Friday, 9 June 2023

Namibia defeats South Africa in Mobile Legends Bang Bang

The Protea MLBB Esports Team - (from left to right) Adriaan du Plessis, Dewald Greyling, Leonard Loftus, Joost Loftus, Leone Loftus (Captain).

The international match held by IESF between Namibia and South Africa on 7 June 2023 as part of IESF's African Regional Qualifiers in the Mobile Legends Bang Bang (MLBB) esports title proved to be very much a one-sided affair.

Namibia showed the South African team no quarter and took the series 3 - 0 which was reminiscent of the 2022 defeat.

Even though the team fielded by Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA)was stronger and more experienced than the 2023 team, the team crumbled in the face of the Namibian onslaught.

The National Protea EsportsTeam for the Mobile Legends Bang Bang esports title consists of: 

Game titleName of athleteClub
Mobile Legends: Bang, Bang - OpenLeone Loftus (Captain)Masters of Mind Sports
Joost LoftusMasters of Mind Sports
Leonard LoftusMasters of Mind Sports
Adriaan du PlessisMasters of Mind Sports
Dewald GreylingMasters of Mind Sports

Of course MSSA is disappointed by the results, and it is heartbreaking to MSSA President, Colin Webster, to see South Africa not able to send a MLBB team to the 15th IESF World Esports Championships in August this year.

It is also clear that there is much to be done in this title to improve the standard.

Colin Webster, President of MSSA, stated, "All member clubs should pay special attention to the promotion and development of athletes in the MLBB game title. With the game being played on mobiles (cell 'phones) there is probably a greater access to the community which allows a greater number of South Africans to participate in the MLBB game title".

Additional reading:

Wednesday, 7 June 2023

South Africa takes on Namibia in Mobile Legends Bang Bang at 16H30

The Protea MLBB Esports Team - (from left to right) Adriaan du Plessis, Dewald Greyling, Leonard Loftus, Joost Loftus, Leone Loftus (Captain)

The first match shall be played today, 7 June 2023, in IESF's African Regional Qualifiers between Namibia and South Africa in the Mobile Legends Bang Bang (MLBB) esports title.

South Africa has much to prove after its 2022 defeat to Namibia. 

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is hopeful that its stronger and more experienced 2023 team will be able to polish the silverware and relegate Namibia (NESA).

The National Protea EsportsTteam for the Mobile Legends Bang Bang esports title consists of: 

Game titleName of athleteClub
Mobile Legends: Bang, Bang - OpenLeone Loftus (Captain)Masters of Mind Sports
Joost LoftusMasters of Mind Sports
Leonard LoftusMasters of Mind Sports
Adriaan du PlessisMasters of Mind Sports
Dewald GreylingMasters of Mind Sports

The match may be watched on https://www.twitch.tv/iesf_mlbb

Additional reading:

Excitement is at an all time high for African Regional Championships.

IESF's African Regional Qualifiers will determine which teams will participate in Romania in August 2023.

With International Esports Federation's (IESF) 15th World Esports Championships (to be held in Lasi, Romania) fast approaching, African National Federations are to play their regional qualifiers in order to determine which teams will qualify for the spectacular 15th World Esports Championships to be held in Lasi, Romania.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is one of the few national federations to have participated in every single IESF World Championships. 

IESF has divided Africa into three regions in order to take into account the poor infrastructure in Africa in order to ensure the best possible results and experience.

MSSA's National Team Manager, Johan van Breda, is confident that MSSA is putting forward its strongest esports team in the history of MSSA.

Johan stated, "The team is more than prepared, and it is likely that 2023 will see MSSA send its biggest team ever to IESF's 15th World Esports Championships".

The schedule for the online African Regional Championships is:

IESF African Regional Qualifiers
DateEsports titleMatchTime CEST
7 June 2023Mobile Legends Bang BangSA vs Namibia16H00
11 June 2023DotA 2SA vs Namibia12H00
12 June 2023PUBGMSA vs 11 nations12H00 - 18H00
14 June 2023CS:GO - FemaleSA vs Namibia19H00
18 June 2023CS:GOSA vs Mauritius16H00
19 June 2023CS:GOSA vs Namibia16H00


Additional reading:

Saturday, 20 May 2023


The Global Esports Federation (GEF) and the European Olympic Committees (EOC) confirmed that #EGE23 will run from June 30 to July 2. The International Congress Center (MCK) in Katowice will become the epicenter of digital competition and is set to be a landmark event in the region's sporting calendar.

