Wednesday, 25 February 2026

7th Western Cape Online Esports Provincial Championships - 28 February 2026.

Sydney Wood (right), from the Western Cape, was the first female esports athlete to play in the history of the BRICS Esports Championships.

With a number of international events likely to happen in 2026 it is always better to enter MSSA events earlier rather than later in order to qualify for MSSA's National Team Trials.

It is in MSSA's National Team Trials that teams will be selected for Protea teams that will officially represent South Africa in international events.

Remember that you cannot officially represent South Africa in an international event unless selected by MSSA.

MSSA's Northern Cape Online Esports Provincial Championships  to be held on 24 January 2026 offers all esports athletes the first chance in 2026 to to qualify for National Team Trials.

Thus the hunt is on for the 2026 National Protea Esports Teams. 

To have a chance to qualify for selection, players must be members of an affiliated club and qualify for National Team Trials at a MSSA event.

In order to participate, players must be registered for the 2025/2026 season.

The championship shall be held on 27 February 2026.

Game titles to be played are:

Period/genreTitlePlatformAge restrictionPlayers
Shooter
CS 2PC165 v 5
PUBGMMobile181 v 1
ValorantPC165 v 5
Sport
EA SPORTS™ FC 26Console121 v 1
eFootballConsole121 v 1
eBasketball - eFIBAConsole121 v 1
Rocket LeaguePC121 v 1 and 3 v 3
MOBA
Clash of ClansMobile125 v 5
Clash RoyaleMobile121 v 1
DotA 2PC125 v 5
League of LegendsPC125 v 5
Mobile Legends Bang BangMobile124 v 4
Fighting
Tekken 8Console161 v 1
Street Fighter 6Console121 v 1

Tournament Structure:


As per the MSSA's rules, being:

  • If less than six teams, the championship shall be a Round Robin Championship
  • If 6 to 10 teams enter the championship there shall be four rounds as played to the Swiss System
  • If 11 or more teams enter the championship there shall be five rounds as played to the Swiss System

Eligibility:

  • Any team consisting of players who are Registered Players affiliated to a MSSA member club may enter.

Entries:

  • Entry is R100.00 per Registered Player.
  • Only fully-paid-up Registered Players may participate in this event.
  • Entries must be submitted by midnight 24 January 2026
  • To enter, the club must complete the Google Drive document. 
  • The entry form may be found on Google Drive. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xggSHejr_fG4X5pAiGZVp6OmqQtdjA_1FeWtsGZr2Jo/edit?gid=0#gid=0
  • Clubs are to download the entry form, completed the downloaded form, and e-mail it to Mind Sports South Africa. 
  • Photographs of players must accompany the entry.
  • Only entries submitted via email and on Excel shall be accepted.

Medals shall be handed over to winners at the next MSSA LAN that they attend. 


      MALE:

  • PREMIER: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams.
  • UNDER 24: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams that have not won a Premier medal and which are comprised entirely of students currently registered at any officially recognized University.
  • SCHOLARS: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams of learners currently registered at any officially recognized school, provided they have not received any Premier medals. 

        FEMALE:

  • PREMIER: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams.
  • UNDER 24: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams that have not won a Premier medal and which are comprised entirely of students currently registered at any officially recognized University.
  • SCHOLARS: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams of learners currently registered at any officially recognized school, provided they have not received any Premier medals.

Colours:


  • Protea Colours: Only Players that are selected to represent South Africa in International Championships may earn National Colours if the Protea Colours Board's criteria are met.
  • National Colours: All Players that win all of their Matches at a National Championship will earn National Colours.
  • Provincial Colours: All Players that win all of their Matches at a Provincial Championship will earn Provincial Colours. All Players who score within the top 50% in a specific Period at a Provincial Championship, and who also score within the top 50% at a National Championship in the same period and in the same year, will earn Provincial Colours.

        General:

        • The championship shall be played on: 27 February 2026.
        • The first round will start at 10H00. Players shall be given 60 minutes to complete each round.
        • Players playing 3 v 3 Rocket League shall be given 1.5 hours to complete the round.
        • The championship is accredited as being of the same status as a provincial championship. 
        • The championship shall be used for the awarding of provincial colours;
        • The championship shall be used for the awarding of medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in Premier, Under 24, and School categories;
        • The championship shall be used for the ability to qualify for National Team Squad.
        • All medals shall be awarded to the recipients at a MSSA LAN championships.

        Umpires:

        • Umpires may only be contacted over Discord on the day of competition. Any communication not on the Discord channel shall not be entered into.

        Ladder:

        • All games shall count towards the National Ladder.

        Shout casting:

        Additional reading:

        Athlete's rights:

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        Tuesday, 17 February 2026

        Elin Yoojung Moen, has been nominated for the Diversity Award at the HER Awards 2026

        1st Vice President of the Norwegian Esports Federation, Elin Yoojung Moen is without doubt the driving force in Norwegian Esports.

        The 1st Vice President of the Norwegian Esports Federation, Elin Yoojung Moen, has been nominated for the Diversity Award at the HER Awards 2026 – and has now advanced to the semifinals. The nomination recognizes her work for inclusion, equality, and structural change in esports, both nationally and internationally.

