South African university esports is heading for Pretoria. Varsity Esports says almost 500 players have been competing through the Split 2 qualification process, with the strongest teams and players advancing to the finals at UP-Tuks Rembrandt Hall on 2–3 October 2026.
The three titles are Valorant, Rocket League and EA Sports FC 26. More importantly, this is not an isolated weekend tournament: Split 1 and Split 2 feed into playoffs that determine who reaches the rAge Grand Finals in November.
Pretoria gets the next showdown
The Split 2 Finals are scheduled for UP-Tuks Rembrandt Hall. Organisers say spectators can attend free of charge, but an advance ticket is required. The event is also planned as more than rows of PCs: sponsor activations, prizes, live DJ entertainment and food trucks are part of the programme.
There are already rivalries worth following
Split 1 in Stellenbosch established some useful benchmarks. Emeris took the EA Sports FC 26 title. Stellenbosch University’s TaMATIES beat EM Substitutes 3–1 in the Rocket League final, while SU ODIN edged the UP-Tuks Capitals 2–1 in Valorant.
That last result gives the Pretoria finals an obvious local storyline: Tuks already proved it can push one of the country’s strongest university Valorant teams. Split 2 gives the home campus another shot.
The money is becoming difficult to dismiss
Varsity Sports says prize money for the top universities is now aligned with major Varsity Sports competitions: R200,000 for first, R100,000 for second and R50,000 for third. A further R90,000 is allocated across the top players and teams in the three esports titles.
That does not suddenly make student esports a professional career. It does, however, add stakes, visibility and institutional credibility to a scene that historically had to build much of its structure independently.
Why this matters for SA gaming
South Africa has talented competitive players, but geography, connectivity, limited international pathways and the cost of competing can make progression difficult. A university league cannot solve all of that. What it can do is create regular competition, recognizable teams, live finals and a reason for new players to enter the ecosystem.
Varsity Esports only launched in 2024 and 2026 is its second full season. Nearly 500 players entering a Split 2 qualification process this early is therefore worth watching.
Want to watch?
The Split 2 Finals take place at UP-Tuks Rembrandt Hall, Pretoria, on 2 and 3 October 2026. Spectator entry is free, but Varsity Sports says attendees must register for a ticket in advance and present it on arrival.