Showing posts with label Jason Batzofin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jason Batzofin. Show all posts

Monday, 28 November 2022

IESF puts out call for nominations for IESF Athletes' Committee.

IESF's first Athlete's Commission as elected in 2016: Koen Schobbers (Netherlands), Young Ho Lee, Mr Jun (the then President of IeSF), Jason Batzofin (South Africa), and Leonardo Ribas (Brazil), absent Madelaine Leander (Sweden).

For five years Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) had one of its athletes on IESF's Athletes' Commission.

With the IESF launching its Athletes' Commission in the Hilton Hotel in Shangai in 2016, the Athletes' Commission was instrumental in ensuring the rights and interests of athletes were always taken into account at IESF's Board.

The first chairman of the Athletes' Commission, as elected in 2016, was none other than Koen Schobbers. At the same election, Jason Batzofin, who was a learner at St John's College, was elected on the committee and served with distinction.

In 2019 Jason Batzofin was elected as chairman and continued to serve with distinction until, due to unforeseen circumstances, felt the need to resign. Upon Jason's resignation, Tiffini Lim was appointed as Chairlady by IESF's Board

To stand for this important committee, National Federation’s Athletes Representative shall satisfy at least two of the points below: 

a) Shall have experience as an esports athlete; 

b) Shall have experience in esports; 

c) Have worked with their National Federation in the past three (3) years; 

d) Have represented their Member nation at an IESF-accredited event  

It must be noted that no nation may have more than one representative in the Athletes Committee.

Candidates for the Committee can register here.

Key Information:

• Registration Opens: 27 November 2022
• Registration Closes: 6 December 2022 (15:00 Bali Time)
• Voting Begins: 7 December 2022 (15:00 Bali Time)
• Voting Closes: 10 December 2022 (15:00 Bali Time)

You may find all the necessary information and regulations regarding the election here.

Additional reading:

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Thursday, 10 June 2021

RIX.GG HIRES JAY “SALTY_JAYY” BATZOFIN AS VALORANT TEAM MANAGER

Jason Batzofin started at St. John's College, and now he is conquering the world...

Jay “Salty_Jayy” Batzofin started his esports career in 2014 while playing for St. John's College. Moving through the ranks, Jason Batzofin was selected in 2016 for the Protea Esports team for Counter Strike: Global Offensive. In 2017, Jason moved from being a player to be Protea Team Manager of the Protea Esports Team that represented South Africa at IESF's World Championships - Jakarta. Jason then moved to the UK to study Esports. His working relationship with Rix.GG began when he observed for Rix.GG's VALORANT tournament and later their CS:GO events.

Jason's work ethic, tenacity, organisation, and player-first management style made him a strong candidate throughout the hiring process. His main goal will be to help make life easier for Rix.GG's Thunder roster, by pushing the team to succeed with one hand and clearing the path for them with the other.

Zack Chandler, Head of Esports, said: “I’m unbelievably happy to have Jay join Rix.GG as our Valorant Team Manager for Thunder. He’s a great guy and we share the same values and style of management which is clear through the work he’s done with us over the last few weeks. It’s a pleasure to have Jay on this journey with us and I’m excited to see where he can help us take Rix.GG in the upcoming future!”

Jay “Salty_Jay” Batzofin, Valorant Manager, said: “I’m extremely excited to be serving the Rix.GG Thunder players as their team manager and humbled to be invited to join the team. It’s an exciting journey to be sure and while I’ll make no promises to what the team will achieve while I’m serving as their team manager, I can promise that I’ll do everything to help them reach their goals. Every ounce of effort the team puts in I’ll match. The team is ready and I’m ready. We’ll see you at LAN!”

Jay continued by saying, "5 Years ago I knew I wanted to be in esports full time, and it finally happened this month. Being signed as the Rix.GG Thunder team manager couldn’t make me happier with this placement, but my wish of working in esports didn’t start here. I’ve been looking for the place to call home in esports since 2014. I started as an amateur CS:GO player in my home country of South Africa. I trained hard and competed in many Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) events. In 2015 I got selected for the national CS:GO team and earned my Protea colours. In 2016 just before the national qualifiers a member of my team had a personal issue, so we had to pull out, but I instead volunteered to set up and help run the event and afterwards the management of MSSA invited me to be the Team Manager for the team. Later that year the team participated in the IESF world championships in Jakarta, Indonesia. This is where I truly fell in love with esports."

Jay continued to say, "In 2017 I made the move to the UK with the purpose of pursuing an esports career. I got lost in the process trying to go pro in CS:GO and then trying to get more involved in the management side of esports. Finally, I got sucked into broadcasting. I can’t remember at which point I decided that that’s what I wanted to do but I did it and was damn good at it. Or I like to think so anyway… Along the way I’ve met some of the most amazing people and worked with some of the best organisations. This is where I found Rix.GG. I was their go-to VALORANT and CS:GO observer. Even after having done only one event for them, I started gelling with the people from Rix.gg. It was a lovely workspace of which to be part."

Jason has been able to participate in freelance broadcast work and it is reported that he loves every minute of it. Jason has had the joy of working on events like Redbull Campus Clutch, Super Girl Gamer Pro, VALORANT Challengers, Redbull Home Ground.

To tell Jason's whole journey through esports would be of epic proportions. Needless to say that it all started as a kid with a dream. Jason is quick to add that, "I couldn’t have got to where I am today without the help of MSSA. There are so many other people who helped me get to where I am, and I know I’m only going to go from strength to strength in the esports scene so thank you everyone I’ve stumbled across in my esports journey and to all the new people I’m sure I’ll stumble upon later. I cannot wait to see what the future holds, and I want to thank everyone who’s ever believed in me. I hope I make you all proud. There’s a storm a brewing…" Amanda Pakade, President of Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA), said, "It's truly wonderful to see one of South Africa's top athletes turned administrators to go on and conquer the world. South Africans have such great talent, and with the right amount of work ethic, dedication, and going through official structures, the wider world is our oyster." Amanda Pakade then added, "MSSA, wishes Jason all the best in all his endeavours - he deserves it!" Also read:

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Monday, 6 February 2017

25th Old Edwardian Wargames Championships

Colin Webster - five time winner of the Old Edwardian Summer Wargames Championships.
On 4 & 5 February 20!7, the Old Edwardian Wargames Club held its annual wargames championships.

Such championship is open to any player whether they are a member of MSSA or not, and many believe that the championships marks the beginning of South africa's season.

The championship differs considerably from MSSA's championships as players have to select armies that are 600AP (600 Army Points) in strength as opposed to the usual 400AP.

However, the additional 200AP are not immediately used in battle, such extra 200AP are kept in reserve to replace losses.

Yes, losses are carried forward.

Thus armies, if misused, may dwindle in size to almost nothing for the final game.The championship too forces players to re-evaluate the different troops that they use, and, as a result after such championships, many of the players who participated emerge for the year's gruelling round of championships with leaner, and very much meaner, troop combinations.

The championship affords the top competitors the opportunity to experiment more than in any other competition.

Thus the championship is always well subscribed and hard-fought.

The results of the championship were:

Division Pos Name Club
PREMIER 1 Colin Webster Old Edwardian Wargames Club
Tie 2 Jason Batzofin Old Edwardian Wargames Club
Terence Allwright Old Edwardian Wargames Club
Under 24 1 Gregory Laycock Tuks University
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Monday, 30 January 2017

In with the new...

Jason Batzofin at IeSF's 8th world Championships - Jakarta
Sunday, 29 January 2017 saw the Old Edwardian Wargames Club hold its 28th Annual General Meeting.

No fewer than 62% of the membership turned up to the AGM.

After noting the sad  passing of Sylvia Webster (who was  a member of the sub-club from 1989 to 2016), business commenced.

At such AGM, the sub-club saw a changing of the guard, with Jason Batzofin being elected in as the sub-club's 4th chairperson.
Previous chairpersons were:
  • Ewan Retief (2016)
  • Colin Webster (1991 to 2015)
  • Richard Kassman (1989 to 1991)
Jason is determined to get the club to become more involved in esports as it already has a strong pedigree in the wargames discipline.

Even Jason is a twice Junior World Champion for wargames having won such title in 2014 and then in 2015.

 Jason Batzofin, who is also MSSA’s Player Representative and has also earned his Protea Colours for CounterStrike: GO in 2015 and then again in 2016 for his role at the Protea Team Manager.
The Old Edwardian Wargames Club has had representation in every national team for figure games since 1991 in international competitions on an annual basis, and has established South Africa as one of the top wargaming nations.

Old Edwardian Wargames Club players who have represented South Africa are:
Name of players
Senior Team
Grant Casey, 
Ingo Haferung, 
Kevin Hoyle, 
Gregory Kupczyk, 
Vincent Lane, 
Bernice Ligault. 
Richard Ligault, 
Pavel Rabiner, 
Dr Evgenii Rabiner, 
Gareth Rimmington, 
Edward van Trotsenburg, 
Colin Webster,
David Webster, and
Sylvia Webster
Junior Team
Dominic Bauer, 
Nicholas Clare, 
Melissa Kupczyk, 
Vincent Lane, 
Marc Marais, 
Benjamin Shulman, 
Matthew Strachan,

Old Edwardian Wargames Club can also boast of four World Champions, being:
  • BERNICE LIGAULT (ANCIENTS – Women’s section 2006, 2007, 2008)
  • ELISHIA RETIEF (ANCIENTS – Women’s section 2014, 2015)
  • MATTHEW STRACHAN (ANCIENTS - Junior section - 2001)
  • BENJAMIN SHULMAN (ANCIENTS - Junior section - 2002)
  • COLIN WEBSTER (ANCIENTS - Senior section - 2013, 2014, 2015)
Players are also encouraged to contact any or all of the sub club's officials for further information:

Name e-mail
Jason Batzofinjaybatzofin@gmail.com 

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Thursday, 13 October 2016

St John's learner shows ability beyond his years

Jason Batzofin - Team Manager of  Team eSports South Africa - Jakarta
Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) has always believed in giving youth the chance to step up to the plate in order to lead.

Thus MSSA invests heavily in its athletes.

It has certainly been no different with Jason Batzofin (of St John's College) who in July 2016 was sent to Shanghai (China) to become one of the founding members of IeSF's Athlete's Commission.

Such is MSSA's belief in Jason's potential, that MSSA appointed Jason, on reaching his age of majority, as the Protea eSports Team Manager for the SA Protea eSports Team that travelled to Jakarta.

Jason accepted the task and swiftly rose to the challenge.

Backed by an  incredibly supportive family and MSSA, Jason hurdled each obstacle to deliver the team safely to IeSF's 8th World Championships - Jakarta. While there Jason dealt expeditiously with all issues - both large and small, to ensure that the team could properly concentrate on the event itself.

MSSA is absolutely satisfied with Jason's performance in the role of team Manager and expects even greater achievements from him in the future.
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Monday, 22 August 2016

IeSF, announce “Protect Player”, the slogan for e-Sports Athlete Welfare

The International e-Sports Federation raised the topic of “Athlete Welfare” during the Global e-Sports Executive Summit, held in Shanghai from July 31st to August 1st.

Global e-Sports Executive Summit Shanghai 2016
Panel discussion “Athlete Welfare: How to support the education / Career of the players”

The panelists on the discussion for Athlete Welfare consisted of various stake-holders being; Charmaine Crooks, 5 times Olympian and the former member of IOC Athlete Commission, Spike Laurie, Vice President of International Business Development of ESL, Alex Lim, Secretary General of IeSF, and Koen Schobbers, Athlete Representative of Netherlands, have participated accordingly. 

