KUALA LUMPUR: The epic battle of this year's Malaysia eSports League (MEL23) concluded with the MEL23 Open Series yesterday, following the final matches at the ESI Hub, Spacerubix in Puchong.
The MEL23 comprised three phases: the state league, national league, and Open Series.
The state league, held from Aug 28-Oct 1, featured popular games like eFootball Mobile, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), and PlayerUnknown's Battleground Mobile (PUBGM).
Winners from each state went on to battle it out in the nationals on Oct 14.
MEL23's Open Series, which got underway on Oct 28, highlighted three game titles: Valorant, eFootball, and Counter-Strike 2, culminating in an epic finale on Sunday night.
Team Ongeh shot their way to the top in Counter-Strike 2, with Fish from Team No Sponsor winning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
GBX_Haikal triumphed in the eFootball event, with third placed Iszuan earning the MVP title.
In Valorant, Team Path claimed top prize, and their member Zeeq was named MVP.
Chief executive officer for Esports Integrated (ESI) Ahmed Faris Amir noted that after three editions of the MEL, eSports continue to gain traction in the country.
In an effort to continue promoting and elevating the status of Malaysian eSports, ESI, an agency under the purview of the Malaysian Youth and Sports Ministry, has stated its intent to beef up next year's MEL prize purse.
MEL23 offered a total of RM317,000 in
prize money, with champions bringing home cash prizes of RM10,000 each, while MVPs pocketed RM3,000 each.
"I would like to congratulate all champions of MEL23 from the state league, nationals, to Open Series, and express my thanks to all participants who had competed and given their best throughout the event.
"KBS (Ministry or Youth and Sports) through ESI will continue to host the annual event next year, with the goal of enhancing MEL by increasing cash prizes and furthering our commitment to providing an inclusive platform for local talents in the eSports scene.
"Our special thanks also go to state eSports associations and our partners, namely Goodday Milk, for their invaluable support in making this event possible," said Faris.
MEL23 had received overwhelming responses from the very beginning - from players to teams and associations - reflecting
a positive impact on the community.
MEL is a competitive and inclusive electronic sports competition platform, designed specially for local grassroots talent organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and ESI, in collaboration with 16 states and Federal Territory esports associations, supported by Goodday Milk, Rakan Muda, Rakita 107.0 and MPL Malaysia.
Roll of honour:
eFootball
Champion: GBX_Haikal
Runner-up: T3_Black
Third: Iszuan
Fourth: Sukked_Hariz
Fifth: Karlito
MVP: Iszuan
Valorant
Champion: Path (Dzul "Wrath" Hilmie, Zeeq, Hazim Salihuddin, Toggle, Sirajul Azrie, Asyam Allam)
Runner-up: Todak
Third: Blitz Esports
Fourth: Novoid
Fifth: Copium
MVP: Zeeq (Team Path)
Counter-Strike 2
Champion: Ongeh
Runner-up: No Sponsor
Third: Snake
Fourth: Mountain King
Fifth: Red Leaf
MVP: Fish (Team No Sponsor)
