On Feb. 19, the Games Room in the University Union hosted a tournament of the sports video game FIFA 16 that was open for any student to enter.

The participants for the tournament gathered at the games room at around 1:15 p.m. They numbered at around 21 players overall and would compete in a single elimination style tournament with the winners moving on to the next round.

Games Room Manager Kizzy Whitfield said the room has been hosting tournaments like this for a while now. There used to be only billards or table tennis events available, but eventually the room started doing video game events as well.

“The tournaments are available to all students with a one card and are free to signup for,” Whitfield said. “Every winner receives a $50 Amazon gift certificate.”

FIFA 16 was the game played in a previous tournament last October. According to film junior Liz Gomez, the games played are sometimes voted for by students.

“We alternate the tournaments between pool, table tennis and video games,” Gomez said. “FIFA was one of the most popular games that was requested.”

FIFA 16 released in September 2015 to generally positive reviews. It was the first title in the series to feature women’s national soccer teams as playable.

Participation can sometimes go between a dozen players to sometimes 87 at a time. For this particular event there were only around 21 players in total, who all had to be checked in by 1:15 p.m.

The participants seemed excited for the tournament to finally begin. One player, kinesiology senior Chris Angel, said he was the winner of the previous FIFA tournament.

“I won the last tournament so I’m feeling pretty confident,” Angel said. “I’m excited to show what I can do.”

In each match of FIFA 16 between the players the game would last around six minutes, with each half being three minutes long. The rules for every game were the standard setting and there were no added weather effects to the games.

Six participants were playing the game at a time, with all the other players watching. Some who had already lost their match stuck around to watch the other players. At the end of each game Gomez would announce the next two players to start.

Communication studies senior Luis Salazar described the typical mood among players and himself.

“I’m just here having some fun,” Salazar said. “I think I’ll do alright.”

Eventually after a few hours of playing a winner emerged. Sac State student Josue Flores took home the $50 gift card from Amazon.

The next tournament in the games room will be held on Friday, March 4. Instead of a video game, this will be a pool and table tennis tournament.