Friday 30 April 2021

Jeppe Boys makes a huge impact...

Jeppe Boys' High School's League of Legends team.

With Coronavirus (COVID -19) still holding South Africa in its pestilential grasp, Mind Sport South Africa (MSSA) is still unable to hold its LAN championships for all esports titles. As such the online option will remain the popular option until the member clubs have determined a suitable way forward.

The online provincial championship system ensures that its esports athletes are not compromised in terms of being able to qualify for provincial colours and for possible inclusion in South Africa's National Protea Team to attend International Esports Federation's 12th World Championships in November in Eilat later this year, MSSA created the Online Provincial Championships.

Esports athletes were able to play in the comfort and safety of their own homes and are still capable of competing on provincial, and even, a national level.

In such championships, Jeppe Boys' High School dominated the 
Counter-Strike: GO and League of Legends events consolidating the school club as the major force in esports in Gauteng, if not the country. 

The winners of MSSA's 2021 Combined Online Provincial Schools Championships are as follows:

TitleName of player/teamSchoolColours awarded
Clash RoyaleLiam MoodleyNorthcliff High SchoolGauteng High School Provincial
Counter-Strike: GOJeppe CS:GOJeppe Boys High SchoolGauteng High School Provincial
FIFASebastiano HeidmannNorthcliff High SchoolGauteng High School Provincial
HearthStone - High SchoolAidan VorsterKrugersdorp High SchoolGauteng High School Provincial
HearthStone - Primary SchoolKyle VorsterMonument PrimaryGauteng Primary School Provincial
League of LegendsJeppe LoL Team 1Jeppe Boys High SchoolGauteng High School Provincial
PaladinsPr0NHSNorthcliff High SchoolGauteng High School Provincial
StreetFighterTheunis van der MerweHoƫrskool KlerksdorpNorth West High School Provincial
Sportsmanship AwardRyan van RensburgJeppe Boys High School

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Saturday 17 April 2021

The WFH League is back for Season 3!


Following on from the success of the competition last year,
Esports Insider is proud to announce the return of the WFH League for a third season.

Co-operated by ESI and Platform, the ‘corporate’ esports competition sees colleagues team up and go head-to-head against other companies in a multi-game tournament series.

This year, however, the event is expanding even further with WFH League Season 3 featuring three campaigns - Spring, Autumn, Winter - across 2021. The first of which will take place online from May 10th - 30th.

For our Spring event, three tournaments will take place as companies put their pride on the line (kind of) in Rocket League (3v3), CS:GO Wingman (2v2), and Brawlhalla (2v2).

Eight teams will compete in each tournament for prizes and the chance to gain WFH League eternal glory. In past seasons, the likes of Razer, Noblechairs, and G-Science have provided prizes for the event.

In a joint statement by WFH League’s Co-founders, Esport Insider Managing Director, Sam Cooke, and Platform COO, Nicolo Portunato, the duo commented: “We are extremely excited to announce the return of WFH League for its third season. After a successful 2020, we have upped the stakes by adding three seasonal events this year for Season 3 and we cannot wait to see everything unfold on May 10th!

Last year we very much found our feet and made significant improvements from Season 1 to Season 2, which was nicely reflected in the viewership on Twitch. We really appreciated the support of the industry and community, indeed all those involved in making it happen, and we can’t wait to kick off our third season, especially since in the Autumn it’ll include our first IRL edition at Platform in London.”

As in previous editions, WFH League has partnered with UK-based charity SpecialEffect in order to raise even more money for a good cause. Over the last two seasons, all those involved with the WFH League helped to raise over £3,500.

Tom Donegan from SpecialEffect said: “The WFH League was one of the highlights of 2020 and we’re delighted to be the charity partner again in 2021. Gamers raising money to support their fellow gamers, while having a laugh at the same time – it doesn’t get much better than that!”

Home schooled learners may participate in all MSSA events.

 

MSSA President, Amanda Pakade, encourages home schooled learners to participate.
Despite the ravages of COVID-19 Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) will continue to run as many of its events as feasibly possible. 

Many learners are of the opinion that only learners at schools may participate in the league, but with the ever increasing number of learners being schooled at home, the league is also open to home schools.

