eSports

eSports gets official nod from Cal Rec Sports

Published

7 years ago

November 6, 2017

eSports gets official nod from Cal Rec Sports

Reading Time: 4 minutes

eSports might not involve a ball, throwing, running or pushing physical limits. But, don’t tell competitive gamers they aren’t athletes. In fact, now it’s official.

By adding a team to its competitive program for the first time since incorporating golf in 2013, Berkeley Rec Sports has signaled that it agrees with the gamers’ position. But this time, they aren’t creating a new team, nor are they only adding a single team. Instead, they are merging with eSports@Berkeley to form the Cal eSports program.

In the past, eSports@Berkeley was a registered student organization that brought together passionate gamers to play in both casual and competitive settings. They hosted LAN parties — gatherings of people playing computer games and board games — and other special events throughout the year, as well as fielding teams for national tournaments.

“Previously, as eSports@Berkeley, we were recognizing ourselves as a group of Cal students who compete in tournaments,” said Kevin Ponn, the student president of the new Cal eSports program. “We weren’t claiming to be the official, main Cal eSports team, even though there were no other teams on this campus who we would be competing against.”

Although the club couldn’t officially compete as as a representative of Cal, it still managed to achieve enormous success. From 2009 until this season, eSports@Berkeley won eight national championships across a multitude of video game titles, such as “Overwatch,” “StarCraft II” and “Dota 2.” With that history of consistent success, an enthusiastic community and sustained interest from the student body, the Rec Sports department was drawn to the idea of forming an athletics program.

Talks between eSports@Berkeley and Berkeley Rec Sports initially began in February 2015, when the Pac-12 Conference contacted the student organization about the possibility of setting up a conference-wide esports league. Those talks didn’t come to fruition, because not every university in the conference had the available framework in place, but they paved the way for Ponn and eSports@Berkeley to begin their own dialogues.

“We saw it as a natural alignment of their ability to bring attention and awareness to what is a rising sport and of our ability to lend our administrative resources and support to the program,” said Andy Davis, the communications manager for Berkeley Rec Sports.

As of March this year, the partnership became official. But as both sides soon realized, this wouldn’t be the simplest of transitions.

“As we were going through the process of trying to get them as a sport club, we realized they won’t necessarily fit in the sport club parameters we currently have,” said Kirk Robles, the assistant director of marketing for Rec Sports.

In traditional sports, each type of sport has its own team because the sports they play are all unique. Most people don’t realize esports works in the same way. Each individual video game requires a different set of skills and is played in a different way. Adding a single esports team to represent the entire organization just wasn’t feasible.

“It was like trying to cram all of the athletics department under one team,” Ponn said.

To account for the differences, the Rec Sports department created a separate division that would encompass all of the esports teams and any new ones that would be created in the future, mirroring the current structure that the department has for traditional club sports.

As of now, the Cal eSports program is made up of nine competitive teams spread across titles including “League of Legends,” “Dota 2,” “Starcraft II,” “Hearthstone,” “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive,” “Overwatch” and “Heroes of the Storm.” Each of those teams is managed by a team captain and a competitive coordinator, who all come together to form the Cal eSports program.

The first visible imprint of the new Cal eSports program was at Caltopia, a club sports extravaganza prior to the start of the semester. In addition to the club sports that were tabling for new recruits, the RSF was packed with exhibitors who were considered as potential sponsors of the Cal eSports program. Through Caltopia, the esports program got to show local and national companies where the program currently is and what the vision is moving forward.

“Our next step is to fund these teams, whether that be a practice facility, sponsorship of team jerseys, travel costs and things like that,” Robles said.

The program has begun looking at Rec Sports facilities as well as other facilities on campus that might be considered viable training and competition locations. The intention of the space is not only for it to serve as a place for team members and managers to play together during scrimmages and matches, but also as a community center.

“The esports facility itself would be lowering barriers for students. For some people who can’t afford to have a good gaming computer to play ‘Overwatch’ as well as they can, the facility would be able to rectify that situation and level the playing field,” Ponn said.

The Rec Sports program prides itself on inclusivity and works to ensure accessibility for the student population. Therefore, their goal for the esports facility is for it to be an available to the entire student body, in the same way the Recreational Sports Facility or the Memorial Stadium Fitness Center are.

As for the goals of Cal eSports’ inaugural year, it’s not just all about winning. Ponn seeks to set a professional tone for the future of the program. The immediate focus is to lay the foundation and groundwork for growth and continued success. With that in place, Ponn hopes that the program will be able to offer increased opportunities for scholarships, career opportunities, and job-building experiences for its members.

But as is the mantra in every sport, it always helps to win.

eSports

WEC24: PUBG MOBILE Tournament Concludes with Outstanding Success

Published

32 mins ago

November 22, 2024

Adrienn Sarkany

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The PUBG MOBILE tournament at WEC24 has officially wrapped up, delivering three days of competition that exceeded all expectations. With 10 out of 16 teams securing Chicken Dinners throughout the tournament, every map brought its own excitement, with the final rounds determining the champions and medal placements. We saw impressive viewership numbers with 776,454 unique viewers achieving 89,675 hours watched throughout the three days of competition.

On the competitive front, the Indonesian team set a WEC24 record by securing a Chicken Dinner with an astonishing 18 eliminations, packing a remarkable 28-point round.

Turkey stepped up to claim the title of WEC24 PUBG MOBILE Champions, delivering a fierce, precise performance and seizing the trophy in the final maps, a true champions’ style victory.

