Winnipeg, MB – A surprise visit from a beloved actor turned a casual gaming tournament into a once-in-a-lifetime experience. On Sunday morning at Comicon 2024, Billy Boyd, known for his role as Pippin in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, made an unexpected appearance at the MSEA SSBU tournament, hosted at the RBC Convention Centre.

Boyd, a self-proclaimed League of Legends (LoL) enthusiast, approached the Manitoba School Esports Association (MSEA) volunteers with a simple request in a familiar Scottish accent: “I fancy a game of League of Legends!” While the tournament was primarily focused on Super Smash Bros., MSEA organizers were both star-struck and more than happy to accommodate the unexpected request.

 

Despite the logistical challenges of setting up League of Legends on donated gaming hardware in a short amount of time, the MSEA team rallied together with their partner Lotus 8 to make it all happen. With a flurry of activity, they managed to find LoL players who made the drive to the RBC Convention Centre from all parts of Manitoba and were able to get LoL installed on 10 laptops, ensuring that Boyd could enjoy a match with eager fans and participants.

 

The event was a huge success, with fans and volunteers alike thrilled to have had the opportunity to interact with the legendary actor.

 

Can use this for caption for photos, photo credit to Douglas Murphy.

“Pictures from the event show Boyd interacting with fans and competing in a League of Legends match, sporting a local pro esports team Lotus 8 jersey.”