Esports production company BLAST has announced a partnership with DAIGON Esports, a platform that runs competitive video game leagues for international and independent schools.
Under the agreement, BLAST will act as a premier brand sponsor of the School Esports World Championships (SEWC) and will sponsor the event’s main prize. However, SEWC does not offer cash prize money. Because the tournament focuses heavily on educational enrichment, student development, and digital literacy, the awards are strictly non-monetary.
The SEWC will take place live at PLAYCON, a gaming festival in Malta, from 19 to 22 November 2026. The event is aimed at students, and it brings together school teams from different parts of the world to compete in a number of popular video games.
The teams taking part come from DAIGON’s network of partner schools, which includes members of several school associations: COBIS (Council of British International Schools), BSME (British Schools in the Middle East), ISA (Independent Schools Association) and ECIS (Educational Collaborative for International Schools). Organisers say the competition will be held in a safeguarded, educational setting, meaning it is run with the protection and wellbeing of young players in mind.
James Woollard, VP Destinations and Market Development, BLAST, said, “At BLAST, we are passionate about the positive impact of competitive gaming. Malta has become an incredibly important part of BLAST’s global esports operations, and we are committed to supporting the growth of its local esports ecosystem, from grassroots initiatives through to world-class events. Partnering with DAIGON to support the SEWC aligns perfectly with our vision of empowering youth through esports, providing them with a platform to build teamwork and leadership skills on a global stage.”
David Higginson, Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer, DAIGON Esports, said, “Having a globally recognised industry giant like BLAST back the School Esports World Championships is a watershed moment for scholastic esports. Our mission has always been to reframe screen time into purposeful learning and to give students a safe, inclusive arena to develop future-ready skills. BLAST’s involvement not only elevates the prestige of the SEWC for our students but proves that the wider esports industry is committed to nurturing the next generation of digital talent at the grassroots level.”
The SEWC is not the only grassroots esports effort BLAST supports. Most recently, in August 2026, it partnered with Riot Games to introduce the VALORANT Campus Cup, a nationwide collegiate programme aimed at expanding grassroots competitive gaming at colleges and universities across India. Beyond BLAST, the British Esports Federation has recently introduced its own international scholastic esports initiative, EGAMES DUBAI27. Taken in this light, the route into competitive esports for young players now may more often start at school or college.
