The Blinn College Valorant esports team has clinched the top seed in its group.
In a matchup of unbeaten teams, Blinn defeated McMurry College on Wednesday, completing the group stage with a 4-0 record.
This is Blinn’s first year to field an esports program.
“It feels great to be so successful in our first year,” coach Aaron Kapiko said. “The students are working hard in all the games we compete in. This is only the beginning, and I believe we keep going up from here.”
Blinn’s first-round playoff opponent will be announced Friday.
Team members are Jacob Humphrey (Smithville), Justin Barry (Houston), Irie Ybarra (College Station), Cameron Forde (Copperas Cove), John Hedrick (Kingwood), and Michael Pope (College Station).
Valorant is a tactical shooter game in which teams are either attackers or defenders. An attacking team wins if it eliminates the entire enemy team or is able to detonate a spike placed on an objective. The defending team wins if it can prevent the spike from being detonated or eliminates the attacking team.
Blinn’s Rocket League team, 7-1 and tied for the group lead, plays Oklahoma City University tonight. The match was originally set for Tuesday but was rescheduled.
Its Overwatch team, 8-1 on the season, plays Western Kentucky University tonight in its final match before the playoffs begin next week. Blinn has already qualified for the 32-team, single-elimination national playoffs.
The Super Smash Bros. Ultimate team takes on Dallas Baptist University on Friday.
For more information, visit www.blinn.edu/esports.
