Tuesday 5 March 2024

MSSA CONFIRMS ITS ENTRY TO WEC 24

 

Colin Webster announced today that MSSA has entered its largest team Protea Team ever.

Mind Sports South Africa's President, Colin Webster, today confirmed that MSSA has entered
International Esports Federation's (IESF) 16th World Championships.

MSSA has been a staunch, and loyal member, of IESF since 2009, and has participated in every single IESF World Championship since 2009. 

MSSA has always advocated greater inclusion of events for females at such World Championships. Withe Colin Webster having served on IOESF's Board from 2013 to 2020, the number of events specifically for females has grown in number. It was in 2018 that South Africa fielded the first all female Counter-Strike team at IESF's 10th World Championships - an act which many see as a forerunner of IESF implementing an all female Counter-Strike event at its 14th World Championships.

It is therefore not surprising that MSSA has thus entered all IESF esports titles on offer at IESF's 16th World Championships - especially the female events.

The esports titles entered by MSSA are:

  • Counter-Strike 2 (open)
  • Counter-Strike 2 (female)
  • DOTA 2 (open) 
  • eFootball (Open) 
  • Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (open)
  • Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (female)
  • PUBG mobile (open)

Colin Webster stated, "This is the largest entry that South Africa has ever made, and MSSA is confident that the 2024 Protea Team will be the strongest team ever to represent South Africa as the Protea Team'.

Additional reading:

Friday 1 March 2024

Reminder: 13th Online Inter-school Provincial Championships - 2 March 2024


Learners have great opportunities to qualify for Provincial and National Teams at this event.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) shall be holding its ever popular 13th Online Inter-school Provincial Championships on 3 March 2024.

An important feature of this championship, is that it is open to any learner, whether or not the school is affiliated or not, however, approval from the school is required. Such approval must come from an educator or competent school official.

Learners who are being homeschooled may also participate, but such homeschool clubs must be affiliated to MSSA as a private club.

However, for team events, it is required that all members of the team are all from the same school.

Players, will be able to play from any venue/s approved by the school.

MSSA's 13th Online Inter-school Provincial Championships, offers local players the opportunity to qualify for selection to the national squad and for the Protea Team that will attend international events should they meet the criteria. Such events may include events accredited by IESF, GEF, CAES, and ACDS.


The championship shall be held on 2 March 2024. Entries must be submitted before midnight on 1 March 2024.


Game titles to be played are:

Period/genreTitlePlatformAge restrictionPlayers
FPS
Counter-Strike 2PC185 v 5
ValorantPC/console165 v 5
Sport
FIFA '24Console121 v 1
eFootballConsole121 v 1
Rocket LeaguePC121 v 1 and 3 v 3
MOBA
DotA 2PC125 v 5
Clash RoyaleMobile121 v 1
League of LegendsPC125 v 5
Clash of ClansMobile121 v1
Mobile Legends Bang BangMobile125 v 5
FightingStreet Fighter VConsole121 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 learner currently registered for primary or secondary studies may enter.

Entry fee:

  • Entry is R50.00 per Registered Player.
  • Only fully-paid-up Registered Players may participate in this event.

Entries:

Medals:

Medals shall be awarded to the first three gamers for both men and women (per  province) in the following categories:
  • MALE: The top three places (1st, 2nd, and 3rd)).
  • FEMALE: The top three places (1st, 2nd, and 3rd))
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:
      • 2 March 2024
      • 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.
              • All medals shall be awarded to the recipients at a MSSA LAN championships.

              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 

              Additional reading:

              Wednesday 21 February 2024

              To qualify for National Team Trials to represent South Africa.

              The 2023 Protea Team at Dubai International while in transit to  IESF's 15th World Esports Championships held in Iasi, Romania, The team participated in Counter-Strike, DotA, efootball and Tekken.

              I
              n order to participate in MSSA's 
              National Team Trials to represent South Africa, players must be registered for the 2023/2024 season.

              All Registered Players who have qualified at MSSA's Regional, and/or Provincial, and/or National Championships are cordially invited to enter.

