Registrations are open for the second Nedbank Mastercard Summoner Tournament. This will give South African League of Legends teams a route from online qualifiers to a live four-team final. Experience it at Nedbank rAge Nation in November.
The tournament brings Nedbank, Mastercard and esports tournament operator Mettlestate together for a second consecutive year.
The inaugural 2025 tournament put R100 000 in prize money on the line. Which organisers described as the largest prize pool yet for South African amateur League of Legends.
A second season for South African teams
The 2026 competition has begun with two online qualifiers. The top two teams from each qualifier will secure the four available places, where they will compete in a double-elimination bracket for the tournament title.
The format creates a clear progression from open online participation to live competition in front of a festival audience. And gives teams more than one opportunity to qualify, while reserving the live stage for the strongest performers from each round.
“The return of the tournament is important because it signals Nedbank’s commitment to building meaningful, sustained engagement with the gaming community, rather than creating a once-off moment,” says Chipo Mushwana, Executive: Emerging Innovation at Nedbank.
“Gaming brings together competition. Collaboration. Creativity and community in ways that are increasingly shaping how people connect and participate in the digital world. For Nedbank, innovation is about understanding these shifts early and finding relevant ways to participate. Through platforms such as the Nedbank Mastercard Summoner Tournament, we can support the growth of the local gaming ecosystem while continuing to learn how we create value for emerging communities.”
The tournament forms part of Nedbank’s wider engagement with South Africa’s gaming community. It follows the company’s appointment as headline sponsor of Nedbank rAge Nation 2026.
Building consistency in local esports
For South African esports, repeat competitions matter. They give players a reason to keep teams together, practise consistently and measure their progress against the same competitive field. They also create opportunities for organisers, commentators, production teams and commercial partners around the players on stage.
Consistency also strengthens the commercial foundations of esports. A recurring tournament gives teams a calendar to plan around. Audiences a reason to return. Organisers an opportunity to improve the competitive and broadcast experience, and partners a clearer view of engagement and impact. That continuity allows each competition to contribute to a developing ecosystem instead of disappearing as an isolated activation.
“Our role is to build competitions that players trust, and audiences want to watch. For the Nedbank Mastercard Summoner Tournament, that means having a clear qualifying structure. It also requires strong tournament administration and a live final that tests teams under real pressure. When these elements work together, the tournament adds something meaningful to South Africa’s League of Legends ecosystem,” comments Barry Louzada, managing director of Mettlestate.
The live finals will take place at Fourways Mall in Johannesburg. They will form part of Nedbank rAge Nation, running from 27 to 29 November 2026. The festival will bring together gaming, esports, technology, creators, entertainment and the digital community across three days. Buy your tickets now!
Registration information
Team registrations opened this week. Tournament dates, eligibility requirements, rules and participation terms are available on the official registration page.
Register for the Nedbank Mastercard Summoner Tournament at www.mettlestate.com/nedbank-esports-arena
