AUGUSTA, GA & WEST BABYLON, NY – The Peach Belt Conference and East Coast Conference have announced the first-ever inter-conference Esports Tournament with the D2 Champions Challenge Nov. 16-17.  Each conference will have three member schools participating in the online event, playing League of Legends from Riot Games.

"This is a momentous occasion as, for the first time, two conferences are coming together for an Esports competition," said PBC Commissioner David Brunk.  "Commissioner Dranoff and the East Coast Conference have been far ahead of the curve in establishing an Esports presence and we're excited to be a part of their first intercollegiate competitions.  This will hopefully be the beginning of many more interactions between our leagues and other leagues as they begin entering this space."

The Peach Belt Conference became the first NCAA conference to sponsor an Esports championship and held its first tournament in April of 2018.  The East Coast Conference will hold its first regular season and championship in the spring of 2019.  Both conferences are a part of Riot's College League of Legends championship.

"The ECC is very excited to have three of our schools participating in this League of Legends competition along with our friends at the Peach Belt Conference", mentioned ECC Commissioner Bob Dranoff.  "Dave Brunk and the PBC are true innovators in this area and we have learned so much watching them and the work they have been doing with their member schools.  We know that this will be a great experience for our schools and can't wait to see the continued growth and opportunities that will come in future years."   

Defending PBC tournament champion the University of North Georgia as well as PBC tournament finalist Georgia College will represent the Peach Belt Conference along with the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.   Daemen College, the New York Institute of Technology and St. Thomas Aquinas College will compete from the ECC.

Each team will face all other teams from the opposing conference on Friday, Nov. 16, and Saturday, Nov. 17.  There will be one round of matches on Friday and two rounds on Saturday.  The conference with the most total wins following play will earn the first d2 Champions Challenge cup. 

All matches will be contested online and are best-of-three.  Some matches may be streamed live, game times and more details will be forthcoming. 

D2 Champions Challenge

Friday, Nov. 16

UNC Pembroke (PBC) vs. Daemen (ECC)

Georgia College (PBC) vs. St. Thomas Aquinas (ECC)

North Georgia (PBC) vs. NYIT (ECC)

 

Saturday, Nov. 17

Daemen vs. Georgia College 

St. Thomas Aquinas vs. North Georgia

NYIT vs. UNC Pembroke

 

Daemen vs. North Georgia

Georgia College vs. NYIT

St. Thomas Aquinas vs. UNC Pembroke