Local gamers gathered last weekend for a huge fundraising tournament.

EtherLAN, took over The Bunker in Winkler last weekend and featured prizes for the top players in a number of individual and team video and board games.

Organizer and Pathway Church Pastor Harold Espinosa explains EtherLAN is a chance to reach out to gamers through a love of board games, PC and console games.

Players competed for top prizes in a number of game types

"It was just amazing," Espinosa says. "We were able to connect with a lot of people and it was a lot of fun."

While a stigma surrounds the term "geek" Espinosa says it's badge of honour at EtherLAN.

"Sometimes it's easy isolate ourselves and just be stuck in a room, and what we're trying to do is reach them, and anybody, to build relationships."

The event is also a fundraiser to build a similar drop-in centre for youth in Puerto Rico. So far, the Bunker has raised over $10,000 towards the $16,000 project.

"All these people that come here know that and are excited because the Bunker here is a lighthouse," Espinosa says. "It is an encouragement, an inspiration to help young men and young women... that's why were raising money to make it a possibility for Puerto Rican people to hear the Gospel and have a safe place to get together."

All registration fees went towards the Bunker's Puerto Rico building project