SEA Games 2019 esports trial games staged in Manila

With the 30th Southeast Asian Games fast approaching, preparations are already ramping up for the biennial sports festival.

Yesterday, four national esports squads grabbed the spotlight in a series of test competitions held at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan City, Philippines.

Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the host country participated in the day-long exhibition which featured Tekken 7, Dota 2, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.

This 2019 SEA Games is highly anticipated among gaming fans across the region, as it marks the first time that esports competitions will count as medal events in the biennial regional sports festival. Nine countries are fielding their respective contingents for the Games’ esports tournaments.

The exhibition ended with the Philippine representatives — officially called “Sibol Pilipinas” — bagging the gold medal for the day’s events. Claiming top honors for all games, the host squads sent out an early warning for their peers across the region.

In the Tekken 7 finals, the Philippines’ Andreij “Doujin” Albar beat Indonesia’s Muhammad “MEAT” Jusuf.

Sibol’s Dota 2 team rallied after a tame start to beat Malaysia with 28-18 kill gap in their first game of the day. The Philippines and Malaysia would meet again in the Dota 2 finals, where the hosts copped the win with a convincing 2-0 sweep.

In Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, the Philippine team swept regional favorites Indonesia in a statement win.

Indonesia grabbed the silver medal, while Thailand claimed bronze.

Fans who came to watch the test event were treated not just to an exciting teaser of what to expect at the 2019 SEA Games. For their tickets (worth roughly US$1), they also went home with a Razer Gold voucher that they can use to acquire 50 diamonds on Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.

The 2019 SEA Games happens from November 30 through December 11. All esports events are scheduled to take place on December 5-10, also at the Fil-Oil Flying V Center.