Young gamers excel at the MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience 2025
Sandton’s Hamza Moosa crowned EAFC 25 national champion.
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After months of qualifiers and regional heats, the MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience reached its conclusion at Canal Walk Shopping Centre, where hundreds of spectators and players packed the arena to watch South Africa’s best compete in EAFC 25, Beat Saber, Call of Duty, Rocket League and more.
In the EAFC National Final, 17-year-old Hamza Moosa from Sandton proved why he is one of the country’s most exciting young talents. A professional esports player for Goliath Gaming, Moosa outplayed the competition to take top honours. A familiar name on the international stage, he recently represented South Africa at the Esports World Cup qualifier in Saudi Arabia. Hamza walked away with R25 000 in prize money.
Pretoria’s Michael Prange slays the leaderboard in Beat Saber.
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Beat Saber fans witnessed a high-speed, high-score showdown won by 17-year-old Michael Prange from Pretoria’s Garsfontein High School. Ranked #2 nationally, Prange is also a two-time Beat Saber World Cup competitor who has shaped South Africa’s competitive VR rhythm community through coaching, mentorship and global participation. As the 2025 national champion, Michael won a gaming PC valued at R50 000.
Young gaming sensation Ridhaa April triumphs in EAFC Schools division.
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In the schools division, 15-year-old Ridhaa April from Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs claimed the EAFC title. A prodigious talent who has been competing since age 12, Ridhaa plays professionally for Goliath Gaming and already holds multiple top finishes, including first place at the 2025 ASL.
The Rocket League school tournament saw Curro finish first, followed by Edgemead High in second place.
Team Nixuh dominates Call of Duty Mobile at MTN SHIFT 2025.
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Call of Duty Mobile closed out the finals with intensity as returning champions Nixuh held onto their title. The team of Magicz (Raees Ismail), Adnaan (Adnaan Bhamjee), Raz (Rahil Bux) and Enigma (Jameen Essa) walked away with a R30 000 cash prize.
“The atmosphere at this year’s finals was absolutely electric,” said Vanessa Herbst, marketing manager at Canal Walk Shopping Centre. “The level of skill on display was unreal and the crowd brought their energy every day. The bar has been set very high for the 2026 edition.”
Curro rules the Rocket League arena at MTN SHIFT 2025.
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The MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience, South Africa’s biggest mall-based gaming tournament, ran for five months across Gauteng and the Western Cape, with regional heats at Rosebank Mall, Clearwater Mall, The Glen, Woodlands, Table Bay Mall, Somerset Mall and Capegate Shopping Centre, culminating in the national finals at Canal Walk. Thousands of players of all ages and skill levels competed for over R250 000 in prizes.
Edgemead High finishes strong in the Rocket League schools tournament.
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“The SHIFT Gaming Experience is about bringing high-level competition into public spaces and giving players of all ages the opportunity to compete, connect and grow,” said Christie Stanbridge, brand and campaigns marketing manager at Hyprop. “From pros representing South Africa on global stages to young players discovering their potential, far more than being entertaining, this year highlighted gaming as a space for learning, discipline and community.”
With the 2025 tournament wrapped, planning is already under way for an even bigger return in 2026.