2026 Fenworks
North Dakota Esports
State Tournament 
Hosted by UND

The moment you've been waiting for is here! Get ready for the exciting best-of-Fenworks ND Esports competition, taking place on February 27-28, 2026, featuring schools from across the state. Explore this page for all the details about your state tournament!
Tournament Starts In:

Details

Date: February 27-28, 2026

Location: UND Memorial Union, 2901 University Ave, Grand Forks, ND 58202

Admissions Fees: TBA

Host Information

The State Tournament will be held in the University of North Dakota’s Memorial Union Ballrooms (2nd floor). The registration table will be set up right outside the Memorial Union Ballrooms.
The entrance to the parking garage is indicated with a green dot off 2nd Ave N. Attendees parking in the parking garage can use any door to enter. Buses should drop students off at the main entrance along University Ave (See the green dot along University).

UND Memorial Union
2901 University Ave
Grand Forks, ND 58202

Please read the parking instructions carefully before parking on the UND campus. Private lots are reserved for students and faculty; parking in these areas may result in ticketing. Below is a list of available parking spaces for schools, vendors, and attendees.
Click here for more information on UND parking.
Link to Map of Building

UND has provided free parking for the entire 4th and 5th floors of the parking ramp next to the union. Please ignore the pay signs as they will not be enforcing them (2716 Second Ave N, Grand Forks, ND 58203)

Free parking is available throughout the Parking Garage after 4:30 pm Friday and all-day Saturday.

Buses will be encouraged to drop students off at the bus “loop” in front of the Memorial Union on University Ave. Buses can pull into the bus stop and drop off their students. They should proceed to the primary bus parking near the Ralph Engelstad Area and Jimmy John’s. There will be signage showing buses where to go. 

Teams will travel across the state of North Dakota to attend the tournament. Be sure to check how long your trip is expected to take to Grand Forks, North Dakota, so you can arrive with plenty of time to register and settle in.

Schools should plan to arrive at the tournament between 9:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. CT on Friday, February 27. Doors for the general public will open at 9:30 a.m. CT, and opening ceremonies will begin at 10:30 a.m. CT. We encourage all schools and teams to attend.

Hotel Blocks are pending. More information will be available soon.
Teams are responsible for their own accommodations and arrangements.
Here is a list of hotels in the area. 

Discover the vast array of dining options on campus and throughout Grand Forks. Fenworks and UND may not be providing meals throughout the tournament. Still, we invite you to explore the diverse and exciting dining options available to students, GMs, vendors, and fans throughout the event.

  UND dining facilities are equipped to accommodate most dietary restrictions. Inform a dining staff member of your needs. All UND dining options and convenience stores operate on a cashless basis, accepting Debit Cards, Credit cards, and Apple Pay. A prepaid debit card will work if a person doesn't have a debit/credit card or Apple Pay.

Remember that dining locations can get busy on weekdays (11:00 am–2:00 pm). To optimize your dining experience, consider enjoying your meals outside these peak hours. If you dine during this period, please be prepared for a potential wait time, which may extend beyond 30 minutes. Please note that some dining options may be closed on weekends.

For a seamless dining experience on campus, most dining options are integrated with the GrubHub app. We recommend downloading the app before the event for a smooth and convenient ordering process.

The Memorial Union has a variety of dining options in the building. Please click here to see all dining options. The hours can be found below.

Friday:

  • Chick-Fil-A – 10:30 am – 8:00 pm
  • Panda Express – 10:30 am – 8:00 pm 
  • Dakota Deli – 10:30 am – 7:00 pm
  • University Ave Pizza – 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
  • 1883 Grill – 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Saturday:

  • Chick-Fil-A– 10:30 am – 7:00 pm
  • Panda Express– 10:30 am – 7:00 pm
  • Dakota Deli – 10:30 am – 2:00 pm
  • University Ave. Pizza – 10:30 am – 2:00 pm

Wilkerson Dining Center is the primary dining location on campus. For more information about Wilkerson Dining click here. For hours click here. 

 Costs:

  • Breakfast with tax = $8.90
  • Lunch and Dinner with tax – $14.35

How to Use GrubHub at Wilkerson see below: Setup GrubHub for UND Campus Dining

  • Navigate to Wilkerson Dining Center
  • Select the food location that you would like to order from, the options are: Allergen Free, The Grille, Sizzling Salads, Wood Fired Italiano or Noodles
  • Select and order from the offered food menu
  • Head over to Wilkerson Dining Center and scan in like normal
  • Go directly to the location that you ordered food from
  • Locate the plate with your labeled name and ordered meal on it

If you choose to eat off campus, please make sure you arrive back in time before your next event. Otherwise, your team will potentially receive a forfeit. Restaurant suggestions in Grand Forks can be found here. 

More information will be available closer to the event.

