Singapore's esports scene has come a long since its nascent beginnings in 2014. What is seen as a nascent industry to many, esports players in Singapore have emerged over the years, hoping to make a name for the country on the global stage.
Singapore's Historic Victory at the SEA Games Mixed Valorant Team Event
According to the story by The Straits Times, this week, that dream materialized. After a night of drama, the mixed Valorant (PC) team event final of the ongoing SEA Games saw Singapore clinching a historic gold medal after Indonesia forfeited the match.
Amidst a dispute relating to allegations of Singapore using a bug that allowed them to see their rival's positions, the grand final, which saw Singapore leading the second game 10-4 and being three rounds away from securing gold, was suspended indefinitely.
Juanita "Valezka" Tanjung, the brand ambassador for Indonesia, stated that the team's decision to forfeit the final was to uphold the nation's dignity and consider the unfavorable conditions of the situation.
Singapore's team comprising Ayrton 'artn' Soh, Yeoh 'Divine' Chun Ting, Ingram 'FREY' Tan, Marcus 'nephh' Tan Rodman 'vera' Yap, and Tidus 'STYRON' Goh had fought hard, emerging as the third seeds after challenging victories over Indonesia, Cambodia, and Malaysia in the group stage.
A History of Close Calls: Singapore's Close Shaves in Past SEA Games
A 2-0 win over Vietnam in the semi-finals earned them their spot in the final. This gold medal marks the first for esports in the biennial event since its introduction in 2019. However, Singapore's esports line proudly carries the history of the Republic, coming close to clinching the top spot twice before.
Thomas Kopankiewicz clinched silver in Starcraft II, as reported in an article by IGN, while the Republic also finished second in the League of Legends: Wild Rift (women's team) in 2022.
The addition of Valorant, a first-person tactical-hero shooter game, in the SEA Games this year also adds greater depth to the competitive gaming situation that Singapore's esports scene is facing.
Moving forward, Singapore's esports scene looks set to grow exponentially, with industry players coming up with more and more initiatives to support the community and hoping to foster further growth and development.
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Initiatives Setting Up Singapore's Esports Scene for Long-Term Success
These include the #FreshnessIsStrength project by Team Flash, SG Esports Academy's eSports-Training Program, which made waves in 2018, detailed in an article by Mineski, and of course, the e2i scheme, which helped fund initiatives in online education, mentorship, and training by teams such as Mediatonic and Fnatic Academy in Singapore.
Ultimately, these initiatives are setting up Singapore's ever-growing esports scene for long-term success as the industry continues to expand exponentially and give Singapore a place in the international spotlight.
Valorant, a first-person tactical-hero shooter game, is the newest addition to the line-up of e-sports events in the SEA Games. Singapore has proven itself more than capable in its debut performance, making it possible for the nation to take home its inaugural gold medal in the category - setting a positive precedent for the upcoming editions of the Games.
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