Telkom to Present Indonesia’s Largest Esports Event Ever

Telkom Indonesia, the country’s largest telecommunications provider, will present the IndiHome Esports League from March until the end of 2018, set to continue over two years and split into four seasons. Teams will compete for a total prize pool of one billion rupiah, equating to $72,000.

Season one starts this month and finishes in May, with mobile esports title Vainglory being the primary title. IndiHome, a Telkom brand, acts as the tournament organizer, collaborating with digital media solutions company MD Media.

MD Media’s director, Syaifudin, commented on the development: “The big challenge of esports is changing the negative perception that video games have always had. Through this league, we hope esports competitions will foster creative value, train agility and develop a competitive spirit, while building teamwork with good sportsmanship.”

MD Media are also set to present Indonesia’s largest esports stadium, the MDM Esports Academy, equipped with the latest PC systems and network equipment to run “highly-polished esports events.” There will also be training facilities housed within the stadium, consisting of dormitories, coaching and clinics, as well as sports facilities.

“The esports stadium will include training facilities supported by professional Indonesian gamers with international achievements. The stadium will be a place where people can not only play, but also train to become professional gamers,” Syaifudin said.

This follows recent news of China’s Zhongxian stadium, the world’s first purpose-built esports stadium. Esports continues to grow in Asia, with Southeast Asia boasting one of the fastest growing esports audiences in the world, according to analyst Newzoo. There are two million viewers in Indonesia alone, with that number set to rise over the next two years. Additionally, the Asia-Pacific region will account for 53 percent of all esports enthusiasts this year.

Esports saw investment and attention in Asia last year, as esports events were added in partnership with e-commerce company Alibaba to the 2018 and 2022 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia and Hangzhou, China. AirAsia sponsored Team Mineski in January of this year, and ChallengeMe.gg partnered with two APAC media brands after a $4.9 million investment into their parent company.

Indonesia’s new league plans to not only develop players in the esports scene, but will also cater to the development of casters, video producers and streamers, all while providing a space where brands and sponsors are able to meet. Expect to see some exciting developments in esports come out of the region this year.