Sunday 30 May 2021

Results - MSSA's 2021 Gauteng Online Championships


Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) held its annual Gauteng Online Championships for esports on 29 May 2021.

The championship saw entries from five provinces. and the championship proved itself to e a worthwhile testing ground for all those attempting to gain entry into the National Team Selection process.

There has not been a year that Mind Sports South Africa has not entered a team into IESF's World Championships since the inception of such World Championships in 2009.

The results have entrenched the dominance of seven clubs in esports, and although other long established clubs, like Knights Mind Sports Clubs (established in 1999) and Old Edwardian Mind Sports Club (established in 1989) challenged, and continue to challenge, the domination of the top seven clubs in esports, it is quite apparent that the top clubs are not yet ready to relinquish dominance.

MSSA's annual Gauteng Online Championships also saw the award of provincial colours to sixteen players.

The full results are as follows:

TitleName of player/teamClubColours awarded
Clash RoyaleLiam MoodleyNorthcliff High SchoolGauteng Provincial
DOTAZAG DOTAZAG AcademyWestern Cape Provincial
Counter-Strike: GOHBSRedhill schoolGauteng Provincial
HearthStoneKyle VosterZAG AcademyGauteng Provincial
Tekken 7Shaun LopesNWU - VaalGauteng Provincial
Street Fighter - Premier MaleJoost LoftusMasters of Mind SportsFree State Provincial
Street Fighter - Premier FemaleLeone LoftusMasters of Mind SportsFree State Provincial
FIFA '21 - PremierKoketso MoleteNWU - Vaal
FIFA '21 - Under 24Anthonio du ToitNWU - Vaal
FIFA '21 - High SchoolSebastiano HeidmannNorthcliff High School
PES 2021Rafeeq CariemPES SocietyWestern Cape Provincial
PES 2021Charlie HawkPES Society
Sportsmanship AwardLiam MoodleyNorthcliff High School

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Saturday 29 May 2021

Meet the umpire - 2021 Gauteng Online Championships.


Jessie Joubert (ZAG Academy) has had a long association with Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA).

Having started as a player while at Rondebosch High School in Cape Town, Jessie moved seemingly effortlessly up the ranks t0 be inducted into the 2016 Protea Team that participated in IESF's 8th World Championships that was held in Jakarta.

Being ever mindful of the importance to give back in order to further promote the sport, Jessie became an accredited umpire in 2018. Further pursuing his interests in umpiring, Jessie went on to successfully complete IESF's International Referee Certification.

Today, 29 May 2021, MSSA is indeed fortunate to have Jessie umpire its annual Gauteng Online Championships.

Under Jessie's careful watch, the championship is inn good hands.

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Wednesday 26 May 2021

Generally Accepted Rules (GAR) for Morabaraba.

 

The only accredited board for competition play

The following rules are to be used in all championships:

General:
  1. The rules for the version, as depicted in the above image, are known as the Generally Accepted Rules (GAR).
  2. For competition play, the board may be made of any material as long as the board has the approved notation which is owned by the International Wargames Federation.
  3. Board sizes are:
  • For Provincial, National, and International Championships – 490mm x 490mm (Cows being 45mm in diameter and 5mm in depth), and
  • All other competitions – 300mm x 300mm (Cows being 30mm in diameter and 10mm in depth).
  1. All cows shall have MSSA's logo on the cow.
  2. There are 24 junctions on the board.
  3. Each player is issued with a set of 12 cows. One set being of a dark colour, and one set being of a light colour.
  4. The colour white may not be used for cows as the colour may confuse players as to whether a cow has been placed.
  5. Only players who have won MSSA's national championships, or who have received Protea Colours for the game of Morabaraba, may use cows which are green in colour. Such cows are awarded by MSSA in numbered sets. Such players have the right to use such cows instead of any such cows as supplied by any Tournament organiser in any event falling under the jurisdiction of MSSA.
  6. The outside ring is known as the “Exterior Ring” and the junctions are numbered clockwise from from the top left hand corner E1 to E8.
  7. The middle ring is known as the “Principle Ring” and the junctions are numbered clockwise from from the top left hand corner A1 to A8.
  8. The inner ring is known as the “Restricted Ring” and the junctions are numbered clockwise from from the top left hand corner R1 to R8.
  9. The notation was developed by Dr. Evgenii Rabiner.
  10. Notation shall be scored as follows:
  • When placing cows – just write the junction's address, that is “A1”, or “E5”, etc.
  • When moving cows – write down the initial junction's address with a hyphen and then the final function's address, for example: “A1 – A8”
  • When moving a cow to form a line and 'shooting' one of your opponent's cows, write down the initial junction's address with a hyphen an then the final function's address a multiplication sign and the address of the cow that has just been 'shot', for example: “A1 – A8 x E1”
  • Notation of a typical game may appear as follows:

  1. The notation for the board is owned by the International Wargames Federation, and boards are readily available from Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA).

How to play:

Play consists of three stages:
 
Stage 1:
  • Each player starts with 12 tokens called "cows".
  • The player who has been allocated the dark colour begins.
  • Starting with a clear board, each player alternatively places one cow at a time on a junction (circle). The aim is to create rows of three, either vertically, diagonally, or horizontally. Cows may only be placed on unoccupied junctions.
  • When three-in-a-row is achieved, the player may remove (shoot) one of the opponent's cows. A player can not shoot an opponent's "three-in-a-row" cows if there are other cows on the board left to shoot.
  • Only one of the opponent's cows may be shot at a time, even if two (or more) lines of three-in-a-row are achieved with one move.
  • Once a cow is shot, it shall not be used in play again. 
Stage 2
  • When all twelve cows of each player have been placed on the board as per Stage 1, cows may be moved from one junction to another. A move consists of moving a cow from one junction to an unoccupied junction immediately linked and adjacent to that junction.
  • Players may break their own lines of three-in-a-row in order to make new lines, or simply reposition their cows.
  • Cows may be moved back and forth to the same two junctions repeatedly. A three-in-a-row may be made, broken and remade repeatedly.
  • Notwithstanding the rule that lines may be broken and remade repeatedly, if a player breaks a line to immediately create a new line of three ‘cows’, such player may not move such cow back to the original junction in his/her next move, if it creates a new line.
For example:

Should a player have a ‘cow’ on the junction marked E6, such player may move it to the junction marked as A6 to immediately create a new line. However, in such player’s next move, he/she may not move the cow back to A6, instead, such player must do a different move before moving the cow back to E6 to immediately create a new line.
  • Each time a three-in-a-row is remade, an opponent's cow shall be shot.

Stage 3
  • When a player has lost all but three cows, then a player may move a cow to any vacant junction on the board with each move.
Winning the game
  • The game is won when the opponent cannot move any cows: or when the opponent has lost all but two cows.
  • When a player is down to three cows, and neither player is able to shoot an opponent's cow within ten moves, the game is a draw.
  • For National Championships and National Team Trials, failure to hand in a correct Notation Sheet is an automatic loss.
Competition rules
  • Boards and counters shall be provided for the competitors.
  • A modified Swiss system will operate throughout the competition. Players shall not play against any relatives in the first degree of consanguinity. Thus a player would not be allowed to play against his/her spouse, parent, brother, sister, and/or child. Additionally where possible a player will not be drawn against any fellow club or team member in the first two rounds of the competition.
  • The current IWF scoring system shall be used, that is 1 point for a victory, ½ a point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss per game.
  • Each player shall play six games against each opponent. Each player shall start three of such games.

Also read:

Tuesday 25 May 2021

Reminder: Gauteng Online Provincial Championships - 29 May 2021


With sporting events still under heavy Regulations as imposed by the South African Government, Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is continuing to run its online Provincial Championships.

The Gauteng Online Provincial Championships which shall be held  on 29 May 2021.

MSSA's Gauteng Online Provincial Championships, offers all Registered Players the opportunity to qualify for selection to the national squad and for the Protea Team.


In order to participate, Registered Players must be fully-paid-up. 


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


Game titles to be played are:


Period/genreTitlePlatformAge restrictionPlayers
Shooter
Call of Duty: Black Ops (Online only)PC/PS 4/5184 v 4
CS GOPC165 v 5
PaladinsPC/PS 4/5125 v 5
Sport
FIFA '21PS 4/531 v 1
PES 2021PS 4/531 v 1
MOBA
DotA 2PC125 v 5
Clash RoyaleMobile121 v 1
Fighting
Tekken 7PS 4/5161 v 1
Street Fighter VPS 4/5121 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:

  • In order to participate, Registered Players must be fully-paid-up. 

    Entries:

    Medals:


    Medals shall be handed over to winners at the next MSSA LAN that they attend. 


          MALE:

    • PREMIERMedals 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 ColoursOnly 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 ColoursAll Players that win all of their Matches at a National Championship will earn National Colours.
    • Provincial ColoursAll 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: 29 May 2021.
          • 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:

          • 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
          Also read: