ISA Esports Championship Event Report: National Finals Day #3

On Saturday, February 7, 2026, the Independent Schools Association (ISA), in partnership with DAIGON Esports, hosted another landmark in-person competition at Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate - the 3rd ISA Esports Competition National Final.

The event featured tournaments in both Minecraft and Rocket League, showcasing the talent and digital literacy of students from across the UK.

Beyond the trophies, this event served as a critical qualifier for the global stage, with the top-performing teams earning their place at the School Esports World Championships (SEWC) in Malta in November 2026.

Minecraft Competition Breakdown

The Minecraft tournament utilized a structured bracket format track to determine the national rankings.

• Quarter-Finals: QEsports 1, Kew College Prep 2, Avon House Prep, and Ashley Manor all secured early victories to advance to the semi-finals.
• Semi-Finals: QEsports 1 and Ashley Manor emerged victorious in their respective matches, setting up a high-stakes Grand Final.
• Placement Matches: In the 3rd-place playoff, Kew College Prep 2 defeated Avon House Prep to secure a podium finish.
• The Grand Final: Ashley Manor delivered a championship-winning performance, beating QEsports 1 by the narrowest of margins to take the title.

Rocket League Competition Breakdown

The Rocket League tournament featured 3v3 squads competing in increasingly challenging formats, from Best of Three (Bo3) to a Best of Seven (Bo7) final.

• Opening Rounds: Ibstock, Sophia High School, Lycee International, and Gosfield School 1 advanced through the initial Bo3 brackets.
• Semi-Finals: Moving to a Bo5 format, Ibstock defeated Sophia High while Lycee International overcame Gosfield School 1.
• Placement Matches: Gosfield School 1 secured 3rd place overall after a hard-fought Bo5 series against Sophia High.
• The Grand Final: In a grueling Bo7 endurance test, Lycee International showcased exceptional mechanics and teamwork to defeat Ibstock and claim the championship.

Final Standings & SEWC 2026 Qualifiers

A huge congratulations to the Top 4 in each competition. By reaching this stage, these schools have officially qualified to represent the ISA and the UK at the School Esports World Championships (SEWC) in Malta this November!

Minecraft Competition

• 1st: Ashley Manor (Qualified)
• 2nd: QEsports (Qualified)
• 3rd: Kew College Prep 2 (Qualified)
• 4th: Avon House Prep (Qualified)
• 5th: Fulham School
• 6th: Ibstock
• 7th: Kew College Prep 1
• 8th: Southbank

Rocket League Competition

• 1st: Lycee International (Qualified)
• 2nd: Ibstock (Qualified)
• 3rd: Gosfield School 1 (Qualified)
• 4th: Sophia High (Qualified)
• 5th: Scarisbrick Hall 2
• 6th: Scarisbrick Hall 1
• 7th: Scarisbrick Hall 3
• 8th: QE

In the Minecraft competition, well done to Fulham School, Ibstock, Kew College Prep 1, and Southbank for your hard-fought performances throughout the day. In Rocket League, we celebrate the efforts of Scarisbrick Hall 2, Scarisbrick Hall 1, Scarisbrick Hall 3, and QE.

Simply reaching the National Finals at Queen Ethelburga's is a significant achievement that reflects your teamwork and digital literacy. You should be incredibly proud of the sportsmanship and spirit you displayed on the big stage.

Impact and Mission

This event at Queen Ethelburga’s further solidifies the mission of DAIGON and the ISA to transform gaming from passive screen time into a structured, educational medium. Students demonstrated vital 21st-century skills, including resilience, strategic communication, and digital collaboration, all within an inclusive, hardware-agnostic environment.

Both DAIGON and ISA are very grateful to James Luxford and his colleagues at Queen Ethelburga’s for hosting such a brilliant final and for all of the schools, students, staff and parents for their support in making the day a great occasion.

ISA added:

Well done to all teams involved on the day. The finals were an incredible reflection of team spirit and fair play amongst the students. Schools should be very proud of the sportsmanship and teamwork on show. It was a delight to be there celebrating the growth and impact that esports has on our students. Many thanks to DAIGON and QE for their ongoing commitment to growing Esports for ISA Schools. We look forward to welcoming lots of you back next year.