Fantasy steps off the screen at Gamers Bay X

By Cayman Compass contributor Christopher Tobutt

For one magical weekend, the John Gray High School gymnasium ceased to be a gymnasium at all.

Instead, it became a crossroads between worlds.

A few steps through the entrance could take you from a futuristic esports arena to a Pokémon card showdown, from a virtual racetrack to a giant chessboard where a father and son quietly plotted their next move.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Gamers Bay X transformed the familiar school venue into a vibrant celebration of gaming, technology, creativity and community. Founded by NetGeekz and organised by Lance Jefferson, the event has grown into one of the Cayman Islands’ biggest gaming experiences, bringing together competitors, content creators, cosplayers and curious families under one roof.

Near the convention floor, Janelle Shimhue stood proudly in costume as Mina Ashido from “My Hero Academia”, her vivid hair and handcrafted outfit bringing the character to life.

“I grew up watching anime as a kid,” she said. “As I got older, I got into cosplay because it’s one way to connect with your character and also connect with other people who love anime.”

For her, cosplay is about much more than dressing up.

“It’s about craft, spending time working on your different costumes and props. When people receive it well, it gives you a sense of pride.”

That same spirit could be found throughout the venue. Deiondre Williams, making his first cosplay appearance as Spike Spiegel from “Cowboy Bebop”, said creating the costume himself was part of the appeal.

“I like the fact that I worked on the costume myself,” he said. “People have this form of self-expression and being proud of it.”

He believes things have changed for fans of gaming and anime culture.

“Back in the day, being into this kind of stuff would kind of make you feel like an outcast because not everybody was into it. But now it’s a lot more accepted, so that’s great.”

Nearby, Ethan Robertson, dressed as Six from the video game “Little Nightmares”, reflected on the atmosphere around him.

“There’s a lot of creativity out here and you get to see how people express themselves,” he said. “Other people like me. It’s really fun to see that.”

That sense of belonging is exactly what Lance Jefferson believes lies at the heart of Gamers Bay.

“The beauty of the Gamers Bay Esports and Technology Convention is that even if you’re not a hardcore gamer, there’s something for everybody here,” he said.

The venue was divided between a bustling esports arena and a convention space packed with activities. Tournament players competed for cash prizes in games such as “Fortnite”, “FC 26” and “Call of Duty: Warzone”, while others explored free-play gaming zones, virtual reality experiences, retro arcade classics and racing simulators.

“We had a cosplay competition yesterday that was amazing,” Jefferson said. “We’re seeing more cosplayers come up. The community is growing.”

That community extended beyond video games. At tables hosted by Mesa Del Sol, players gathered around “Magic: The Gathering” card battles, while nearby miniature armies clashed across detailed “Warhammer” battlefields.