              To have qualified, a Registered Player shall have:
              • Have finished in the top three places, or top 20% (whichever is greater), in a Provincial or National Championship, and/or
              • Have won a Regional Championship, and/or
              • Have won a Derby event, and or
              • Have represented South Africa in an international championship in 2023.
              The Documents required are as follows:
              • Copy of South African Passport.
              • Signed Senior or Junior Contract (Please note a parent or guardian will need to sign if the player is under 18 years of age).
              • Copy of an Unabridged Birth Certificate for players under the age of 18

              On reviewing the above, it is evident that the rules to qualify for MSSA's National Team Trials are indeed not onerous and open to all South Africans wishing to participate.

              Additional reading:

              IESF announces game titles for 16th World Esports Championships to be held in 2024.

              The titles offered at the 2024 World Esports Championships (WEC).

              IESF (International Esports Federation) typically selects game titles for its official competitions based on several criteria including popularity, competitive balance, accessibility, and the ability to foster a global esports community.

              International Esports Federation (IESF) for the 2024 World Esports Championships (WEC) has thus announced the game titles offered, being:

              • Counter-Strike 2 (open)
              • Counter-Strike 2 (female)
              • DOTA 2 (open) 
              • eFootball (Open) 
              • Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (open)
              • Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (female)
              • PUBG mobile (open)

              The open category allows teams or players to be either female or male. A female team may only consist of female players.

              Thus, it is not imaginable, that should our female players outperform our male players in provincial championships, and at National Team Trials (NTT), the entire 2024 Protea team could only consist of females.

              With South Africa (through MSSA) having participated in every IESF World Championships since the inception of such championships in 2009, MSSA expects a fierce competitive spirit to continue to grow among its membership as players fight for a place in the Protea Team.

              Tuesday 20 February 2024

              13th Online Inter-school Provincial Championships - 2 March 2024

              Learners have great opportunities to qualify for Provincial and National Teams at this event.

              Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) shall be holding its ever popular 13th Online Inter-school Provincial Championships on 3 March 2024.

              An important feature of this championship, is that it is open to any learner, whether or not the school is affiliated or not, however, approval from the school is required. Such approval must come from an educator or competent school official.

              Learners who are being homeschooled may also participate, but such homeschool clubs must be affiliated to MSSA as a private club.

              However, for team events, it is required that all members of the team are all from the same school.

              Players, will be able to play from any venue/s approved by the school.

              MSSA's 13th Online Inter-school Provincial Championships, offers local players the opportunity to qualify for selection to the national squad and for the Protea Team that will attend international events should they meet the criteria. Such events may include events accredited by IESF, GEF, CAES, and ACDS.


              The championship shall be held on 2 March 2024. Entries must be submitted before midnight on 1 March 2024.


              Game titles to be played are:

              Period/genreTitlePlatformAge restrictionPlayers
              FPS
              Counter-Strike 2PC185 v 5
              ValorantPC/console165 v 5
              Sport
              FIFA '24Console121 v 1
              eFootballConsole121 v 1
              Rocket LeaguePC121 v 1 and 3 v 3
              MOBA
              DotA 2PC125 v 5
              Clash RoyaleMobile121 v 1
              League of LegendsPC125 v 5
              Clash of ClansMobile121 v1
              Mobile Legends Bang BangMobile125 v 5
              FightingStreet Fighter VConsole121 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 learner currently registered for primary or secondary studies may enter.

              Entry fee:

              • Entry is R50.00 per Registered Player.
              • Only fully-paid-up Registered Players may participate in this event.

              Entries:

              Medals:

              Medals shall be awarded to the first three gamers for both men and women (per  province) in the following categories:
              • MALE: The top three places (1st, 2nd, and 3rd)).
              • FEMALE: The top three places (1st, 2nd, and 3rd))
              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:
                  • 2 March 2024
                  • 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.
                          • All medals shall be awarded to the recipients at a MSSA LAN championships.

                          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 

                          Additional reading: