Sunday, 16 April 2023

Results: 13th Online Championships held on 15 April 2023.

Tai Kafwimbi (Northcliff High School) earned Provincial Colours as well as the Sportsmanship Award.

Mind Sports South Africa's (MSSA) 13th Online Championships was held on 15 April 2023 and showed sterling results.

In spite of the loadshedding plaguing the country, MSSA ran a very successful championship. All the participating athletes showed great restraint as ESKOM again failed to deliver an uninterrupted electricity supply to the country. There is no doubt that loadshedding has a detrimental effect in terms of the growth of esports and certainly hampers athletes in terms of training and performance.

All Registered Players who have finished in the top three places, or the top 20% - whichever is greater, are entitled to enter trials.

However, it must be remembered that all players must have a valid passport at the date of entry.

It was indeed exciting to watch just how school teams dominated the event. 

Registered Players participated from three provinces and nine (9) players qualified for Provincial Colours. 15 more players also qualified for MSSA's National Team Trials.

The winners are as follows:

TitleName of player/teamClubProvincial Colours awarded
Clash of Clans - PremierWilliam BrinkHoër VolkskoolNorth West
Clash Royale - PremierJoshua WestcottOakhill School
Clash Royale - High SchoolTiaan KoenHoërskool Klerksdorp
E-Football - PremierTshwarelo TshwaneKnights Mind Sports ClubGauteng
HearthStone - PremierStorm MatsepeNorthcliff High SchoolGauteng
Rocket League 1 v 1 - PremierNathan StrangeHoërskool KlerksdorpNorth West
Rocket League 1 v 1 - High SchoolHanu VisserHoër Volkskool
Rocket League 3 v 3 - Premier
Ethan FabianNorthcliff High SchoolGauteng
SiphoNorthcliff High SchoolGauteng
Tai KafwimbiNorthcliff High SchoolGauteng
Street Fighter V - PremierMarnus van der MerweHoërskool KlerksdorpNorth West
Tekken 7 - PremierReneilwe MaphasaTuks eSportsGauteng
Sportsmanship awardTai KafwimbiNorthcliff High School

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Friday, 14 April 2023

Does prize money for Esports fall under the Gambling Act?


Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA)  is the world's oldest national federation for esports having been founded in 1985 and is the custodian for all esports in South Africa.

With the development of esports in South Africa, there are more-and-more private operators wanting to start their own competitions. Many of these private operators do not want to seek official accreditation in order to avoid regulatory bodies and the law.

eSports are not governed by gambling legislation and therefore a licence from the provincial gambling boards is not required should events be accredited by MSSA. v

If the event meets the requirements for an eSport event, then the event would be governed by the eSport regulator.

Online gaming has gained significant momentum in South Africa. There are dedicated leagues that host local competitions where entrants pay fees (similar to the Registration Fees) and compete for the opportunity to win cash prizes. 

Online gaming on a competitive level is considered an eSport. The recognition of eSports in South Africa has taken great strides by MSSA. In this way, competitive and online gaming is regulated in terms of sporting regulation and not under gambling laws. 

In the 2013 White Paper on Sport and Recreation for the Republic of South Africa (White Paper), the definition of sport in a development context includes a broad and inclusive spectrum of activities which people of all ages and abilities can participate. 

In 2008, the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Sport for the Development and Peace defined sport, for the purposes of development, as “all forms of physical activity that contribute to physical fitness, mental wellbeing and social interaction, such as play, recreation, organised or competitive sport, and indigenous sports and games”.

Fortunately, Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) (the official organisation with the rights to give out South African colours to eSports teams at a national and provincial level) makes a clear provision for the recognition of eSports in their constitutional document. eSports are recognised as sports and are, as such, regulated in terms of sporting legislation and not gambling legislation.

Thus, it is MSSA's opinion that in order to avoid approaching a gambling regulator, a private operator needs to have its event registered as an accredited eSport event. 

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Wednesday, 5 April 2023

13th Provincial Online Championships - 15 April 2023

Esports athletes from all around the country, and at all levels are welcome to participate.

Mind Sports South Africa's (MSSA) is the world's oldest and most respected National Federation for esports.

On 15 April 2023 MSSA shall be holding its 13th Provincial Online Championships.

What with MSSA in the process of selecting, and getting its National Protea esports team approved for IESF's 15th World Esports Championships to be held in Lasi, Romania, in August 2023, MSSA's 13th Provincial Online Championships. affords all esports athletes an opportunity to qualify for IESF's 16th World Esports Championships as well as an opportunity to qualify for MSSA's National Team trials which will select National Teams in all the other game titles for which teams have not been selected.

Such National Team Trials shall be held on 12 August 2023.

In order to participate, players must be registered for the 2022/2023 season.

The championship shall be held on 15 April 2023.

Game titles to be played are:


Period/genreTitlePlatformAge restrictionPlayers
Shooter
CODMMobile184 v 4
CS GOPC165 v 5
PUBGMMobile184 v 4
Sport
FIFA '23PS5, and all platforms compatible with PS5 for cross play121 v 1
eFootball 2023 (Konami)PS5, and all platforms compatible with PS5 for cross play121 v 1
Rocket LeaguePC and Console121 v 1
Rocket LeaguePC and Console123 v 3
Sim racing – Assetto Corsa CompetizionePC121
MOBA
DotA 2PC125 v 5
Clash RoyaleMobile121 v 1
League of LegendsPC125 v 5
Clash of ClansMobile121 v 1
Mobile Legends Bang BangMobile125 v 5
Fighting
Tekken 7PS5, and all platforms compatible with PS5 for cross play161 v 1
Street Fighter VPS5, and all platforms compatible with PS5 for cross play121 v 1
CardHearthStoneVarious121 v 1

Players are to acquaint themselves with the rules apropos substitutes and loadshedding.

Tournament Structure:


As per the MSSA's rules, being:

  • If less than six teams, the championship shall be a Round Robin Championship
  • If 6 to 10 teams enter the championship there shall be four rounds as played to the Swiss System
  • If 11 or more teams enter the championship there shall be five rounds as played to the Swiss System

Eligibility:

  • Any team consisting of players who are Registered Players affiliated to a MSSA member club may enter.

Entries:

  • Entry is R100.00 per Registered Player.
  • Only fully-paid-up Registered Players may participate in this event.
  • Entries must be submitted by midnight 13 April 2023.
  • To enter, the club must complete the Google Drive document. 
  • The entry form may be found on Google Drive. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_ERR6815uVjSMu4t5KkRxYqGJ_AA88kkz31qRgksASc/edit#gid=287696184
  • Clubs are to download the entry form, completed the downloaded form, and e-mail it to Mind Sports South Africa. 
  • Photographs of players must accompany the entry.
  • Only entries submitted via email and on Excel shall be accepted.

Medals:


Medals shall be handed over to winners at the next MSSA LAN that they attend. 


      MALE:

  • PREMIER: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams.
  • UNDER 24: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams that have not won a Premier medal and which are comprised entirely of students currently registered at any officially recognized University.
  • SCHOLARS: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams of learners currently registered at any officially recognized school, provided they have not received any Premier medals. 
        FEMALE:
  • PREMIER: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams.
  • UNDER 24: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams that have not won a Premier medal and which are comprised entirely of students currently registered at any officially recognized University.
  • SCHOLARS: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams of learners currently registered at any officially recognized school, provided they have not received any Premier medals.

Colours:

  • Protea Colours: Only Players that are selected to represent South Africa in International Championships may earn National Colours if the Protea Colours Board's criteria are met.
  • National Colours: All Players that win all of their Matches at a National Championship will earn National Colours.
  • 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.

        General:

        • The championship shall be played on: 13 April 2023
        • The first round will start at 10H00. Players shall be given 60 minutes to complete each round.
        • Players playing 3 v 3 Rocket League shall be given 1.5 hours to complete the round.
        • The championship is accredited as being of the same status as a provincial championship. 
        • The championship shall be used for the awarding of provincial colours;
        • The championship shall be used for the awarding of medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in Premier, Under 24, and School categories;
        • The championship shall be used for the ability to qualify for National Team Squad.
        • All medals shall be awarded to the recipients at a MSSA LAN championships.

