Use of reserves in MSSA's Online School League.

Tyrone Green - National  Schools' Director.

On 23 June 2017 Mind Sports South Africa's (MSSA) announced the closing date for entries for MSSA's online inter-school league.

All schools intending to participate must note the rules concerning the use off reserves have been amended.

The decision comes on the wake of a great deal  of input made by Tyrone Green (MSSA's National  Schools' Director) who was chiefly concerned about the sustainability of such  school teams over the five  week period over  which the league would be  played.

On presenting his findings to MSSA's MANCOM, the Board agreed to amend the current rulings to favour the school teams that need to use reserves.

The use of reserves in the online school league should also have the added benefit of further developing additional gamers.

Such rules now read  as follows:

Reserves may be used as follows:

1. In team games such as CS:GO, DotA 2, and LoL, the Team may use up to three reserves. All players of the Team shall qualify for provincial colours as long as such player has played in at least two complete matches.

2. In team games such as VainGlory, the school may use one reserve per Team and that all players of the Team shall qualify for provincial colours as long as such player has played in at least two complete matches.

Selections of the SA Squad Captains: League of Legends.

Capetonian Brandon Fester.

In the past Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) would only select the actual esports team required for the event for which the team is required.
After due consideration and discussion, MSSA has decided to increase the number of Registered Players selected to form the national esports squad. Selecting a squad has a number of benefits as it allows MSSA to experiment with different combinations in order to ensure that South Africa can proudly field the best possible team from the Registered Players that had participated at MSSA's National Team Trials.

Without doubt the most important, and central figure, of the squad is the Team Captain.

Thus MSSA agonizes over who should be selected as the Team Captain. The Team Captain shall lead the official South African League of Legends Team to IeSF's 9th World Championships - Busan.

So much has to fall on the shoulders of the Team Captain, such as morale, discipline, roster, leadership, and so forth. 

However, MSSA has at last reached a  decision on the Team Captain who is to lead South Africa's Protea League of Legends team.

The team captain selected is none other than Brandon Fester of the VexxedPhoenix Gaming Club from Cape Town.

Brandon “Brafester” Fester’s history in competitive eSports started four years ago where he captained a team of friends, with the goal to be the best. His determination and passion helped his teammates, and opponents, grow as players and people, but his leadership is what ultimately pushed him to the top.

He is currently captain of the Goon Squad, the current DGC champions and strongest team in the country for League of Legends. He too promotes growth and development in his communities and organisation.

He is currently working on improving his individual skill and preparing his teams for various League of Legends tournaments. On being informed of his selection to the position of Team Captain, Brandon stated, " This has officially become the best and most important day of my life. I can think of nothing more prestigious than representing my country, let alone captaining the side!

Thank you for the strength and support! I too have high hopes for the team and future of South African esports on all fronts. I shall do my best to ensure we can not only meet expectations, but exceed them where possible!" MSSA is proud of its choice in Brandon and looks forward to his term as National Team Captain for League of Legends.

Why do MSSA championships rotate?

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) as a body corporate has always believed in taking events to its members.

In order to develop gaming to its full potential, it is not enough to hold events where it is the most convenient, and where it is the most profitable to do so. There must be a profound attempt to ensure that events are held in every nook-and-cranny in order to give everybody the opportunity to participate, compete, and even excel.

Thus even MSSA's National Team Trials rotate around the country. MSSA has seen its National Team Trials held in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, and Witbank.

However, National Team Trials works a little differently to Regional, Provincial, and National Championships.

Any club within a Region may offer to host the Regional Championship in the region in which it is based.

Similarly, any club within a province may offer to host a provincial championship.

Working on the same philosophy, any club based anywhere within the political boundaries of South Africa may offer to host the South African National Championships.

Of course the club offering to host must have the infrastructure to host the event. It is no good to offer to host and not have 3-phase power or a solid internet connection.

Through this policy of rotating championships, every club can get a piece-of-the-pie and deliver a quality event to its members.

Thus over the years, MSSA has seen its pride, the SA National Championships, played in Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Pietermaritzburg, Port Elizabeth, Pretoria, Stellenbosch, and Witbank.

2017 will see the S A National Championships hosted by Fakkel School in Sasolburg.

SA School Championships - 29 & 30 July 2017

Oakhill School's DotA 2 esports team - Mr Project 

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) started its South African School Championships (SAS) back in 1996. 

Although the championships back then only concentrated on board games and wargames, the championships has over the years also been broadened to include eSports.

It has over the years, been a great source of unearthing the talent that has driven many of the senior national teams.

Many top gamers at school level have been enlisted into National Team duty – and have done very well!

