UMPSA hosts the MLBB: ROCT 2023 Grand Championship, boosting the e-sports scene among university students

PEKAN, 22 November 2023 - Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), for the first time, played host to the finals of the electronic sports (e-sports) championship, Mobile Legends Bang Bang: Rise of Champions Tournament 2023 (MLBB: ROCT 2023), at the Higher Education Institution (HEI) level.

The programme organized in strategic collaboration between Faculty of Computing, UMPSA and HUAWEI AppGallery aims to encourage university students to actively participate in e-sports, while concurrently strengthening the profile of Education and Technical Vocational Training (TVET) sector. 

Additionally, the programme's objective is to showcase UMPSA as a technical university actively engaged in TVET studies.

This initiative, which has also received collaboration from the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS), Esports Integrated (ESI), Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), and Esports Pahang, demonstrates a strong synergy among various entities in supporting government initiatives to promote Malaysia as a hub for the development of the esports industry.

Representing the Vice-Chancellor of UMPSA, Associate Professor Ts. Dr. Adzhar Kamaludin, Dean of the Faculty of Computing presided over the closing ceremony of MLBB: ROCT 2023 today. 

Also in attendance were Michael Ding Hok Hing, Operations Manager of Huawei Consumer Business Group; Husyin Abd Murat, President of the Pahang Electronic Sports Association; and Mu’azamir Jili, Director of the Department of Youth and Sports Pahang.

Nik Naharuddin Mohd Nasir, Chief of Talent Development for Digital Technology at Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation Sdn. Bhd., and Junaidi Al-Johari, Assistant Vice-President of Growth & Programs at E-sports Integrated (ESI), were also present.

Meanwhile, UMPSA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin, extended congratulations on the hosting of the tournament, highlighting that its goal is not only to showcase talents or skills, but also to instil values such as sportsmanship, strategic competence, teamwork, and a spirit of healthy competition among participants.

“This championship is a crucial step in strengthening the university's role and support for the development of e-sports among students.

“Through programmes like these, we offer students the chance to actively participate in activities they are passionate about.

"This initiative also aims to inspire students to explore new potentials in the field of e-sports," he expressed.

He also believes that this e-sports tournament will serve as an excellent platform to showcase the talents and skills of students in this rapidly evolving field.

The rapid development of the e-sports arena, in line with technological advancements and the emergence of communication platforms, is garnering significant attention, especially among the newer generations.

E-sports is not merely perceived as a game; rather, it has the potential to shape a new industry with diverse job opportunities, significantly impacting the digital economy.

Meanwhile, Mr. Rei Xiao, Director of Mobile Ecosystem Business, Asia-Pacific Region (APAC) at HUAWEI Service (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd, expressed that organizing the MLBB: ROCT 2023 tournament can offer advantages to both the player community and the technology industry.

“In the gaming community context, e-sports has the capability to reach a global audience, fostering diversity and creating a dynamic gaming environment. It encourages international collaboration and promotes cultural exchange.

“It also opens opportunities for millions of individuals to pursue a career as professional e-sports athletes.

“In the context of the technology industry, e-sports tournaments can stimulate demand for new innovations in gaming software, the use of artificial intelligence (AI), and streaming technology, thereby contributing to the overall growth and evolution of the industry," he explained.

In line with the goal of promoting e-sports among higher education students in Malaysia, participation in MLBB: ROCT 2023 are exclusively open to all students of public and private universities, polytechnics, and institutions recognized under the Premier Digital Tech Institution (PDTI) status by MDEC.

MLBB: ROCT 2023 has already gone through several rounds of epic online battles, including the qualification round.
The initial matches feature 40 teams, while the Play-Off Stage involves a sudden-death round among 16 teams.

The final face-off in the MLBB: ROCT 2023 championship at UMPSA showcased the top three teams competing for the championship title. The contenders were UiTM All-Star from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), USM Vendetta (Universiti Sains Malaysia), and ESC UTM | SAPU ALL (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia).

The MLBB: ROCT 2023 championship title was won by UiTM All-Star team (UiTM), the second places were won by USM Vendetta team (USM), followed by the third-place finish went to ESC UTM | SAPU ALL team (UTM).

The champion of MLBB: ROCT 2023 took home the HUAWEI MatePad Pro 11-inch, while the runner-up received the HUAWEI Watch GT3, and the third-place contestant was awarded the HUAWEI Freebuds SE.

By: Nur Ainaa Adhreena Muhamad Shukri, Centre For Corporate Communications

Translation by: Aminatul Nor Mohamed Said, UMPSA Career Centre (UMPSACC)