Esports is on the rise, and Malaysia is one of the most active countries in terms of esports. In fact, it’s now considered one of the top esports hot spots in the world. What does this mean for gamers and esports enthusiasts in Malaysia? Plenty. It means that there’s an abundance of opportunities for those who want to get involved in the industry. For instance, you can start playing professional games like League of Legends and Dota 2, or you can start streaming your gameplay sessions online. The sky’s the limit! There are also plenty of sponsorship and advertising opportunities available to gamers and esports enthusiasts, so don’t be afraid to get started. After all, what better way to learn about the industry than by getting involved?
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What is Esports in Malaysia?
Esports in Malaysia is a hot property, with big competition for gamers and sponsors. With the country’s rapidly expanding economy, there is an ever-growing demand for digital entertainment. In March 2018, Malaysia became the first Southeast Asian country to receive regulatory approval for competitive video gaming, which paved the way for esports to take root in the region.
The Malaysian Esports Association (MESA) has been working hard to support and promote esports in the country. They have hosted tournaments and organized leagues for different games, including Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), Dota 2, League of Legends (LoL), Hearthstone, and StarCraft II. The MESA also runs a Scholarship program that gives students financial assistance to pursue their esports dreams.
Despite these efforts, esports still faces some challenges in Malaysia. For one thing, there are few dedicated arena facilities available where gamers can compete head-to-head. This means that many competitions have had to be held online instead. Furthermore, there is a lack of sponsorship opportunities for local teams and players. However, with strong community support and continued innovation from the MESA, esports in Malaysia is expected to grow rapidly in coming years.
The History of Esports in Malaysia
Esports in Malaysia has been growing in popularity rapidly, with tournaments and events regularly taking place across the country. With avid players, a dedicated fanbase, and lucrative prize pools, esports is set to be a major growth area for Malaysia in the years to come.
The history of esports in Malaysia can be traced back to 2006 when the first electronic sports tournament was hosted in the country. At this time, esports activity was limited to online play and tournaments were largely boycotted by professional gamers. In 2007, however, a group of students from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) decided to start up an online gaming league called “Red Bull Gamer’s Cup” which quickly became one of the most popular virtual leagues at the time.
In 2009, there was another significant development for esports in Malaysia when two companies – Lynx Game International Bhd (LGBI) and Astro Gaming Sdn Bhd – jointly established Malaysian eSports Association (MESA). This led to the launch of several local tournaments and competitions which proved to be very successful. The success of these events helped pave way for more mainstream attention being given to esports in Malaysia and helped boost its popularity among fans and professionals alike.
More high-profile tournaments started taking place in Malaysia during 2010-2011 including the prestigious Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Asia Pacific Championship which was hosted by LGBI at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). This marked the first time that a major international esports event was held in Malaysia and it definitely put the country on the map.
The growth of esports in Malaysia continued apace during 2012-2015 with several major tournaments being hosted including the first edition of the ESL One Genting tournament, the StarLadder i-League Season 3 Finals, and the Garena Premier League Season 2. In 2015, the Malaysian Gaming Association (MGA) was established to help promote and manage esports in the country.
Since then, esports in Malaysia has continued to grow rapidly with several new tournaments and leagues being launched every year. As a result, Malaysia is now considered one of the leading countries in terms of esports development and growth.
The esports scene in Malaysia
Malaysia is quickly becoming a hotbed for esports with competitive gaming events and tournaments drawing large crowds. The country has already produced some world-renowned esports players, including Wong “ChuaN” Chuan Leong, who competes in international video game tournaments as part of the country’s National Team.
Esports betting in Malaysia traces its roots back to 2003 when two students held a tournament at their school. Since then, the scene has grown steadily, with several major tournaments taking place each year. In 2016, Malaysia hosted the Southeast Asia Cyber Games (SEA Cyber Games), which featured popular video games like League of Legends and Dota 2. The event was attended by more than 5,000 participants from 11 countries and generated over RM5 million in revenues.
The esports scene in Malaysia is currently dominated by online multiplayer games like Dota 2 and League of Legends. Popular offline events include The International 2018 – an annual 8-player Dota 2 tournament hosted by Valve Corporation that has attracted over 25 million viewers worldwide – and The Kuala Lumpur Major – an event featuring tournaments for Vainglory, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, StarCraft II and CS:GO that took place last year and attracted 4,000 participants from around the world.
Esports Competition in Malaysia
Esports competitions in Malaysia are hot property and there is a lot of competition for the limited slots available. The national game championship has been running since 2016 and it is the most prominent esports event in Malaysia. This year’s edition will be held from December 6-8 in Cyberjaya, with a total prize pool of RM5 million. The competition will have 24 teams competing in a variety of games including League of Legends, Dota 2, Hearthstone, Crossfire and Super Smash Bros Ultimate. These games are popular because they offer fast-paced action with high levels of skill required to win.
The Malaysian contingent for the World Electronic Sports Games (WESG) is also an important event. This international multi-games tournament takes place every two years and has featured some of the best players from across the world. The Malaysia team has so far qualified for three editions – 2018, 2019 and 2020 – but they have yet to make it past the group stage. It will be an important test for them as they look to make it to the final stages in China next year.
There are also regional tournaments taking place throughout the country which offer smaller prizes but are still important events for aspiring gamers. These events give players a chance to show their skills against other local players and improve their ranking before embarking on bigger tournaments later on.
Conclusion
Esports in Malaysia is quickly becoming a hot property and there’s good reason for that – the country has some of the best gamers in the world. With viewership on Twitch reaching stratospheric heights, Malaysian teams are looking to make their mark on the international scene. Whether you’re a fan of esports betting or just want to know a little more about this growing industry, read on for some insights into esports in Malaysia.