Leading the pack.

Sk Gaming ( including 'Loda' seated on the left) with MSSA's ACER Protea Team in 2008 at the Old Edwardian Society, Johannesburg.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) has long been in the forefront of esports – not only in South Africa, but in the world.

In South Africa alone, MSSA took the lead by running its first esports competition (in WarCraft) in 1998. I remember it as if it was yesterday.

Some of the milestones achieved by MSSA are:

• Being the oldest national federation for esports in the world
• Is purely volunteer run
• Being a founder member of SASCOC
• Getting esports recognised as an accredited sport
• Held the first competitions for females in South Africa
• Consistently sends national teams overseas since 2005
• Started inter school championships and competitions in 2010
• Started the first online league in South Africa in 2005
• Hosts more LANs in more towns, cities, regions and provinces than any other organisation in each and every year
• The only organisation that brings out a Calendar of Events out for esports at least 6 months prior to the start of the year

Yet, even with these Herculean steps forward in promoting esports, none of the steps would have been successfully completed without the loyalty, dedication, and resourcefulness of so many of the volunteers and sponsors who have put their hands up over time to serve the growth and development of esports in South Africa.

However, it does not stop here. There is so much more to be done.

Not only are their always new barriers to break, but there is always the day-to-day running to be done.

MSSA today is better and stronger than it has ever been, and intends to remain at the forefront of esports.