Comex 2019 to feature esports for first time

Esports will be featured for the first time at the Comex technology show this year, with the launch of the inaugural Esports Festival Asia (EFA) on Thursday (July 18).

About 200 esports players from around the region will vie for a total of $35,000 across four tournaments and six game titles at the EFA during Comex 2019, which runs from Sept 5 to 8 at the Suntec Convention Centre.

Three of the four tournaments will be staged under the EFA's ambit through tie-ups with partners.

The first is the home-grown Female Esports League, founded by local esports pioneer Tammy "furryfish" Tang.

Two are qualifiers for Chinese properties Extremesland Asia and the China Mobile Esports League, while the last is EFA's own, the new Asia Champions Esports (ACE) League.

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The games which will be contested are multi-player online battle arena (Moba) games Arena Of Valor, League Of Legends and Mobile Legends; shooters PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive; and auto-battler Dota Underlords.

Comex organiser Sphere Exhibits, which is a Singapore Press Holdings subsidiary, is investing $1 million in the EFA.

Sphere Exhibits chairman Chua Wee Phong said the company decided to introduce esports at Comex due to the sport's increased profile and mass appeal in recent years, pointing to esports' impending debut at the SEA Games in November and December.

"Our intention is to help more people understand what esports is about. Esports has become very popular but there is still a lack of understanding especially among parents about what their children might be doing," he said.

To draw in more spectators, various booths offering discounted gaming peripherals will be clustered around the competition area.

There will also be community esports matches that show-goers can sign up for with their friends to compete against other teams.

About 500,000 visitors are expected at Comex 2019, with Sphere Exhibits setting a target of 20,000 spectators for EFA.

Unlike traditional sports, esports comprises many genres of games which can differ widely from each other.

This is why the EFA features four tournaments and six titles in order to appeal to as many people as possible, said Sphere Exhibits' business director Eric Ng.

He added that Sphere Exhibits wants to build on the momentum of Comex 2019 for its ACE League, with the intention of going regional next year.

The first qualifiers for the ACE League will begin on Saturday, while registration for the other three events will open at the end of the month.

More information can be found at www.esportsfestival.asia

This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.