BOSTON – Prevailing against an eight-team field on Sunday, the Northeastern esports team clinched its first-ever Tespa Hearthstone Varsity Invitational championship – regarded as the game's premier collegiate competition that crowns the national champion.
 
Played under a single-elimination, best-of-five format, the Huskies opened their title run with a 3-2 quarterfinal victory against Kent State, during which NU overcame both 1-0 and 2-1 deficits. After knocking off Utah, 3-2, during the semifinals courtesy of another rousing comeback, the Huskies brought home the hardware with their 3-1 victory during the final round against RIT.
 
"We are so extremely proud of our student-athletes and their ability to represent this university at the highest level during these trying times," said Nick Avery, associate director of Northeastern esports. "This gives us incredible momentum as we look towards building our varsity esports program this fall."
 
Rounding out the field behind the Huskies' first Hearthstone national championship were Akron, California, Mississippi and North Texas.
 
Northeastern elevated esports to varsity status in April. In addition to Hearthstone, the Huskies will be fielding varsity programs in League of Legends, Overwatch and Rocket League for the 2020-21 season. 
 
ABOUT HEARTHSTONE
Hearthstone is a turn-based card game during which the objective is to defeat an opponent's hero by reducing their health to zero.
 
ABOUT TESPA
Tespa is the world's largest operator of collegiate esports leagues, forging partnerships with ESPN, Twitch and other platforms to create incredible broadcast and in-game experiences for students and audiences everywhere.
 
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