One only has to remember players like Vincent Lane (St John's College), Andre Tonkin (Krugersdorp High), David Webster (Sandringham High), Pierre Lotter (Paul Roos Gimnasium), Angelo stathoussis (Somerset College), Dominic Bauer (Eden College), Conradie van Heerden (DF Malan), Jason Batzofin (St John's College), Elishia Retief (Hoerskool Linden), Gabriella Isaacs (SAHETI),Dillon Justus (DF Malan), Simon Zandstra (Rondebosch High), and Jessie Joubert (Rondebosch High).

All of the above have performed at the highest levels both here and abroad, and all of whom have done South Africa proud – very proud indeed!

The Annual South African National Championship shall be played on 29 & 30 July 2017.

The championship also counts as the MSSA's National Team Trials for MSSA Junior Protea Teams.

Registrations will close on the 18 July 2017.

Players who wish to compete in any of MSSA's Championships are advised to complete their annual registration forms so that they may register as Registered Players as soon as possible. Late entries will be accepted in exceptional circumstances.

All gamers are reminded that the South African National Championships is an open championship. In other words any registered player is entitled to enter the championship – no matter where they live, or their category of membership. If you have any queries, please contact the MSSA.

Championship Details:

Hosting Club: Oakhill School, Uitsig Street, Heuwelkruin, Knysna 6571
Venue: Oakhill School, Uitsig Street, Heuwelkruin, Knysna 6571
'Phone: +27 44 382-6506
Date: 29 & 30 July 2017Game Entry Fees: FREEEntries: Clubs must use the entry form on Google Drive to enter their players.Computers: Bring your own. Please ensure that all game updates are done prior to arrival. No updates shall be done at the event. Schedule: As below.

Board games titles to be played at 2017 School National Championships

Saturday

Checkers

Morabaraba

eSports titles to be played at 2017 School LAN National Championships

Saturday	StarCraft II	League of Legends	HearthStone	Tekken 7
Sunday	CounterStrike: GO	FIFA '17	DotA 2	VainGlory

Wargames to be played at 2016 School National Championships

Saturday	Ancients - DBM 3.2
Sunday	Ancients - DBM 3.2

Games begin at 9H00 on both days and shall end at 18H00.

Rules and Regulations: All Rules and Regulations are available from the MSSA. Players are strongly advised to familiarise themselves with the Bylaws and all Period Specific Rules. If any Player wishes to provide advice regarding the drafting of the Period Specific Rules they are encouraged to contact MSSA who will take all comments into account.

The following Medals may be awarded at the Championship:

• 1st, 2nd and 3rd place: For both male and female, as well as for both High School and Primary School

Colours and National Team Trials:

• Junior National Federation Colours: All Players that win all of their Matches at a National Championship will earn Junior National Federation Colours.
• Provincial Colours: All Players that 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.

Please note that times may be changed to take into account load-shedding.

Mortal Kombat X rankings: Rion Nelson hangs onto his #1 spot.

Number 1 ranked Mortal Kombat X player in South Africa - Rion Nelson of Hoërskool Generaal Hertzog, Witbank.

MSSA's 14th Free State Championships saw some interesting developments in terms of the esport title of Mortal Kombat X  rankings. 
Joost Loftus (Masters of Mind Sports) continued with his upward climb with Leoné Loftus, and Phoenix Janse van Vuuren in tow.

However, Joost was unable to gain the necessary points to dethrone Rion Nelson (Hoërskool Generaal Hertzog) from pole position.

With MSSA's 2nd Fezile Dabi Regional Championships about to be held on 1 July 2017, Joost may just find enough victories to snatch the number one spot from Rion.
We'll  all just have to wait and see...
The full rankings, which shall be used in MSSA's 2nd Fezile Dabi Regional Championship are:

