ะยฒสอ๘

RAYMOND โ€“ ะยฒสอ๘โ€™s eSports program progresses in the playoffs this week in two sports following a successful season.

Students Ryan Talley, of Raymond, and Ryan Hymel, of Biloxi, qualified for quarterfinals action Wednesday (April 15) in FIFA 2020, a game based on the actual professional soccer league. If they win, they advance to the Final Four of the tournament. The ะยฒสอ๘ team of five players was the only team to qualify all its players in the league of 58 teams.

Student Iquez Common, of Canton, competes Thursday (April 16) in the third round of tournament play in Super Smash Bros., a crossover fighting video game. Common is the final singles player remaining from the ะยฒสอ๘ team of five players and qualifies for the quarterfinals if he wins.

ะยฒสอ๘ is the lone community college in Mississippi competing in eSports, which is recognized officially by the National Junior College Athletic Association. In fall 2019, ะยฒสอ๘ student Joshua Brandon won the national championship in eSports after an undefeated season in Madden NFL 19.

โ€œOverall, this year has been huge for our eSports program,โ€ said Tiki Broome, ะยฒสอ๘ eSports head coach. โ€œIn its first year of existence, the ะยฒสอ๘ team has qualified for playoffs in every sport we have competed in. The future of ะยฒสอ๘ eSports is built on winning, developing players and fielding great results. We look forward to the rest of the playoffs and the years to come.โ€