nexus Arena on St. Clair's main campus.
Play featured 35 teams vying for cash from the $35,000 USD prize pool, which featured a grand prize of $18,000.
072025 - Esports Windsor
St. Clair College hosted a high-level Esports tournament over the weekend. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor)
The tournament marks U.S.-based Fragadelphia's first event held in Canada as the prominence of Esports continues to rise globally.
'It started really small, right, hotel ballrooms, people playing at home online, and now we're seeing venues like this spring up around the United States and Canada that are essentially how collegiate sports is going to enter e-sports,' explained Stephen Csikos, founder of Fragadelphia.
Since Thursday, the four-day production has been livestreamed with the help of students on campus, hoping to break into the industry.
Opportunity
Of the 40 staff needed to run the event, about half are students, mostly from St. Clair, according to event organizers.
Roles include administration, stage management, production, directing and broadcasting.
Evan Johnson, a commentator for the event, is entering his second year in the Esports Administration and Entrepreneurship program at St. Clair.
Throughout his first year, Johnson said they helped organize a series of large events and show their talents.
'This is definitely the biggest thing we've ever done, so it is really nice to see at St. Clair,' Johnson told CTV News.
On the mic, Johnson said preparation was lengthy to ensure he was equipped with accurate information to never leave a moment of silence.
072025 - Esports Windsor
St. Clair College hosted a high-level Esports tournament over the weekend. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor)
'So doing research on the teams, on the players, making sure that the storylines are accurate, you know, trying to set up the drama, like this is why you should care about these players, like this is why this player is special,' Johnson explained.
It's Johnson's hope that opportunities provided at St. Clair, such as hosting Fragadelphia 19, will help set him up for a career in Esports.
Self-defined as a 'semi-professional' event, Csikos said they embrace an environment where staff can make mistakes and learn without facing repercussions.
'We want to make sure we're as close as we can to being a professional event, but I would love for kids to make mistakes,' Csikos remarked.
'I just want the students to have a really good time doing something.'
Through the exposure, students receive experience in a high-level setting, which can be used when looking for job opportunities.
Why Windsor?
For Csikos, Windsor presents itself as a 'sister city,' where it provides an affordable market with a large city in Detroit nearby.
'We are right next to a large metro airport, and Windsor has the appeal that we need, where it's like the players can come here and have affordable housing, especially on the college campus in the summer.'
Part of the venture, Csikos noted, is choosing a market where attendees who lose can still find stuff to do, whether it be attending a restaurant or visiting a casino.
Presented as an 'entry-level' tournament, organizers focus on an environment that allows anyone to participate without barriers.
'We want to make sure that places we go aren't cost-prohibitive to them and are affordable.
From an infrastructure standpoint, the college's existing setup for Esports meant organizers could travel with less gear.
072025 - Esports Windsor
St. Clair College hosted a high-level Esports tournament over the weekend. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor)
While Windsor marked Fragadelphia's first venture into Canadian-hosted events, Csikos expects it won't be their last in the city.
'If it goes really well, we want to lock in because we're not full-time and we want to put our efforts into the more of the sales cycle, or the business side, or we were trying to get sponsors,' he explained.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Roughriders hold on for 21-18 victory over Elks on Friday
Roughriders hold on for 21-18 victory over Elks on Friday

National Post

time3 hours ago

  • National Post

Roughriders hold on for 21-18 victory over Elks on Friday

The Saskatchewan Roughriders sit atop the CFL standings. Article content With a 21-18 victory over the Edmonton Elks on Friday night at Mosaic Stadium in Week 8 of the CFL season, the Roughriders improved to 6-1 while the Elks dropped to 1-5. Saskatchewan leapfrogged the Calgary Stampeders (5-2), who lost to the Montreal Alouettes (5-2) on Thursday, to take over the division lead. Article content Article content Article content Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris passed for 268 yards and two touchdowns, with Samuel Emilus serving as his favourite target as the Canadian receiver had 113 yards and a touchdown. Article content On the other side, the Roughriders defence made life tough for Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo, who was making his first start against his former team, who he spent three seasons with. Article content Saskatchewan's defence sacked Fajardo eight times in the first meeting of the season between the two teams, who will meet again in Week 17. Article content While the Roughriders built up a 21-4 lead in the fourth quarter, the Elks battled back with 14 points in the fourth quarter to make it 21-18, which is as close as they would get. Article content In front of an announced attendance of 27,933 tickets distributed, it was a slow start to the game. Article content On Saskatchewan's first offensive possession, Harris hit Emilus for a 16-yard gain as part of a five-play, 24-yard drive before Brett Lauther came in for a 47-yard field goal attempt. Article content Article content However, the kick was wide right and went through the back of the end zone as Saskatchewan came away with a rouge to go up 1-0. Article content Article content Edmonton tied the game up 1-1 on their next drive with a punt single. Article content After a punt by Saskatchewan, Fajardo hit receiver Zach Mathis, who was injured on the play, for a 35-yard gain before kicker Vincent Blanchard gave Edmonton a 4-1 lead with a 15-yard field goal at the end of the first quarter. Article content In the second quarter, on Saskatchewan's fourth drive of the game, Harris found Emilus for a 43-yard gain before the Riders got down to Edmonton's two-yard line. Article content After two unsuccessful attempts to punch it in, the Riders elected to gamble on third down and short-yardage quarterback Tommy Stevens was stopped, resulting in a turnover on downs. Article content Following a defensive stop by Saskatchewan, highlighted by an 18-yard sack on Fajardo by linebacker A.J. Allen, Saskatchewan's offence got the ball back and after Harris hit KeeSean Johnson for back-to-back first downs, two Edmonton pass interference penalties put the ball at the 15-yard line.

