The excitement is building as Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) announces the eagerly anticipated 13th Provincial Online Championships, scheduled to take place on April 15, 2023. This annual esports tournament, organised by MSSA, is set to bring together South Africa’s top players from different regions to compete in various popular esports titles, with the ultimate goal of representing the nation at the International Esports Federation‘s (IESF) 15th World Esports Championships, to be held in Iași, Romania, in August 2023.
Esports enthusiasts and participants are eagerly looking forward to this prestigious event, which promises to be a showcase of top-tier gaming talent from across South Africa. The tournament will feature a diverse range of esports titles, including popular games like League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2, Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and many more. Players will battle it out in intense matches, putting their skills, strategies, and teamwork to the test in pursuit of victory and a chance to represent their country on the global stage.
One of the highlights of the tournament will be the League of Legends competition, known for its fast-paced action and strategic gameplay. Teams will vie for the title of provincial champions, showcasing their mastery of the game’s mechanics and coordination as a team.
Apart from League of Legends, other games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2, and Fortnite are also expected to draw a large audience, as teams battle it out for supremacy in these popular esports titles. The competition will be fierce, with players showcasing their individual skills and teamwork to secure victory and earn their spot on the international stage.
Below are the game titles to be played at the 13th Provincial Online Championships:
| Title | Platform |
| CODM | Mobile |
| CS:GO | PC |
| PUBGM | Mobile |
| FIFA 23 | PS5, and all platforms compatible with PS5 for cross play |
| eFootball 2023 (Konami) | PS5, and all platforms compatible with PS5 for cross play |
| Rocket League | PC and Console |
| Sim racing – Assetto Corsa Competizione | PC |
| DOTA 2 | PC |
| Clash Royale | Mobile |
| League of Legends | PC |
| Clash of Clans | Mobile |
| Mobile Legends Bang Bang | Mobile |
| Tekken 7 | PS5, and all platforms compatible with PS5 for cross play |
| Street Fighter V | PS5, and all platforms compatible with PS5 for cross play |
| HearthStone | Various |
The 13th Provincial Online Championships also provide a platform for emerging esports titles to gain recognition and showcase their potential. As esports continues to grow in popularity and diversity, this tournament serves as an opportunity for new games to shine and attract attention from the gaming community.
So, if you are interested in participating in the upcoming 13th Provincial Online Championships in South Africa, make sure to follow the instructions below:
Tournament Structure:
As per the MSSA’s rules, being:
- If less than six teams, the championship shall be a Round Robin Championship
- If 6 to 10 teams enter the championship there shall be four rounds as played to the Swiss System
- If 11 or more teams enter the championship there shall be five rounds as played to the Swiss System
Eligibility:
- Any team consisting of players who are Registered Players affiliated to a MSSA member club may enter.
Entries:
- Entry is R100.00 per Registered Player.
- Only fully paid-up Registered Players may participate in this event.
- Entries must be submitted by midnight on 13 April 2023.
- To enter, the club must complete the Google Drive document.
- The entry form may be found on Google Drive. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_ERR6815uVjSMu4t5KkRxYqGJ_AA88kkz31qRgksASc/edit#gid=287696184
- Clubs are to download the entry form, completed the downloaded form, and e-mail it to Mind Sports South Africa.
- Photographs of players must accompany the entry.
- Only entries submitted via email and on Excel shall be accepted.
Medals:
Medals shall be handed over to winners at the next MSSA LAN that they attend.
MALE:
- PREMIER: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams.
- UNDER 24:Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams that have not won a Premier medal and which are comprised entirely of students currently registered at any officially recognized University.
- SCHOLARS: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams of learners currently registered at any officially recognized school, provided they have not received any Premier medals.
FEMALE:
- PREMIER: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams.
- UNDER 24: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams that have not won a Premier medal and which are comprised entirely of students currently registered at any officially recognized University.
- SCHOLARS: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams of learners currently registered at any officially recognized school, provided they have not received any Premier medals.
Colours:
- Protea Colours: Only Players that are selected to represent South Africa in International Championships may earn National Colours if the Protea Colours Board’s criteria are met.
- National Colours: All Players that win all of their Matches at a National Championship will earn National Colours.
- Provincial Colours: All Players that win all of their Matches at a Provincial Championship will earn Provincial Colours. All Players who score within the top 50% in a specific Period at a Provincial Championship, and who also score within the top 50% at a National Championship in the same period and in the same year, will earn Provincial Colours.
General:
- The championship shall be played on: 13 April 2023
- The first round will start at 10H00. Players shall be given 60 minutes to complete each round.
- Players playing 3 v 3 Rocket League shall be given 1.5 hours to complete the round.
- The championship is accredited as being of the same status as a provincial championship.
- The championship shall be used for the awarding of provincial colours;
- The championship shall be used for the awarding of medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in Premier, Under 24, and School categories;
- The championship shall be used for the ability to qualify for National Team Squad.
- All medals shall be awarded to the recipients at a MSSA LAN championships.
Umpires:
- Umpires may only be contacted over Discord on the channel provided on the day of the competition. Any communication not on the Discord channel shall not be entered into.
Ladder:
All games shall count towards the National Ladder.
Shout casting:
- MSSA shall decide who may shout-cast the games.
- Anybody wishing to be appointed as a Shout-Caster must apply in writing to mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com