BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – West Virginia Wesleyan College’s Esports team is hosting multiple college teams from across the United States – and an international team – in its first tournament coming up Jan. 19-21.

The Buckhanno-pocalypse Rainbow Six Siege LAN begins with a press day on Jan. 19 and tournament action getting started on Jan. 20. LAN is an internet term for Local Area Network that has been adopted in the esports community to mean an in-person event.

Coinciding with WVWC’s Prospective Athlete Day on Jan. 20, those visiting campus and the general public are invited to stop by and take in the tournament.

The tournament is double elimination and action will get underway on Jan. 20 around 9 a.m., with winners playing on Sunday, Jan. 21. Action will be spread across campus in the esport team’s new facility located in Benedum Hall, the former space in the English annex and in the third floor social hall of the Benedum Campus Center.

West Virginia Wesleyan College was the first college in West Virginia to form a varsity Esports team which has evolved over the years. Team members play a number of games including Valorant, Apex Legends, Rocket League, Fortnite, League of Legends, Call of Duty, R6: Siege and solo titles.

“There are not a lot of esports tournaments in West Virginia,” WVWC esports coach Ethan Hayes said. “This is a chance for someone to come out and see one live.”

So far, teams have committed from Canada, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
The idea to host a LAN on-site came after WVWC esports members took part in a tourney last year.

“We went to a LAN last year and my students really wanted to put on a LAN – so this gives them experience and they get to play on campus,” he said.

Hayes said the team will use the tourney as a recruitment tool as well.

There is no entry fee for the tournament, but teams are responsible for housing and food costs.

“They will be staying in local hotels and eating in local businesses,” Hayes added.