Yokota gamers gather for first esports event of the year U.S. Air Force Logo Jan. 31, 2024 Yokota gamers gather for first esports event of the year Members of Team Yokota gather for an esports gaming tournament at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Jan. 27, 2024. The event allowed video gamers to compete in Mortal Combat and Super Smash Bros. for a chance to win prizes. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Samantha White) Details Download Yokota gamers gather for first esports event of the year A member of Team Yokota plays Super Smash Bros. during an esports gaming tournament at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Jan. 27, 2024. The 374th Force Support Squadron hosted the event alongside Air Force Gaming, giving Airmen and members of the Yokota community the opportunity to connect through friendly competition. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Samantha White) Details Download Yokota gamers gather for first esports event of the year Members of Team Yokota play Super Smash Bros. during an esports gaming tournament at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Jan. 27, 2024. An additional bracket was created for video gamers age 14 and under to compete in. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Samantha White) Details Download Yokota gamers gather for first esports event of the year A member of Team Yokota holds a video game controller during an esports gaming tournament at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Jan. 27, 2024. The tournament allowed 96 gamers to battle it out in Mortal Kombat and Super Smash Bros., for a chance to be named a top video gamer and win prizes. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Samantha White) Details Download Yokota gamers gather for first esports event of the year U.S. Air Force Col. Ryan Vetter (left), 374th Mission Support Group commander and Master Sgt. Steffan Gray, 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron Vehicle Management superintendent, look at a bracket during an esports gaming tournament at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Jan. 27, 2024. Gray is one of five base ambassadors for Air Force Gaming at Yokota. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Samantha White) Details Download Yokota gamers gather for first esports event of the year A member of the Yokota community plays Super Smash Bros. on a computer monitor during an esports gaming tournament at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Jan. 27, 2024. Like traditional sports, esports, or electronic sports, is a form of competitive video gaming with various types of tournaments and league structures. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Samantha White) Details Download Yokota gamers gather for first esports event of the year The top three winners of the Mortal Combat bracket pose for a photo with three esports base ambassadors at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Jan. 27, 2024. The prizes included an esports jersey for each first place winner and 374th Force Support Squadron gift cards for second and third place winners in each bracket. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Samantha White) Details Download Members of the Yokota community competed in an esports tournament at the Enlisted Club on Yokota Air Base, Japan, Jan. 27. The tournament allowed 96 gamers to battle it out in Mortal Kombat and Super Smash Bros., for a chance to win prizes and be named a top video gamer. Like traditional sports, esports is a form of competitive video gaming with various types of tournaments and league structures. This tournament featured a bracket for gamers playing Mortal Kombat and two brackets for gamers playing Super Smash Bros., one for adults and one for those age 14 and under. The prizes included an esports jersey for each first place winner and 374th Force Support Squadron gift cards for second and third place winners in each bracket. “We wanted to put on a gaming tournament event to bring the entire Yokota Air Base community together,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Stephan Grey, 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron Vehicle Management superintendent. “Whether it's board games or video games, they can make connections with other people… it builds their resiliency, and lets them develop and be great Airmen.” The 374th FSS hosted the event alongside Air Force Gaming, giving Airmen and members of the Yokota community the opportunity to connect through friendly competition. Several events have been scheduled throughout the year that will offer food, prizes, giveaways and more for Yokota’s gaming community, culminating in a huge event in August. “Yokota’s esports program is about more than events,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col Jordan Hayes, 374th FSS commander. “Our esports program is intended to build a community. We want Airmen to build community through doing the things they love–like gaming.” For more information on how to connect with the Yokota gaming community visit: https://yokotafss.com/esports/#1704870985716-68900161-3639