All the winners of MSSA's 2018 S A National Championships

Amanda Kwaza, MSSA President, giving the opening address at the longest running esports championship in South Africa.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) held its 35th South African National Championships at Fakkel School of Skills on 1 and 2 December 2018.

As usual, the school was a superb host, and the championships ran smoothly and without a hitch.

At 35 continuous years, MSSA's SA National Championships is breaking records. However, not all the various disciplines have been played for the full 35 years. Wargames heads the bill at having been played at all 35 National Championships, with Board games (in the form of Morabaraba) having been included in 1996. Shortly thereafter, in 1997, checkers made its debut. It was only in 2005, even though MSSA had been running Provincial Esports events since 1998, that Esports made its way into the SA National Championships.

Despite the pedigree of the other disciplines, it is now esports that contributes  the largest amount of participants, and has more games (periods) being hosted than any othe discipline.

Even with Esports only having been represented at MSSA's SA National Championships, it makes the esports portion the oldest running esports in the country, if not the world!

Eleven (11) games (periods) were played, of which one (1) was a wargame, three (3) were board games and the remaning eight (8) were esports titles.

It must also be stressed that only titles that are played at SA National Championships, qualify to have teams selected that will earn Protea Colours. There are exceptions to the rule, but they are exceptions...

The championship was hard fought, and the standard exhibited showed a marked improvement over previous years.

The full list of winners is as follows:

Title	Name of player/team	Club	Colours awarded
Ancients (DBM) - 400AP	Colin Webster	Old Edwardian Mind Sports Club	S A National Federation
Ancients (DBM) - 200AP	Garth Schoeman	Knights Mind Sports Club	S A National Federation
Checkers	Joost Loftus	Masters of Mind Sports
	Delmari van der Walt	JCS Academy
Counterstrike: GO	Eclipse CS:GO	Eclipse Esport	S A National Federation
DotA 2	King Edwards Guards	Old Edwardian Mind Sports Club
FIFA '18 (female)	Leone Loftus	Fakkel School of Skills	S A National Federation
FIFA '18	Irvine Williams	HTS Sasolburg	S A National Federation
FIFA '18 (High School)	Aphiwe Mbatha	HTS Sasolburg
Hearthstone (female)	Linda Swanepoel	Fakkel School of Skills	S A National Federation
Hearthstone	Gawie Fick	Fakkel School of Skills
League of Legends	Team Vengence	Valhalla	S A National Federation
Morabaraba – Female	Saudah Bhaimia	Curro Klerksdorp	S A National Federation
Morabaraba	Cobus van der Wath	Fakkel School of Skills	S A National Federation
Morabaraba – High School	Wynand Janse van Rensburg	JCS Academy
PES 2018 (female)	Leone Loftus	Fakkel School of Skills	S A National Federation
PES 2018	Lesego Motlatsi	Fakkel School of Skills
PES 2018 (High School)	Morena Velapho	Fakkel School of Skills
Russian Draughts (Female)	Paula Loftus	Masters of Mind Sports	S A National Federation
Russian Draughts	Reinder van Wyk	JCS Academy	S A National Federation
Russian Draughts (High School)	Pieter van der Merwe	Masters of Mind Sports
Street Fighter V (female)	Lee-Ann van der Merwe	JCS Academy	S A National Federation
Street Fighter V	Mxolisi Lukhele	Amplified Rebellion	S A National Federation
Tekken 7 (Female)	Chiney Wallace	HTS Sasolburg	S A National Federation
Tekken 7	Baber Abbas	Knights Mind Sports Club	S A National Federation
Tekken7 (High School)	Micheal Janse van Rensburg	HTS Sasolburg
Sportsmanship Award	Irvine Williams	HTS Sasolburg

Also read:

• New Athletes' Representative demonstrates great joie de vivre.
• And the 2018 Management Board Awards are awarded to...
• Saudah Bhaimia is awarded the Sportsmanship Award.

For a team to be selected, the game must be played at SA National Championships.

MSSA's Protea Esports Team at IESF's 10th World Championships - Kaohsuing City.

MSSA's Management Board has granted an extensionof time for clubs to enter the SA National Championships until 27 November 2018.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) may only select Protea Teams for periods which are played at the SA National Championships. It is through such system that MSSA is able to give control to the very athletes that it serves to be the deciding factor. There is, however, an exception for new periods (game titles) that are accepted during the year for inclusion in a World Championships.

