Telkom VS Gaming High School Esports League, CS2 Masters and The Championship Finals headlined a weekend built For All Gamers
Telkom VS Gaming successfully returned to Comic Con Africa from 28–31 August 2025, delivering one of South Africa’s most inclusive and exciting gaming showcases yet. This year, under the banner of “For All Gamers,” Telkom VS Gaming not only hosted immersive fan zones and creator activations — but also staged some of the country’s most competitive esports finals: the High School Esports League (HSEL), the Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) Masters and The Championship Finals.
The tournaments were made possible on the Openserve fibre network while the wifi was provided by BCX and Cisco on the Telkom VS Gaming Main Stage, where the energy and excitement of the Comic Con Africa crowd brought the competitive spirit of local esports to life. With shoutcasters, live streams, and more than R600 000 in prize pools on the line, Comic Con Africa 2025 became a milestone moment for competitive gaming in South Africa.
“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 faced off 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.
The winners of the HSEL tournaments were:
- CS2 – St John’s College, R45 000
- Rocket League – Curro Durbanville, R45 000
CS2 Masters
South Africa’s top CS2 teams battled it out for the Telkom VS Gaming Masters title on the latest G4 gaming monitors provided by Samsung, and world class PCs provided by Evetech for a share of the R300 000 prize pool. With the pressure of a live environment, this final proved to be one of the weekend’s biggest highlights.
The results of the CS2 Masters tournament were
- 1st : Bravado Gaming, R150 000
- 2nd : Kitsune, R70 000
- 3rd : Monarch, R30 000
- 4th : Nixuh, R14 000
- 5th – 8th
- Realms Esports, R9 000
- PhaZe, R9 000
- Latitude Gaming, R9 000
- Synthesis CS2, R9 000
The Championship Finals
In addition, The Championship Finals saw top teams go head-to-head in Rocket League for their share of the R62 000 prize pool.
The winner of The Championship Finals was
- 1st : Jika my baby, R25 000
- 2nd : Poney No Jutsu, R12 000
- 3rd : 2 Souls, R8 000
- 4th : White Rabbit Gaming, R5 000
- 5th-6th
- Haibo, R3 000
- Omnius Gaming, R3 000
- 7th – 8th
- Synthesis, R3 000
- Unity Esports, R3 000
A Universe of Zones: Built For All Gamers
Beyond the tournaments, the Telkom VS Gaming floor was divided into five fully interactive zones — a multi-platform celebration of local gaming made possible by Telkom and partners Samsung, BCX and Openserve. Visitors experienced:
- 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 was 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 excited and connected with 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. State of the art racing simulators provided by Cooler Master delighted the competing contestants and provided 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 launched 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.
Whether it was a teen competing in their first LAN final, a pro team chasing glory, or a fan soaking it all in — Telkom VS Gaming had a place for everyone at Comic Con Africa 2025.