Congratulations are also due to Ukraine, who came very close to securing the gold. Consistent and determined to win, they kept fans and their nation on edge until the final rounds, ultimately securing the silver medal. Brazil took home the bronze, showcasing exceptional talent and positioning themselves as strong contenders for future titles.

Igor Nedeski, Esports Manager at IESF, praised the athletes, the tournament’s success, and the ongoing collaboration with Tencent: “The PUBG MOBILE tournaments have been one of the highlights of WEC for years now, and our ongoing collaboration and support from Tencent has played a huge role in its success. Congratulations to the medalists and to all athletes participating for their remarkable WEC24 performance.”

Micah Li, Senior Esports Manager at Tencent, “Congratulations to Turkey on becoming the WEC24 PUBG MOBILE Champions. We greatly value our partnership with IESF and the success we have achieved together over the years. We look forward to continuing this collaboration and delivering many more exceptional PUBG MOBILE tournaments in the future.”

With the PUBG MOBILE tournament concluded, IESF looks forward to further PUBG MOBILE competitions, as national teams from around the world improve year by year.

eSports

Mortal cements his name as face of Indian gaming, wins ‘Content Creator of the Year’ at global Esports Awards 2024

Published

2 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Adrienn Sarkany

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Naman Mathur, popularly known as Mortal, has added another feather to his illustrious cap by winning the coveted ‘Content Creator of the Year’ award at the Global Esports Awards 2024 Part 2 in Los Angeles on Friday. The grand ceremony saw Mortal triumph over globally renowned gamers like Tarik Celik, Ibai Llanos Garatea, and Marc ‘Caedrel’ Lamont, solidifying his stature as India’s biggest gamer.

Mortal’s groundbreaking victory marks a significant milestone not only in his personal journey but also for the Indian gaming community at large. The 27-year-old’s illustrious gaming career boasts numerous accolades, including championship titles in BMPS Season 1 (2022) and the PUBG Mobile Club Open (2019) as an esports athlete. He has amassed over 7 million subscribers on YouTube and more than 5.3 million followers on Instagram through his distinctive and impactful content, making him one of India’s most influential gaming personalities.

Speaking on this remarkable achievement, Naman Mathur aka Mortal, Co-founder, S8UL Esports, stated, “Winning this award is an incredible moment of pride, not just for me but for the entire Indian gaming and esports community. My journey began with a simple passion for gaming, and seeing that passion resonate with millions of people is truly humbling. I hope this achievement inspires more young gamers to chase their dreams and believe that they too can earn global recognition through dedication and hard work. I am deeply grateful to S8UL for being the backbone of my journey. This success is not mine alone- it belongs to every fan, every teammate, and every supporter who believed in me and in the potential of Indian esports.”

This was Mortal’s sixth consecutive nomination at the prestigious awards, a feat achieved by no other Indian gamer. Having been nominated for various categories over the years such as ‘Esports Mobile Player of the Year’, ‘Streamer of the Year’ and ‘Esports Personality of the Year’, Mortal’s victory in this edition is a testament to his immense contribution to growing the esports and gaming content ecosystem in India.

“This award holds a deeply personal meaning for me. Watching Mortal achieve this recognition feels like a shared victory- one that takes me back to where it all began. From the late nights to the sacrifices, every moment has led us here. Together, we’re not just creating history; we’re shaping the future of gaming and esports globally. A victory for him, a milestone for Indian esports!” said Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug, Co-founder, S8UL Esports.

The Esports Awards is the most prestigious night in esports, dedicated to showcasing top-tier performance and innovation from players, teams, media, hardware providers, games, events, and personalities within the scene.

“When we first started this journey, we had no idea how far it would take us, but we always knew we were in this together. Mortal has always been like a brother to me, and seeing him win this award feels like a personal achievement. For him to be honoured with this accolade today is a reflection of the countless hours, effort and heart we’ve poured into building who we are and what we stand for,” commented Lokesh ‘Goldy’ Jain, Co-founder, S8UL Esports.

Mortal’s achievement reaffirms India’s rise as a formidable force in the global esports and gaming content landscape.

eSports

The World Esports Summit 2024 Is Here!

Published

18 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Peter Tolan

Reading Time: < 1 minute

The IESF World Esports Summit returns this December to Busan, South Korea. Hosted at the Busan Esports Arena (BRENA) from December 5-6, the Summit will bring together prominent figures from Esports, global brands, government officials, and sports executives for a deep dive into the current Esports trends, its rapid transformations, and future challenges.

This year’s theme, “Building Bridges, Not Barriers, Through the Power of Esports,” will highlight the role of Esports in uniting cultures, ideas, and industries. Under the slogan “We Empower Success,” the

Summit provides a great platform for Esports experts to engage in meaningful discussions and sessions, sharing their insights on trends and presenting forward-looking ideas for our industry.

The event, strategically timed at the close of the competitive season, presents a perfect environment for reflection on the year’s biggest events, industry shifts, and the next steps for Esports. Attendees can follow the expert’s perspectives on topics like:

(R)Evolution in Esports
East Meets West
Esports Integrity: The Role of Referees
The Rise of International Esports Competitions
(In Korean) Korea’s Secret Sauce etc.

Also, featured at this year’s event are the IESF World Esports Training Camp and the World Esports Referee Academy.

These are very important IESF programs that are aimed at advancing the skills and professional standards of the next generation of Esports leaders.

Join us in Busan for two days designed to inspire, connect, and empower the international Esports community.

Registration for the World Esports Summit is free and open to all interested attendees.

To register, please complete our online registration form: iesf.formstack.com/forms/wes2024_participation_registration

See you in Busan!

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