Joshua Williams (Northcliff High School) leads the school ladder for the FIFA esports title.

The success of esports at Northcliff High School is due the commitment and dedication of Educators and Learners alike.

In terms of the amendments enacted at MSSA's Annual General Meeting, any player that is ranked in the top ten positions on the ladder, automatically qualify for National Team Selection. It is therefore vital for any player wishing to be considered for national team selection to actively participate in the Ladder.

The Ladder works on a system of challenges throughout the year in order to give clubs the opportunity to improve their teams/players' playing skills outside of the normal MSSA championships. The Ladder allows teams/players' to experiment with new tactics, combinations, etc.

Registered Players, through the Member Club to which they are affiliated, may challenge any Register Player on the ladder. Any Registered Player so challenged has 5 days within which to respond and play the match. Such rule allows the ladder to retain its dynamic nature and stops the challenged Registered Player from delaying unnecessarily.

However, any Registered Player challenged during any official MSSA event while both such Registered Players are participating in such event, and are paired by the umpire to play against each other, must play such challenge. This means that any or all games in a MSSA Regional, Provincial, and/or National Championship may count as ladder games.

The full rules for the ladder may be found here: Important changes to MSSA's Inter-Club Ladder rules.

The schools' ladder for the FIFA esports title for 2019 is as follows:

Pos	Name of Player	year	Club
1	Joshua Williams	18	Northcliff High School
2	Yorke Soni	18	Northcliff High School
3	Mikhyle Naidoo	18	Northcliff High School
4	Blake Govender	18	Oakhill School
5	Siyabonga Biyela	18	Empangeni High School
6	Sash Sunkar	18	Oakhill School
7	Matt Jenkin	18	Oakhill School
8	Irfaan Sabat	18	Empangeni High School
9	Jarius Naidoo	18	Northcliff High School
10	Francois Viljoen	18	Oakhill School
11	Phathu Motsi	18	Northcliff High School
12	Koketso Lekganyane	18	Northcliff High School
13	Siyanda Nyaka	18	Empangeni High School
14	Motlatso Ramusi	18	Northwood Boys
15	Tayla Allman	18	Northcliff High School
16	Zamani Magagula	17	HTS Witbank
17	Kristian Volek	17	Northcliff High School
18	Sicelo Mahaye	17	HTS Witbank
19	Jodie Motala	18	Empangeni High School
20	Gareth v Straten	17	HTS Witbank
21	Sean Sithole	17	HTS Witbank
22	Jeremiah Banda	18	Northwood Boys
23	Umar Onafuwa	18	Curro Klerksdorp
24	Kopano Maseko	18	Curro Klerksdorp
25	Ryan Nyamucherera	18	Northcliff High School
26	Allen Magagula	17	HTS Witbank
27	Sibabalo Kalani	18	Oakhill School
28	Bongi Ndlovu	18	Oakhill School
29	Siyathokoza Maphumulo	18	Empangeni High School
30	Raken Belayet	18	Curro Klerksdorp
31	Nkanyiso Masinga	18	Empangeni High School
32	Andy Zoundokpe	18	Hoërskool Warmbad
33	Mthokozisi Sibanyoni	17	HTS Witbank
34	Wandile Khumalo	18	Northcliff High School
35	Unathi Magekiso	18	Northwood Boys
36	Kembo Arfaro	18	Curro Klerksdorp
37	Nicholis Chihanga	18	Curro Klerksdorp
38	Bux Imtiyaaz	18	Hoërskool Warmbad
39	Zuko Nomaqhiza	18	Curro Klerksdorp
40	Aphiwe Mthembu	18	Empangeni High School
41	Neo Nkabela	17	HTS Witbank

Other Ladders are:

• Counter-Strike: GO - Senior
• Counter-Strike: GO - Schools
• League of Legends - Senior
• FIFA - Schools
• League of Legends - Schools
• Tekken 7 - Senior

Also read:

• All the winners of MSSA's 2018 S A National Championships
• The new national team selection criteria.
• 2019 Calendar of events.

