Saturday 28 November 2020

The 5th Global Esports Executive Summit to be held online!

 


The 5th Global Esports Executive Summit (GEES20) opens its doors on 29 November 2020 in Busan, South Korea. GEES20, to be held on November 29th and 30th, 2020, is the 5th annual installment of IESF’s Global Esports Executive Summit which aims to be a shining example for the COVID-19 era with its innovative online-offline format. GEES20 will start at 16:00 (KST) / 09:00 (SAST) on both days. 

GEES was started in 2015, and has been held on an annual basis. The conference has grown in stature and has gathered key esports stakeholders from around the globe to create an environment for discussion, education, and action towards esports development through conferences, exhibitions, academic lectures, and networking events.

As International Esports Federation (IESF) effectively faces the challenges posed by COVID-19 head on, plans have been made this year for delegates to participate and contribute both live at the venue, and online. Lectures and presentations will be broadcast live on IESF’s Youtube. Thus GEES20 is shaping up to be a truly unique and groundbreaking event. 

This year’s theme is Evolution and Expansion! 

The agenda consists of four sessions, each covering a different topic, and including the participation of  guests who will give keynote addresses and engage in panel discussions at the venue and online around the world. 

The GEES20 Sessions:

Nov. 29th

1. Esports and Traditional Sports Convergence

  • Identifying Opportunities for Collaboration
  • Developing Opportunities for Collaboration
  • Bringing Our Communities Together

2. Diversity Marketing and Esports

  • Marketing to Esports Diversity
  • Expanding Markets and Brand Partners

Nov. 30th

1. Esports in the Time of COVID-19

  • Recognizing Opportunities for Esports
  • The Unique Position of Esports

2. New Frontiers in Esports Technology

  • Display Technologies in Esports
  • Exploring New Esports Technology

See the full list of speakers here!

The two-day event takes place at the Busan Esports Arena in Busan, South Korea, less than two weeks after the brand new, state-of-the-art facility’s official grand opening on November 18th. The Esports Arena was announced in March 2019, under the presidency of Colin Webster, and was made possible due to the investment from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and the City of Busan. The Busan Esports Arena promises to be a boon for IESF events, and for Korean esports in general. It features a main arena, two sub-arenas and cutting edge facilities for players, staff, and fans.

Register for free at www.gees20.com for upcoming news!

GEES20 is supported by the City of Busan and the Busan IT Promotion Agency (BIPA).

Guatemalan Esports Association launches LOL National League.


Alliance Esports Association of Guatemala was created with the purpose of developing esports in Guatemala and uses the infrastructure of one of the most important sports clubs in Guatemala, making Club Delfines the CASA DEL ESPORTS in the country.

Alliance Esports Association of Guatemala also promotes the following:

  • Face-to-face tournaments
  • National Leagues Finals
  • Esports Academy
  • Gaming Center

The National LOL Raptor League is the first National League and intends to further professionalize esports in Guatemala. The main objective is, that, within three years, the LOL Raptor National League may enter the structure of leagues endorsed by the Professional Video Game League (LVP), and thus be able to promote both Guatemalan players and clubs to the scene. League of Legends international heading to the WORLDS world championship.

The National LOL Raptor League has the following sports structure:

  • Major League (8 invited clubs)
  • Liga Ascenso (8 invited clubs)
  • Open League (open space)

Two tournaments will be played per year (January-May and August-December). The tournaments will have two promotions and two relegations per tournament and intends to raise the level of competition in the league. In addition, a Cup Tournament will be played in June where the teams from the 3 divisions will compete to be the champion.

The Major League will award a prize of USD2,000 to the champion of each tournament and the Promotion League will award USD1,000 to the champion.

The National LOL Raptor League will have two matches of the Major League and two matches of the Ascenso League broadcast by the association's official twitch (www.twitxh.tv/esportsgua). In addition to the summary of the day, standings, results and next day will be covered by the most important sports news in the country as well as in weekly publications in 'Nuestro Diario'.

In the months of January and July, a draft will be held where clubs from the different Divisions of the LOL Raptor National League will be able to sign players from the Inter University Esports League and the Esports Collegiate League. The draft seeks to promote esports at the child-youth level. 

Teams interested in participating in the Liga de Ascenso and Liga Abierta may register through the social networks of the Guatemalan Esports Association (Facebook: AsociaciĆ³n de Esports Guatemala; Instagram: esportsGuate). Contact: Any additional information can be directed to WhatsApp +50230112948 or writing to direccion.general@asofum.net

MSSA remains a dynamic institution.

 

Johan van Breda (MSSA Vice-President) at Olympic House on Friday, 27 November 2020.

Many South African sporting federations have the structure of athletes affiliating to clubs, clubs affiliating to regional federations, regional federations affiliating to provincial federations, and provincial  federations affiliating to national federations.

In Mind Sports South Africa's opinion, such system alienates the athlete from those who ultimately administrate the sport. Also for anyone who enters a sport, it may take a lifetime of compromise and double-dealing to reach the highest echelons of power. Generally speaking, athletes have to make a name at club, regional, and provincial level before he or she can make it into a national board.

The system as described above is further compli9cated in that many of such sports allow provincial federations equal voting powers which, itself, seems to means that the weaker provinces 'gang' up on the stronger, bigger, wealthier, and more successful provinces. Often the weaker and poorer provinces also survive on hand-outs made by the national board. Such support by the national board thus often seems to translate into overt support for the existing national board by provincial federations that receive such support.

