Esports betting is the new big thing. Whether you’re a casual observer or you’re fully invested, it’s hard to ignore the explosive growth of esports in recent years. From traditional sports like basketball and football to video games like Fortnite and PUBG, esports is becoming more and more popular by the day. But where did esports come from and what does its future look like? In this blog post, we will explore some of the factors that have led to esports in Malaysia explosive growth in Malaysia and elsewhere.
Malaysian Esports Association
Malaysian Esports Association (MESA) was formed in December of 2017 with the aim of promoting, developing and growing esports in Malaysia. Past events organised by MESA have included The Kuala Lumpur Major, the first Malaysian Dota 2 International and the Malaysian Electronic Sports Games.
Since its establishment, MESA has worked closely with government bodies to promote esports as a legitimate sport. In September 2018, representatives from MESA met with the Minister of Youth and Sports, Khairy Jamaluddin to discuss the merits of esports as an Olympic sport.
The future looks bright for esports in Malaysia with big plans to grow the industry both nationally and internationally. With continued support from government bodies and grassroots initiatives such as MESA, Malaysian esports is poised for great things in the years to come.
The Esports Industry in Malaysia
There is no doubt that esports is growing in popularity all over the world. Esports in Malaysia is no exception, with competitive gaming events and championships becoming increasingly popular.
Esports organisations have been operating in Malaysia for some time now, and the industry has seen significant growth in recent years. According to a report by global market research firm Newzoo, the Malaysian esports industry will be worth US$206 million by 2020. This represents a CAGR of 20%.
This impressive growth can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, there is a large and passionate fanbase for esports betting here, which means that brands and advertisers are likely to find audiences willing to engage with their products and services. Secondly, the country has recognised the potential of esports as an international sport, with authorities keen to support and promote it at all levels. This has led to impressive developments such as the launch of Malaysia’s first professional league – the MOBAs Pro League – in 2018.
Despite this strong growth, there are still areas where esports in Malaysia can improve in Malaysia. For example, it is still relatively difficult for gamers from other parts of Asia to compete in local tournaments due to language barriers. Additionally, many gamers here are not yet familiar with traditional sports media platforms like ESPN or Fox Sports Australia, which could limit their exposure to mainstream audiences. However, these issues should not be taken as signs of regression – on the contrary, they reflect the continuing rapid expansion industry of esports in Malaysia.
Professional Esports in Malaysia
Esports in Malaysia is on the rise and there’s a good reason for it. With an estimated population of over 26 million people, Malaysia has plenty of gamers to support professional esports.
In fact, shortly after the release of StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm, Malaysian pro-gamer Mohamad “Khaldor” Mohamed lodged an application with the Malaysian Esports Association (MESA) to represent his country at global tournaments. Khaldor won Silver in StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty and reached rank 2 on the SEA ladder as a Terran player. He also represented Malaysia in international events such as Assembly Summer 2014 and ASUS ROG Masters 2015.
Malaysian esports organisations have been quick to get involved too. MESA was founded in December 2013 and has since organised several national championships, most notably the National Electronic Sports Tournament (NESTCOM MALAYSIA) which pits top teams from across Malaysia against each other in online tournaments. In May 2016, Razer announced that it had entered into a multi-year partnership with MESA to support its growth throughout Southeast Asia as well as establish Razer Arena as one of the region’s premier esports venues.
There are now over 200 competitive gamers registered with MESA alone, including pro-gamers, streamers, content creators and managers. The growth of esports in Malaysia is being aided by a number of factors including increasing interest from parents and schools; rising grassroots activity; investment from local and international organisations; and the growing popularity of esports in neighbouring countries.
With so many gamers to support, Malaysia is well on its way to becoming one of the world’s leading esports countries.
Mobile Esports in Malaysia
Esports has been growing in popularity over the years, with dedicated fans and spectators coming from all corners of the globe. In Malaysia, esports is still in its early stages but there are already several tournaments and leagues being organised. The Malaysian Esports Association (MESA) was founded in January of this year with the aim of promoting esports culture and growth within the country. They currently have two leagues running – one for PC gamers and one for mobile gamers.
As mobile gaming continues to grow in popularity, there’s a good chance that esports will become even more popular too. Already, there are a number of prominent players who compete regularly in both console and mobile gaming. Some of the biggest names include Lim Teck Ghee (better known as Flash), Tan Chin Nam (also known as Zest), Wong Chun Sing (Faker) and Mohd Shaharuddin Abdullah (Xmithie). With so many top players already dedicating time to esports, it’s only a matter of time before Malaysian esports takes off on an international scale.
Regional Pro Leagues in Malaysia
There are a few regional pro leagues in Malaysia that have been active for the past few years. These include the Malaysian Premier League (MPL), the Malaysian Esports Association (MESA) League, and the South East Asian Games Regional Pro League.
The MPL is the biggest of these leagues, with 10 teams competing in 2019. The league is split into two stages: Stage One has eight teams competing, and Stage Two has four teams competing. The winner of Stage Two qualifies for the Southeast Asian Games Pro League, which is held in Thailand each year.
The MESA League was founded in 2018 and has six teams competing in it. The league is split into two stages: Stage One has four teams competing, and Stage Two has two teams competing. The winner of Stage Two qualifies for the Southeast Asian Games Pro League.
The SEAGPL was founded in 2018 and has eight teams participating in it. The league is split into two stages: Stage One has four teams competing, and Stage Two has two teams competing. The winner of Stage Two qualifies for the Southeast Asian Games Pro League.
Conclusion
Esports in Malaysia is exploding and there’s no stopping it. With fan bases around the world clamouring for esports events, sponsorships, and merchandise, the industry is only growing bigger and better. The Malaysian Esports Association (MESA) was founded to help promote esports in Malaysia and work with local tournaments and organizations to ensure that our country has a strong presence at major international gaming events. Not only is this a great opportunity for gamers of all levels, but it also gives businesses an avenue to engage with millennials who are increasingly interested in interactive entertainment. If you’re looking to get involved or just keep up with what’s happening in Malaysian esports, make sure to check out our website or follow us on social media!