9th Online School Championships.

Bishops' Dota 2 team - the 2018 Online Provincial Champions.

MSSA is proud to announce that it will once again hold its 9th School Provincial Online Championships on 9 February 2019.

The championship may be used by gamers to qualify for eligibility to be selected for the National Squads, from which the National Teams shall be drawn, should MSSA need to choose a team for any of the titles played in such championships.

MSSA's School Online Championships has become South Africa's largest official online championship. It is an event that lasts from 10H00 until 18H00 and has proved itself to be a most enjoyable event.

The titles to be played at such event are:

High School
#	Title	Platform	Players
1	CS GO	PC,	5 v 5
2	Fortnite – Battle Royal	PC/console	4 v 4
3	Paladins	PC	5 v 5
4	FIFA ‘19	Console - PS4	1 v 1
5	PES 2019	Mobile	1 v 1
6	Dota 2	PC	5 v 5
7	League of Legends	PC	5 v 5
8	Clash Royale	Mobile	1 v 1
9	VainGlory	Tablet/cell	3 v 3
10	Street Fighter V	Console	1 v 1

MSSA would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the dedicated Educators for ensuring that the school teams are ready-and-able and for giving up so much of their time and patience. Only once the learners have left school will they really comprehend what the Educators have done for them.

The championship would not be possible without the continued support from Educators.

Thank you!

Tournament Structure:

As per the MSSA's rules, being:

• If less than six players, the championship shall be a Round Robin Championship
• If 6 to 10 players the championship shall be four rounds as played to the Swiss System
• If 11 to 30 players the championship shall be five rounds as played to the Swiss System

Eligibility:

• Any player/team who is a Registered Player affiliated to a school affiliated to MSSA may enter through such school club.

Entry fee:

• Entry is R34.00 per Registered Player.
• Only fully-paid-up Registered Players may participate in this event.

Entry date:

• Entries need to be submitted by no later than Monday, 4 February 2019.

Registration:

• To register, the Educator-in-charge must complete the Google Drive document.

Age restrictions:

Educators must ensure that their teams/players are compliant with South Africa's age restrictions per game title.

Medals:

Medals shall be awarded to the first three gamers for both men and women in the following categories:

• MEN: The top three places (1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd).
• WOMEN: The top three places (1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd).

Please note that the medals shall be awarded to the players at the next LAN championship in which such team/player enters and participates.

Colours:

• School Provincial Colours: All Players that win all of their Matches at a Provincial Championship will earn School Provincial Colours. All Players who score within the top 50% in a specific Period at a any two (or more) Provincial Championships, and who also score within the top 50% at a National Championship in the same period and in the same year, will earn School Provincial Colours.

When and Where:

• 9 February 2019
• The first round will start at 10H00. Players shall be given 60 minutes to complete each round. 
• Players must all be on-line at 9H00.

The championship is accredited as being of the same status as a provincial championship. This means that the championship shall be used for the following:

• The awarding of school provincial colours;
• The awarding of medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places for both men and women;
• The ability to qualify for National Team Trials. 

As usual Trials shall be done at a LAN venue, and the team that can best represent South Africa shall then be selected.

Shout casting:

• The MSSA shall decide who may shout-cast the games.
• Anybody wishing to be appointed as a Shout-Caster must apply in writing to mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com 

Also read:

• Why schools and universities should invest in esports.
• Esports titles for official High School Championships.
• How does a school join up for MSSA's 9th Online Inter-School Provincial Championships?
• New National Team Selection Criteria

How does a school join up for MSSA's 9th Online Inter-School Provincial Championships?

Northcliff High School and Paul Roos Gimnasium back-to-back at MSSA's 2018 National Team Trials.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) 's shall be holding its 9th Online Inter-School Provincial Championships on 9 February 2018.

There is no doubt that MSSA's Online Inter-School Championships is the fastest growing championships since it was started in 2010.

