IESF announces first three titles for 12th World Championships

Israeli eSports Association officials with Amanda Pakade (MSSA President) and Johan van Breda (Protea Team Manager) shortly after the annoucement that IESF's 12th World Championships is to be held in Israel.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) has been advised that IESF has announced that eFootball (PES), Tekken 7 and DOTA 2 shall bee played at IESF's 12th World Championship to be held in Eilat, Israel, in November 2020.

Konami’s eFootball Pro Evolution Soccer (eFootball PES) will return for its second year as an official game title at IESF's World Championship. With its long history of international appeal, eFootball is a natural choice for international Esports competitions. Blake Govender (Oakhill School) ably represented South Africa in 2019, and it will be interesting to see if he can maintain his position in the team.

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment’s Tekken 7 shall once again be held at IESF's World Championship. The popular 1:1 fighting game was first released in 1994. South Africa has always had a representattive in this title since its introduction in IESF's events in 2011. In 2019 Charlize Seremak (HTS Sasolburg) represented South Africa.

DOTA 2, being one of the most popular esports titles in recent years. Although the title was won by Sweden in IESF's 11th World Championship in Seoul, South Africa put in a fine performance.

IESF President, Colin Webster, stated, “It would be an honour to have the defending world champions for Tekken 7 and DotA 2 attend IESF’s 12th World Championships. IESF’s 12th World Championships to be held in Eilat in November 2020 promises to be the most well produced world championships ever. Without doubt, such World Championships is the jewel in the crown.”

Colin then added, “Special thanks must be extended to the publishers of the titles for the use of such titles. Without the continued support of the publishers, esports would not be the most vibrant sport in the world.”

Amanda Kwaza, MSSA President, has already committed South Africa to be fully represented at IESF’s 12th World Championships. Also read:

• Ensuring gender equity in esports.
• MSSA celebrates its women who have earned Protea Colours.
• Why schools and universities should invest in esports.
• How school clubs affiliate for the 2020 season.
• The various events held by Mind Sports South Africa.
• Why schools and universities should invest in esports
• New National Team Selection Criteria
• Selecting the national Protea teams for Mind Sports South Africa.
• The road to Eilat

MSSA nominates its General Secretary for another term on the IeSF Board

Colin Webster - MSSA's General Secretary

With the closing date for nominations for International e-Sports Federation (IeSF) Board positions having passed, MSSA recently revealed that NF had once again nominated Colin Webster for a position on the Board.

It should be noted that Colin has attended every single IeSF Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) since 2009 and has been involved in drafting many of the constitutional changes. Many of the changes have helped IeSF to develop to what it is now.

Colin Webster was involved in drafting the Statutes for the short-lived IeSMoD (the International eSports federation for the disabled gamer) which was later  renamed as IeSA.

However, MSSA withdrew its support from the IeSMoD believing that IeSF and IeSA should combine. Even though South Africa enjoyed great success in 2010 at IeSA's World Championships, MSSA still advocated the merging of the two bodies which would enable both able-bodied and disabled gamers to compete side-by-side.

Without MSSA's support the International Federation (IF) faltered and collapsed.

Colin has been very dedicated to IeSF, and in 2013 was elected onto IeSF's Board.

However, the term of office is now up, and at the 2016 Ordinary General Meeting, members shall vote for for the Board that  shall carry IeSF forward until 2019.

Since IeSF has yet to reveal the other candidates, it is anyone's guess as to who will be elected.

Israel wins League of Legends Test Match

On Saturday, 14 November 2015 Maryke 'Ykie' Kennard gallantly lead the MWEB Protea eSports Team for League of Legends to take on Israel in an official IeSF sanctioned Test Match that will hopefully further prepare the South African team for the IeSF's 7^th World Championships to be played in Seoul, South Korea.

The Protea Team played from THE H.I.V.E, Montecasino, Johannesburg, and was screened on http://www.twitch.tv/4dv_tv

The Protea Team got off to a nervous start in the first game. It should be noted that this was the first time that the current South African team had ever played against another national team. Even the IeSA's (Israeli eSports Federation) thought that the team went in too aggressively, and were thus punished for such aggression.

The second game saw a totally different Protea Team. The aggression and nervousness was gone, and in its place, under the careful guidance of team captain Maryke 'Ykie' Kennard, there was a greater level of a planned offensive. The Protea Team worked well as a cohesive unit and held the Israeli team.

However, the lag finally tipped the game in the favour of the Israeli's who finally, after a 55 minute match, wrested victory from the South African Team.

The test match certainly taught the South African Team just what to expect.

On the plus side, the Protea team demonstrated just how quickly they can learn, implement, and adapt.

The team leaves for Korea on 30 November 2015.

Photographs of the MWEB Protea eSports League of Legends Team

Logo produced by IeSA 

Add caption

Team captain: Maryke Kennard

Cameron Tilley

Vasudev Stringer

Taylor Rose

Matthew Smith

Johan Uys - Coach

Maryke being interviewed by ENCA

Matthew being interviewed by ENCA

ENCA camera crew in action

MSSA Team Manager awarding Mayke Kennard her Protea Colours

South Africa takes on Israel in League of Legends

Maryke Kennard, captain of the MWEB Protea eSports Team

Saturday, 14 November 2015 will see the MWEB Protea eSports Team for League of Legends take on Israel in a IeSF official test match that will hopefully further prepare the South African team for the IeSF's 7^th World Championships to be played in Seoul, South Korea.

  The teams are:

Israel (IeSA)	vs	South Africa (MSSA)
Tal "Shockwave" Saar		Maryke 'Ykie' Kennard
Amit "Mitamut" Mizrachi		Taylor 'elis' Rose
Eden "MinSc V2" Ben Avi		Matthew 'Feno' Smith
Nir "Xrangel" Shemri		Vasudev 'Paga' Stringer
Ron "Crack" Gal		Cameron 'SexyB' Tilley

Both Ryan Boyes (National Team Manager) and Johan Uys (Coach) have expressed that the team is excited about the match.

According to both the team is well practised and is the strongest League of Legends team that MSSA can put into the field. There is no doubt that MSSA's Israeli counterpart (IeSA) are taking this game as seriously.

Already, since the announcement of the team, there has been a huge amount of support for the team.

Prior to the game, the team shall be awarded their Protea Colours.

The details of the Test Match are:

• Participants: South Africa and Israel
• Venue for the SA Protea Team: THE H.I.V.E, Montecasino, Johannesburg
• Date: Saturday, 14 November 2015
• Start time: 19H00
• Sponsor: MWEB and 4DV
• Twitch channel: http://www.twitch.tv/4dv_tv

THE MSSA’S VISION FOR eSPORTS:

Protea Colours badge

From the day that the MSSA was founded (1984), the MSSA has had to fight to have the games that the MSSA promotes to be recognised to be accredited as equals to any of the other sports that exist in South Africa.

The breakthrough happened in 1991 when the MSSA was allowed to award Protea Colours to its wargames team. In 1997, the MSSA awarded Protea Colours to its Morabaraba team, and in 2001 the MSSA was allowed to award Protea Colours to the players who represented South Africa for Checkers.

However, it was not until 2005 that the MSSA was granted permission by the Protea Colours Board for Computer Gaming.

It should be noted that the Protea Colours awarded are the same as awarded to cricket, rugby, swimming, etc.

Even though the mere act of awarding colours is laudable in itself, in that players who receive such colours are enable to apply for, and receive, bursaries at universities, the MSSA’s vision does not end there.

To ensure that eSports are regarded as a fully accredited sport, the MSSA runs inter-school leagues, school championships, regional championships, provincial championships and national championships.

The MSSA is a member of the International eSports Federation (IeSF). In 2010, the MSSA help found the IeDF (the international federation for gamers with disabilities) which is now  known as the IeSF. Through such affiliation the groundwork has been done to have eSports established and accredited as an international sport by the General Assembly of International Sport Federations (GAISF) which is now known as SportsAccord. When the GAISF accepts eSports as an international Sport, a whole new era will be ushered in as the games will be allowed to participate in the International Mind Sports Association’s Games, and be included in the All Africa Games, the Commonwealth Games, and possibly even in the Olympic Games. 

Developments at the IeSA

Prof Sok-Rok Song (left) and Jaco Engelbrecht (right)

The MSSA stated in a recent facebook posting that it learnt with shock that the General Secretary, Prof. Sok-Rok Song, had resigned from his position on the IeSA (being the International eSports Federation for the Differently Abled).

The IeSA is the successor to the IeSMoD which was founded in 2011. However after a change of constitution, and change of name, the IeSA was born.

All those who ever participated in the IeSMoD or the IeSA will always be indebted to Prof. Sok-Rok Song for all the work that he put into making the IeSA a success.

According to Lim Puay Tiak, it will be difficult to replace  Prof. Sok-Rok Song as he was a prime mover and was always able to secure sufficient funding.

Apparently the President of the IeSA, President Lim, has taken over the reigns and is directly co-ordinating the IeSA's affairs.

Few South Africans though will ever forget the successes shared by Jaco Engelbrecht and Jason van Belkum at the IeSA World Championships on the island of Jeju in 2011.

The international community will always miss Prof. Sok-Rok Song, as it also wishes him every success in his future endeavours.

However, just moments ago the IeSA brought out a survey of the IeSA World Championship. Those interested may fill out the form. It takes just 5 mins.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1DMEiC23-LjosrT_zBnTCO6bO5te9p9ZUxwCzeXg-tDI/viewform?usp=send_form