Monday, 2 December 2024

There is still time to register for an echess tourney with a total prize pool of $60,000 USD



Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence: Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club Presents The Echess Championship - The Road to Al Ain, Powered by Checkmate Live

Al Ain, UAE, [Date] – Marking its 25th anniversary, the Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club proudly announces The Echess Championship: The Road to Al Ain, powered by Checkmate Live. This landmark tournament invites online chess enthusiasts and competitors worldwide to participate. Open to players of all levels, both rated and unrated, the championship includes regional qualifiers across multiple skill levels. The competition will reach its pinnacle in the prestigious Grand Final held in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, on December 22, 2024.

About the Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club

Founded in 1999 and led by His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Sultan bin Shakhbout Al Nahyan—President of the Asian Chess Federation and the Emirati Esports Federation—the Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club has become a cornerstone of international chess, renowned for its achievements and contributions to the global chess community. Recognized for its commitment to excellence and competitive integrity, the club has fostered a vibrant chess culture in the UAE and beyond, culminating in notable victories, including winning the 2024 FIDE World Rapid Team Championship. This legacy underscores the club's standing as a leading institution in international chess and highlights its dedication to advancing the game on a global scale.

As the club marks its 25th anniversary, it invites partners and players from around the world to join in an epic celebration alongside the Asian Amateur Chess Championship 2024. This celebration will be highlighted by an epic echess knockout tournament on Checkmate Live’s platform, styled after the high-energy, immersive format of esports competitions. The live final in Al Ain, UAE, on December 22, 2024, will showcase top talent in a dramatic showdown. The Grand Final will be held at the official venue, Danat Al Ain Resort. The club’s strategic partnership with Checkmate Live, a next-gen online broadcast and tournament platform, reinforces its vision for the future and underscores its dedication to advancing competitive chess and mind sports on a global scale.

The Road to Al Ain: A Global Chess Journey

The Road to Al Ain invites players from across the globe to participate in a series of online qualifiers beginning on November 23, 2024, with skill-level divisions for Under 2000, Under 2300, and Open categories. Open to both rated and unrated players, these qualifiers will lead to the four Regional Finals, scheduled for December 7-8, 2024. Top contenders will advance to the Grand Final on December 22, 2024, in Al Ain.

Key tournament highlights include:

Global Inclusion: Open to both rated and unrated players, with divisions for Under 2000, Under 2300, and Open categories.

Redemption Games: Players who do not qualify in their designated Elo division will have multiple opportunities to participate. If a player doesn’t qualify in their first attempt, they can enter additional qualifiers within their division or compete in higher Elo categories, creating thrilling opportunities for unexpected victories and upsets as competitors from all levels strive to advance.

Bonus Rewards: Special prizes and rewards for female players, newcomers, and sportsmanship honorees.

Continental Representation: Regional qualifiers hosted across four major time zones, each with four qualifiers per Elo division:

AO: Asia and Oceania

EAS: Europe and Southern Africa

MENTA: Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey

AM: Americas

Generous Prizes: A total prize pool of $60,000 USD, including $35,000 in distributed prizes (USDC and in-game currency) throughout the tournament stages from Checkmate Live, with an additional $25,000 USD for the four-player Double Elimination Grand Final in Al Ain.

Travel costs covered: Al Ain CMG  is providing flights, five-star accommodation, and meals in Al Ain for all Grand Final participants.

Flexible Timing: Qualifiers are scheduled based on each player’s registered country to accommodate various time zones, ensuring global participation at convenient times.

Travel and Accommodation: Finalists advancing to Al Ain will receive complimentary flights and accommodations, with the tournament's Grand Final hosted at the luxurious Danat Al Ain Resort.

Tournament Schedule and Structure

Key Dates

Weekend Qualifiers: November 23-24 and November 30 - December 1, 2024

Regional Finals: December 7-8, 2024 (four regional finals across major time zones)

The Road to Al Ain Grand Final: December 22, 2024, Danat Al Ain Resort, Al Ain

Stage 1 - Online Qualifiers

The Online Qualifiers will consist of a 3+2 Blitz Swiss-format tournament (9 rounds) designed to advance top players from each division to the Regional Finals. The structure is as follows:

Under 2000 Division: Four qualification tournaments will be held, with the top four players from each tournament advancing to the Regional Finals.

Under 2300 Division: Four qualification tournaments will be held, with the top four players from each tournament advancing to the Regional Finals.

Open Division: Four qualification tournaments will be held, with the top eight players from each tournament advancing to the Regional Finals.

Stage 2 - Four Regional Finals

Each zone—AO (Asia and Oceania), EAS (Europe and Southern Africa), MENTA (Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey), and AM (Americas)—will host a 3+2 Blitz single-elimination head-to-head KO tournament. In each zone, a total of 64 players (16 from the Under 2000, 16 from the Under 2300, and 32 from the Open division) will compete, with the top player from each region ultimately advancing to the Grand Final.

