The NCD Vulcans have become the 2026 British Esports Division 2 Overwatch Champions, following a thrilling and hard-fought grand final against the Cambria Chimeras from Coleg Cambria, Wales.
The British Esports Student Championships is the UK鈥檚 largest grassroots esports competition for schools and colleges, bringing together thousands of students to compete in organised leagues and national finals. The competition not only showcases gaming talent, but also develops key skills such as communication, teamwork, strategic thinking and digital literacy.
Overwatch is a hero shooter game where two teams of five players compete in objective鈥慸riven matches using hero characters with unique abilities. The Vulcans progressed through a highly competitive Open Division 2 season to reach the national final.
The final itself was an intense best-of-five series, with each map testing different skills and strategies. The Chimeras took an early 1鈥�0 lead on Ilios (Control), a mode focused on maintaining control of a central objective.
Showing resilience, the Vulcans responded superbly, securing victories on Midtown (Hybrid) and New Queen Street (Push) to take a 2鈥�1 series lead. Hybrid mode tested structured attack and defence, while Push rewarded teamwork, positioning and momentum.
The Chimeras battled back to level the series at 2鈥�2 on Suravasa (Flashpoint), fast-paced mode requiring quick rotations and adaptability which set up a dramatic final map tiebreaker.
With everything on the line, the Vulcans had the choice of tiebreaker map and chose to return to New Queen Street (Push) once again. In a nerve-racking decider, they demonstrated composure, coordination and resilience under pressure to secure an overall 3鈥�2 victory and be crowned the Divison 2 Open Champions.
The NCD Vulcans team consists of Year 13 students Oliver Dove, Charlie Conway, Kieran Sisman, Thomas Hutton and Sam Barlow, and is led by staff Lee Trueman and Mike Jones.
Lee Trueman said:
鈥淲e鈥檙e really proud of the team. To come through a final like that shows not just skill, but proper teamwork and resilience. They鈥檝e learned how to communicate, stay calm under pressure and trust each other, skills that go way beyond esports and into any team environment.鈥�
Mike Jones added:
鈥淚t鈥檚 been great to see how much they鈥檝e grown over the season. They鈥檝e built confidence, leadership and decision-making through competing, and you can see that in how they handled such a high-pressure final.鈥�
As part of New College Doncaster鈥檚 extensive enrichment offer, the NCD Vulcans esports team provides students with opportunities to compete, collaborate and develop valuable skills outside the classroom. The programme supports both personal and professional growth, helping students build confidence, teamwork and digital skills for future pathways. A full replay of the final is available on the college鈥檚 Twitch channel @ncdgamesdesign, showcasing the team鈥檚 championship performance.
