How to have your favourite game titles selected for Provincial and National Championships.

Remember, to have your game preference played at Mind Sports South Africa's Provincial and National Championships, please advise MSSA by 1 November 2018 so that your choices may be placed on the agenda.

However, it should be remembered that even if an esports game title is not hosted at Provincial or National Championship level, it may still be played at Regional Championships, and even within the Ladder system.

It is through such system that MSSA is able to meet the wishes of its member clubs, and ultimately you, the esports athlete.

The current manner in which game titles are selected are as follows:

Schedule 3: SELECTION OF TITLES FOR PROVINCIAL AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

1. The periods (titles) selected shall be decided upon by the Annual General Meeting.
2. Not more that ten (10) titles shall be selected every year from nominations received.
3. The titles played at the most recent IESF World Championships shall automatically be selected.
4. The remaining titles may then be selected.
5. Should IESF introduce new titles into its World Championships which have not been selected by MSSA, then the least popular game in its genre (excluding titles that are being played at IESF’s World Championships) shall immediately fall away in favour of the new title.
6. The popularity of a period (title) shall be based on attendance at MSSA events.
7. Should IESF introduce new titles into its World Championships which have not been selected by MSSA, and no MSSA event have been held in such period (title) then the Board of Control shall decide which period (title) falls away in such genre (excluding titles that are being played at IESF’s World Championships).
8. Should IESF introduce new titles into its World Championships which have not been selected by MSSA, and therre are no other periods (titles) within its genre, then the least popular game (excluding titles that are being played at IESF’s World Championships) shall immediately fall away in favour of the new title.
9. For any period to be nominated, such period (title) shall have been played at any two Regional Events at which there were at least three teams per event.

Clans, MGO's, Clubs, and Regional, Provincial and National Teams.

Khahliso Malape (Fakkel School of Skills) representing South Africa for the FIFA '18 esports title.

Since 1998 when Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) ran its first esports provincial championship, MSSA realised that the greater media (Supersport, SABC, eTV, Sunday Times, etc.) and the general population does not understand Clans and Guilds and concepts like that.

However, they do understand the concept of Regional, Provincial, and Protea teams because it falls into their frame of reference. So, its much easier to get exposure for gamers when they are part of a Protea Team or Provincial Team. 

The more media coverage, the more the players involved can become known to the "non-gaming" audience and the more noticed they are by potential local sponsors. These gamers become known, go back to their clan or guild with a degree of fame that then makes the clans more attractive to potential local sponsors.

MSSA sees this happen with every Inter-Regional and Inter-Provincial event - some have had as much as 5 TV crews covering the event including SABC Sports who aired the segment in the sports section of the main news bulletin at 20H00. When last did a non-official competitive gaming event get that coverage? 

MSSA is aware that South Africa is able to compete in overseas events and MSSA regularly sendds teams to IESF's World Championships (just look at the fact that South Africa is ranked 12th in the world). The international coverage does translate back to sponsor interest but in order to create a fully sustainable market in which many salaried professional teams exist, greater emphasis should be placed on provincial teams.

Clubs benefit directly from having their players called up for duty in a provincial team as it opens greater opportunities to them to gain additional media coverage in the greater media.

Basically everyone wins!

Also read:

• 113 awards of Protea Colours for Esports since 2005 until 2017.
• Mind Sports South Africa names its League of Legends National Squad.
• MSSA announces its Protea CounterStrike: GO team to battle against Switzerland.
• Curro Klerksdorp and Oakhill School share the honours in the SA National Squad for the Dota 2 esports title.
• Regional Colours are awarded to 21 players at Sedibeng.

MSSA reveals the entry fees for the 2018/2019 season.

Although Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is the largest membership based organisation for gaming in South Africa, the passion of those volunteers who administrate has ensured that MSSA can continue to  run in a cost effective manner.

Those  volunteers, who forgo any personal advantage, have managed to keep costs down - even in a country where prices are forever on the rise.

By pursuing their passion, volunteers have ensured that:

• MSSA has the largest footprint in South Africa,
• MSSA has its own 24/7 channel on TULUNTULU on which any member club may post content,
• MSSA holds a number of school championships,
• MSSA holds more championships than any other organisation in South Africa,
• MSSA has an open system of government that allows any member to rise to positions of office,
• MSSA has sent more teams overseas than any other organisation,
• MSSA is the only body that may award Regional, Provincial, National, and Protea Colours for the games under its jurisdiction,
• MSSA is the only body that may select official teams to represent South Africa,
• MSSA is the only body in South Africa that may affiliate to CAeS, IWF, FMJD, and IeSF, and
• MSSA is in the vanguard of actively developing gaming in South Africa.

Thus, after long debate, MSSA's Management Board (MANCOM) has finally approved the new entry fees that will be in force from 1 November 2018 to 31 October 2019.

