What you need for an e-sports tournament

A good e-sports tournament shopping list covers more than gaming PCs. You also need reliable networking, spare equipment, safe power distribution, display and audio gear, and supplies for registration and scoring. Plan one complete gaming setup per player or station, then add backups for the items most likely to fail, such as headsets, cables, and a computer. Buy or collect prizes early, and label equipment before setup so volunteers can find replacements without delaying matches.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 12
Chairsqty 45
Registration desk
Waste binsqty 6

Equipment

Gaming computersqty 16
Gaming monitorsqty 16
Gaming keyboardsqty 16
Gaming miceqty 16
Gaming headsetsqty 16
Spare headsetsqty 4
Projector
Projection screen
Speakersqty 2
Microphonesqty 2
Mixing chart
Network Switchesqty 3
Router
Spare computerqty 2
Power stripsqty 20
Network cablesqty 30
HDMI cablesqty 8
Cable reelsqty 6
Cable traysqty 12

Sports equipment

Team bibsqty 20
Player badgesqty 80
Scorecardsqty 100
Prizesqty 3
Tournament cupsqty 3
Stopwatchesqty 4
Pensqty 30
Clipboardsqty 6
Whiteboard
Whiteboard markersqty 6
Timer board

Tableware

Glassesqty 100
Coffee cupsqty 60
Platesqty 100
Cutlery setsqty 100
Serving plattersqty 12
Pitcherqty 4

Kitchen

Coffee makerqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Coolersqty 4
Cutting boardsqty 3
Bread knivesqty 3
Serving spoonsqty 6

Decorations

Tournament bannersqty 4
Round tableclothsqty 12
Directional signsqty 8

Lighting

LED light barsqty 6

Cleaning

Vacuum cleaner
Mopsqty 3
Bucketsqty 3
Cleaning clothsqty 12

Catering

Groceries
- Multigrain bread - 8 loaves
- White buns - 50 pieces
- Wraps - 40 pieces
- Young cheese - 3 kilos
- Back ham - 2 kilos
- Chicken breast slices - 2 kilos
- Hummus - 1.5 kilos
- Cream cheese - 1 kilo
- Lettuce - 8 heads
- Tomatoes - 4 kilos
- Cucumbers - 3 kilos
- Bell peppers - 2 kilos
- Chicken salad - 2 kilo
- Egg salad - 1 kilo
- Mayonnaise - 1 jar
- Mustard - 1 bottle
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Tortilla chips - 6 bags
- Salsa sauce - 4 jars
- Snack mix - 4 bags
- Cookies - 8 packs
- Muesli bars - 100 pieces
- Chocolate bars - 60 pieces
- Apples - 60 pieces
- Bananas - 50 pieces
- Grapes - 6 kilos
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Iced tea - 8 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 12 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 6 bottles
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Mints - 1 box
- Stir sticks - 200 pieces
- Lemons - 10 pieces
- Ice cubes - 10 kilos
- Napkins - 300 pieces
- Paper cups - 150 pieces
- Paper plates - 150
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 80 pcs
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 4 bottles

Tips

Plan one gaming computer, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and headset for every active player or station. Add at least one spare headset and keep a spare computer ready rather than waiting for a failure during a match.
Count network switches, routers, and network cables from the room layout, not just the player total. Bring extra cables and test the full network configuration before doors open, because a short cable or missing connection can stop an entire round.
Power strips, cable reels, and cable trays are easy to overlook when buying equipment. Allow enough outlets for every gaming station plus the projector, speakers, microphones, and registration desk, and route cables away from walkways.
Prepare the tournament desk before participants arrive with player badges, team bibs, scorecards, pens, and a stopwatch. Keep a spare set of printed scoring supplies available in case cards are lost or a device cannot be used.
Purchase or collect prizes before the event day and check that the projector, projection screen, speakers, microphones, and HDMI cables work together. A complete presentation setup prevents the schedule and results from being announced only to people standing near the desk.

Frequently asked questions

How many gaming computers do I need for an e-sports tournament?: You need one computer for each player or active station in a match. Add at least one spare computer if the budget and venue allow it, so a hardware failure does not stop the tournament.
How many spare headsets should I buy for an e-sports tournament?: Keep at least one spare headset for every 8 to 10 active players, with a minimum of two for a small tournament. Test the spare headsets before participants arrive and store them at the registration or technical desk.
How early should I buy prizes and tournament supplies?: Order or collect prizes at least 7 days before the tournament. Check the quantity of cups, scorecards, player badges, team bibs, and pens at the same time, leaving several days to replace missing items.
How many network cables do I need for an e-sports tournament?: Plan one network cable per connected gaming station and add at least 10% extra, rounded up to the next whole cable. Keep the spare cables with the switches and router so volunteers can replace a failed connection quickly.

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