Esports have been on the rise for several years now and were recognized by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) as an official sport in 2019. It’s a multi-billion-dollar industry, with more and more colleges and universities — including the University of Kentucky — starting esports programs and even giving out scholarships. So, the fact that there are esports high school tournaments should not be surprising at all by now. Yet, when I saw the KHSAA tweet out the bracket for its Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Championships this morning, I still did a double take.
Oh yes, the playoffs for the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Championships start on Monday, April 17.