Razer Commits as Official Partner as Efforts to Integrate Electronic Sport into SEA Games 2019 Accelerate

SINGAPORE: Efforts to integrate electronic sport at the 2019 South East Asian Games (SEA) in the Philippines have had a boost, gaming device maker Razer announced on Wednesday (November 28th) that it had become the official partner of the tournament.

In a press release on Wednesday, November 28, the gaming device manufacturer said that its CEO, Tan Min-Liang, had been advocating the inclusion of e-sport in regional games for a year and had led a delegation to a meeting with Philippine SEA Games. The Organizing Committee (PhiSGOC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) on several occasions to make it a reality.

Tan announced last week on Facebook his meeting with PhiSGOC President-Emeritus Alan Peter Cayetano and said his only goal was to make e-sport an included sport at the upcoming SEA Games, where Medals are up for grabs.

In the press release, he added: "The sportsmanship and fighting spirit found in electronic sports are not inferior to those of other sports, and we fought hard for his inclusion in an international sporting event like SEA Games 2019. "

E-sports will still not appear in the list of players for next year, given that it is one of the five sports that still have to submit their candidacy. here on December 7th of this year. PhiSGOC proposed last week to hold a record 56 games in the Games biennium, which is scheduled to start on November 30, including e-sports.

Razer's global director of electronic sports, David Tse, has confirmed this information with Channel NewsAsia, stating in an email that, for the event to take place fully, the Asian Electronic Sports Federation (EFSA) will have to submit his application before the deadline indicated.

That said, Mr. Tse added, "All the organizations involved trust a positive result for the application. As an official e-sports partner, Razer is simultaneously working on consolidating partnerships and mobilizing game publishers for SEA Games 2019. "

The Games organizer and Razer announced Wednesday that they have signed the first gaming partner – Moonton – and the director revealed that the first confirmed title was Mobile Legends: Bang Bang should be held next year's tournament.

The Singapore-based company added in its press release that it would support the last group of Team Philippines' e-sports athletes representing the host country, including by sponsoring products and providing resources to improve their performance. More details will be shared later, Tse added.

He also said that the number of ASEAN member states that would send teams has not been confirmed, although Razer is working "actively" with the respective national sports associations to strengthen the list.

He declined to say how much he invested in the Games as an official e-sports partner.

"We are confident that e-sport will be a very popular event at the Games and that its medal status will undoubtedly interest all countries," said Mr. Tse.

Electronic sports have made a breakthrough in 2018, having competed at the Asian Games in Jakarta, although it's a demonstration sport just before its full debut as a medal at of the 2022 edition.