Showing posts with label Norway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Norway. Show all posts

Tuesday, 17 February 2026

Elin Yoojung Moen, has been nominated for the Diversity Award at the HER Awards 2026

1st Vice President of the Norwegian Esports Federation, Elin Yoojung Moen is without doubt the driving force in Norwegian Esports.

The 1st Vice President of the Norwegian Esports Federation, Elin Yoojung Moen, has been nominated for the Diversity Award at the HER Awards 2026 – and has now advanced to the semifinals. The nomination recognizes her work for inclusion, equality, and structural change in esports, both nationally and internationally.

HER Awards is a national award ceremony that highlights women and organizations creating real value through leadership, ownership, and long-term impact. The awards will be presented during the HER Conference & Awards at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo on April 27, 2026.

“It means a lot to be nominated. To be seen for the work you put in, and for the values you stand for, gives both motivation and responsibility,” says Elin Yoojung Moen regarding the nomination.

HER Awards is regarded as one of Norway’s largest platforms for highlighting female leaders and role models across technology, business, and society. That Elin Yoojung Moen is now a semifinalist means that her work is being evaluated among a national top tier of candidates. The awards are not only about visibility, but about leadership that creates lasting structural change.

A Clear Voice for Diversity in Esports

Elin Yoojung Moen was the Norwegian Esports Federation’s first female President (2024–2025) and is currently 1st Vice President. She has also been elected to the board of the International Esports Federation (IESF), where she works to improve representation and create more inclusive structures in global esports.

The nomination for the Diversity Award is based on long-term efforts to make esports a safer and more accessible arena for more people. Through her leadership, she has elevated voices that are often unheard, been a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion, and worked toward structural changes that give more people a seat at the table.

Moen describes her leadership as values-based and principled:

“For me, leadership is about building robust and long-term structures. I want a sustainable esports ecosystem where decisions are made based on a holistic perspective and long-term development,” she says in a comment regarding the nomination.

She has, among other things, been a driving force behind amendments to the Norwegian Esports Federation’s statutes that commit the organization to better gender balance in boards and committees, and has used her international roles to open doors for more women and young people in esports and technology. The Diversity Award highlights leaders who contribute to genuine inclusion through action, structure, and culture-building. In an industry still strongly male-dominated, this nomination is an important signal that esports is changing.

A Nomination That Matters for the Entire Community

For the Norwegian Esports Federation, the nomination is also an important recognition of the work being done to build a more inclusive esports environment in Norway.

“Elin doesn’t just talk about diversity – she actually creates structural changes that give more people a seat at the table. Her work shows how esports can be an arena for community, achievement, and societal development,” says Secretary General Jarle Heitmann.

For several years, Moen has been a clear voice for equal opportunities and safe communities in esports.

“That esports leaders are being highlighted in national awards shows how the gaming community is increasingly being seen as an important arena in society,” says Heitmann.

Last year, HER Awards received nearly 2,000 nominations and more than 67,000 public votes, making it one of the largest awards of its kind in Norway.

Vote for Elin Yoojung Moen!

Moen has now advanced to the semifinals in the Diversity Award category – and public votes are crucial going forward.

👉 Vote for Elin Yoojung Moen here:

Vote for your favorites | HER Awards 2026 (9. Mangfoldsprisen)

The Norwegian Esports Federation encourages the entire esports community, partners, and friends of organized gaming to show their support. Every vote is a contribution to the work for a more inclusive and forward-looking esports scene.

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Friday, 27 December 2024

Esports titles selected for all MSSA's Premier Provincial and National Championships - 2025.

MSSA's Female Protea Counter Strike 2 Esports Team in combat against Norway at IESF's WEC24 in November 2024.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) has a selection process through which all esports titles are selected for use at Provincial and National Championships.

The process takes into account those titles which are used at International Esports Federation (IESF) World Championships, the titles used at Global Esports Federation (GEF) Championships, and those esports titles which are popular among the member clubs.

But saying an esports title is popular is not enough. Just because a title is popular online among recreational gamers, does not make it popular among the hard-core competitive esports athletes who will attend LAN and/or Online championships.

Thus, for any esports title to be considered for consideration to be included in Provincial and National Championships at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), at least one Regional Championship must be held in such esports title to prove that it is able to attract competitive esports athletes to a single venue.

With MSSA having a greater commitment than ever before to participating in both IESF and GEF, MSSA has rationalised its esports titles for Provincial and National championships in order to continue to deliver high quality teams to interregional; interprovincial, and international competition.