The fees for senior championships and trials are:
 

Discipline	Fees
Board games	R 34.00
Esports	R 68.00
Figure gaming (wargames)	R 68.00

The fees for school championships and trials are:
 

Discipline	Fees
Board games	R 17.00
Esports	R 34.00
Figure gaming (wargames)	R 34.00

Members are reminded that all entry fees must be paid by the club through bank transfer as MSSA does not collect entry fees at the event.

To qualify for National Team Trials.

Alasdair Donaldson (on the right) of the BOO! Protea Esports Team demolishing his opponent from Namibia.

With Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) already committed to attend IESF’s 10th World Championships - Kaohsiung, unique opportunities are being offered to athletes who hold South African passports.

While it is true that the team is only selected after the annual National Team Trials every year, such system provides all athletes who qualify for such trials with the opportunity to be selected.

It must be remembered that MSSA always tries to select the best possible teams to represent South Africa. Thus an athletes may not be selected in his/her first attempt at ‘Trials’ as the Selectors may not consider the athletes to be quite ready for the rigours of international competition.

The last thing MSSA wants to do is sacrifice emerging skill on the altar of competition to see such athletes become despondent and disappear from high level gaming.

Athletes are often crushed by the intensity of international competition if they do not have the correct mind-set. Getting into the Protea Team is the highest honour afforded to a South African. It is the first rung of the ladder to true international competition.

In order to qualify for MSSA’s 2018 National Team Trials (NTT), a fully-paid-up athlete needs to:

• Win a Regional Championship, and/or
• Finish in the top 3, or top 20%, of a Provincial or National Championship (whichever is greater), and/or
• Have represented South Africa in the Protea Team in 2018.

Athletes  are reminded that MSSA intends to hold its next National Team Trials on 4 & 5 May 2019.

Colours and the National Squad.

Members of the BOO! Protea Esports Team that were victorious against Namibia in June 2018.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is busy determining its national squads for the 2018/2019 period.

Registered Players are only members of the squad from the date of selection until the date of the next year's National Team Trials (NTT).

However, only those players who are selected from the squad to play in an international match actually receive their Protea Colours.

Even though MSSA does everything within its means to get all members of the squad to play in an international match, sometimes even the best laid plans fall into disarray and some squad members never get  that special opportunity of representing the country in an official international match.

That is why, all members of the national squads are awarded National Federation Colours according to their division.

Thus members of the senior squad are immediately awarded National Federation Colours, and members of the junior squad are immediately awarded Junior National Federation Colours.

Then as soon as such players are selected from the squad for the team, Protea Colours are awarded.

Such rule applies to all the disciplines being Board games, Card games, Esports and Wargames.

Requirements for receiving MSSA colours.

Recently bloggers not associated to MSSA have decided to publish articles on how MSSA awards colours.

There seems to be a fair amount of misunderstandings in this regard.

So, as to avoid any confusion in the future, the requirements for the award of colours.

However, before I begin, it should be remembered that each national federation creates its own criteria. Such criteria is  either placed in the constitution and/or regulations of such body. Thus the way that each federation awards colours may differ slightly from each other, but the principle remains the same, to encourage, promote, and reward excellence.

Regional Colours:

Regional Colours are awarded to:

• Persons selected by MSSA to represent the Region in which he/she is ordinarily resident in a team, or
• Persons who have played in and won all of his/her games in such Regional Championship, or
• Persons who have finished in the top three if an individual event in such Regional Championship, or
• Persons who have finished in first place if a team event in such Regional Championship, the winner of each and every official Regional Championship. 

Even a member of a club not affiliated to Mind Sports South Africa may qualify for such colours if having won the event.
Readers should too note that such colours are awarded to the player based on where such player is ordinarily resident.

It should be noted that South Africa has 56 regions, and MSSA is determined to establish regional championships in all of them.

School Provincial Colours:

School Provincial Colours are awarded to:

• Persons who have been selected by MSSA to represent the Province in which he/she is ordinarily resident in a team, or
• Persons who have won all games played at a Provincial Championship, or
• Persons who have played in Nationals and one Provincial School Championships (in the same period) and ended in the top 50% of scholars competing, and/or
• Persons who have played in at least two official Provincial School Championships (in the same period) and ended in the top 50% of scholars competing.

It should be noted that only Registered Players affiliated to a club affiliated to Mind Sports South Africa may qualify for such colours.

Readers should too note that such colours are awarded to the player based on where such player is ordinarily resident.

