JOHANNESBURG. Bringing together nearly 30 schools and 250 learners from across South Africa for a weekend of friendly rivalry, school pride and gaming excellence, Curro Waterfall hosted the 2025 Curro Clash Gauteng LAN at the end of March.

Curro Clash Gauteng LAN at Curro Waterfall

Now only in its third year, the event has grown almost three-fold from just eight schools and 95 players in 2023, reflecting the increasing interest in Esports at school level and the demand for structured competitive gaming opportunities.

20 Minecraft PVP Team playing for the win

“We anticipated a strong turnout but still underestimated how quickly Esports is expanding. This year, 15 of the schools participated for the first time, introducing more eager learners and dedicated coaches to competitive gaming,” says Magdeleen de Kock, Curro Esports Project Manager.

Amanda Roosendaal – Coach from Curro Waterfall

“Curro Clash is more than just a tournament. It’s a space where learners grow in confidence, make friends and compete with integrity,” she says.

Robert Marriot from Curro Heuwelkruin recalls the early days of the programme. “During the COVID-19 lockdown, we connected from our homes. Now, we’re in a hall filled with enthusiastic learners, showcasing the incredible growth of Curro Esports.”

Curro Thatchfield Primary School – Minecraft player

Four titles, one incredible experience

Four game titles featured in this year’s competition: Minecraft PvP, Rocket League, Overwatch, and Valorant. The action-packed two-day event provided learners from both within and outside the Curro group with a platform to test their skills, work as a team and experience tournament play in a structured environment.

Main stage action – Curro Aurora

Matches were streamed live on Curro Esports’ Twitch channel, allowing for broader audience engagement.

Curro Waterfall claimed victory in both primary and high school Minecraft PvP age groups, while St David’s Marist, Inanda, took first place in the Rocket League high school tournament. Curro Aurora, Randburg dominated Valorant, and Curro Midrand Sagewood secured both first and third place in the primary school Rocket League category.

A professional Esports experience
The tournament was administered by ACGL (African Cyber Gaming League), with professional shoutcasters Greybeard (Ryan Hogarth), Bromeo, Ultrism and NaoriMizuki providing commentary. Rocket League finals were streamed live from the venue, so both on-site and online spectators can be part of the action.

Acer Africa sponsored prizes for the top three teams in each title and provided high-performance devices for Minecraft matches.

Teamwork in action at the GP LAN

Looking ahead
With interest continuing to grow, Curro Esports aims to introduce regional LAN events in every province and expand the Curro Clash National LAN in October 2025 to over 600 participants.

The reserve from Curro Waterfall supporting his team in the semi-final

“This year’s Curro Clash proved that when schools invest in Esports, they’re investing in their learners,” says Magdeleen. “Confidence, collaboration and creativity thrive in this environment. We’re proud of every player who competed and every coach that supported them. The future of school Esports is brighter than ever!”

The reserve from Curro Waterfall supporting his team in the semi-final