“The remarkable development of the esports industry until now has been driven by professional and commercial level. Despite the fact that the competitive level of eSports is up to great standards, the structure to protect the rights, interests, and welfare of players is still at a very preliminary stage. This is the main reason why IeSF is continuously pushing for eSports to be recognized as an official sports, for eSports players to be protected as an official athlete and also receive the identical social benefits from public structures of society” said Alex Lim during his presentation prior to the Panel discussion of Athlete Welfare.

Lim added “Most of e-sports players spend their youth and teenage years doing eSports at a competitive level. For this reason, they have less opportunity to receive school education and acquire core life skills needed for the future. To establish a social safeguard for our youth and offer a successful career transition for second life careers, we would like to announce today our new slogan "Protect Player". IeSF will officially launch the International eSports Academy from September to support athlete welfare and athlete’s second life while also strive to expand the foundation of eSports”.

Global e-Sports Executive Summit Shanghai 2016
Alex Lim, Secretary General of IeSF, announced the slogan “PROTECT PLAYER”

Charmaine Crooks emphasized the importance of continuous conversation with athletes, and commented “To protect players, understandings on athletes current standing and situation is very important. The continuous interest of National Federations, International Federation, IOC and society is very crucial. Most important of all is the willingness of these governing bodies to listen to the voices of athletes”

“We start to act as professional player from teenagers” said Koen Schobbers,” Therefore, the role of parents is very important. The Generation of parents considers e-sports as video game rather than sports and therefore, there needs to be support for a thorough understanding. I believe it is necessary to accurately explain to the parents what the e-sports industry is and the career opportunities it has” mentioned Koen Schobbers.

Spike Laurie emphasized the challenges of the current system for education opportunities and stressed the necessity of collaboration between stake holders. “It is possible, but very difficult for player to conduct both school education and competitive gaming. This is mainly due to the tight schedules of different tournaments. One day they will be in USA, and the following week in China, and then back in Europe. For player’s education, there needs to be a understanding and a cooperation between the school, player, event organizers to make this possible” said Spike Laurie.

At the end of the Global e-Sports Executive Summit, IeSF officially announced the establishment of the Athlete Commission, as the first step to protect athlete’s rights, interests and welfare. Through recommendation from 47 member nations and internal reviewing of IeSF, five Athlete Commission members have been appointed; Young Ho Lee(Korea, Starcraft), Leonardo Ribas(Brazil, League of Legends), Jason Batzofin (South Africa, Counter Strike & Ancients Period), Koen Schobbers (Netherlands, Track Mania), and women athlete representative, Madeleine Leander (Sweden, StarCraft).

Athlete Commission Establishment : from left, Koen Schobbers(Netherlands), Young Ho Lee(Korea),
Jason Batzofin(South Africa), Byung Hun Jun(President of IeSF), Leonardo Ribas(Brazil)

On behalf of the Athlete Commission members, Koen Schobbers commented “It is honor to be selected as athlete representative of Athlete Commission. As the athlete representative, we will try our best to protect player’s rights and interests and welfare. And of course, listen to player’s voices to deliver and communicate to IeSF.”

The next step for the Athletes Commission is to support the foundation of the Athletes Commission in the right direction by listening and gathering the feedback of e-Sports athletes. Also the members will be working together to protect players by acting as a channel to voice for all e-Sports athletes to the IeSF. The first activities of the commission will take place during the 8th e-Sports World Championships Jakarta 2016. For the reason that it is the first Athlete Commission in the e-Sports industry, in order to support the formation of the e-Sports Athlete Commission, former IOC Athlete Commission member, Charmaine Crooks will be sharing her knowledge as an advisor.

IeSF will continue its efforts to protect players and moreover to proceed its steps for e-Sports to be recognized as a true sport. The Athlete Commission established today is very preliminary, but has the vision to protect e-Sports athletes and also to work together with the IOC Athlete Commission in the future, after the recognition process is finalized for e-Sports.
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