This year, under the banner of "For All Gamers," Telkom VS Gaming hosts immersive fan zones and creator activations and staged some competitive esports finals: the High School Esports League (HSEL), the Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) Masters and The Championship Finals, says the brand.

The tournaments are made possible on the Openserve fibre network while the wifi is provided by BCX and Cisco on the Telkom VS Gaming Main Stage, with shoutcasters, live streams and more than R600 000 in prize pools, Comic Con Africa 2025 aims to become a milestone moment for competitive gaming in South Africa, says the brand.

"Esports is a powerful gateway into gaming culture for young people across South Africa," said Johann Von Backstrom, Telkom VS Gaming spokesperson. "Through Telkom's 'For All Gamers' initiative, we've created a national stage where everyone, from high school learners to competitive esports teams, can showcase their skill, dedication and passion. By providing access, support and opportunities, Telkom is turning potential into achievement, proving that the power of possibility begins here. This initiative is not just about competition; it's about nurturing talent, inspiring growth and opening doors for the next generation of gamers."

Three Major Tournaments, One Unforgettable Weekend

High School Esports League (HSEL)

More than 90 schools from across South Africa registered throughout the year for a shot at making the HSEL grand finals brought to you by Samsung. The top-performing learners in CS2 and Rocket League will compete on stage at Comic Con Africa in front of a live audience, for their share of the R180 000 prize pool. This tournament wasn’t just about bragging rights — it highlighted the next generation of local gaming talent and shone a spotlight on youth innovation and teamwork in a fast-growing global industry.

Winners of the HSEL Tournaments:

  • CS2 – St John’s College, R45 000
  • Rocket League - Curro Durbanville, R45 000CS2 Masters

South Africa's top CS2 teams will battle it out for the Telkom VS Gaming Masters title on the latest G4 gaming monitors provided by Samsung, and PCs provided by Evetech for a share of the R300 000 prize pool. With the pressure of a live environment, this final hopes to be one of the weekend's biggest highlights, says the brand.

In order of first to eigth place, ghe results of the CS2 Masters tournament are:

  • Bravado Gaming — R150 000.
  • Kitsune — R70 000.
  • Monarch — R30 000.
  • Nixuh — R14 000.
  • Realms Esports — R9 000.
  • PhaZe — R9 000.
  • Latitude Gaming — R9 000.
  • Synthesis CS2 — R9 000.

The Championship Finals

In addition, The Championship Finals will see top teams go head-to-head in Rocket League for their share of the R62 000 prize pool.

In order of first to eigth place, the winner of The Championship Finals are:

  • Jika my baby — R25 000.
  • Poney No Jutsu — R12 000.
  • 2 Souls — R8 000.
  • White Rabbit Gaming — R5 000.
  • Haibo — R3 000.
  • Omnius Gaming — R3 000.
  • Synthesis — R3 000.
  • Unity Esports — R3 000.

A Universe of Zones: Built For All Gamers

Beyond the tournaments, the Telkom VS Gaming floor is divided into five fully interactive zones — a multi-platform celebration of local gaming made possible by Telkom and partners Samsung, BCX and Openserve, says the brand.

Visitors will experience:

  • Telkom VS Gaming Main Stage: Tournament finals, crowd challenges and hosting Uthesh Moodley, the winner of a trip to New York. A highlight was the Cosplay competition, where Lufung "Fufu" Mdauwas is crowned the winner and walked away with R10 000.
    EAFC Free-to-Play Zone: Daily football competitions.
  • Telkom Retail stand: The Telkom stand showcased several Telkom promotions to keep gamers and show attendees an opportunity to win the 2026 grand prize of a trip to Tokyo Disneyland, and second prize of a Samsung Galaxy Z FOLD 7 to the value of R52 000. Racing simulators provided by Cooler Master provide an opportunity to win R10 000 sponsored by Openserve.
  • Telkom Smart Home Zone: A walk-through tech and gaming home with giveaways.
  • Samsung Mobile Arena: Mobile challenges, a Gemini AI Cosplay Photobooth and leaderboard prizes. 

Beyond the Booth — A Movement in Motion

Telkom VS Gaming's "For All Gamers" platform officially launches at Comic Con Africa 2025 — but this is just the beginning. Plans are already in motion for expanded content and activations for 2026, with the goal of growing not just awareness, but opportunities for South African gamers from all walks of life, says the brand.

Whether it's a teen competing in their first LAN final, a pro team, or a fan — Telkom VS Gaming aims to have a place for everyone at Comic Con Africa 2025, concludes the brand.

For more information, visit www.vsgaming.co.za. You can also follow Telkom VS Gaming on Facebook, X, or on Instagram.

*Image courtesy of contributor