A video game tournament, in which participants raced in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, was hosted by OCCC’s Office of Student Life. The tournament was held in the theater of the Visual and Performing Arts Center at OCCC on April 27.

The tournament had a prize that consisted of a Nintendo Switch video game console, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe video game, and extra controllers for the console, according to iStudent Life.

The event saw over 25 participants compete in head-to-head play in a bracketed competition that lasted multiple hours.

The structure of the tournament was one person racing one other individual with the game’s artificial intelligence controlling the other racers.

It began at 5:30 p.m. with participants competing in a four-way practice round. Each player slathered their hands with sanitizer between contests, wore face masks, and sat several feet apart. 

The tournament was a sudden elimination, meaning that if a participant placed lower in the race compared to their competitor then they were eliminated from the competition.

Players were allowed to choose their characters, vehicles, wheels, and glider,  but the map that they raced upon was chosen at random. 

They then would race for three laps before the game concluded and the results were finalized.

Alan Garcia won the tournament. 

Regan Watters took second place, Cody Garrison, Student Life director said.

Garrison said he had organized video game tournaments at other schools and that it might be a good idea to try to do so at OCCC.

“We think this one was successful…we definitely want to plan more video game tournaments in the future,” Garrison said.

Prize ideas for future tournaments include another Nintendo Switch, game, and controllers or a $500 Gamestop gift card, he said.

But, those in the Office of Student Life are open to input and even want it, Garrison said.

“We are going to send a survey to all students who participated in the event. We want to hear what students thought and if they want to see more events like this in the future,” Garrison said. 

“We also asked what type of prize they would like to see as well,” he said.