Each matchup will consist of two games. In the event of a tie, an Armageddon game will determine the winner, ensuring a decisive outcome for each head-to-head encounter.

Stage 3 - Grand Final

The four regional champions will compete in a Double Elimination Knockout format to crown the tournament champion in Al Ain. These finalists will battle head-to-head for the title and a share of the additional $25,000 USD prize pool.

Grand Final Details

The Grand Final on December 22 will showcase a fast-paced double-elimination showdown among the four regional champions at the Danat Al Ain Resort. Participants will contend for significant cash prizes while experiencing the cultural richness of Al Ain, one of the UAE’s oldest and most cherished cities.

Registration Details

Registration opens on November 15, 2024. Players interested in competing can register at Checkmate.live. Don’t miss the chance to join this landmark event and experience the thrill of high-stakes competitive chess.

An Invitation to Chess Enthusiasts Everywhere

"The Road to Al Ain" is a celebration of unity, excellence, and global camaraderie. Whether you’re a seasoned grandmaster or a passionate amateur, this tournament offers a unique opportunity to be part of a legacy event. Registration is now open, and we invite all chess enthusiasts to embark on this journey to the Super Grand Final in Al Ain.

The Road to Al Ain: Your Destination for Competitive Chess Awaits!

Website: https://www.checkmate.live

Tournament information: https://www.checkmate.live/insights-and-updates

Ruleset: https://playbook.checkmate.live/echess-rulesets/the-road-to-al-ain

Contact:

Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club

Hesham Ali Al Taher

CEO, Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club

Secretary General of the Asian Chess Federation

asianchessfederation@yahoo.com


David Jenns MA LLM FRGS

Director International Relations

+971506180752

david@whitewolfconsultancy.com

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WEC24: PUBG MOBILE Tournament Concludes with Outstanding Success


The PUBG MOBILE tournament at WEC24 has officially wrapped up, delivering three days of competition that exceeded all expectations. With 10 out of 16 teams securing Chicken Dinners throughout the tournament, every map brought its own excitement, with the final rounds determining the champions and medal placements. We saw impressive viewership numbers with 776,454 unique viewers achieving 89,675 hours watched throughout the three days of competition.

On the competitive front, the Indonesian team set a WEC24 record by securing a Chicken Dinner with an astonishing 18 eliminations, packing a remarkable 28-point round. 

Turkey stepped up to claim the title of WEC24 PUBG MOBILE Champions, delivering a fierce, precise performance and seizing the trophy in the final maps, a true champions’ style victory.

Congratulations are also due to Ukraine, who came very close to securing the gold. Consistent and determined to win, they kept fans and their nation on edge until the final rounds, ultimately securing the silver medal. Brazil took home the bronze, showcasing exceptional talent and positioning themselves as strong contenders for future titles.

Igor Nedeski, Esports Manager at IESF, praised the athletes, the tournament’s success, and the ongoing collaboration with Tencent: "The PUBG MOBILE tournaments have been one of the highlights of WEC for years now, and our ongoing collaboration and support from Tencent has played a huge role in its success. Congratulations to the medalists and to all athletes participating for their remarkable WEC24 performance."

Micah Li, Senior Esports Manager at Tencent,  "Congratulations to Turkey on becoming the WEC24 PUBG MOBILE Champions. We greatly value our partnership with IESF and the success we have achieved together over the years. We look forward to continuing this collaboration and delivering many more exceptional PUBG MOBILE tournaments in the future."

With the PUBG MOBILE tournament concluded, IESF looks forward to further PUBG MOBILE competitions, as national teams from around the world improve year byAbout PUBG MOBILE:

About PUBG MOBILE:

PUBG MOBILE is based on PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, the phenomenon that took the world of interactive entertainment by storm in 2017. Up to 100 players parachute onto a remote island to battle in a winner-takes-all showdown. Players must locate and scavenge their own weapons, vehicles and supplies, and defeat every player in a visually and tactically rich battleground that forces players into a shrinking play zone. PUBG MOBILE is co-developed by LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS of Tencent Games and KRAFTON, Inc.

About the International Esports Federation

IESF is the uniting body for World Esports. Founded in 2008 by nine member nations, IESF comprises 146 Member Federations across six continents. IESF brings together all esports stakeholders to achieve a united ecosystem for the development of sustainable and responsible gaming worldwide. The IESF World Esports Championships (WEC) is the biggest multi-sport spectacle of esports in the world. IESF also organizes the annual World Esports Summit to support the highest standard of esports governance worldwide.

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Thursday, 28 November 2024

IESF & MOONTON - WEC24 MLBB Success

The 16th World Esports Championship (WEC), held from November 11 to 19, once again proved Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) as one of the standout titles of IESF competitions. Both the Open and Women’s categories delivered exceptional competition; with live audiences and online viewership worldwide, this year’s tournaments stood as one of the most-watched MLBB tournaments of the year.

