After a full season across Winter and Spring, the top university teams in Ireland have earned their place in the Premier Division semi-finals — with just one series separating them from Finals weekend on May 23rd–24th.

Now, across four nights of competition, the stakes are simple: win and advance, or the season ends.

This is the eighth consecutive season of the Ireland Esports Collegiate Series — and the first under the new Premier Division format, where each university’s top team competes for institutional pride as much as individual titles.

This year’s semi-finals aren’t just about who qualifies — they reflect how the entire season has unfolded.

UCD set the pace across the board. Leading the overall Collegiate Challenge standings with 510 points, UCD enter semi-finals as the most consistent programme across all four titles — including a perfect League of Legends campaign and a joint lead in VALORANT.

TCD surge into contention through CS2 and Rocket League. Sitting second overall, TCD’s dominance in Counter-Strike 2 and strong Rocket League performance positions them as the biggest challenger heading into Finals qualification.

VALORANT delivers a true title race. UCD and DCU finish level at the top on 180 points, setting the stage for a semi-final bracket where neither side holds a clear advantage.

SETU stand out as Rocket League specialists. A flawless 200-point season in Rocket League makes them one of the most dangerous single-title contenders in the entire field.

A changing of the guard. TU Dublin — champions of the past two years — have been overtaken in the overall standings this season, opening the door for a new university to claim the top spot.

All matches will be broadcast live on Twitch via IrelandCollegiate, with VODs available on YouTube at @ieleagues.

👉🏼 Check out the final standings here

Despite a strong Winter Semester performance, TU Dublin did not field a team in the Spring Semester. Under IECS eligibility rules — requiring participation across both semesters — this results in a withdrawal from Nationals qualification.

Maynooth University steps into the semi-final bracket in 4th place.

With the Collegiate Challenge leaderboard still in play, every result carries weight beyond individual titles — contributing to the race to be crowned Ireland’s top esports university.

👉 Watch live on our official broadcast channel
👉 Follow the latest updates across our social platforms
👉 View full standings and results