ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Teenagers in the St. Louis-area can test their skills as video gamers in a tournament that starts this weekend.
The St. Louis Public Library, the BGG Foundation, and the St. Louis Mayor's Office are all teaming up to host "Battle 4 the Lou" Video Game Tournaments across three libraries in the St. Louis-area during the summer.
"The overall aspect of it all is to unite the community," said BGG Foundation CEO Robert Powell III on Total Information A.M. Thursday. "I still feel like there is a slight disadvantage with the St. Louis community really utilizing gaming with opportunities, so partnering up with the Mayor's Office and Public Library is really amplifying what we are doing, which is to bring this experience to St. Louis to create that community and youth engagement, skill development, opportunity."
Kids who are ages 12-18 can head to the Julia Davis Library on Saturday, June 22, where kids can test their skills, have some fun and play to win some prizes in Super Smash Bros, Brawlhalla, Tekken 8.
"We do different tournaments to show students what games are putting money in their pockets," said Powell III. "What games are coming with scholarship opportunities and our tournament that we are doing (this weekend) Brawlhalla, Super Smash Bros. Tekken 8, these are all premier e-sports titles you can go to college to play for as well."
The winners of the first round of "Battle 4 the Lou" competitions will get to compete at The Dome at America's Center in September.
Central Library and Carondelet Library will also host similar events later on this summer. Central Library will host their tournament on Saturday, July 20 while Carondelet Library will host theirs on Saturday, Aug. 24. All events will be from 12-4 p.m.
To participate in the event, you must complete the application to reserve your spot.