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All 'troops' deployed, as esports makes historic SEA Games debut

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/sports/12/05/seagames-esports-1-jc.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Spectators watch the opening of the eSports competition at the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the San Juan Arena in San Juan City on Thursday. The game of eSports, already a multi-million-dollar industry with a vast global reach, is only debuting as a sport in the biennial meet. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA -- With six medals at stake, competitive video gaming or esports debuted in the Southeast Asian Games at the FilOil Flying V Center on Thursday, effectively putting it on the same pedestal as other sporting events in the biennial multi-sports competition. Perceived to be one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide, esports has taken a much bigger stage with higher prize pools on the line. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/11/29/19/e-sports-seen-to-boost-viewership-of-biggest-sea-games-ever">sports seen to boost viewership of &#x27;biggest&#x27; SEA Games ever</a></li></ul>Now, as it makes its multi-sport event debut in the SEA Games, nine countries will parade some of the region’s best athletes in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Hearthstone, Arena of Valor, Tekken 7, Starcraft II, and Defense of the Ancients II (Dota 2) — bannering national pride. Malaysia and Vietnam will open the tournament in the Mobile Legends: Bang Ban qualifier rounds to be held at around 12:15 p.m., Thursday. Flagship Philippine national team Sibol‘s 27 players, who are bidding to strike six golds, will start their campaign at around 6:55 p.m., when Jacinta “Jia” Dee takes on Malaysia’s Yew Weang Kean in PC card game Hearthstone. Sibol will then take on Thailand in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang qualifiers at 8:40 p.m. The livestream of the games will be available on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SIBOLesports/videos/2408305339386856?vh=e&amp;d=n&amp;sfns=mo">Sibol’s official Facebook page</a>.

With six medals at stake, competitive video gaming or esports debuted in the Southeast Asian Games at the FilOil Flying V Center on Thursday, effectively putting it on the same pedestal as other sporting events in the biennial multi-sports competition.

With six medals at stake, competitive video gaming or esports debuted in the Southeast Asian Games at the FilOil Flying V Center on Thursday, effectively putting it on the same pedestal as other sporting events in the biennial multi-sports competition.