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IDEO gaming, or eSports, has come into the mainstream and is gaining
rapidly these days. This fast growing industry has elevated the gaming experience and its gamers to a whole new level.
eSports are no longer only played in Internet cafes and college dorms but in specialised purpose-built arenas.
Gamers , who used to be seen as an anti-social bunch, are starting to play professionally in international tournaments sponsored by various organisations across the globe.
In catching up with the eSports frenzy, Unitar International University (Unitar) held an eSports tournament in a programme called “Gaya Bola, Raya Bola”.
256 contestants gathered for the tournament, which was held from June 30 to July 1 at the main campus. The eSports tournament was open to anyone aged between 17 and 21.
Muhamad Luqman Haziq Hajiman, who is a second-year student doing his degree in finance at University of Malaya (UM) earned himself a well-deserved first place, Rezaril Keiflin Keifli came in second, while Mohammad Rasydan Nahor won third place. The finals of FIFA eSports tournament was attended by the finalists’ friends and supporters.
The eSports winners received cash prizes worth RM2,000 for the third place, RM3,000 for the second place and RM5,000 for the champion. The winners were also able to convert these prizes into full scholarships worth about RM100,000.
“This is the second time I participated in an eSports tournament held by a university. This proves that the universities in Malaysia are starting to support eSports. I hope that more institutions will organise this kind of event in the future,” said Luqman who represented Southeast Asia at the FIFA eWorld Cup Play-off in Barcelona, Spain this year.
Luqman previously won the FIFA 18 MESL championship in February and earned second place in the Malaysia Cyber Games (MCG) 2018 tournament in January.
“Now I am going to join a few local tournaments while waiting for FIFA 19 to be released at the end of September this year. After that, I will grind and try to qualify for the FIFA eWorld Cup, which is the official tournament hosted by the game’s developer, EA,” he added.
“I only join tournaments during my semester break. However, I will spend about two to three hours a day practising so that I can maintain my form,” he said.
Unitar chief executive officer Puvan Balachandran said the competition was a platform to expose students to new environments.
“eSports is gaining popularity. It is the second most watched game after football. Having the public join this tournament helps the students build confidence in their abilities. This is a platform for the students to be exposed to new environments.
“We wanted to elevate our students’ experience so, we decided to host an eSports World Cup in collaboration with Gamesbond.
“The timing was perfect for us to come out with the FIFA eSports tournament,” he added.
The “Gaya Bola, Raya Bola” campaign was launched in parallel with the world’s largest sporting event, the World Cup and Hari Raya celebrations.
The campaign kicked off in May with a Gaya Bola, Raya Bola Instagram contest where students stood a chance to win 10 replica jerseys of their favourite team.
A series of exciting events took place during the campaign including the eSports tournament, the launch of the UNISTAR’s Futsal Arena and a sharing session with guests.
The UNISTAR’s Futsal Arena was launched by the Batu member of parliament Prabakaran Parameswaran, witnessed by Unitar chairman, Mazhairul Jamaluddin, Astro SuperSports TV host Reem Shahwa and Astro Arena sports presenter Dayang Zainatull Aqma, who is affectionately known as Dayang Atul.
ESports is gaining popularity. It is the second most watched game after football. Having the public join this tournament helps the students build confidence in their abilities.
The futsal court is open to all Unitar students for free. A motivational talk session was moderated by Student Representative Council. Reem and Dayang Atul talked about some of the biggest challenges they face on a daily basis working in a male-dominated industry.
“There are a lot of hurtful comments on the social media but I try not to take it personally. Maybe they are not used to seeing a woman talk about football,” said Reem Shahwa.
“When I started, it was hard for people to take me seriously but you just have to know what you’re doing. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes because that’s how you learn,” said Dayang Atul.
A scholarship worth RM100,000 was handed over to Prabakaran to help underprivileged students as a part of Unitar’s corporate social responsibility initiative.
“About 116,000 people are categorised as urban poor and we want to create a chance for these people to have access to education,” said Puvan
In the spirit of the World Cup, Unitar provides live viewing to all 64 matches in the main campus on big screens, with air conditioning and a great sound system similar to the comforts of one’s own home.
Unitar registrar Nor Hafizah Badaruddin said: “Football is more than just a game. It is often called the people’s game for its ability to appeal to everyone.
“Not only it connects individuals in the local community but, major tournament events such as the World Cup bring people together from diverse culture all around the world, in the spirit of healthy competition.
“The Gaya Bola Raya Bola eSports Game competition and the launch of our Futsal court exemplify Unitar’s commitment to giving the best learning experience to our students.” she added.