The inaugural Global Esports Games kicked off in Singapore over the weekend (18-19 December).
Hosted by the Global Esports Federation, it hosted almost 100 of the world’s top esports players from more than 30 countries and territories as they congregated on Singapore’s Resort World Sentosa to compete in three games, including Dota 2 and Street Fighter V: Champion Edition.
Paul J. Foster, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Esports Federation, said: “The Singapore 2021 Global Esports Games marks a historic first for the GEF as our dynamic esports community convenes and competes in-person in world headquarters, Singapore – where we launched exactly two years ago.”
In the event’s opening ceremony, Singapore’s home-grown rapper ShiGGa Shay also performed in what was his first mixed reality performance.
Brazil and Singapore swept the top awards on opening day – with Brazil showing off its prowess in football, not just physically but virtually as well, after 17-year-old João Vitor won the eFootball 2022 gold medal against regional rivals Argentina.
Meanwhile, Team Singapore faced off with Team Great Britain in the women’s Dota 2 final – and while Team GB won the first match, Team Singapore quickly found their footing to claim the title.
Despite the latest Omicron variant of the Covid-19 pandemic sweeping the world, the 2021 Global Esports Games went ahead as a strictly invite-only for those fully vaccinated, with no live audiences allowed and players kept away from media and guests in a Bio Secured Bubble.
TechStorm spoke with Team Singapore and Dota 2’s Women’s winner, Tay “Merody” Hui Chun, and she said the absence of a live audience impacts esports athletes as well because “with a live audience, there is more pressure (on us) to perform. ”
On Day 2, Street Fight V: Champions Edition was the first event to be contested and it was Taiwan’s Bruce Hsiang who edged out the competition from the Dominican Republic and Pakistan.
Despite trying their best to replicate their compatriots’ victory – Team Singapore fell just a little short in the Dota 2 open category. It was Brazil who swept past them to claim the championship.
Winners at the event go home with some shiny mementos, and the CEO of the Global Esports Federation also said all athletes at the Games will receive their own Global Esports Cup as an NFT.
This is the second esports event Singapore hosted in December, with the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang World Championship also wrapping up over the weekend.
In comments made before the Games, Singapore’s Open Dota 2 team member and former 2019 Southeast Asian Games competitor, Wilson “Poloson” Koh Chin Wei, said: “Esports’ inclusion in the SEA Games was significant as it boosted visibility and gave the public a little more insight to what esports is about.”
The esports industry is big business – according to data analytics firm Newzoo, the industry will log over a billion dollars in revenue in 2021, and it expects the global games livestreaming audience numbers to grow 10% from last year.
*Featured image from the 2021 Global Esports Games
By Samantha Chan \ 11:19am, 20 December 2021