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| (Image Source: PhilStar.com/Estudyante eSports) |
The spotlight is firmly on student-athletes as Estudyante eSports officially kicks off its highly anticipated National Championships 2024, organized in collaboration with Dark League Studios (DLS). With participation from a staggering 3,000 students representing over 500 public and private schools nationwide, this tournament is set to feature four of the most beloved eSports titles: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), VALORANT, Tekken, and League of Legends (LoL). A jaw-dropping prize fund of Php1.6M awaits, which will be shared among the four game titles, underlining the event's significance as a platform for young talents.
DLS Co-Founder and CEO AC Valdenor expressed that this financial incentive is not just about the games; it’s an opportunity for students to enhance their esports prowess while bolstering their educational journeys. At the tournament's press launch last October 10, Valdenor remarked, "We aimed to alleviate some of the financial burdens by offering tuition assistance and school supplies to these aspiring stars. The evolution of Philippine eSports must be anchored in our schools and among the youth and that’s precisely what the Estudyante eSports aims to facilitate." Valdenor further articulated the overarching mission, saying, "Our goal is to evolve eSports into more than just a source of entertainment; we want it to serve as a viable career pathway for students." Adding to the excitement, Estudyante eSports program director Alexander Kibanoff outlined the championship's core objectives: "This event is all about promoting engaging and healthy competition, paving the way to identify the country’s top talents. It allows student-athletes to showcase their skills, build camaraderie, and elevate the pride of their respective schools." His sentiments were echoed by DLS chairman and co-founder Bobby Rosales, along with chief marketing officer Alfrancis Chua.
Speaking of VALORANT, Riot Games Philippines officially announced the game's partnership with Estudyante eSports in support of the nationwide campus league, reinforcing its commitment to elevating the competitive gaming and eSports scene for local grassroots gaming communities in the country. In addition to a cash prize pool, VALORANT will also be covering one full semester of tuition for the winning school team – amounting to a combined prize value of nearly Php1M. Exclusive to Estudyante eSports’ VALORANT competition, Riot Games Philippines sweetens the cash prize pot with a scholarship up for grabs. The champion team will receive a Php250,000 cash prize while the grand finals’ Most Valuable Player (MVP) will bring home Php20,000. The tournament’s first runner-up will receive Php100,000 and both the champion’s and runner-up’s school/campus eSports organizations will receive cash support of Php80,000 and Php50,000, respectively. Additionally, all members of the VALORANT champion team will be recognized as EE-Scholar Agents, each receiving a scholarship for one full-semester in their respective schools courtesy of VALORANT. “Investing in the grassroots competitive gaming scene is one of the many initiatives we’re taking to discover, hone, and nurture the next generation of VALORANT talents. We recognize that students are among the most active members of gaming communities in the country. Championing eSports at the collegiate level, thus, enables us to empower the young minds and talents of this generation. We want them to realize that common criticisms such as “kaka-computer mo ‘yan” or “kaka-VALORANT mo ‘yan” can bring in something beneficial in real life such as financial rewards and even scholarships to support their education,” said Riot Games Philippines' VALORANT Brand Manager Jason Roberto.
The National Championships will feature a series of four regional qualifiers taking place from October through early February. Kicking off these qualifiers is NCR (Metro Manila) to be followed by Luzon on November and Visayas and Mindanao on January 2025. The top two teams from each qualifier will advance to the national playoffs, mirroring the structure of traditional sports leagues such as the UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines), NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association), and CESAFI (Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc.). Competitors from Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao will face various challenges on their quest through the inter-regional playoffs on February 2025 to secure a place in the National Stage Grand Finals scheduled to be held on February 22-23, 2025 in Manila.
