LIFESTYLES SDSSgradtakingontheworldincybersports

PHIL MELNYCHUK

Contributing

Writer

With the pandemic still underway, 2021 was not the best year to graduate from high school - and starting college under the same pandemic restrictions was no easier.

So South Delta Secondary grad Stephen Bailey decided to return to his high school passion of gaming

That turned out to be a good move because after placing first at a gaming competition last year in San Diego, Bailey has joined Oxygen Esports, based in Boston, and is now preparing to take on the world’s best in September in England

The team just qualified for the finals a few weeks ago in London, where they finished third and took home $105,000 US in prize money

Now, they’re getting ready for the finals, the Apex Legends Global Series Championships –which returns to the U.K. from Sept 6 to 10, in Birmingham, at the Resorts World Arena

The total prize pool for the event is $2 5 million US, with 40 teams competing. However, for the team finishing first, it’s a cool $500,000 US prize

He describes playing Apex Legends as comparable to a mix of the games Fortnite and Call of Duty.

“It’s like a battle royale style Last team to survive, wins,” he says Bailey has played video games throughout high school, but his participation in the big leagues started less than a year ago when he turned pro He wants to keep playing as long as he can.

“The future is live streaming and making content and stuff That’s definitely the next step,” he said.

While people will fill the stadium to watch the games on a huge monitor, the competition also will be carried online

“It’s also live streamed to hundreds of thousands people online,” said Bailey, who’s progamer name is Reedz. “There’s definitely really high highs and low lows.”

Bailey said it’s hard to hold virtual events for competitors around the world because there’s too much variability in internet service.

He also adds that he expects to stay with Oxygen Esport

“We have a really good system at Oxygen I don’t think we’ll be switching teammates, or anything like that, any time soon, ” he adds

Bailey said competitive gaming allows him to travel the world

“I’m just looking forward to hanging out with all my teammates again and being in a competitive environment and meeting people from around the world, travelling,” he concluded.