Student Provincial Championships:

Student Provincial Championships are awarded to:

• Has been selected by MSSA to represent the Province in which he/she is ordinarily resident in a team, or
• Persons who have won all games played at a Provincial Championship, or
• Persons who have played in Nationals and one "Premier" Provincial Championships (in the same period) and ended in the top 50% of students competing, and/or
• Persons who have played in at least two official "Premier" Provincial Championships (in the same period) and ended in the top 50% of students competing.

It should be noted that only Registered Players affiliated to a club affiliated to Mind Sports South Africa may qualify for such colours.
Readers should too note that such colours are awarded to the player based on where such player is ordinarily resident.



Provincial Colours:

To earn Provincial Colours, a player needs to:

• Have been selected by MSSA to represent the Province in which he/she is ordinarily resident in a team, or
• Have won all games played at a Provincial Championship, or
• Has played in Nationals and ended in the top 50%, and ended in the top 50% in such Provincial Championships in the same year.

It should be noted that only Registered Players affiliated to a club affiliated to Mind Sports South Africa may qualify for such colours.
Readers should too note that such colours are awarded to the player based on where such player is ordinarily resident.

National Federation Colours - Junior:

To earn Junior National Federation Colours, a player needs to:

• Be selected to represent MSSA, or 
• have won all his/her games at the S A National Championships or SA School Championships..

It should be noted that only Registered Players affiliated to a club affiliated to Mind Sports South Africa may qualify for such colours.

National Federation Colours - Senior:

To earn Senior National Federation Colours, a player needs to:

• Be selected to represent MSSA, or 
• has won all his/her games at the S A National Championships.

It should be noted that only Registered Players affiliated to a club affiliated to Mind Sports South Africa may qualify for such colours.

Protea Colours:

To earn Prrotea Colours, a player needs to:

• Be selected to represent MSSA in an international match and play in such match if the match is played within South Africa. or
• Be selected to represent MSSA in an international match played outside South Africa.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) never takes selection for a national team lightly

The BOO! 2017 Protea Esports Team. Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) never takes selection for a national team lightly. Since being selected to officially represent South Africa for esports is the same as being represented by any other South African National Federation for any other sport, team selection must have great meaning to the esports players. The award of National Team status for esports also leads to comparisons from other sports as it is the highest level in esports, just as much as the Springboks are the highest level in rugby.

The selection process always has a dilemma as it is known that when choosing a team for international duty, concepts such as 'potential' does not have any meaning. Also, with South Africa being so far away from mainstream events, it is always difficult to relate how players who have performed well  at regional, provincial, and national championships will perform at a international level.

With MSSA there is no automatic selection to the team.

Every player standing for selection has to reprove him/herself.

International competition is tough. Much tougher than  anything that you will encounter in South Africa, and that is part of the problem.

In my opinion a number of events, with their large cash prizes, do nothing to develop strength or depth. Such events seem to only promote the same old favoured few with no real eye to developing real gaming strength for the future. Without a long-term view, South African gaming will never improve and South African teams shall, in my opinion, remain the whipping boys of the international community.

I am too reminded of when MSSA brought out SK Gaming's CS:GO and DotA 2 teams in 2008.

MSSA arranged, as a courtesy, a 'friendly' between SK Gaming's CounterStrike: GO team against a South African club team. The match  was so one-sided, it was horrible. Since it was BO3, SK Gaming rather than thrash the local team again, just gave them the third game.

In conclusion, for South Africa to  do well overseas, all teams must buy-in to a  long-term development programme and  not look to quick gratification. The average standard of play must be improved upon if players expect to improve the highest level of play.

While there are the exceptional cases of individuals who may achieve greatness inn spite  of their surroundings, generally speaking, successful athletes are produced in successful environments which  have successful coaches, expert administrators, and efficient administration.

Why MSSA's Free State Championships are important.

MSSA's 2017 Protea Team that attended IESF's 9th World championships - Busan.

Of course every championship is important when it comes to evaluating just how good a team's training sessions are.

It is only in true competition that teams are able to judge how far they have come, and if honest with themselves, how much further they have to go.

But why is the Free State Championship so important?

For a start, the Free State Championships is the furthest  away from Mind Sports South Africa's 2019 National Team Trials. This means that the pressure is off. Team managers/captains are afforded the opportunity to try out new tactics and new strategies. Such new ideas could lead to better gameplay leading up to the prestigious S A National Championships in December and to the 2019 National Team Trials.

Secondly, team managers/captains may also experiment with the very composition of its teams. 

Should a club have a larger pool of players, not only will a club be able to deliver its best possible team to MSSA's 2019 National Team Trials, but will also promote depth and competitiveness in the club itself.

For any club to survive from year-to-year, a club needs to be competitive and to have a number of athlete.

Thirdly, by participating at MSSA's Free State Championships, a team is able to set up a track record of just how it performs over the year. Such track record is important for the Selection Committee to evaluate the overall performance of the teams under review. Another important tool in this regard is a team's participation in MSSA's Ladders.