Thus home schooled learners are able to enjoy the camaraderie of competition and take on well established schools like Northcliff High School, Reddam, Curro, and others.

The process is simple.

Just as a normal school has to affiliate, so does the home school. Please read: 
Affiliation: Schools

For further information, please contact MSSA on mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com or on
WhatsApp: 078 069 3089.

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Tuesday 13 April 2021

Global Esports Federation appoints first Chief Executive Officer

 Paul J. Foster assumes role amid epic growth

Anticipating an even-greater surge in its growth and eyeing the acceleration of esports as a key driver of the economy worldwide, the Global Esports Federation announces the appointment of Paul J. Foster as Chief Executive Officer.

 

Foster will assume the role as GEF’s first CEO. Since last April, he has served as Chief Operating Officer. He has been instrumental in overseeing the Singapore-based organization’s advance since worldwide launch in December 2019 – the GEF now counting more than 80 Member Federations and well over 100 partnerships.

 

Such growth, amid a global pandemic, is testament both to Foster’s capability and capacity and to the demand the GEF has confronted, Chris Chan, President of the Global Esports Federation said. He added that the GEF intends in the coming months to launch initiatives to power up recruitment and enhance diversity, equality, and inclusion with a mandate to increase size and scale.

 

“With esports becoming increasingly relevant both to the broader economy and to the development of many countries, the GEF is poised for tremendous growth,” Chan said. “The GEF Board and I trust in Paul’s vision and leadership.”

 

Foster said, “The GEF offers a global, inclusive, and connected platform. When we began this journey, we had a framework for potential, a bunch of ideas. We simply said, everyone is welcome, a notion of radical inclusivity. We engaged constantly, guided only by a set of values. From that naturally came a spirit of boundless innovation. That drives our work.”

 

In 2021, the GEF intends both to stage the first of its global events portfolio, the Global Esports Games, and intensify regional action through its #worldconnected initiatives – integrating the rise of active esports along with virtual and digital forms of sport.

 

The GEF Board has affirmed a commitment to lifelong learning that creates opportunities via internships and management positions across all verticals. Partnerships are in progress with major universities. Plans are underway for GEF centers in the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the MENA region.

 

As the GEF evolves, it remains a committed partner in driving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – in pursuit of its deep social responsibility to connect and convene, and in alignment with the UN Secretary-General’s call to a “Decade of Action.”

 

Foster said he looks forward to unlocking the many opportunities: “I’m grateful for the trust of all of our members and our Board, the entire esports community. We are all – all of us, together – just getting started. We call it #worldconnected.”

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Monday 12 April 2021

Reminder: 2021 Online Provincial Championships - 17 April 2021

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is proud to announce that it shall host the 2020 Online Provincial Championships, which will offer local players the opportunity to qualify for selection to the national squad.

MSSA's 2020 Online Provincial Championships is the third last senior provincial event prior to the start of the selection process.

The championship shall be held on 17 April 2020.

Game titles to be played are:

Period/genreTitlePlatformAge restrictionPlayers
Shooter
Call of Duty: Black Ops (Online only)PC/console184 v 4
CS GOPC165 v 5
PaladinsPC/console125 v 5
Sport
FIFA '21Console31 v 1
PES 2021Console31 v 1
MOBA
DotA 2PC125 v 5
Clash RoyaleMobile121 v 1
Fighting
Tekken 7Console161 v 1
Street Fighter VConsole121 v 1
CardHearthStoneVarious71 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.

Entry fee:

    • Entry is R100.00 per Registered Player.

    • Only fully-paid-up Registered Players may participate in this event.

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 recognised University.

    • SCHOLARS: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams of learners currently registered at any officially recognised 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 recognised University.

    • SCHOLARS: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams of learners currently registered at any officially recognised 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: 17 April 2021

    • The first round will start at 09H00. 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 be entered into.

Entries:

Ladder:

    • For games to count for the National Ladder, teams must advise the Umpires before the start of each match.

Shout casting:

  • MSSA shall decide who may shout-cast the games.
  • Anybody wishing to be appointed as a Shout-Caster must apply in writing to mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com
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