You may contact MSSA at mindsportssa@gmail.com

Details are as follows:

• Board gaming: https://esportscommentator.blogspot.com/2018/10/south-african-national-board-gaming.html
• Esports: https://esportscommentator.blogspot.com/2018/10/south-african-national-lan.html
• Wargaming: https://esportscommentator.blogspot.com/2018/10/south-african-national-wargames.html

Hosting Club: Fakkel School
Venue: Fakkel School, 20 Jan Smuts Ave., Sasolburg
Date: 1 & 2 December 2018
Entries: Clubs must use the entry form on Google Drive to enter their teams/players.

Entry date: 27 November 2018.

Member clubs must enter their teams/players on the Google Drive page.

The 2018 Calendar of Events may be viewed here.

The draft Calender of Events for 2019 may be viewed here.

Oh, to be S A National Champion.

MSSA's Protea Esports Team at the Athletes' briefing at IESF's World Championships - Kaohsuing City. Such participation is only made possible through participation at MSSA's SA National Championships.

All Registered Players are reminded that MSSA's South African National Provincial Championships are an open championship. 

It is such S A National Championships (SAN) where the national titles are awarded, and where the final positions for the SA Ladders are decided.

However, more importantly, it is at the SA Nationals where it is decided in which periods (game titles) South Africa will officially compete in international competition.

MSSA may only select Protea Teams for periods which are played at the SA National Championships. It is through such system that MSSA is able to give control to the very athletes that it serves to be the deciding factor. There is, however, an exception for new periods (game titles) that are accepted during the year for inclusion in a World Championships.

You may contact MSSA at mindsportssa@gmail.com

Details are as follows:

• Board gaming: https://esportscommentator.blogspot.com/2018/10/south-african-national-board-gaming.html
• Esports: https://esportscommentator.blogspot.com/2018/10/south-african-national-lan.html
• Wargaming: https://esportscommentator.blogspot.com/2018/10/south-african-national-wargames.html

Hosting Club: Fakkel School
Venue: Fakkel School, 20 Jan Smuts Ave., Sasolburg
Date: 1 & 2 December 2018
Entries: Clubs must use the entry form on Google Drive to enter their teams/players.

Member clubs must enter their teams/players on the Google Drive page.

The 2018 Calendar of Events may be viewed here.

The draft Calender of Events for 2019 may be viewed here.

South African National LAN Championships - 1 & 2 December 2018.

Will Mxolisi Lukhele (Amplified Rebellion) square up to National Champion, Alasdair Donaldson (VexxedPhoenix)?

MSSA's South African National (SAN) LAN Championships for esports shall be played on 1 & 2 December 2018.

The championship shall count as a qualifier for the MSSA's National Team Trials to be held in 2019.

Footgage filmed at MSSA's South African National (SAN) LAN Championships shall be screened on MSSA's Channl on Tuluntulu.

Registrations are thus open for MSSA's 2018 South African National LAN Championships.

Registrations will close on the 9 November 2018. Players who wish  to compete in any of MSSA's Championships are advised to complete their annual registration forms so that they may registered as Registered Players as soon as possible. 

Late entries will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances.

All gamers are reminded that any Registered Player in good standing may enter through the member club to which they are affiliated. In other words any registered player is entitled to enter the championship – no matter where they live, or their category of membership. 

If you have any queries, please contact MSSA.

Championship Details:

Hosting Club: Fakkel School
Venue: Fakkel School, 20 Jan Smuts Ave., Sasolburg
Date: 1 & 2 December 2018
Entry Fees: R64.00 per Registered Player per Period
Entries: Clubs must use the entry form on Google Drive to enter their teams/players.
Computers: Bring your own. Please ensure that all game updates are done prior to arrival. No updates shall be done at the event.
Schedule: The LAN Schedule for all 2018 is:

