CIAO! STUDENT JETS OFF TO ITALY TO COMPETE ON INTERNATIONAL STAGE

A Shipley College student is heading to Italy to compete after rising through the ranks of competitive gaming.

A keen trading card collector, Jaden Davies (Level 3 Esports student), will travel to Bologna to take part in the latest regional qualifier of the Riftbound: League of Legends circuit. The event will bring together competitors from across Europe and beyond, marking a significant milestone in Jaden’s competitive gaming journey.

Jaden has built his reputation through strong performances at local and national events, including an impressive 31st place finish at the Birmingham Pokémon Regionals. That result helped build his confidence and proved he could compete at a high level.

Now, he’s taking the next step on the international stage. Despite the scale of the event, Jaden's embracing the challenge and looking forward to the experience.

He said: "I just want to do my best and see how far I can go. My tutors are really supportive and helped build my confidence. If you’re at Shipley College and have goals, the College will back you and help you move forward.

Alongside his competitive achievements, Jaden studies Level 3 Esports and continues to explore the wider industry - including media, events and digital careers.

Esports lecturer at Shipley College, Nathan Horton, said: “Jaden’s achievement is fantastic and we’re all really proud of him. He’s shown real dedication and confidence in developing his competitive skills, and to see that lead to an international opportunity while still studying is brilliant.

"It’s exactly the kind of progression we love to see from our students, and we’ll all be cheering him on from here in the UK!”

Shipley College offers a growing Esports provision designed to give students real industry insight, combining competitive play with skills in media, events and digital production.