It is also important for parents and athletes to check the age restriction of the esports title in which the athlete intends to participate. Age restrictions are non negotiable and underaged athletes shall not be permitted to participate. 

It should also be noted that changes may be made to the line-up in exceptional cases. If IESF and/or GEF selects a title not on the list for use at its World Championships, then MSSA shall immediately include such title.

A lot of time has been invested in determining the esports titles for 2025, and the comprehensive list is as follows:

Period/genreTitlePlatformAge restrictionPlayers
Shooter
CS 2PC165 v 5
PUBGMMobile181 v 1
Sport
EA SPORTS™ FC 25Console121 v 1
eFootballConsole121 v 1
Rocket LeaguePC121 v 1 and 3 v 3
MOBA
Clash of ClansMobile121 v1
Clash RoyaleMobile121 v 1
DotA 2PC125 v 5
Mobile Legends Bang BangMobile125 v 5
Fighting
Tekken 8Console161 v 1
Street Fighter 6Console121 v 1

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Thursday, 14 November 2024

Forged in Battle

Jessica Eleez Greeff (Captain) and Avonique Van Rooyen readying themselves for battle against Australia.

The Female Protea CounterStike GO Esports Team rebounded well on 12 November 2024 at IESF's 16th World Esports Championships (WEC24) after their defeat against Spain. It is also expected that the Spanish team will finish in the top four teams at such World Championships in the female division. 

The South African team took to the field against Norway. The first game saw South Africa down 5 - 7 at the end of the first half, but Jessie (the captain) rallied her team and lead them to a 13 - 10 victory. Norway fought fiercely in the second game to take the game 9 - 13, however, South Africa rallied in the third game to take the the game. 

The jubilant, although exhausted South African team, after two and a half hours of play) then broke for dinner. However, the team was thrown a curveball by officials and were instructed top play against a fresh Australian team with only a 15 minute break.

Without time to recharge, strategise, the weary South African prepared once more for battle against Australia who had rested since the day before.

The first game caught the South African team off guard, and the Australians took the game 13 - 4.

Nevertheless, the South African team proved they were made of sterner stuff, and fought back fiercely in the second game to win 13 - 8, however, fatigue crept in on the third game, which ultimately lead to slower reaction times and Australia snatched victory 13 - 8 in the third and final game to win 2 games to 1.

Both Colin Webster (MSSA President), and Johan van Breda (National Team Manager), as well as all the team members are convinced that had the playing field been level, the result may possibly have been different. However, such is sport, teams have curveballs thrown again them, and MSSA's Female Protea CounterStike GO Esports Team behaved with true sportsmanship throughout and are a credit to the nation, the game, their clubs, and themselves.

"I couldn't be prouder of MSSA's Female Protea CounterStike GO Esports Team", said Colin Webster (MSSA President).

The team is:

NameNickClub
Johan van BredaZAG Academy
Jessica Eleez Greeff (Captain)iheartjessATK Club Sport
Avonique Van RooyenavoWhite Rabbit Amaryllis
Megan van der WesthuizenM3gzATK Club Sport
Kayhla Rose CalderKayCATK Club Sport
Christin BrazierGraceyyWhite Rabbit Amaryllis

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Tuesday, 12 November 2024

South African female team to play against Norway

South Africa's Captain of the Protea Female CounterStrike GO Team, Jessica Eleez Greeff, is upbeat about SA's chances against Norway.

It was on Armistice Day, 11 November 2024, that the South African female CounterStrike GO Protea Esports Team took to the field against Spain at IESF's 16th World Esports Championships (WEC24) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The South African Team consists of:

NameNickClub
Johan van BredaZAG Academy
Jessica Eleez Greeff (Captain)iheartjessATK Club Sport
Avonique Van RooyenavoWhite Rabbit Amaryllis
Megan van der WesthuizenM3gzATK Club Sport
Kayhla Rose CalderKayCATK Club Sport
Chrissie WebsterGraceyyWhite Rabbit Amaryllis

With 16 countries battling for the coveted title of World Champion, the South African Team which

SA's dream team!
already has the title of 2024 African Champion, not only represents South Africa, but also the hopes and dreams of all of Africa.

With 16 countries represented (of which only one is African - South Africa) for a prize pool of US$160,000.00, competition is fierce.

However, without doubt, this is the strongest South African female team to ever leave our shores to do battle. Even though South Africa narrowly lost to Spain on 11 November 2024 (7 - 13, and 5 - 13), South Africa has a chance to redeem themselves today on 12 November at 12H00 against Norway.

South Africa's match against Norway will be streamed on Twitch.tv/iesf_cs

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