Thus Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) has a very different structure. Clubs are directly affiliated to the national federation which allows greater upward mobility as well as greater say for the clubs in the way in which MSSA is run.

Any member member club may nominate a registered player for a position on the Management Board. However, such nominee must fulfill at least one of the following criteria, being:
  • Have served a full term on the Management Board (3 years), or
  • Have served a full term as Provincial Director (2 years), or
  • Have served two full terms as Regional Director (2 years), or
  • Have served two full terms on a Board of Control (2 years), or
  • Have earned at least ten (10) Protea caps, or
  • Have served three years on the club committee of which they are currently a member.
Through MSSA's dynamic system, a Registered Player can move through the ranks in a matter of two years in order to be elected to a position on the national board.

Thus MSSA will always have new and fresh ideas being expressed on the board. 

Also read:

Thursday 26 November 2020

Looking for a new national champion.

 

Macedonian pikes advancing into combat.

Mind Sports South Africa's  South African National Wargames Championships to be held at Old Edwardian Society, 11 Ninth Avenue, Lower Houghton, on, 5 & 6 December 2020 has sparked a great deal of interest in wargamers from around the country.

Attendance of players at clubs has risen with players frantically trying to update their rule knowledge before the clash that will see a new national champion.

Already, there are more entries for the 2021 National Championships than what there were for the 2020 national championships.

Could it be that everyone, sick of COVID-19, want to
 get out and play again, or that Ancients figure-gaming is more resilient than what people think?

Either way, it is going to be a wonderful championships.

Also read:

Wednesday 25 November 2020

A presidential clash.

Vlad Marinescu (left) is  contesting IESF's presidency against His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Sultan Al Nahayan (UAE).

International Esports Federation's Boards from 2013 laid solid foundations upon which the IESF could grow and prosper. Over the years, especially while South African, Colin Webster, was president, special attention was applied to good governance, gender equity and increasing IESF's visibility on a global scale.

It was from 2013 that IESF ensured that it had created the correct policies and  procedures to enter, and be accepted into, the world of international sport.

With the position of IESF's presidency now being open, two formidable candidates are vying for the top spot.

Both candidates currently serve on IESF's Board and have both made invaluable contributions to IESF. The candidates are none other than Vlad Marinescu (USA) and His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Sultan Al Nahayan (UAE). Vlad Marinescu made his debut into IESF in 2019 when he was co-opted onto the Board. The Board recognizing his abilities, voted him into the vacant position of Vice-President. Vlad's enthusiasm is infectious and through his efforts, great efforts have been made to increase IESF's membership. His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Sultan Al Nahayan's dedication and commitment to esports has been truly spectacular. Being a driving force in the UAE, as well as a past president of AESF, and as a Board member of IESF, His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Sultan Al Nahayan has always been the voice of reason. The elections will take place on 21 December 2020 and, there is no doubt, that whomever is elected, IESF, and the entire esports community,i stands to be a winner. Also read:

Monday 23 November 2020

Reminder: MSSA's South African National Online Esports Championships - 5 December 2020.

 

Even though the government has implemented regulations for level 1 in regard to COVID-19, Mind Sports South Africa's (MSSA) Board as decided to hold MSSA's 2020 South African National Championships as a LAN event. The reason for doing so is  to take into account the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and to ensure that there is maximum participation, without compromising the health of any of its Registered Players,  at such national championship.

MSSA will thus be holding its South African National Online  Esports Championships on 5 December 2020.

MSSA's South African National LAN Championships has thus not been replaced by this event.

MSSA's 1st South African National Online Esports Championships, which will offer local players the opportunity to qualify for selection to the national squad and for the Protea Team.


In order to participate, players must be registered for the 2020/2021 season
.


Obviously Registered Players may participate from the comfort of their own home while being safe from the ravages of COVID-19.


The championship shall be held on 5 December 2020.


Game titles to be played are:


TITLES10H0011H0012H0013H0014H0015H00
Paladins PC/PS4Round 1 StartsRound 2 StartsRound 3 Starts
LUNCH
Round 4 StartsRound 5 Starts
FIFA’20Round 1 StartsRound 2 StartsRound 3 StartsRound 4 StartsRound 5 Starts
Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) 2020Round 1 StartsRound 2 StartsRound 3 StartsRound 4 StartsRound 5 Starts
HearthStoneRound 1 StartsRound 2 StartsRound 3 StartsRound 4 StartsRound 5 Starts
Street Fighter VRound 1 StartsRound 2 StartsRound 3 StartsRound 4 StartsRound 5 Starts
Clash RoyalRound 1 StartsRound 2 StartsRound 3 StartsRound 4 StartsRound 5 Starts
Counter-Strike: GORound 1 StartsRound 2 StartsRound 3 StartsRound 4 StartsRound 5 Starts
League of Legends (LoL)Round 1 StartsRound 2 StartsRound 3 StartsRound 4 StartsRound 5 Starts
DotA 2Round 1 StartsRound 2 StartsRound 3 StartsRound 4 StartsRound 5 Starts
TEKKEN 7Round 1 StartsRound 2 StartsRound 3 StartsRound 4 StartsRound 5 Starts

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:

Medals:


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 24Medals 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: 
        • 5 December 2020
        • The first round will start at 10H00. Players shall be given 60 minutes to complete each 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 Skype on the day of competition. Any communication not on the Skype channel shall not be entered into.

        Ladder:

        • All games shall count towards the National Ladder.

        Shout casting:

        Also read: