Monday 29 August 2022

MSSA selects its SA Student team to journey to Russia

Johan van Breda will be managing South Africa's Student Esports Team.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) has accepted an invite from the Russian Esports Federation to enter its SA Student DotA and Counter-Strike: GO teams into a four way test match to be played in the Yota Arena, Moscow Russia from 15 to 17 September 2022.

There will be a total prize fund of 1,500,000 Rubles, which equates to ZAR422,927.33, per game title.

The prize fund is broken down as follows:

1st place ­– 800 000 rubles
2nd place – 400 000 rubles
3rd place – 200 000 rubles
4th place – 100 000 rubles

Since there are only four countries participating, the other four are, Russia, Serbia, and Kazakhstan, it means that all the teams are guaranteed of walking away with a healthy purse.

The trials for the team to journey to Moscow were held at MSSA's annual North West Online Championships. With students from six (6) institutions of higher learning fighting for a place in the team, the standard of play was of the highest standard.

As soon as the championship was over, MSSA swung into action and selected its National Student Esports teams for the Counter-Strike: GO and DotA titles.

The team selected is as follows:

Esports titleName of playerInstitution of higher learning
Counter-Strike: GO
Joshua ChapmanUniversity of Cape Town (UCT)
Simon ZandstraUniversity of Stellenbosch (MATIES)
Sebastian PelaezUniversity of Cape Town (UCT)
Robert ButlerUniversity of Cape Town (UCT)
Armand Pierre van der ColfUniversity of Pretoria (TUKS)
DotA
Christian UysUniversity of Stellenbosch (MATIES)
Lennard KoekemoerUniversity of Pretoria (TUKS)
Nathan BeckUniversity of Pretoria (TUKS)
Suhail KhanUniversity of Pretoria (TUKS)
Tameer ChicktaySWPS Uniwersytet

The team shall be managed by veteran Team Manager - Johan van Breda.

Additional reading:

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Friday 26 August 2022

Excitement builds before selection of SA esports team to compete in Russia.


The excitement is almost palpable in the South African gaming community as esports athletes ready themselves for Mind Sports South Africa's (MSSA) trials to select a Student DotA and Counter-Strike: GO team to participate in a four way test match to be played in the Yota Arena, Moscow, Russia from 15 to 17 September 2022.

The trials will form part of MSSA's North West Online Esports Championships to be held on 27 August 2022.

The prize fund of 1,500,000 Rubles, which equates to ZAR422,927.33, per game title at such four way test makes this an event not to be missed.

The prize fund is broken down as follows:

1st place ­– 800 000 rubles
2nd place – 400 000 rubles
3rd place – 200 000 rubles
4th place – 100 000 rubles

Since there are only four countries participating, the other four are, Russia, Serbia, and Kazakhstan, it means that all the teams are guaranteed of walking away with a healthy purse.

The modern Park Tower hotel, known for its services for tourists, businessmen, sportsmen, youth, school children and families will be home to the South African Students Esports Team while in Russia. The hotel boasts  of every amenity and is famous for its breakfasts....

The Event program for the South African Students Esports Team at the event shall be:

September 14 – arrival day
September 15 – media day
September 16 – first day of competitions
September 17 – second day of competitions
September 18 – departure day

As soon as the trials are over, MSSA shall select the South African Students Esports Team and do the necessary entry.

Additional reading:

  • 2022 Calendar of Events
  • Affiliation: Private Clubs
  • Affiliation - School
  • Notices: Student DOTA and CSGO teams off to Moscow, Russia with1,500,000 Rubles at stake.
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    Freedom of Association


    Last night Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) received an enquiry from an esports athlete who although wishing to participate in the trials being held at MSSA's North West Online Esports Championships to be held on 27 August 2022 was told that he was forbidden to do so by his team's management.

    This once again raises the issue of the principle of Freedom of Association which is enshrined in the South African Constitution.

    The right to freedom of association, which is one of the cornerstones of liberal democracy, stems from a basic human need for society, community, and shared purpose in a freely chosen enterprise. It is an essential feature of (liberal or social) democratic society, protecting individuals from the vulnerability of isolation and ensuring the potential of effective participation in a society

    In this case, the athlete was unable to produce his contract with the so-called professional team.

    Without being able to review the contract, which is apparently held by the team, and not available to the athlete to beshown to third parties, MSSA is unable to express a comprehensive opinion.

    While it is true that every employee must have a copy of their own contract, only if there is a NDA already specified in such contract, may the contract not be shown by the employee to third persons. However, it should be noted that, even if the contract  does contain an NDA, the employee always has the right to obtain legal opinion.

    Thus, in order to see if the employer is infringing on the professional esports athlete's rights apropos Freedom of Association, the contract would have to be reviewed as the contract may impose limitations on the athlete in terms of representation, participation in non sanctioned events, wearing of kit, receiving addditional remuneration, etc.

    It is therefore vitally important that every professioinal player, when signing a contract, follows the following steps:

    • Keep a copy of the contract, and
    • Obtain legal opinion before signing.
    It must also be remembered that a contract cannot be unilaterally amended by the employer.Any amendments must be agreed to by both parties.

    So, if you are an esports athlete, and you do not ave a copy of your contract, please remember that you have a legal right to possess such. In fact, for an employer to not provide an employee with a copy of his/her contract is contrary to the Conditions  of Employment Act and is a criminal offence.

    All it takes to have a copy is for you to say to your employer, "Please provide me with a copy of my contract!".

    It is that easy...

    Additional reading

    2022 Calendar of Events

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    Thursday 25 August 2022

    Fighting for a share of ZAR844,000.00.



