Events
Structured tournaments, exhibition matches, and community events for Northern Nevada players and teams.
1st Annual Ando eSports Varsity Invitational (2026)
Local tournament for Northern Nevada high schools. Structured play, exhibition matches, and community showcase.
Prize Pool
$1,000
Total prize pool for participating teams
The tournament features a $1,000 prize pool distributed among top-performing teams. This provides meaningful recognition and rewards for student athletes while supporting the growth of competitive esports programs in Northern Nevada schools.
Goals
This tournament aims to establish an esports league within the Northern Nevada region, making competitive gaming accessible to students and faculty just like traditional sports programs.
High schools can begin to roster esports as extracurricular activities or regularly scheduled programs, providing structured pathways for team play, communication skills, and personal growth aligned with our core pillars: Plan (decision-making and objectives), Execute (mechanics and consistency), Connect (communication and teamwork), and Control (mental game and emotional regulation).
Invited Schools
Public high schools across Northern Nevada have been invited to participate in the tournament. Hover over each school badge to learn more.
Damonte Ranch High School
Reno
Damonte Ranch High School
A WCSD public high school in south Reno. Building a tradition of excellence in academics, athletics, and student activities.
Galena High School
Reno
Galena High School
A WCSD public high school in Reno. Recognized for academic rigor, competitive athletics, and comprehensive extracurricular programs.
Incline High School
Incline Village
Incline High School
A WCSD public high school in Incline Village (Lake Tahoe area). Serving the North Lake Tahoe community with comprehensive educational programs.
Innovations High School
Reno
Innovations High School
A WCSD public 'School of Choice' high school in Reno. Offers alternative educational pathways and personalized learning approaches.
McQueen High School
Reno
McQueen High School
A WCSD public high school in Reno (Robert McQueen HS). Emphasizing innovation, student achievement, and comprehensive academic programs.
North Valleys High School
Reno
North Valleys High School
A WCSD public high school in Reno's north valleys. Serving the North Valleys community with diverse academic and extracurricular opportunities.
Procter R. Hug High School
Sparks
Procter R. Hug High School
The new WCSD public high school in Sparks. Fostering academic excellence, student leadership, and community engagement.
Edward C. Reed High School
Sparks
Edward C. Reed High School
A WCSD public high school in Sparks. Committed to academic achievement, character development, and preparing students for post-secondary success.
Sparks High School
Sparks
Sparks High School
A WCSD public high school in Sparks. Home of the Railroaders, committed to academic excellence, student achievement, and comprehensive educational programs.
Spanish Springs High School
Spanish Springs
Spanish Springs High School
A WCSD public high school in Spanish Springs (Sparks area). Providing comprehensive educational programs and strong community connections.
Truckee Meadows CC High School
Reno
Truckee Meadows CC High School
A WCSD public magnet high school at TMCC. Provides college credit opportunities and prepares students for post-secondary education.
Earl Wooster High School
Reno
Earl Wooster High School
A WCSD public high school in southwest Reno. Committed to student success, community engagement, and comprehensive educational excellence.
Team Structure & Support
Roster Requirements
Each school is invited to roster 5 players with up to 2 substitutes each, for a total of 15 players per school. Teams field different player counts depending on the game:
- 5 players at a time for League of Legends and Valorant
- 6 players at a time for Marvel Rivals
- 3 players for ARC Raiders
Coaching & Organization
Each team is chaperoned and organized by a designated faculty member or alumni volunteer coach. Coaches interface with Ando's event coordination teams to organize brackets, assign player roles, schedule monthly esports program meetings per school, and ensure smooth tournament operations.
Recruitment & Team Management
Ando assists in recruitment at school-sponsored schedules and event fairs. We just need an afternoon to set up a table with flyers, and we help with digital player signups and team management in collaboration with faculty members. This makes it easy for schools to onboard students and maintain organized rosters.
Example Brackets
Explore different bracket formats we can support for the tournament. The group stage format is our recommended starting format for the inaugural tournament, ensuring all teams get meaningful competitive play with 12 participating schools divided into 3 groups of 4 teams.
Group Stage
3 groups of 4 teams, top 2 advance
Group A
Top 2 advance to playoffs
Group B
Top 2 advance to playoffs
Group C
Top 2 advance to playoffs
Each team plays 3 matches in group play • Top 2 from each group advance to playoffs
About Group Stage
Origin:
Originated in international soccer tournaments (FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League) and adapted for esports by major leagues like League of Legends World Championship and Dota 2's The International.
How It Works:
Teams are divided into groups where each team plays every other team in their group. Top teams from each group advance to a playoff bracket. For 12 teams: 3 groups of 4, each team plays 3 matches, top 2 from each group (6 teams) advance to playoffs.
Comparison:
More matches per team than single elimination, fewer than round robin. Provides recovery opportunities—teams can lose a match and still advance. Balances participation with competitive intensity.