The Open and Women Categories for eFootball™ 2023 and Open Category for Rocket League at #EGE23 will allow esports athletes from across the continent to compete for national glory.

 

Commenting on the groundbreaking nature of #EGE23, Aurelia Ruetsch, GEF Board Member and Chair of the EGE23 Coordination Commission, said, “The European Games Esports Championships represents a pioneering moment for esports in Europe. Having been part of the team at the inaugural European Games Baku 2015, I am thrilled to see another first with the EOC as we convene top-level esports competitions alongside traditional sports, celebrating youth culture in the heart of Europe.”

 

“We are delighted to see esports in this prestigious event – the European Games. The #EGE23 is a significant milestone in the development of esports in Europe. It’s a joyful celebration of youth, esports, and sport all together,” added Chris Chan, President of the GEF.

 

In addition to the esports competitions, the #EGE23 will feature the GEFestival – a celebration of esports’ inclusive culture, games, music, and entertainment – and GEFcon, a global convention of thought leaders and idea creators in business, esports, sport, and technology on an international stage for sharing and learning.

 

Spyros CapralosEOC President, said, “The Esports Championships is an extraordinary addition to the European Games lineup and underscores the progressive vision of the diversity and inclusivity of the sports world, highlighting the common ground they share in terms of dedication, strategy, and the pursuit of excellence.

 

“We are delighted to collaborate with the Global Esports Federation on the first of many planned initiatives.”

 

Hasan Arat, Chair of the EOC Coordination Commission for the European Games 2023, said, “The EOC is delighted to have partnered with the Global Esports Federation to host the Esports Championships in Katowice this summer.

 

“Esports is hugely popular worldwide, especially among the younger generation, and as the European Games continues to look for ways to innovate and attract a younger audience, this is a significant step.

 

“The International Congress Center in Katowice will be the perfect venue for the competition, and I know that it will be a memorable occasion for all the esports athletes taking part.”

 

The #worldconnected community of GEF is thriving and expanding, with a diverse and thrilling range of global events this year. These include the Pan American Esports Championships in Santiago and the Riyadh 2023 Global Esports Games in Saudi Arabia. These events are aimed at bringing together exceptional talents in esports while highlighting the diversity and enthusiasm of #worldconnected.

Tuesday, 16 May 2023

In memoriam - Damien 'Fuhito' Coulombel

The entire worldwide Tekken community mourns the passing of Damien 'Fuhito' Coulombel.

It is with sadness that Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) has learned of Damien 'Fuhito' Coulombel's passing.

He was a very talented player and had an unique style.

His absence leaves an indescribable void within the TEKKEN community.

Long will be remembered the beautiful moments shared, the smiles exchanged and the memories that will remain engraved forever.

You will forever remain in our thoughts.

MSSA, and all its members, Our condolences to Fuhito's family and loved ones.

At this difficult time, we ask everyone to respect the privacy and pain of those around Fuhito.

Uganda has an Esports Federation


Confederation of African Esports (CAES) continues to help grow esports throughout Africa.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) has been a member of CAES since 2008 and has been part of its successes in promoting esports in Africa.

Currently CAES is in talks with a dynamic group in Uganda.

The Uganda Esports Federation (UeSF) is the National governing and regulatory body for all Esports activities in Uganda. 

UeSF Headquarters are located in Kampala, Uganda

Email: uesf256@gmail.com

Tel: +256 752297034

Saturday, 6 May 2023

IESF Expands Female’s CS:GO Tournament for 2023 World Esports Championships


International Esports Federation (IESF) today announced the expansion of the women’s CS:GO tournament from four to 10 teams at the 2023 World Esports Championships Finals, taking place from August 24 to September 4 in Iași, Romania. The expansion comes after the success of the inaugural installment of the tournament at the 2022 WE Championships Finals in Bali, Indonesia. 

