BFBS Pro League finals put forces gaming community on show

The BFBS Esports Pro League has concluded at the Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon, crowning its 2026 Rocket League champion. The finals also gave the public a view of how organised gaming brings together people from across the UK armed forces community.

BFBS, which began as a radio station during the Second World War, now includes gaming among the ways it supports that community. Its leaders say esports offers both serious competition and a place to meet others, rather than replacing existing social activities.

Competition and connection

The Pro League is open to serving personnel, veterans, reservists, MOD civil servants, cadets, families and the bereaved community. Robert Wylie, Head of BFBS Esports, said its players include those aiming to compete at a high level and others who want to spend an evening gaming with their peers.

That shared space can connect people who might not otherwise meet, Wylie said. He described the BFBS Discord as a place where people from different backgrounds catch up, play games and build relationships. For veterans and the bereaved, he said, it can also provide a route to support from the community.

Ben Chapman, BFBS CEO, said gaming can help serving personnel stay in touch with their children while away from home. BFBS has heard from personnel who feel they speak with their children for longer and more meaningfully when they play together on voice chat, he said. Chapman described gaming as “in addition to rather than instead of” other ways to socialise.

Built around military schedules

Organising matches requires flexibility because deployment, training or a new task can disrupt players’ plans. Wylie said most of the league’s events take place in the evenings, while weekends are generally avoided because players may be travelling home to see family.

The league also takes a relaxed approach to substitutes and can reschedule an entire series when necessary. Wylie said those decisions are intended to let players compete without adding pressure to their schedules.

Adam Waters, BFBS Director of AI Culture and gaming, said esports is recognised by the UK Armed Forces as an official, endorsed sport, with associations in each service. He said teamwork and communication are among the qualities that can carry into competitive gaming.

What comes next

Chapman said BFBS wants to make consoles, games, subscriptions and esports competitions available as broadly as it can across the armed forces community. He said participation in its gaming initiatives had doubled in a year, while feedback from people who feel less isolated also matters to BFBS.

Wylie said the museum finals were an opportunity to show visitors that esports is more than people playing video games: it can be a place to challenge themselves, learn new skills and meet new people.