Further increasing MSSA's footprint.

Players at the recent eThikweni Regional Championships held in July.

When MSSA introduced Regional Championships into its line-up of types of championships, not only did MSSA improve its footprint in South Africa, but it also increased the opportunity for many gamers to:

• Participate in a local  championship,
• To earn the awards associated with a championship (that is medals and colours), and
• To qualify for National Team Trials.

Any affiliated club may host a Regional Championship.

With all the profits of a Regional Championship going to the host club, it is very easy to see why so many clubs are willing to host a Regional Championship.

A Regional Championship also does not have to have all the events that you will find at a MSSA Provincial Championship. The host club can 'pick-and-choose' which events it wishes to host. Theoretically a host club could host a Regional Championship every single month by just doing one title per event.

The flexibility of a Regional Championship does not stop there either.

There are many titles that do not form part of MSSA's provincial and national championships. It is through the Regional Championships that MSSA can also help quantify the development in any/all of MSSA's disciplines (board games, card games, esports, or wargames) in South Africa as any title may be played at a Regional Championship.

Thus a member club, through the Regional Championships, is more than able to cater for all members of its community by providing ongoing championships throughout the year.

The rules for hosting a Regional Championship are as follows:

10.12.3 HOSTING OF REGIONAL EVENTS

a. Members within a region may offer to host, through a bid, any such championship at least 90 days prior to the event.

b. The decision to which club the hosting of such event is awarded shall be made by the Management Board.

c. The host club shall sign an SLA.

d. The Management Board may decide to host such championship itself. Should such decision be made and bids have been received, the Management Board shall advise all members of the reasons therefore.

e. Every effort shall be made by the host to hold such championship in a venue that is easily accessible to both Players and members of the public.

f. A Regional Championship may be played to any periods currently offered at a Provincial Championship or approved of by the Management Board.

g. The different periods may be held at separate times and venues from other periods.

h. Only Regional Championship for each period shall be held in any one season.

i. Any person may enter, however only fully-paid-up Registered Players may qualify for National Team Trials in such event. Non registered Players shall be charged a surcharge, which shall be decided upon by the Management Board from time-to- time, and shall be remitted to MSSA by the host club within 5 days of such championship.

j. The host club acknowledges that the event/s is/are wholly owned by the MSSA and all rules are complied with.

k. The host club shall set the entrance fee. Such fee shall be included in the bid.

l. The host club shall supply suitable and qualified umpires.

m. The host club shall purchase the medals from MSSA. MSSA shall price the medals at cost + 20% and postage.

n. The host club shall be responsible for the venue and all other costs relating thereto.

o. The club shall keep the net profit for the event.

p. The club must submit all results to MSSA within 48 hours.

q. The club must send a statement of account to MSSA within 30 days to the VP in charge of events.

r. No results may be posted on any site until MSSA has announced the results.

s. The MANCOM shall invite the player who finished in first place, if a Registered Player, to attend the National Team Trials if the event has met with all the criteria.

t. The results may be vitiated by the VP in charge of umpiring if any of the above are not complied with.