Esports production company BLAST has signed an agreement with DAIGON Esports, a platform that organizes tournaments for international and independent schools. As part of the collaboration, BLAST will serve as the premier brand sponsor of the School Esports World Championships (SEWC).
The company will also provide the main prize for the competition. Since the tournament focuses on educational development and digital literacy among students, the awards will be strictly non-monetary, with no cash prize pool.
The SEWC will take place during the PLAYCON gaming festival in Malta from November 19 to 22, 2026. Student teams from around the world will participate in the championship. The participants will represent DAIGON's network of partner schools, which includes members of international educational associations such as COBIS, BSME, ISA, and ECIS. Organizers assure that the tournament will be held in a safe environment specially created for young esports players.
James Woollard, VP Destinations and Market Development at BLAST, emphasized that Malta has become an important part of their global ecosystem. According to him, supporting the SEWC reflects the company's commitment to helping youth develop teamwork and leadership skills on a global stage.
In turn, David Higginson, Co-Founder of DAIGON Esports, called the involvement of such an industry giant a watershed moment. He noted that the platform's main goal is to turn screen time into purposeful learning, and BLAST's participation proves the broader esports industry's readiness to invest in shaping the new generation of digital talent.
This is not BLAST's first initiative of this kind. In August 2026, the company partnered with Riot Games to launch the VALORANT Campus Cup collegiate program in India. Against the backdrop of similar projects, such as the recent announcement of EGAMES DUBAI27 by the British Esports Federation, a clear trend is emerging: the path into competitive esports for players increasingly begins at the school or college level.
As a reminder, PGL introduces a $30,000 fine for teams withdrawing from tournaments in 2027