STUDENTS from two of Rhos-on-Sea’s Coleg Llandrillo esports teams beat their adversaries from America in thrilling encounters as part of the World Esports Day initiative.

The Welsh college’s ‘Dragon Hydras’ and ‘Drakes’ teams took part in a transatlantic, live-stream match-up - in partnership with the British Esports Association – in support of the World Esports Day (October 23) charitable event.

The Llandrillo computing students faced off against two different schools from the Garden State Esports League, New Jersey - Centre School and Barnegat High School - live on Twitch, winning both of the tightly-fought matches.

They played two of the most popular esports titles during their online battles: Overwatch and Valorant.

There was one British caster (gaming term for a commentator in a live event) and one US caster for each show match in the event.

One of Coleg Llandrillo’s team captains and ‘star player’, Mitch Thomas, 19, from Conwy - who is studying on the Esports Level 3 - National Foundation Diploma course - said: “What a fantastic experience: not only did we get the chance to play live against teams from the USA, but we came away victorious from both matches.

“This is one of the first big things that British esports has organised against the USA.

“It was great for the Coleg Llandrillo computing students to be involved in such a prestigious event.”

Esports Wales and the Garden State Esports League faced a logistical challenge due to the five-hour time difference.

So, to accommodate their US counterparts, the students at the college’s Rhos-on-Sea campus had to wait until late afternoon to do battle.

Coleg Llandrillo was one of only two colleges chosen to represent Wales by the British Esports Association, the other being Gower College, Swansea.

The event supported COVAX, which is working for global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

To find out more information, and to donate, go to www.worldesportsday.com/donate.

Earlier this year to meet huge demand, Coleg Llandrillo announced that it would be offering an A-level-equivalent qualification in esports.

Learners are taught within the £120,000 Virtual Reality Suite at the college group’s Rhos-on-Sea campus.