    While not every University, like Wits, NWU, Tuks, and Maties, have esports clubs properly affiliated to Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) a number of students are concerned that they miss out on the massive opportunity offered in respect of representing South Africa in Moscow against Russia, Serbia, and Kazakhstan.

    To recap, there is prize money of     1,500,000 Rubles, which equates to ZAR422,927.33, per game title.

    The prize fund is broken down as follows:

    1st place ­– 800 000 Rubles

    2nd place – 400 000 Rubles

    3rd place – 200 000 Rubles

    4th place – 100 000 Rubles

    To ensure maximum participation, where a student is not a member of a tertiary institution club affiliated to MSSA, such Registered Player may play for his/her own club.

    Should a player not be a Registered Player affiliated to a member club, and still want to try to be selected at MSSA's North West Online Esports Championships to be held on 27 August 2022, all such athlete need do is:

    It is incredibly easy to constitute a club and to affiliate.

    MSSA shall assist every applicant every part of the way, but time is of the essence, and all such applications must be submitted by 17H00 on Friday, 25 August 2022.

    Additional reading:

  • 2022 Calendar of Events
  • Affiliation: Private Clubs
  • Affiliation - School
  • Notices: Student DOTA and CSGO teams off to Moscow, Russia with1,500,000 Rubles at stake.
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    SA Student DOTA and CSGO teams off to Moscow, Russia with 3,000,000 Rubles at stake.

    The venue at which 3,000,000 Rubles will be on offer - as well as national pride!

    Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) has just received a request from the Russian Esports Federation to enter its Student DotA and Counter-Strike: GO teams into a four way test match to be played in the Yota Arena, Moscow Russia from 15 to 17 September 2022.

    There will be a total prize fund of 1,500,000 Rubles, which equates to ZAR422,927.33, per game title.

    The prize fund is broken down as follows:

    1st place ­– 800 000 rubles

    2nd place – 400 000 rubles

    3rd place – 200 000 rubles

    4th place – 100 000 rubles

    Since there are only four countries participating, the other four are, Russia, Serbia, and Kazakhstan, it means that all the teams are guaranteed of walking away with a healthy purse.

    The fully funded team shall only be selected from players who are currently registered at a South African institution of higher education, and

    Such team shall be selected at MSSA's North West Online Esports Championships to be held on 27 August 2022,

    For further information, please contact MSSA at mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com

    Additional reading:

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    Wednesday 24 August 2022

    Nominations required by 31 August 2022 for MSSA's Management Board Awards.

    Colin Webster (President of Mind Sports South Africa) encouraged the implementation of the awards in 2009 and all subsequent developments.

    Mind Sports South Africa's Management Board Awards are the longest running awards for gaming in South Africa. The awards take into account all the various disciplines being, board gaming, card gaming, esports, and wargaming.

    It could even be argued that such awards are the longest running awards for rewarding such athletes in the world having started in 2009. Whereas the long running awards (like BAFTA) acknowledge the games themselves, MSSA's Management Board Awards acknowledge the contribution made by the very gamers/athletes themselves. 

    MSSA's Management Board Awards were initiated in 2009 to reward excellence not specifically provided for in MSSA's Constitution.

    When reading through the names of those previously honored, the reader is quickly reminded of MSSA's rich history. The names are not just names, these are the men and women who have made an incredible contribution to the various mind sports in South Africa and even beyond South Africa's borders.

    The awards are now more representative of MSSA's membership, of the work being done, and of society as a whole.

    It should be noted by the reader that the categories for Writer of the Year, Social Media Person of the Year, and Sponsor of the Year are open categories and apply to anyone that has given their 'all' to the development of boardgames, card games, esports, and wargames as a sport.

    The awards now take into account the following categories:
    • Mind Sports Person of the Year
    • Board Gamer of the Year
    • Esports Player of the Year
    • Wargamer of the Year
    • Team of the Year
    • Volunteer of the Year
    • Umpire of the Year
    • Coach of the Year
    • Educator of the Year
    • Writer of the Year
    • Social Media Person of the Year
    • Sponsor of the Year

    MSSA's Management Board requests all members to make submissions by 31 August 2022.

    The names of previous winners may be seen on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_Sports_South_Africa#Management_Board_Awards

    Additional reading:

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    North West Online Esports Championships - 27 August 2022


    With Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) having held its National Team Trials on 29 July 2022 to select its Protea Teams to serve South Africa for 2022 to 2023, the North West Online Championships is the first event at which athletes can qualify for the 2023 National Team Trials(NTT).

    MSSA's 2nd North West Online Provincial Championships shall be held on 27 August 2022.

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


    Game titles to be played are:

    Period/genreTitlePlatformAge restrictionPlayers
    Shooter
    		Call of DutyMobilePC/mobile185 v 5
    CS GOPC165 v 5
    PaladinsPC/console125 v 5
    PUBG MobileMobile174 v 4
    Sport
    		FIFA '22Console121 v 1
    PES 2022Console121 v 1
    MOBA
    		DotA 2PC125 v 5
    Clash RoyaleMobile121 v 1
    League of LegendsPC125 v 5
    Mobile Legends: Bang BangMobile125 v 5
    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:

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

    Entries:

    • Entry is R100.00 per Registered Player.
    • Only fully-paid-up Registered Players may participate in this event.
    • Entries must be submitted by 26 August 2022.
    • To enter, the club must complete the Google Drive document. 
    • The entry form may be found on Google Drive. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_ERR6815uVjSMu4t5KkRxYqGJ_AA88kkz31qRgksASc/edit#gid=287696184
    • Clubs are to download the entry form, completed the downloaded form, and e-mail it to Mind Sports South Africa. 
    • Photograhs of participants must be supplied with entry.

    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 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.

    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: 27 August 2022.
          • 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

          Additional reading:

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