The MLBB Open tournament delivered one of the most exciting playoffs in WEC history. For the third consecutive year, a new champion was crowned, as Malaysia triumphed in dominant fashion. In a great run, Malaysia stunned the MLBB giants by defeating Indonesia, the 2022 champion, in the semifinals and then the Philippines, the 2023 champion, in a thrilling final.

  • Gold: Malaysia

  • Silver: Philippines

  • Bronze: Indonesia

The tournament reached a peak viewership of 613k, making it one of the most-watched MLBB Open tournaments in WEC history.

A Historic Year for Women in Esports

The debut of the MLBB Women’s Tournament marked a new milestone for the World Esports Championship. Teams from across the world displayed extraordinary talent and competitiveness, with Indonesia, the pre-tournament favorite, securing the first-ever MLBB Women’s World Esports Championship title.

  • Gold: Indonesia

  • Silver: Cambodia

  • Bronze: Egypt

The Women’s tournament reached a peak viewership of 258k, presenting the growing interest in women’s Esports. This debut exceeded all expectations and set the stage for more successful tournaments in the future, proving the Women’s category deserves its rightful place on the biggest stage.

Record-Breaking Prize Pool

This year’s tournaments also had the largest prize pool in MLBB history throughout WEC, totaling $280,000 across both categories:

  • $160,000 for the MLBB Open Tournament

  • $120,000 for the MLBB Women’s Tournament

The success of this year’s MLBB tournaments is a result of the strong partnership between IESF and MOONTON Games. Together, we have elevated MLBB into one of the most iconic and recognizable elements of the World Esports Championship.

“We are proud to have delivered such an impactful and pleasant MLBB experience for our fans and athletes. The incredible performances and viewership this year reaffirm our goal to growing MLBB’s presence on the international Esports stage,” said Igor Nedeski, IESF’s Esports Manager.

Ray Ng, Head of Ecosystem at MOONTON Games, said: “Congratulations to the whole IESF team for another great event that achieves a new milestone together with MLBB. We share the same beliefs of excellence and inclusion and are excited to build on this momentum to create even more unforgettable moments for MLBB fans around the world.”

About Mobile Legends: Bang Bang 

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is the most popular mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game worldwide that brings communities together through teamwork and strategy. With over 1.465 billion installations and 110 million active monthly users, the award-winning game is among the top 10 most played in over 80 countries. With an extensive reach across the Asia Pacific region, the multiplayer is available in 139 countries with an expansive global esports presence.

About MOONTON Games

Established in 2014, MOONTON is a global video game company dedicated to gaming development, publication, and esports. With more than 1,600 employees worldwide, the company operates offices in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Latin America, and China. It has successfully launched several high-profile mobile games globally and has built long-term relationships with governments and esports organizations in more than 30 countries around the world. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is its current star game and the leading mobile multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game worldwide. For more information, visit https://en.moonton.com.


About the International Esports Federation

IESF is the uniting body for World Esports. Founded in 2008 by nine member nations, IESF comprises 146 Member Federations across six continents. IESF brings together all esports stakeholders to achieve a united ecosystem for the development of sustainable and responsible gaming worldwide. The IESF WE Championships is the biggest multi-sport spectacle of esports in the world. IESF also organizes the annual World Esports Summit to support the highest standard of esports governance worldwide.

 

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Friday, 15 November 2024

Homeward bound!

Avonique Van Rooyen a young learner at Hoërskool Oosterlig is acknowledged as one of the world's rising stars in the female CounterStrike GO division.

Mind Sports South Africa's (MSSA) Female Protea CounterStrike GO Esports Team, having completed all their games is now enroute back to South Africa.

The team displayed the highest levels of sportsmanship throughout the championship, and the discipline, perseverance and playing skill attracted the attention on players, officials, and international scouts alike.

Of special interest is young Avonique Van Rooyen a young learner at Hoërskool Oosterlig, who performed exceptionally well at both the African Esports Championships in Casablanca in August 2024 as well as in IESF's World Esports Championships (WEC24).

Although Avonique is the youngest member of the team, her standard of play astounded all present and bodes well for her future participation in international events. Under the mentorship of team captain, Jessica Eleez Greeff, who incidentally is the most capped female in MSSA across all disciplines since 1984, Avonique shone as a player of exceptional standard and ability.

The team is:

NameNickClub
Johan van BredaZAG Academy
Jessica Eleez Greeff (Captain)iheartjessATK Club Sport
Avonique Van RooyenavoWhite Rabbit Amaryllis
Megan van der WesthuizenM3gzATK Club Sport
Kayhla Rose CalderKayCATK Club Sport
Christin BrazierGraceyyWhite Rabbit Amaryllis

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