The 2022 WE Championships was a historic moment for female gamers, as the introduction of the women’s CS:GO tournament drew large crowds and was a massive stride towards greater inclusion in esports. IESF aims to uplift and empower female gamers in all competitions, and the women’s CS:GO tournament allows for more of the world's best all-female teams to compete at the highest level. 


IESF President Vlad Marinescu said: "We are thrilled to announce the expansion of the women’s CS:GO tournament at this year's World Esports Championships. This reflects the progress we have made in making esports more inclusive for all. We can't wait to see what these incredible teams will bring to this year's competition. IESF strongly believes in removing barriers to access for female gamers, and providing them with more opportunities to shine on the world's biggest stage." 


MSSA President, and IESF past president, Colin Webster stated: "Since 2012 IESF had introduced tournaments for females - sometimes with very stiff opposition from sectors of the gaming community. For a while it was only MSSA that would submit all female teams to IESF. I, and MSSA as a whole, therefore welcomes this action by IESF and hopes that IESF will expand on the programme to have more opportunities in many more game titles".

Gabriella Isaacs - 2nd in
StarCraft II (females)
IESF's 4th World Esports
Championships - Cheonan.


Webster then went on to state, " MSSA is proud to have had fourteen (14) females officially represent South Africa as members of the Protea team at various IESF World Esports Championships. One such athlete, Gabriella Isaacs even finished second in 2012 in the StarCraft II tournament.

IESF Chief Marketing Officer Ana Karakolevska said: "I am proud of IESF for leading the charge in making esports more inclusive for all. We have made rapid progress in just a few years and IESF hopes to continue providing opportunities to promote gender equality in the World Esports Family and beyond. We can't wait to watch 10 of the world's best teams battle it out in fast-paced CS:GO action in Lași!"


IESF's regional qualifiers for the WE Championships will get underway in May and June, and the top ten female CS:GO teams will secure their spots in the Finals, which will begin in August. IESF also works with several organizations, including Women in Games and Girl Gamer Esports Festival, to help foster and promote a safe and equitable environment for women in the esports industry. 


Additional reading:

Challengermode named Official Platform Partner for the IESF World Esports Championship Qualifiers

The partnership makes Challengermode the Exclusive Qualifications Platform Partner for the 15th World Esports Championship, hosted by the International Esports Federation (IESF)

Leading esports platform Challengermode has been selected as the official platform partner for the global qualifiers of the 15th World Esports Championship. The tournament is being organized by the International Esports Federation (IESF) and will take place in Iasi, Romania later this year in August.

Starting from May 1st, national teams from across the world will be able to qualify for the main event through regional qualifiers hosted for Europe, Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania. Competitions will be held across multiple esports titles, including CS:GO, Dota 2, PUBG Mobile, and Mobile Legends:Bang Bang.


As the official platform partner, Challengermode will leverage its high-quality tournament operations toolkit and automation to provide a seamless and efficient qualifying process at a truly global scale. The official IESF Space on Challengermode will also create a one-stop shop for teams, coaches, and administrators involved in the World Championship's Qualifications stage - creating a truly seamless experience for everyone.

Philip Hubner, CBDO at Challengermode, said: "We are thrilled to partner with the International Esports Federation for the World Esports Championship Qualifiers. We believe that our platform's capabilities and expertise in managing large-scale esports tournaments make us the perfect partner for activation of this size. We couldn’t be more excited to be trusted by IESF to play such a pivotal part in making the World Esports Championship happen. We’re eager to take the opportunity to showcase our technology and provide a world-class experience to all participants."


Igor Nedeski, Competitions Manager at IESF, said: "We are delighted to announce our partnership with Challengermode for the final phase of the World Esports Championship 2023. Hosting multi-continental online competitions is a major challenge and with Challengermode's expertise and experience, we are confident in our ability to deliver an exceptional gaming experience that will excite fans and players worldwide. Challengermode's support will be invaluable in ensuring the success of the Regional Qualifiers, and we are grateful for their assistance. Together, we aim to deliver a thrilling and unforgettable tournament that showcases the very best of esports on a global scale.”