Riders gift fans 21-18 win over Elks to take over first place in West
Riders gift fans 21-18 win over Elks to take over first place in West

CTV News

time3 hours ago

  • CTV News

Riders gift fans 21-18 win over Elks to take over first place in West

Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive lineman Micah Johnson (4) attempts to tackle Edmonton Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo (7) during the first half of CFL football action in Regina, on Friday, July 25, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu On a night full of jolly, the Saskatchewan Roughriders brought the Christmas cheer to Mosaic Stadium, gifting fans a 21-18 win over the Edmonton Elks. With the win, the Riders move into sole possession of first place in the CFL's West Division. At one point in the third quarter, Saskatchewan held a 17-point lead, but Edmonton would score 14-unasnwered points in the fourth quarter and draw within three points with less than two minutes to go in the game. The biggest drive of the first half came with less than four minutes to go. With good field position, quarterback Trevor Harris led a nine play, 44-yard touchdown drive to score the team's first major of the night With the momentum in their favour, Saskatchewan would add a field goal and take a seven-point lead into the break. Trevor Harris Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris (7) throws against the Edmonton Elks during the first half of CFL football action in Regina, on Friday, July 25, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu (Heywood Yu/The Canadian Press) In the third quarter, Harris would pop off – throwing for nearly 100 yards in that quarter alone – adding another TD pass to KeeSean Johnson on the team's second drive of the second half. Harris would finish 25-for-33 with 268 passing yards and two touchdowns. His 76 per cent completion rate extended a CFL-record streak of game completion percentage of 70 per cent or more to 10 games. Harris's performance also moved him past 35,000 career passing yards – and within 1,000 yards of Roughrider great Kent Austin (36,030). Receivers Samuel Emilus and Johnson were the two most targeted weapons by Harris Friday. Combined, the two wideouts had 15 receptions and 191 receiving yards. With Edmonton down early, head coach Mark Kilam was forced to pass early and often. Cody Fajardo, the former Rider who was making his first start against Saskatchewan, finished with 346 yards through the air on 26 completions and 33 attempts, adding two TD passes and did not throw an interception. However, Roughrider defenders sacked the Elks' QB eight times - including each of the final two plays of the game to end it. On the ground, Saskatchewan made the Elks' run game nearly non-existent. Combined, Edmonton rushers had just 25 yards. Saskatchewan improves to 6-1 for the 2025 season. Edmonton falls to 1-5. The Roughriders are next in action on the road in Montreal on August 2.

Olivia Scott scores to lift Ottawa Rapid past Halifax Tides
Olivia Scott scores to lift Ottawa Rapid past Halifax Tides

CBC

time3 hours ago

  • CBC

Olivia Scott scores to lift Ottawa Rapid past Halifax Tides

Olivia Scott scored her second goal this season as Ottawa Rapid FC won on their home pitch, defeating Halifax Tides FC 1-0 on Friday night in the Northern Super League. Scott knocked home a headed pass from Delaney Pridham with a header of her own in the 42nd minute to give Ottawa (6-4-2) the lead just before halftime. Last-place Halifax (3-9-1) lost its third consecutive game after falling 6-0 to Vancouver Rise FC last Saturday. The Rapid held 60 per cent of possession and dominated the shot count 15-5, including 7-1 on target. Ottawa moved past Vancouver for third place in the NSL standings with 20 points in 12 games, one point behind second-place Montreal Roses FC. Next up, Halifax hosts Montreal and Ottawa visits Vancouver on Aug. 2. WATCH l Rapid shut down Tides to take over 3rd place in NSL standings: Rapid shut down Tides to take over 3rd place in NSL standings 2 hours ago Ottawa's Olivia Scott goal gave Rapid a 1-0 win over Halifax Tides Friday night in the nation's capital.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store