        HER Awards is a national award ceremony that highlights women and organizations creating real value through leadership, ownership, and long-term impact. The awards will be presented during the HER Conference & Awards at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo on April 27, 2026.

        “It means a lot to be nominated. To be seen for the work you put in, and for the values you stand for, gives both motivation and responsibility,” says Elin Yoojung Moen regarding the nomination.

        HER Awards is regarded as one of Norway’s largest platforms for highlighting female leaders and role models across technology, business, and society. That Elin Yoojung Moen is now a semifinalist means that her work is being evaluated among a national top tier of candidates. The awards are not only about visibility, but about leadership that creates lasting structural change.

        A Clear Voice for Diversity in Esports

        Elin Yoojung Moen was the Norwegian Esports Federation’s first female President (2024–2025) and is currently 1st Vice President. She has also been elected to the board of the International Esports Federation (IESF), where she works to improve representation and create more inclusive structures in global esports.

        The nomination for the Diversity Award is based on long-term efforts to make esports a safer and more accessible arena for more people. Through her leadership, she has elevated voices that are often unheard, been a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion, and worked toward structural changes that give more people a seat at the table.

        Moen describes her leadership as values-based and principled:

        “For me, leadership is about building robust and long-term structures. I want a sustainable esports ecosystem where decisions are made based on a holistic perspective and long-term development,” she says in a comment regarding the nomination.

        She has, among other things, been a driving force behind amendments to the Norwegian Esports Federation’s statutes that commit the organization to better gender balance in boards and committees, and has used her international roles to open doors for more women and young people in esports and technology. The Diversity Award highlights leaders who contribute to genuine inclusion through action, structure, and culture-building. In an industry still strongly male-dominated, this nomination is an important signal that esports is changing.

        A Nomination That Matters for the Entire Community

        For the Norwegian Esports Federation, the nomination is also an important recognition of the work being done to build a more inclusive esports environment in Norway.

        “Elin doesn’t just talk about diversity – she actually creates structural changes that give more people a seat at the table. Her work shows how esports can be an arena for community, achievement, and societal development,” says Secretary General Jarle Heitmann.

        For several years, Moen has been a clear voice for equal opportunities and safe communities in esports.

        “That esports leaders are being highlighted in national awards shows how the gaming community is increasingly being seen as an important arena in society,” says Heitmann.

        Last year, HER Awards received nearly 2,000 nominations and more than 67,000 public votes, making it one of the largest awards of its kind in Norway.

        Vote for Elin Yoojung Moen!

        Moen has now advanced to the semifinals in the Diversity Award category – and public votes are crucial going forward.

        👉 Vote for Elin Yoojung Moen here:

        Vote for your favorites | HER Awards 2026 (9. Mangfoldsprisen)

        The Norwegian Esports Federation encourages the entire esports community, partners, and friends of organized gaming to show their support. Every vote is a contribution to the work for a more inclusive and forward-looking esports scene.

        Additional reading:

        Athlete's rights:
        Employment opportunities
        Other news

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        Thursday, 12 February 2026

        City of Cape Town Regional Junior Backgammon event - Sunday, 22 February 2026

        Backgammon is a game that that can be played by all ages.

        The Cape Town Open 2026 will include the City of Cape Town Junior (U-18) backgammon tournament on Sunday, 22 February 2026.

        The event gives young players the chance to compete in an event that is recognised as an official MSSA Regional Championship alongside one of South Africa’s premier tournaments.

        Running from 14:30 –17:30 at the Fire & Ice! Hotel in Cape Town CBD, the junior section will use a Swiss format with short 3-point matches, ensuring every participant gets multiple games in a structured, friendly environment.

        The event is designed to be welcoming for both new and experienced players, encouraging strategic thinking, confidence, and sportsmanship while letting juniors experience the excitement of tournament play.

        For more information, parents can contact Nick (0711217022) or register at bit.ly/CTOpen2026Juniors

        Additional reading:

        Athlete's rights:
        Employment opportunities

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        The 2025 Top 5 ranked schools for esports ahead of 15th Online Inter-school Provincial Championships to be held on 14 February 2026

        The Dawnview Esports Team is not only dedicated, but proving to be highly skilled.

        With the 15th Online Inter-school Provincial Championships to be played  on 14 February 2026, MSSA has just released the top five ranked schools for esports in South Africa.

        These official rankings take into account all the official Provincial and National Championships results.

        For the first time in many a year, Northcliff High School does not appear in the top 5 along with Oakhill College.

        Instead, there are newer schools making their way up the rankings, with Dawnview High School (in Germiston) taking pole position. 

        Another surprise was to see Sunnyridge Primary School make its way into the top ten - the first primary school to do so.

        This is how volatile esports is at school level, the strength of teams can fluctuate widely with         unknown players improving rapidly given the correct coaching, skill, and motivation.

        Over the years, MSSA has witnessed many of the Goliaths being taken down by school teams that are new on the scene.

        The top five ranked School Esports Teams are:

        PositionName of school
        1Dawnview High School
        2Hoerskool Klerksdorp
        3Crawford College Lonehill
        4St David's Marist Inanda
        5Hoerskool Monument Park

        Additional reading:

        Athlete's rights:
        Employment opportunities

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