Thus any team even remotely interested in qualifying for MSSA's 2019 National Team Trials should therefore seriously consider participating in MSSA's Free State Championships as selection to the national team is often a long term goal that is to be taken very seriously.

Team 'Goon Squad' ascends to the top of MSSA's rankings for the League of Legends esports title.

Brett Whitehead (a member of MSSA's 2017 Protea Esports Team), helping to power VexxedPhoenix to the top.

Taking into account Mind Sports South Africa's Online Provincial Championships, and MSSA's 17th Mpumalanga Championships, MSSA has produced its latest rankings for the League of Legends esports title.

Even though 'Good Gaming LoL' (Good Gaming) comfortably won MSSA's Online Provincial Championships, and MiricleWhipp (Helpmekaar College) comfortably won MSSA's 17th Mpumalanga Championships Team 'VxP Goon Squad' (VexxedPhoenix) ascended into pole-position in South Africa's official rankings.

The rankings shall be used at MSSA's 15th Free State Championships which is to be played on 23 & 24 June 2018.

The rankings for the League of Legends esports title are:

Pos	Name of Player	year	Club	Points
1	VxP Goon Squad	18	VexxedPhoenix	287.3
2	Genx Nightwalkers	18	Generation X	283.6
3	St Stithians	18	St Stithians	216.7
4	Good Gaming LoL	18	Good Gaming	208.4
5	Yenex	18	THS Tom Naudé	200.6
6	Valkyrie	18	Valhalla	198.5
7	Genx Prominance	17	Generation X	188.1
8	HS Parys	18	HSP	180.1
9	Tuks 1	18	Tuks Mind Sports Club	170.3
10	White Rabbit Gaming	16	White Rabbit Gaming	145
11	Team Vapor	16	Sasolburg High	145
12	St Conrads	16	Curro Klerksdorp	145
13	Oathbreakers	17	Valhalla	145
14	Liquad unknown	17	Non members	145
15	Limbros A	17	FRAGCON	145
16	Legion of Shadows	17	We are Legion	145
17	Gryphons	16	Knights Mind Sports Club	145
18	Fuzz Logic	16	VexxedPhoenix	145
19	Fuga Dracones	17	Hoërskool Wonderboom	145
20	Eternal	17	VexxedPhoenix	145
21	Dark Phoenix	17	VexxedPhoenix	145
22	MoMs	17	Masters of Mind Sports	142.2
23	The Lunar Squad	18	Empangeni High School	138.2
24	Team Glc	18	Grantleigh	134.7
25	PR0NHS	18	Northcliff High	131.1
26	Pride	17	Parktown Boys	128.5
27	STS 1	16	St Stithians	125
28	Silver and Friends	16	WOERIES	124.5
29	Valerian	18	Valhalla	124
30	WBHS/LoL	17	Westville Boys	120
31	Team Try Hard	18	FRAGCON	118.9
32	Valor	18	Valhalla	118
33	Dota 4 Lyf	16	Northcliff High	113.4
34	Eternals	18	Paul Roos Gimnasium	105.7
35	MiricleWhipp	18	Helpmekaar	105
36	GHS LoL	18	Eastern Cape	103.6
37	9th Phanax	17	THS Tom Naudé	102
38	Virtual Desire Gaming	17	Hoërskool Wonderboom	100
39	Team Elusium	17	Hoërskool Wonderboom	100
40	lofdal	16	Lofdal	100
41	Empangeni lol	17	Empangeni High School	100
42	Northwood highschool	18	Northwood highschool	100
43	GWH LoL	17	Glenwood House	99.9
44	Genx Checkmate	17	Generation X	98
45	CCS Shadow Hunters	16	Crawford Sandton	97.5
46	Vanilla	18	Valhalla	97.5
47	Dark Phoenix	17	Generation X	95.3
48	Valerie	18	Valhalla	90
49	Vayel	18	Valhalla	90
50	fantacy storm	17	HTS/HGH	80
51	Death Squad	17	THS Tom Naudé	76.5
52	BISH	16	BISH	75
53	K1IIJOYS	16	Hoërskool Generaal Hertzog	45

Other official rankings produced by MSSA are as follows:

• Senior Ancients Wargames
• Senior CounterStrike: GO
• Senior DotA 2
• Senior FIFA '18
• Senior HearthStone
• Senior Injustice 2
• Senior League of Legends
• Senior Morabaraba
• Senior Mortal Kombat X
• Senior Pro Evolution Soccer (PES)
• Senior StarCraft II
• Senior Street Fighter V
• Senior Tekken 7
• Schools CounterStrike: GO
• Schools DotA 2
• Schools FIFA
• Schools HearthStone
• Schools League of Legends