Meet Your Host

The 2025 - 2026 Esports Tournament is hosted by the University of North Dakota! We invite you to discover the academic excellence, innovation, and community spirit that define the university.
Learn more
The University of North Dakota Logo

Registration and Check In

School and Team registration will begin on Friday, February 27, at 9:00 am CT outside the ballrooms in the Memorial Union of the University of North Dakota.
The opening ceremony will begin at 10:30 am CT.

Tournament Information

All award ceremonies will happen immediately following the championship match for that game title.

The schedule is subject to change. All times are in Central Time (CT).
The listed times are suggestions, as matches will start after the previous one is finished.
Please arrive at your match location at least one hour before your scheduled match time.

THE SCHEDULE BELOW IS THE DRAFT VERSION FOR THE 2025 - 2026 TOURNAMENT. THE FINAL SCHEDULE WILL BE RELEASED ONCE WINTER SEASON REGISTRATION IS COMPLETED.
Link to Schedule

Brackets will be available once the season has finished. 

Thursday, February 22 | 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm | Memorial Union Social Stairs
This panel of collegiate esports experts will tell you how to succeed at the next level. Coach Ryan Kraus (UND) will be there in person, joined online by Alyssa Duran (Shenandoah University) and Mark Deppe (UC Irvine). These panelists will talk about the habits of successful athletes in their programs, common stumbling blocks to avoid, and how their players improve, among other topics. This is a Q and A panel in which you can ask your burning questions about the collegiate esports scene.

Below are all the changes to the rulesets for the tournament.
Anything not listed here will follow regular season rulesets. 
For the season rulesets, please click here. 

Chess

Tournament Type: Double Elimination Tournament

Teams: 16 players

Matches:

  • First to 2 points for all matches, including bracket reset, if needed.
  • Points will be awarded: loss 0 pt, draw 0.5 pt, win 1 pt.
  • If both players tie at 2 points, they will continue to play until a winner is decided.

Other Notes:

  • Unlike the season, teams will compete over a physical board.
  • If a person touches a piece, they must move it.
  • All other rules, including time control, will be the same as the regular season: 10 minutes with a 3-second interval bonus time.
  • The high seed gets white first.

Fortnite 2v2s

Tournament Type: Pool Play/Group Stage into Single Elimination Tournament

Teams: 16 teams (4 groups of 4 teams); the top team of each group will advance to the tournament

Matches: 

  • Best of 1 (Each game is first to 8 rounds) for all pool play matches.
  • Best of 3 (Each game is first to 8 rounds) for all tournament matches.

Tiebreaker: If multiple teams tie in pool play.

  • 2 Team Tie – Head to head (Between the two tied teams, whoever beat the other team will advance).

  • 3 Team Tie – Round differential

    • Total points scored vs. points scored on team.

League of Legends

Tournament Type: Single Elimination Tournament

Teams: 8 teams

Matches: Best of 3 all matches.

Other Notes: High seed gets choice of side/color.

Mario Kart 8 2v2s

Tournament Type: Pool Play/Group Stage into Single Elimination Tournament

Teams: 16 teams (4 groups of 4 teams); the top team of each group will advance to the tournament

Other Rules: 

  • All games will be played split-screen using one monitor per team.
  • If you wish to use headphones, please bring your own that have an AUX port. Auxiliary splitters will be provided for each switch. Bluetooth will not be allowed.
  • High seed makes the lobby.

Matches:

  • Best of 1 (4 races) for all pool play matches.
  • Best of 3 (8 – 12 races) for all tournament matches.

Tiebreaker: If multiple teams tie in pool play.

  • 2 Team Tie – Head to head (Between the two tied teams, whoever beat the other team will advance).
  • 3 Team Tie – Total score from all three matches, not including tiebreaker points.

Marvel Rivals

Tournament Type: Single Elimination Tournament

Teams: 8 Teams 

Matches: Best of 3 for all matches

Minecraft 4v4s

Tournament Type: Pool Play/Group Stage into Single Elimination Tournament

Teams: 8 teams (2 groups of 4 teams); the top two teams of each group will advance to the tournament

Matches:

  • Best of 1 for all pool play matches.
  • Best of 3 for all tournament matches.

Tiebreaker: If multiple teams tie in pool play.

  • 2 Team Tie – Head to head (Between the two tied teams, whoever beat the other team will advance).
  • 3 Team Tie – Teams will move to an Arena 1v1 duel following normal season rules.
    • One representative from each team will be chosen to participate in the Arena 1v1. The same student can be chosen for all duel matches, or a different student can be used for each duel match.
    • The bottom two seeded teams will duel first. Then, the winner of that match will duel the high seed. The winner of that match will advance to the tournament.  