SATURDAY:
Time	StarCraft II	Counter Strike GO	FIFA’18	HearthStone	Ultimate Street Fighter V
09H00	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts
09H45	Round 2 Starts	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues
10H30	Round 3 Starts	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts
11H15	Round 4 Starts	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues
12H00	Round 5 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts
12H45		Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues
13H00	LUNCH
Time		Counter Strike GO (continued)	FIFA’18 (continued)	HearthStone (continued)	Ultimate Street Fighter V (continued
14H00		Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts
14H45		Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues
15H30		Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts
16H15		Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues
17H00
18H00	Awards Ceremony
19H00	Doors Close
SUNDAY:
Time	DotA 2	League of Legends (LoL)	PES (Pro Evolution Soccer)	TEKKEN 7	Rocket League
09H00	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts	Round 1 Starts
09H45	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues	Round 1 Continues	Round 2 Starts
10H30	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts	Round 2 Starts	Round 3 Starts
11H15	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues	Round 2 Continues	Round 4 Starts
12H00	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 3 Starts	Round 5 Starts
12H45	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues	Round 3 Continues
13H00	LUNCH
Time	DotA 2 (continued)	LoL  (continued)	PES (continued)	TEKKEN 7 (continued)
14H00	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts	Round 4 Starts
14H45	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues	Round 4 Continues
15H30	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts	Round 5 Starts
16H15	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues	Round 5 Continues
17H00
18H00	Awards Ceremony
19H00	Doors Close

Rules and Regulations: All Rules and Regulations pertaining to eSports are available from MSSA. Players are strongly advised to familiarise themselves with the LAN Championship Bylaws and all Period Specific Rules. If any Player wishes to provide advice regarding the drafting of the Period Specific Rules they are encouraged to contact the eSBoC who will take all comments into account.

The following Medals may be awarded at MSSA's 2018 South African National LAN Championships:

• PREMIER: Medals shall be awarded to the first three players who are registered players.
• UNIVERSITY: Medals shall be awarded to the first three players who are currently registered at any officially recognised University, provided the players have not received any Premier Medals.
• SCHOLARS: Medals shall be awarded to the first three high school scholars, provided they have not received any Premier medals.
• WOMEN: Women will be awarded medals as per the same basis as above, that is in all three categories.

Colours and National Team Trials:

• Provincial Colours: All Players that win all of their Matches at a Provincial Championship will earn Provincial Colours. All Players who score within the top 50% in a specific Period at a Provincial Championship, and who also score within the top 50% at a National Championship in the same period and in the same year, will earn Provincial Colours.
• National Team Trials: All Players that score within the top 20% or top three places, whichever is greater, in a specific Period at a Provincial or National Championship will earn an invitation to National Team Trials. National Team Trials shall be held in the event that a National Team must be selected to represent South Africa when competing in such Period in an International Championship. 

Registered Players wishing to shout-cast the event, must please contact Angelique Ramos at: mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com .

The next provincial event is: MSSA's Online Inter-School Provincial Championships that shall be held on 9 February 2019.

Please also see:

• South African National Board Gaming Championships - 1 December 2018.

• South African National LAN Championships - 1 & 2 December 2018.

• South African National Wargames Championships - 1 & 2 December 2018.

Types of esports events run by MSSA

Gamers at MSSA's 2017 SA National Championships.

There is no other esports organisation in the world that does as many types of championships for its members.

MSSA works extremely hard in trying to develop its players so that the players may represent South Africa with pride.

It is through such hard work that South Africa has attained the international ranking of 12th position in the world, according to the IESF. Being ranked 12th is no mean feat, and MSSA is determined to get even higher up the international esports rankings.

Thus the school events remain MSSA's foundation as without a comprehensive policy at school level, the standard of South African gaming will never improve.

MSSA thus runs the following types of events for eSports:

Type of event	Level	Eligibility
School Championships	Provincial LAN	Any gamer who attends a school affiliated to the MSSA
	National LAN	Any gamer who attends a school affiliated to the MSSA
	Inter-school online championships	Schools that are affiliated to the MSSA
	Inter-school Ladder	Schools that are affiliated to the MSSA
Regional Championships	Regional LAN	Any gamer who is registered with an affiliated member club
	Inter- regional test matches	Official Regional Teams.
Provincial Championships	Provincial LAN	Any gamer who is registered with an affiliated member club
	Provincial Online Championships	Any gamer who is registered with an affiliated member club
	Provincial Online Ladder	Any gamer who is registered with an affiliated member club
	Inter- provincial test matches	Official Regional Teams.
National Championships	National LAN	Any gamer who is registered with an affiliated member club
	National Online Ladder	Any gamer who is registered with an affiliated member club
National Team Trials	LAN	By invitation only as per the Regulations. Only official MSSA events count as qualifying events
World Championships	International	Protea Team only
Test Matches	International	Protea Team only

To see the Calendar of Events for 2018, please go to: https://esportscommentator.blogspot.co.za/2017/12/2018-calendar-of-events.html