The 30th SEA Games is the first to recognize Esports as a medal sport.

Ever thought you were so good at computer games, that you can probably represent Malaysia? Time to put that to the test!

With the addition of Esports to the SEA Games roster for the first time ever in 2019, the government is finally taking the timely step of setting up a local Esports league, which I presume is in the hopes of bringing home an extra gold medal at the SEA Games. While some might argue that a local league is long overdue, it’s welcome news nonetheless. Our minister of youth and Sports, Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman, says that the initiative is timely given the growing popularity of Esports in the country. With an estimated 14.4 million enthusiasts in Malaysia alone, our quest for gold shouldn’t all be that hard, right?

With the landscape of Esports currently consisting of one off events held across the country, identifying and unearthing new talent should become considerably easier with the introduction of the league. A task force comprising of professional cyber gamer’s is being set up to strengthen the local industry and ultimately prep them to take on our ASEAN neighbors. A task force! Exciting stuff.

Syed Saddiq also announced that all matters will be taken into consideration, including the opinion of parents on the matter. Given the addictive nature of Esports (lets be honest, we’ve all skipped school to head to the nearest BlitZone at least once) and the fact that the league will be played at various levels, this comes as no surprise. No news on exact dates just yet but if you play too much Dota 2, Starcraft 2, Arena of Valor, Mobile Legends, Tekken or NBA 2k19, then you just might be what they’re looking for.  Be sure to check back for updates.