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.

MSSA/MWEB 2015 National Team Trials

Nathan Anderson in 2014 Protea kit

The MSSA/MWEB 2015 National Team Trials held on 26 September 2015 at THE HIVE in Montecasino went off without a hitch.

Yet, even before the doors were open, players had already assembled outside of the venue in the quaint reconstruction of a Italian town - complete with police car...?

The team from Fish Hoek all looked terribly dapper in their provincial colours. Nathan Anderson was also among the early arrivals resplendent in his 2014 kit.

Maryke Kennard - captain on the Tuks League of Legends

Nathan has represented South Africa in 2013 (Bucharest) and in 2014 (Baku) and was chomping at the bit in order to be selected to once again represent South Africa in Seoul.

The next group to arrive was a League of Legends team comprised mainly of Tuks students and lead by Maryke Kennard. The team arrived almost in wedge-formation with Maryke at the front and the rest in tow.

Gamers are encouraged to select their own teams from all the players who have qualified for Trials. Thus teams that play at Trials are not always the same as the teams that qualify. Team captains are thus able to fine-tune their teams by using players who have qualified for such Trials.

Players also turned up from six other clubs, and in total 4 provinces were represented at the Trials.

Ryan Boyes, eSports Chairman, immediately took charge of the Trials, and as soon as the mandatory welcome was given the administration of the event was finalised.

The trials were hotly contested with surprising results in most games which drew gasps from officials and players alike.

Thus at the end of day, exhausted gamers and officials departed from the venue.

The process now begins for the committee to analyse the results, select the team, submit the entry to the IeSF, and award Protea Colours.

As soon as the MSSA is able, the selection shall be made public.

Maryke leads Tuks' League of Legends team into National Team Trials

Maryke Kennard

Maryke Kennard has successfully lead her Tuks League of Legends team to victory at the 2014 MWEB South African National Championships, 2015 MWEB Gauteng Provincial Championships, and the 2015 MWEB Mpumulanga Provincial Championships to make her one of the most decorated players in South African gaming history.

Maryke has received Gauteng Student Provincial Colours, Gauteng Senior Provincial Colours, SA Student National Federation Colours, as well SA Senior National Federation Colours.

Now Maryke has her ambitions set on obtaining Protea Colours and leading her team to victory at the National Team Trials to be played at The H.I.V.E. at Montecasino on 26 September 2015.

Not only does Maryke lead her team, but also is responsible for the running of the Tuks Mindsports Club.

Will there be a team to successfully challenge the Tuks team? Well, we'll all have to wait until Saturday evening to know the answer to that question, won't we?