Esports South Africa, and other games : Cheonan

Showing posts with label Cheonan. Show all posts

Tuesday, 24 April 2018

Baber Abbas wins MSSA's Tekken 7 Online Provincial Championships.

Baber Abbas (in the foreground) in action.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) has sent esports athletes for the Tekken esports title to four (4) IESF World Championships. The championships to which MSSA had sent esports athletes to officially represent South Africa were held in Cheonan (2012), Bucharest (2013), Baku (2014) and Busan (2017).

In all such world championships, South Africa did well, and it could be argued that it is in the esports title of Tekken that South Africa has the best chance of earning a medal.

Thus the standard of Tekken as played in South Africa is of a particularly high standard.

Nevertheless, Baber powered his way through his opposition to win with a perfect score. As a result thereof, Baber has once again earned provincial colours and a place at MSSA's National Team Trials to be held on 2 & 3 June 2018.

The results of the top three players in the Tekken 7 esports title are:

Premier:

Pos	Name of team	Club	Points
1	Baber Abbass	Knights Mind Sports Club	15
2	Austin (Sphaget) Carlous	Cape Town Mind Sports Club	12
3	Moorcraft Richard	Cape Town Mind Sports Club	9

High School:

Pos	Name of team	Club	Points	Tie-break
1	Halgreen Ian	Empangeni High School	6	34
2	Nzimande Unathi	Empangeni High School	6	10
3	Sekele Komape	HTS Tom Naude	3

Other results of MSSA's Online Championships may be viewed at:

Wednesday, 21 March 2018

Tekken 7: Players who have qualified for National Team Trials at the 6th Limpopo Championships.

Gamers at MSSA's 6th Limpopo Championships enjoying a game of Tekken 7.

With only 3 senior Provincial esports championships left before MSSA's National Team Trials (NTT) which are to be held on 2 & 3 June 2018, the race is on to see who will be selected.

The three events left are:

23rd North West Championships - 24 & 25 March 2018, and
MSSA's Annual Online Provincial Championships - 21 April 2018, and
17th Mpumulanga Championships - 26 & 27 May 2018.

Tekken was played at IESF's World Championships in 2012 (Cheonan), 2013 (Bucharest), 2014 (Baku), and in 2017 (Busan).

At all such events, Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) sent a team, and at all four of the events, the team played their best and did South Africa proud.

Thus at MSSA's 6th Limpopo Championships for the esports title for Tekken 7 five (5) players qualified for National Team Trials for such period should trials be held for such period.

Trials for any title (period) are always held at the discretion of Mind Sports South Africa.

The venue for the National Team Trials shall be announced within the 1st week of April of each year.

National Team Trials for esports shall be held on 2 and 3 June 2018.

The criteria to qualify for such trials all Registered Players that win a Regional Championship shall earn an invitation to National Team Trials.

Also, all Registered Players that score within the top 20% or top three places, whichever is greater, in a specific Period at a Provincial or National Championship shall earn an invitation to National Team Trials.

It should be remembered that members of the current Protea Squad automatically earn a berth at the National Team Trials (NTT) should they have met their obligations in terms of participation at MSSA events.

The Registered Players that earned such an invite for the Tekken 7 esports title are:

Name of player	Club	Period	Province
Sekele Komape	THS Tom Naude	Tekken 7	Limpopo
Tetelo Mphahlele	THS Tom Naude	Tekken 7	Limpopo
Keanu de Waal	THS Tom Naude	Tekken 7	Limpopo
Cameron Gilburt	Fragcon	Tekken 7	Limpopo
Simoné Otto	THS Tom Naude	Tekken 7	Limpopo

Other Registered Players that have earned a berth at MSSA's 2018 National Team Trials (NTT) are:

Sunday, 4 March 2018

Tekken 7 - Registered Players who qualified at 'Gauteng' for National Team Trials.

Jeremy Seremak (HTS Sasolburg) adding yet another title to his name at MSSA's 36th Gauteng Provincial Championships.

The esports title of Tekken has been played at IESF's World Championships in 2012 (Cheonan), 2013 (Bucharest), 2014 (Baku), and in Busan (2017).

Thus it is no surprise that Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) promotes the title as much as possible at every level.

The various Tekken players that have represented South Africa at all of the above-named IESF World Championships have done so with pride, made many a new friend, and have been an absolute credit to the country.

Those who have represented South Africa for the esports title of Tekken are:

2012 - Lyrene Kühn (Knights Mind Sports Club),
2013 - Lyrene Kühn (Knights Mind Sports Club),
2014 - Morizane Boyes (BNKR Gaming), and
2017 - Alasdair Donaldson (Knights Mind Sports Club).

Three more players in MSSA's 36th Gauteng Provincial Championships all earned their berths in MSSA's 2018 National Team Trials.

The criteria to qualify for such trials all Registered Players that win a Regional Championship shall earn an invitation to National Team Trials.

Also, all Registered Players that score within the top 20% or top three places, whichever is greater, in a specific Period at a Provincial or National Championship shall earn an invitation to National Team Trials.

It should be remembered that members of the current Protea Squad automatically earn a berth at the National Team Trials (NTT) should they have met their obligations in terms of participation at MSSA events.

The Registered Players that earned such an invite for the Tekken esports title are:

Name of player	Club	Period	Province
Jeremy Seremak	HTS Sasolburg	Tekken 7	Free State
Hloni Khaile	HTS Sasolburg	Tekken 7	Free State
Joost Loftus	Masters of Mind Sports	Tekken 7	Free State

Other Registered Players that have earned a berth at MSSA's 2018 National Team Trials (NTT) are:

Friday, 22 December 2017

MSSA's Management Board Members.

Morizane Boyes (MSSA's President) in gaming mode.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) was founded in 1985 and since its inception has relied only upon volunteers to run the organisation.

Volunteers remain the back-bone of MSSA, and without the continued passion of such, MSSA would cease to be.

Even though MSSA pursues aggressive gender policies, the number of female participation on MANCOM fell from 42% to 31%. This was due to very few females standing for positions at MSSA's Annual General Meeting. Had females contested any/all of the available positions, the current rules would only have allowed the female candidates to have been elected.

With Morizane Boyes holding the position of president, MSSA is confident that the needs and wants of Registered Players who are females will be addressed as never before.

It is should be noted that only MSSA has sent females to participate in every IESF World Championships since 2012 (Cheonan, Bucharest, Baku, Seoul, Jakarta, and Busan). However, it was pleasing to see other national federations starting to emulate MSSA by including females in their teams - well done Thailand!

The full list of MSSA's Management Board (MANCOM) members for 2017 is as follows:

Position	Name	Term of office	Club
President	Morizane Boyes	2016 -2019	HTS Witbank
Deputy President	James Evans	2017 – 2020	Knights Mind Sports Club
Vice-President (Development)	Johan van Breda	2017 – 2020	ZAGA
Vice-President (Umpiring)	Adele Janse van Rensburg	2016 -2019	Generation X
Vice-President (Liaison)	Sheraaz Nunnian	2016 -2019	East London Esports
Vice-President (Events)	Leonard Loftus	2017 – 2020	Masters of Mind Sports
General Secretary	Colin Webster	2016 -2019	Old Edwardian Wargames Club
Board Gaming Representative	Joseph Matlhong	2016 -2019	North West University – Vaal
Card Gaming Representative	Paula Loftus	2016 -2019	Masters of Mind Sports
Esports Representative	Ryan Boyes	2016 -2019	BNKR
Wargames Representative	Terence Allwright	2017 – 2020	Old Edwardian Wargames Club
Womens’ Desk	Blair Hamberger	2016 -2019	IntenSity E-Sports
Athletes’ Representative	Jason Batzofin	2016 -2019	Old Edwardian Wargames Club
National Schools’ Director	Darryl-Lee Bruce-Smith	2017 – 2020	HTS Sasolburg – Gaming Club
Differently Abled Persons Representative	Twane Tollemache	2016 -2019	BNKR
Legal Representative	Carl Holliday	2016 -2019	Knights Mind Sports Club

Saturday, 7 October 2017

There are two types of gamer...

Robert Botha in action in Andong, South Korea.

Without doubt Robert 'PandaTank' Botha was one of the greatest gamers ever produced by South Africa. Robert first represented South Africa at IeSF's 3rd World Championships - Andong (2011), IeSF's 4th World Championships - Cheonan (2012), and in the test match against Romania held in Johannesburg against Romania (Silvui 'NightEnd' Lazar) which was held in Johannesburg in 2013 in MSSA's Protea Esports Teams. As an individual, Robert also played in privately owned competitions such as 'Dreamhack' and ESWC. At one stage Robert was even ranked eighth in the world by IeSF.

However, all good things come to an end, and Robert retired from professional gaming in 2014.

Nevertheless, Robert was a perfect example of a South African who competed in international events as well as in privately owned events held outside of South Africa. ties that got him Robert's dedication, self-discipline, enthusiasm, passion, and determination were the qualities that got him to the top echelons of gaming.

Robert, thus falls neatly into the first type of gamer.

The first type of gamer who is desirous of getting into a national team in order to compete at the highest levels. Once in international competition, such gamer 'ups' his/her game in order to re-qualify for the team in order to continue to compete at such level. It becomes a passion to compete at the highest levels, and the gamer doubles his/her efforts to improve his/her game.

Then there is the second type of gamer. This type of gamer sees international competition as part of his/her 'bucket-list'. In other words, the act of getting into a national team just becomes another item on his/her list of life-experiences. Generally speaking, this type of gamer, on returning from international competition, drops out of mainstream competition as he/she has achieved his/her objectives.

Of course, Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) always attempts to put the first type of gamer into its National Protea Teams. However, the acid test is when the gamers come up against international competition, when the intense ferocity of the highest level of play either tempers or breaks the resolve of the gamers at such event.

Tuesday, 14 February 2017

"We are the Spartans!" - SAHETI

Back row (left to right): Alexis Apollonatos, Peter Cambanis, William van Straten
Front row (left to right): Ilias Varnavides, Alessandro Gomes

SAHETI has a proud record in eSports. Having developed Gabriella Isaacs who served in MSSA's 2012 Protea eSports Team at IeSF's 4th World Championships - Cheonan, the school has consistently maintained a high standard.

Thus at MSSA's 7th Online School Provincial Championships played on 11 February 2017, SAHETI again entered teams of high quality into the CounterStrike: GO title.

CounterStrike: GO remains the most popular title within MSSA's stable of titles as played at school championship level.

Going into the championships as the third seed, the SAHETI team (appropriately named 'Spartans A') knew that they had a hard day ahead of themselves. There too was a great deal of uncertainty as 10 new teams also entered the event.

The first two games progressed smoothly, with the 'Spartans A' taking the games 16 - 1, and 16 - 5.

However, in the third round, the 'Spartans A' faced their old adversaries, and 2nd seed, Parklands College. The contest between the two ended in a draw, which left the result of the championship uncertain.

As usual, the championship also produced a few upsets. Cedar House had quietly crept up, and by the end of the 4th round were just 1 point behind 'Spartans A'.
The Battle of Thermopylae was like a Sunday picnic compared to the epic proportions of the clash between the 'Spartans A' and Cedar House.
The game would ultimately decide on which team would be the ultimate victor in the CounterStrike: GO title.

It was a close match (16 - 11), but 'Spartans A' (of SAHETI) wrested the laurels from Cedar House.
The top three teams are:

POS	Team Name	School	Total
1	SpartansA	SAHETI	13
2	PG18	Parklands College	11
3	Cedar House	Cedar House	9

Wednesday, 18 January 2017

Accrediting people.

Gabriella Isaacs - second in StarCraft II (females) at IeSF's 4th World Championships - Cheonan.

Over the years Mind Sports South Africa has done everything within its power, and budget, to develop teams for international competition.

The system used by MSSA has allowed many players to benefit and thereby earn National and Protea Colours.

Even after excluding National Colours awarded to Board games, Robotics and Wargames (164 Registered Players since 1985), eSports Registered Players have received 133 such awards from 2005.

This means that there is a great deal of 'upward mobility' where players are regularly replaced 'Young Turks'.

This is even more surprising when a number of players (8) have remained in the team for a couple, or more, years.

The scale of MSSA's involvement in IeSF events can only be lauded as seen by the number of players that have benefitted from such competition.

However, it is all about accrediting people.

The awards may be nice to make people feel really good about themselves, but the involvement in a national team is life-changing and is an education in itself.

And that is what MSSA is all about.

The numbers of players that have officially represented South Africa in eSports are:

Year	# of National Players (overseas)	# of National players (Test Match in SA)	# of National Players (online test matches)	Annual total
2016	12	0	3	15
2015	8	0	16	24
2014	10	0	5	15
2013	10	1	15	26
2012	4 (1)	0	9	13
2011	5 (2)	0	0	5
2010	9	0	0	9
2009	4	0	0	4
2008	1	5	0	6
2007	1	0	0	1
2006	10	0	0	10
2005	5 (3)	0	0	5
TOTAL	79	6	48	133

Notes:

Gabriella Isaacs won silver at IeSF's 4th World Championships - Cheonan.
Jaco Engelbrecht won silver at IeSA - Jeju.
Logan Brooke-Smith won gold at World Cyber Games.

Esports South Africa, and other games