Pos	Name of Player	year	Club	Points
1	Rion Nelson	17	Hoërskool Generaal Hertzog	200.4
2	Joost Loftus	17	Masters of Mind Sports	199.5
3	Kyle Chan Some	17	Northcliff High School	176.3
4	Jan-Hendrik van Aswegen	17	Hoërskool Generaal Hertzog	171.4
5	Gawie Fick	17	Fakkel School	169.7
6	Leoné Loftus	17	Fakkel School	169
7	Michael van Meyeren	17	HTS Witbank	165.9
8	Phoenix Janse van Vuuren	17	Fakkel School	160.9
9	Connor Chaplin	17	Northcliff High School	158.4
10	Mark Morobane	17	Curro Klerksdorp	157.4
11	Sune van de Merwe	17	HTS Witbank	152.8
12	Kelvin Yang	16	Northcliff High School	148
13	Doreen Els	17	Teutonic Knights Mind Sports Club	147.3
14	Aidan Chaplin	17	Northcliff High School	143.7
15	Theunis van der Merwe	17	Curro Klerksdorp	140.4
16	Pieter Lourens	17	Hoërskool Generaal Hertzog	137.8
17	Jean Kruger	17	HTS Witbank	137.3
18	Leonard Loftus	17	Masters of Mind Sports	134.9
19	Leigthon Howells	17	Cambridge High School	134.4
20	Jared van Biljon	17	Curro Klerksdorp	133.4
21	Alastair Williams	17	JCS Academy	131.3
22	Beon Bronkhorst	17	JCS Academy	131.3
23	Hugo Venter	17	Fakkel School	128.5
24	Armand Botha	17	Hoërskool Generaal Hertzog	128
25	Mxolisi Lukhele	17	Amplified Rebellion	127.9
26	Tumelo Sesinyi	17	Curro Klerksdorp	122.1
27	Pheello Maphumane	17	Fakkel School	121.7
28	Wernich ‘Panda’ Botha	17	JCS Academy	120.9
29	Luhan Stoltz	17	Hoërskool Generaal Hertzog	120.1
30	Kit Rawlings	16	Northcliff High School	120
31	Kabelo Mametele	17	Fakkel School	119.9
32	Tebogo Hlasa	17	Fakkel School	118.5
33	Bonga Zwane	16	HTS Witbank	114.3
34	Kyle Turnbull	16	HTS Witbank	114.3
35	Logan Ortner	16	Northcliff High School	114.3
36	Mellie Nienaber	16	Fakkel School	114.3
37	Pheelo Maphumane	16	Fakkel School	114.3
38	Ruan Visagie	16	Hoërskool Generaal Hertzog	114.3
39	Rynardt Engelbrecht	16	Fakkel School	114.3
40	Tumi Mohosho	16	Fakkel School	114.3
41	Wesley David	16	Maritzburg College	114.3
42	William Rawlings	16	Northcliff High School	114.3
43	William Kruger	16	Fakkel School	114
44	Gareth van Straten	16	HTS Witbank	112.6
45	Mpho Ntsala	16	Fakkel School	111.2
46	Riaan Kruger	16	Hoërskool Generaal Hertzog	109.1
47	Sibusiso Nabileyo	16	Fakkel School	109
48	Chris Marie	16	Fakkel School	108.8
49	Korben Roos	16	HTS Witbank	107
50	Bongwe Mpugwa	17	Curro Klerksdorp	106.3
51	Robyn Gertzen	17	Teutonic Knights Mind Sports Club	106.2
52	Logan Ortner	17	Northcliff High School	105.7
53	Alwyn van Wyk	16	Maritzburg College	105.1
54	Armandt Welgemoed	17	Curro Klerksdorp	104.9
55	Gomo Hdlozi	16	HTS Witbank	104
56	Kaitlyn Creighton	17	Masters of Mind Sports	104
57	Brandon Watts	17	Northcliff High School	102.5
58	Michael Masikeng	16	Fakkel School	101.3
59	Michael Retief	16	Old Edwardian Wargames Club	100
60	Reginald Mofokeng	16	Fakkel School	100
61	Tania Brown	16	All Stars	100
62	George Griffiths	16	HTS Witbank	99.8
63	Jacobus Direko	16	Fakkel School	99.8
64	Kahliso Malepe	16	Fakkel School	99.3
65	Tshepo Matitwane	17	Fakkel School	99.3
66	Wihan van Wyk	16	Hoërskool Generaal Hertzog	99.3
67	Lesedi Motale	16	Curro Klerksdorp	98.8
68	Joshua Jansen van Vuuren	16	Northcliff High School	97.5
69	Joel Van Wyk	16	Maritzburg College	95
70	Learvene Winkler	16	Maritzburg College	95
71	Riana du Plessis	16	All Stars	95
72	Rynard Cockeran	17	Masters of Mind Sports	95
73	Tumi Jourdan	16	Northcliff High School	95
74	Damien Avis	16	Hoërskool Generaal Hertzog	90.3
75	Kristen Cockeran	17	Fakkel School	90.3
76	Angelique Taljaard	17	Fakkel School	85.8

Other rankings are:

• Senior Ancients Wargames
• Senior CounterStrike: GO
• Senior DotA 2
• Senior FIFA '17
• Senior League of Legends
• Senior Mortal Kombat X
• Senior Pro Evolution Soccer (PES)
• Senior StarCraft II
• Senior Street Fighter V
• Senior Tekken 7
• Schools CounterStrike: GO
• Schools DotA 2
• Schools League of Legends