Rocket League 3v3s

Tournament Type: Pool Play/Group Stage into Single Elimination Tournament

Teams: 16 teams (4 groups of 4 teams); the top team of each group will advance to the tournament

Matches:

  • Best of 3 for all pool play matches.
  • Best of 5 for all tournament matches.

Tiebreaker: If multiple teams tie in pool play.

  • 2 Team Tie – Head to head (Between the two tied teams, whoever beat the other team will advance).
  • 3 Team Tie – Game Differential, then total goal differential.
    • Game Differential
      • +2 points: 2-0
      • +1 points: 2-1
      • -1 points: 1-2
      • -2 points: 0-2
    • Goal Differential:
      • Total goals scored vs. goals scored on team.

SSBU 1v1s

Tournament Type: Double Elimination Tournament

Teams: 32 players

Matches: Best of 5 for all matches, including bracket reset if needed

Other Notes: The high seed will be the home team and follow the stage selection process. The high seed also announces their character first for game 1. 

VALORANT

Tournament Type: Single Elimination Tournament

Teams: 8 teams

Matches: 

  • Best of 1 for all matches except the championship and 3rd place match.
  • Best of 3 for the championship and 3rd place match. 

Other Notes: High seed is home seed.

Map Selection: 

  • For all matches except the championship and 3rd place match, map selection will follow the season rules
  • For the championship and third place game, the home team (High Seed) chooses if they want to be Team A or Team B and they will follow the below process.
    • Team B bans 1 map
    • Team A bans 1 map
    • Team B selects Map 1
    • Team A selects attack/defense for Map 1
    • Team A selects Map 2
    • Team B selects attack/defense for Map 2
    • Team A bans
    • Team B selects Map 3
    • Team A selects attack/defense for Map 3
Can’t make it to the event? Check out our live stream. We will be streaming all the Main Stage games. 
 Click the links below to access the streams.

Setups:
The tournament venue will provide all PC setups, including a mouse, mousepad, keyboard, and headset.

What Should I Bring:
Peripherals: Mouse and Keyboard (headsets will be provided; personal headsets will not be allowed)
Controller: Players must bring their own controller(s), as Fenworks will not provide any controllers on-site. If a player brings a controller, ensure the controller's cord is also brought. Bluetooth connections are not permitted.

KNOW YOUR SETTINGS so that you can get prepared quickly before your match.
Students should be ready to set up all the equipment they bring promptly. They cannot download custom drivers/etc. All outside equipment will be inspected by Fenworks staff before use in tournament play.

Please make sure you label all equipment with contact information!

**Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mario Kart Competitors**
All competitors MUST bring their own switch with a docking station, power cord, and desired controllers. If you are participating in Mario Kart, the Switch MUST have access to online play. One switch per team is needed. If you would like to use a headset, please also make sure to bring one with an AUX port. 

No backup accounts will be available.
Students must have access to their own accounts or school accounts and use them during the competition.

Players must have their account information ready to log in at match time.
Fenworks recommends that all students test their logins before attending the tournament and bring their phone for any two-factor verification when logging in. For all titles, players should be prepared to alter any settings/key bindings they’ll need (in-game) if they are not carried over from their primary account. We recommend taking a picture of your settings page for future reference.

Chess will not be held online at the State Tournament. Physical boards will be used. Fenworks will provide all chessboards and clocks. 

Players will need their Epic Games Login Information. 

Players will need their Riot ID Login Information.

No login is needed; however, the students should know the controller scheme and be able to create it quickly.

Players will need their account login information from their platform. That might be Steam, Epic Games, Xbox, or PlayStation. Regardless of the platform a player uses, they will log into the Epic Games Launcher. Epic Games Launcher supports logins from Steam, Epic Games, Xbox, or PlayStation accounts. 

Players will need their Microsoft Account Login information that owns Minecraft Java.

Players will need their Epic Games Login Information.

Console players must make an Epic Games account and link it to their console account. Follow this guide to this: https://www.rocketleague.com/activate/

No login is needed; however, the students should know the controller scheme and be able to create it quickly.

Players will need their Riot ID Login Information.

North Dakota Esports Partners

Broadband Association of North Dakota Logo

This tournament is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or otherwise associated with, Psyonix LLC. The information players provide in connection with this tournament is being provided to tournament organizer and not to Psyonix LLC. By participating in this tournament, to the extent permitted by applicable law, players agree to release and hold harmless Psyonix LLC, its parent company, licensors, its and their affiliates, and its and their employees, officers, directors, agents, contractors, and other representatives from all claims, demands, actions, losses, liabilities, and expenses related to the tournament.

 This competition is not affiliated with or sponsored by Riot Games, Inc., League of Legends Esports.

 This event is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Epic Games, Inc.

Nintendo is not a sponsor of or affiliated with this tournament. Terms for participating in and viewing Community Tournaments using Nintendo Games.