Esports Perception:
Widely used in premier esports tournaments. Considered fair and engaging for viewers. Allows underdogs to prove themselves while ensuring top teams advance. Standard format for major international competitions.
All 12 teams play each other once in a round-robin format. Each team plays 11 matches.
Damonte Ranch
11 matches
Galena
11 matches
Incline
11 matches
Innovations
11 matches
McQueen
11 matches
North Valleys
11 matches
Procter R. Hug
11 matches
Edward C. Reed
11 matches
Sparks
11 matches
Spanish Springs
11 matches
TMCC High
11 matches
Earl Wooster
11 matches
Total: 66 matches • Top teams by win record advance to playoffs
About Round Robin
Origin:
Classic tournament format dating back to chess and traditional sports. Used in esports for league play (Overwatch League regular season, LCS/LEC splits) and some smaller tournaments.
How It Works:
Every team plays every other team exactly once. Teams are ranked by win-loss record. For 12 teams: each team plays 11 matches (66 total matches). Top teams by record advance to playoffs or win directly.
Comparison:
Maximum matches per team, ensuring every team faces every opponent. Most time-intensive format. Provides the most comprehensive ranking but can be lengthy for tournaments.
Esports Perception:
Common for regular season play in professional leagues. Less common for standalone tournaments due to time requirements. Valued for fairness and comprehensive competition. Sometimes seen as less exciting than elimination formats.
12 teams compete in a single-elimination bracket. Top 4 seeds receive first-round byes.
Championship
Semifinals
Quarterfinals
Round of 12 (Top 4 seeds get byes)
Total: 11 matches • Single elimination
About Single Elimination
Origin:
Traditional knockout format from tennis Grand Slams, boxing, and March Madness. Widely used in esports for quick tournaments, qualifiers, and some major events (Valorant Champions, CS:GO Majors use hybrid formats).
How It Works:
Teams compete in a bracket where losing one match eliminates you. Bracket progresses through rounds until one champion remains. For 12 teams: top 4 seeds get byes, 8 teams play in first round, winners advance through quarterfinals, semifinals, to finals.
Comparison:
Fewest total matches, fastest format. High stakes—one loss ends your run. Less forgiving than group stage or double elimination. Can feel harsh for teams that lose early.
Esports Perception:
Classic tournament format, exciting and dramatic. Popular for viewer engagement due to high stakes. Sometimes criticized for being too punishing—one bad day eliminates strong teams. Common in qualifiers and smaller tournaments.
Double elimination format provides a second chance. Teams that lose in the winners bracket drop to the losers bracket for another opportunity.
Winners Bracket
Losers Bracket
Teams from winners bracket enter here after a loss
Losers bracket winner faces winners bracket winner in Grand Finals
About Double Elimination
Origin:
Evolved from fighting game tournaments (EVO, Capcom Cup) and adopted by major esports (The International, many CS:GO events). Designed to give teams a second chance after one loss.
How It Works:
Teams start in a winners bracket. After a loss, teams drop to a losers bracket where they can still compete. Losers bracket winner faces winners bracket winner in Grand Finals. For 12 teams: more matches than single elimination, but fewer than group stage.
Comparison:
More matches than single elimination, fewer than group stage. Provides second chances while maintaining competitive intensity. More complex to follow than single elimination but fairer.
Esports Perception:
Highly respected in competitive esports, especially fighting games and MOBAs. Considered the fairest elimination format. Popular with players and viewers. Standard for many premier tournaments. Can be complex for casual viewers.
Ando's Recommendation
For single events and tournaments like the Varsity Invitational, we recommend using Group Stage or Single/Double Elimination formats. These formats provide clear progression, exciting matchups, and a definitive conclusion within the event timeframe.
We reserve Round Robin brackets for seasonal play outside of single events, particularly for partnered high school esports programs. Round Robin works best for ongoing league play where teams compete over an extended period, ensuring comprehensive competition and fair rankings across a full season.
For Schools, Students, and Parents
Esports programs offer students opportunities to develop teamwork, strategic thinking, and communication skills in a structured, supervised environment. Like traditional sports, esports teaches students how to work together toward common goals, manage pressure, and build resilience through practice and competition.
Schools can integrate esports as an extracurricular activity or scheduled program, providing students with a pathway to compete, improve, and represent their school. Faculty can oversee teams, ensuring a safe, positive environment that emphasizes growth and sportsmanship alongside competitive achievement.
How to Participate
Information for high schools, players, and community members interested in the tournament.
For High Schools
Register your school's esports program to compete in structured matches and exhibition games. Roster teams and players from your school to represent your program in the tournament.
This event provides a platform for your students to compete locally, build team cohesion, and showcase your school's esports program to the broader community.
For Players & Guests
Registered players and community members can attend as spectators, participate in watch parties, and connect with other local gamers. The venue serves as both a competitive space and a social hub.
Join us to support local high school esports, meet other community members, and experience structured competitive play in a welcoming environment.
Interested in participating?
Join the waitlist to receive updates about tournament registration, schedules, and event details.