Cape Town players make their mark at MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience leg at Somerset Mall
The second stop of the 2026 series brought out the Western Cape’s sharpest competitors, with the R350,000 prize pool and a National Finals berth on the line.
Three days of competition at Somerset Mall completed the second stop of the 2026 MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience. Players turned out across EA FC 26™, the Fastest Lap Racing challenge and the Keyboard Rebuild Race, chasing Hyprop gift cards and, for the EA FC 26™ finalist, a ticket to the National Football Final at Canal Walk on 30 August.
Aasim Lamara took the EA FC 26™ Mall Final, earning a R2,500 Somerset Mall gift card and his place in the national showdown. Behind him, Athenkosi Duva picked up the R1,500 second-place card and Ridhaa April (15) rounded out the podium with a R1,000 gift card – an impressive result for the youngest finalist on the day.
The MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience is now in its fourth year and, by the numbers, it is the biggest mall-based gaming series in South Africa - eight venues, a R350,000 total prize pool and National Finals at Canal Walk in August carrying R50,000 in football prize money alone. Somerset Mall was the second stop, and the calibre of competitors who came through over the three days reflected how seriously South African gamers are taking the series. For the EA FC 26™ Mall Final winner, the prize was not just a gift card - it was a seat at the national table.
And the winners of this leg are…
EA FC 26™
1st Place: Aasim Lamara – R2,500 Somerset Mall Gift Card – qualifies for National Football Final at Canal Walk
2nd Place: Athenkosi Duva – R1,500 Somerset Mall Gift Card
3rd Place: Ridhaa April – R1,000 Somerset Mall Gift Card
Fastest Lap
15 May: Taariq Adam (25) – R1,000 Somerset Mall Gift Card
16 May: Nadeem Crombie (30) – R1,000 Somerset Mall Gift Card
17 May: Mikaeel Adonis (15) – R1,000 Somerset Mall Gift Card
Keyboard Rebuild Race
15 May: Louis Botty (24) – R500 Somerset Mall Gift Card
16 May: Akho Nani (19) – R500 Somerset Mall Gift Card
17 May: Timothy Govender (40) – R500 Somerset Mall Gift Card
The MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience continues at The Glen from 26 to 28 June.
Remaining Tournament Dates & Venues:
The Glen – Online Qualifier: 21 Jun | In-Centre Event: 26 – 28 Jun
Table Bay Mall – Online Qualifier: 5 Jul | In-Centre Event: 10 – 12 Jul
Clearwater – Online Qualifier: 25 Jul | In-Centre Event: 31 Jul – 2 Aug
Capegate – Online Qualifier: 9 Aug | In-Centre Event: 14 – 16 Aug
Canal Walk – Online Qualifier: 16 Aug | In-Centre Event: 26 – 30 Aug
*Information provided by the publicist.
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