Who will ever forget the inaugural meeting where Dorian Love (Roedean), Pam Raper (Randburg High), Noelene du Toit (Northcliff High), and Shevon Ronne (St Peters) met with MSSA officials and the then sponsors (ASUS).

It was such meeting at which solid foundations were laid.

Over the years the rules have been tweaked to make the online inter-school championships more-and-more accessible.

The proof is in the pudding as the number of school clubs is growing almost at an exponential rate.

The teams representing schools that helped found the online championships now find themselves under continual attack from new teams from recently affiliated schools that challenge the status quo.

The new schools have no care of the 'Old Guard' and are adept at turning out new talent.

There probably isn't a championship anywhere in the world that is as competitive as MSSA's online inter-school championship.

Even though such championship requires a huge amount of work and dedication, it is easy-as-pie to join.

All a school needs to do is affiliate. To affiliate, the school club needs to have approval from the Principal as the club shall be playing under the school's colours which are the school's intellectual property.

The school club has to pay the annual affiliation fee of R100.00 as well  as the annual registration fee of R6.00 per player per annum.

It is that easy and that cheap.

MSSA expects, based on previous year's figures, that there will be well over 50 schools participating in such championship in 2019.

To affiliate, please e-mail mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com for the starter-pack.

Don't miss out!

Also read:

• Why schools and universities should invest in esports.
• Esports titles for official High School Championships.
• 2019 Calendar of Events.

27th OLD EDWARDIAN SUMMER CHAMPIONSHIPS

Elishia Retief who went on to win two world championships.

The 27th OLD EDWARDIAN SUMMER CHAMPIONSHIPS shall be held at the Old Edwardian Society, 11 Ninth Avenue, Lower Houghton, Johannesburg, on 2 & 3 February 2019.

The championship is renown for having many of South Africa's top players play in such championships as a warm up to Mind Sports South Africa's Provincial Championships. Past participation in this event is a veritable 'who's who' in South African gaming. No less than eight world champions have used the Old Edwardian Summer Championships in which to hone their skills.

Since the Old Edwardian Summer Championships does not count for MSSA's official rankings, the players who participate in the board gaming, esports and wargames events, are able to dabble with new tactics, and ready themselves for the new season.

The championships shall start on both days at 9H00. The figure-games shall be played on both days.

This is an open championship and open to all.

Championship Details:
Venue:	Blue Room, Old Edwardian Society, 11 Ninth Ave, Lower Houghton, Johannesburg
Date:	2 & 3 February 2019
Game Entry Fees:	R50.00 for Checkers, Morabaraba, and PES 2019
	R80.00 for Ancients figure gaming
Entries:	Please contact Terry Allwright on: tj.allwright@gmail.com
Food & refreshments:	A wide selection is available at the club at highly reasonable prices

The schedule of play is as follows:

	Saturday – 3 February 2018			Sunday – 4 February 2018
	Morabaraba	Checkers	Ancients	Ancients	Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 (PES 2019)
Round 1	10H00-10H45	10H00-10H45	9H00 – 12H00		09H00
Round 2	11H00 - 11H45	11H00 - 11H45	14H00 – 17H00		10H30
Round 3	14H00 -14H45	14H00 -14H45		9H00 – 12H00	12H00
Round 4	15H00 - 15H45	15H00 - 15H45		14H00 – 17H00	14H00
Round 5	16H00 - 16H45	16H00 - 16H45			15H30
Awards shall be awarded immediately after play has ceased.

Medals are awarded to the first three places for Premier and High School divisions.

All MSSA rules shall apply for Checkers, PES 2019 and Morabaraba. 

However, for Ancients wargames the championship uses the very popular 600 points format where losses are carried forward. Should you require the full rules, please contact the club on wargames@iafrica.com.

Fees must please be deposited into the Old Edwardian Society's account, which is:

OEWC

F.N.B. - Killarney

Branch Code 256205

Account Number 62071433115

Also read:

• MSSA's 2019 Calendar of Events