The 2026 MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience Regional Final

CapeGate crowns last regional winners ahead of MTN SHIFT Gaming national final

The last regional leg of South Africa’s biggest mall-based gaming tournament delivered a weekend of fierce competition at CapeGate Shopping Centre, setting the stage for the National Final at Canal Walk on 26 August.

The road to the MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience National Final has reached its final stretch, following the last regional event at CapeGate Shopping Centre from 14 to 16 August. Gamers battled across EA FC 26™, Beat Saber, Fighting Cup titles, Keyboard Rebuild, Fastest Lap and Subway Surfers, with CapeGate gift cards, regional honours and, for the EA FC 26™ champion, a coveted place in the National Final up for grabs.

After three days of competition, the CapeGate winners are:

EA FC 26™

1st: Logan Mercuur (22) – R2 500 CapeGate gift card and qualification for the Canal Walk National Final
2nd: Zaheer Hoosain (23) – R1 500 CapeGate gift card
3rd: Brandon Bowers (31) – R1 000 CapeGate gift card

Beat Saber

Gabriel Vliegenthart (16) – R1 000 CapeGate gift card

Keyboard Rebuild Challenge

Friday: Daegan Stegman (24, Cape Town) – R500 CapeGate gift card
Saturday: Zaakir Shaibu (21) – R500 CapeGate gift card
Sunday: Zain Ragman (20) – R500 CapeGate gift card

Fighting Cup – Brawlhalla

1st: Blu Dennis (22) – R1 000 CapeGate gift card
2nd: Jordan Schameder (18) – R500 CapeGate gift card

Fighting Cup – Tekken

1st: Cade Cannon (28) – R1 000 CapeGate gift card

2nd: Jacques Oosthuizen (24) – R500 CapeGate gift card

Fighting Cup – Street Fighter

1st: Zayd Johaardien (37) – R1 000 CapeGate gift card
2nd: Masood Salie (30) – R500 CapeGate gift card

Fastest Lap

Friday: Taariq Adam (25) – R1 000 CapeGate gift card
Saturday: Deaqon Petersen (23) – R1 000 CapeGate gift card
Sunday: Junaid Ragman (24) – R1 000 CapeGate gift card

Subway Surfers

Zander Coetzee (26) – R1 000 CapeGate gift card

With the CapeGate competition complete, the regional stage of the 2026 MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience has officially wrapped. Over the past several months, the tournament has brought competitive gaming into Hyprop shopping centres across Gauteng and the Western Cape, giving players of different ages and skill levels the chance to compete live in front of mall audiences.

Attention now turns to Canal Walk on 26 August, where the leading qualifiers will come together for the MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience National Final and the 2026 national champion will be decided.

The MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience is South Africa’s biggest mall-based gaming tournament, giving players of all ages the opportunity to compete in front of live audiences at Hyprop shopping centres across Gauteng and the Western Cape. Now it’s time to see who can deliver when the national title is on the line.

Tournament Final Date & Venue: