The Telkom VS Gaming 2026 eDiski tournament drew to a dramatic close on Sunday, 03 May as Zaid April claimed his Telkom VS Gaming title following a tightly contested final against Aasim Lamara at Comic Con Cape Town 2026, held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
Sunday’s finals marked the conclusion of the two-day competition hosted by Telkom VS Gaming, which saw the country’s top eDiski players battling for national bragging rights and the coveted Telkom VS Gaming championship title in front of an energetic live audience and fans from across South Africa.
Zaid’s victory marks his second Telkom VS Gaming title after he first lifted the trophy in 2023, further cementing his status as one of South Africa’s leading eDiski competitors.
He edged Aasim Lamara in a best-of-three final, taking control of the contest with a strong opening-match performance before sealing the series with a decisive second victory to clinch the 2026 title.
Speaking after the hard-fought victory, April said:
“I’m incredibly proud to win the Telkom VS Gaming title again. The competition this year was tough, and the level keeps getting higher every season. I’m grateful for the support from the fans and winning it for the second time. I am proud to be a champion”, said April.
The 22-year-old Cape Town-born champion further praised the steady rise of local esports talent, noting the growing competitiveness of the domestic scene:
“The standard of gaming in South Africa keeps improving every year thanks to such events like Telkom VS Gaming. While international competition is still very strong, we are closing the gap, and platforms like Telkom VS Gaming are helping players gain the experience and exposure we need to compete globally.”
Congratulating April on the victory, Telkom Senior Manager for Content and Gaming, Johan van Backstrom, said:
“Congratulations to Zaid on an outstanding performance and a well-deserved victory. Telkom VS Gaming continues to showcase the incredible growth of esports in South Africa, and we are proud to provide a platform for local talent to compete at the highest level and progress onto the international stage.”
April’s triumph also sees him walk away with R85,000 in prize money along with a trip to the Mamelodi Sundowns vs RB Leipzig match set to take place later this year – capping off an impressive campaign against some of the country’s strongest competitors.
April’s victory on Sunday was preceded by his younger brother, Rihdaa April’s clinching of the Telkom VS Gaming High School eSports League which was held on Friday.
Telkom VS Gaming remains one of the country’s leading platforms for grassroots-to-elite eSports competition, bringing together players, fans, and the broader gaming community through high-impact national tournaments and development initiatives.
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