        Umpires:

        • Umpires may only be contacted over Discord on the channel provided on the day of competition. Any communication not on the Discord channel shall not be entered into.

        Ladder:

        • All games shall count towards the National Ladder.

        Shout casting:

        Additional reading:
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        Friday, 31 March 2023

        5th Provincial Online Student Championships - 6 May 2023

        MSSA's 2022 Protea Esports Team has proven itself to be SA's most successful SA team in international competition having won the sum total of 400,000 Rubles.

        With         Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) having now completed its National Team Trials for its Protea Team for IESF's 15th World Esports Championships to be held in Lasi, Romania, MSSA now turns its attention  to its fifth annual Provincial Online Student Championships to be held on 6 May 2023.

        MSSA's 5th Provincial Online Student Championships to be held on 6 May 2023 will be a major qualifying event for any student team selected to represent South africa.

        Many will remember that MSSA sent a team across to Russia in 2022 where the DotA and Counter-Strike: GO teams each won 200,000 Rubles each prize money.

        Any student of any South African tertiary institution (University and colleges) may participate, regardless of whether the player is MSSA affiliated or not.

        However, it should be noted that only official teams entered by University Clubs affiliated to MSSA or the Sports Councils may use the tertiary institution's name.

        The championship allows students from all over the country to test their mettle against each other in an official championship that has the following benefits:

        • Enable students to earn Student Provincial Colours, and
        • Qualify for selection for the National Squad (if a Registered Player), and
        • Earn medals. The medals earned are awarded at MSSA's LAN Championships.
        The event lasts from 10H00 until 18H00.

        All the titles to be played at such event are:

        TitlePlatformPlatformAge restrictionPlayers
        Shooter
        		Call of Duty MobilePC/mobile185 v 5
        CS GOPC165 v 5
        PUBG MobileMobile174 v 4
        Sport
        		FIFA '23Console121 v 1
        eFootballConsole121 v 1
        Rocket LeaguePC and console121 v 1
        Rocket LeaguePC and console123 v 3
        Sim racing – Assetto Corsa CompetizionePC121
        MOBA
        		DotA 2PC125 v 5
        Clash RoyaleMobil;e121 v 1
        Clash of NationsMobile121 v 1
        League of LegendsPC125 v 5
        Mobile Legends: Bang BangMobile125 v 5
        FightingTekken 7Console121 v 1

        Details are as follows:
        • Eligibility: Any player/team affiliated to a South African tertiary institution may enter.
        • Entry fee: Entry is R100.00 per Registered Player. To enter, the club must complete the Google Drive document. The entry form may be found on Google Drive. Clubs are to download the entry form, completed the downloaded form, and e-mail it to Mind Sports South Africa. The link for such form is: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_ERR6815uVjSMu4t5KkRxYqGJ_AA88kkz31qRgksASc/edit#gid=287696184
        • Entry date: Entries need to be submitted by no later than Monday, 4 May 2023.
        • Registration: To register, players must complete the entry form.
        • Age restrictions: Age restrictions per game title shall be enforced
        When and Where: 

        The first round will start at 10H00. Players shall be given 60 minutes to complete each round. 

        Rules and Regulations: 

        All Rules and Regulations pertaining to eSports are available from MSSA. Players are strongly advised to familiarize themselves with the 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 MSSA who will take all comments into account.

        The following Medals may be awarded at MSSA's 2023 Provincial Online Student Championships:
        • MIXED: Medals shall be awarded to the first three players who are currently registered at any officially recognized University.
        • WOMEN: Women will be awarded medals as per the same basis as above.
        Colours and National Team Trials:

        All Players that win all of their Matches at a Provincial Championship will earn Student 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 Student Provincial Colours. Registered Players wishing to shout-cast the event, must please contact Marisa van der Westhuizen at: mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com.

        For additional information, please contact: mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com

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