Every player stepped onto the floor in a crisp white shirt with their gaming name on the back. At exactly 9:00 a.m., the organizers announced the rules, and the competition kicked off.

This was the Ranger gaming tournament in Naivasha

Players took turns battling it out on the 13 screens lined up across the room. Those with coaches had them standing close behind, offering moral support and calling out mistakes in real-time.

The tension in the room was thick as eliminations began. Players dropped out, new ones entered, and alliances began to form—especially among the ladies, who rallied behind one another, often bonding over shared hometowns.

JoJo Depay (in blue shirt) during the Rangers Gaming Tournament in Naivasha on 13th April 2025.

Photo credit: MUTHONI WANJIKU/MTAA WANGU

The men’s finals were especially fierce. A total of 88 players had signed up, all vying for a share of the Sh. 150,000 prize pool.

In a dramatic finish, Sam Oyier Carter emerged victorious, beating Jojo Depay 4–1 in the finals—despite rising from the losers’ bracket. Carter, currently ranked Kenya’s number two in FIFA while Depay is the reigning Kenya One.

Sam Carter won the Rangers Gaming Tournament in Naivasha on 13th April, 2025.

Photo credit: MUTHONI WANJIKU/MTAA WANGU

Carter took home Sh. 55,000, while Depay went home with Sh. 30,000. Leon Marlon, who came in third, walked away with Sh. 25,000. Players ranked fourth to tenth received Sh. 10,000 each.

In the women’s category, the stakes were equally high, with Sh. 30,000 up for grabs.

Fourteen-year-old Brillian Nekesa, popularly known as Bree, stole the spotlight after a stunning 7–0 win against Sharon Waithera, a.k.a. Shah, in the finals. Bree had swept through all her matches to reach the final.

Brillian Nekesa - Bree (Right) playing against Sharon Waithera - Shah during the ladies finals at the Rangers Gaming Tournament in Naivasha on 13th April, 2025.

Photo credit: MUTHONI WANJIKU/MTAA WANGU

“This was my sixth win since I started gaming,” Bree says. “The competition here was tougher than in other tournaments, and I’m proud I came out on top.”

Bree expresses hope of representing Kenya in the gaming Olympics in 2027.

For Shah, reaching the finals was a milestone despite winning from the loser's bracket.

“I’ve participated in many tournaments, but I’d never made it to the top three. Making it to the finals and beating some of the best gamers in the country is a win for me,” she says.

Bree took home Sh. 12,000, Shah earned Sh. 6,000, and the third-place winner walked away with Sh. 4,000. Players ranked fourth to seventh each received Sh. 2,000.

The event was hosted at Rangers Gaming Lounge in Naivasha and was sponsored by Nilesh Gorasia.

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Author Spotlight

Muthoni Wanjiku